Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) and Nepalese Minister for Commerce Romi Gauchan Thakali (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and ForeignMinister Pham Binh Minh received Nepalese Minister for Commerce Romi Gauchan Thakali inHanoi on March 9, asking the two countries to augment cooperation in thespheres they have potential for.
Minh congratulated Nepal on its development andre-construction achievements, including the settlement of consequences of thehistoric earthquake in April 2015 and the issuance of a new constitution inSeptember 2015.
Vietnam treasures the traditional friendshipwith Nepal, he said, noting his pleasure with the solidified bilateralrelationship, especially the flourishing cooperation between their rulingparties, he noted.
He called on both sides to soon finalise thenegotiation on an agreement on visa exemption for each other’s holders ofdiplomatic and official passports, along with cooperation deals on economy,investment, trade, culture, tourism and aviation.
Bilateral trade reached 41 million USD in 2016,which is still modest compared to potential, Minh said. He asked Nepal toprovide optimal conditions for Vietnamese firms to seek opportunities forinvestment in energy, infrastructure and telecommunications, and to exportconsumer goods to this country.
He said Vietnam set up an honorary consulate inKathmandu capital in October 2016, hoping that Nepal will consider establishinga corresponding office in Vietnam to bolster ties.
For his part, Minister Romi Gauchan Thakali expressedhis admiration at Vietnam’s socio-economic accomplishments, noting that hiscountry wants to strengthen relations with Vietnam, particularly in economy andtrade.
He hoped the two sides will increase delegationand people-to-people exchanges to share experience and promote collaboration.
The Nepalese official was in Hanoi on attend theUN high-level meeting for the Euro-Asia region on improving cooperation intransit, trade facilitation and the 2030 Agenda for SustainableDevelopment.-VNA
VNA
