President Tran Dai Quang (R) and Pakistani Prime Minister Nawar Sharif (Source: VNA)
Beijing (VNA) – President Tran Dai Quang onMay 14 met with Pakistani Prime Minister Nawar Sharif and Secretary General ofJapan’s Liberal Democratic Party Toshihiro Nakai on the sidelines of the Beltand Road Forum in Beijing, China.
Talking to PM Nawar Sharif, President Quang affirmedthat Vietnam attaches importance to cooperation with Pakistan and noted hishope that the two countries will promote pragmatic activities such as mutualvisits and friendship exchanges on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (November 8, 1972).
He suggested the two countries make the best use oftheir bilateral cooperation mechanisms and push forward negotiations andsigning of collaboration agreements in the realms of culture, sports, tourism,aviation and maritime transport, in order to create a favourable legalframework for the extension of cooperation in related fields.
Vietnam and Pakistan hold potential for cooperationacross areas, he said, calling on the two sides to elevate their ties to a newheight by increasing high-level meetings as well as partnership between theirministries and agencies.
The President also urged the two countries to fullytap their strength in an effort to bring bilateral trade to 1 billion USD inthe next three years.
At the same time, Vietnam and Pakistan should expandtheir collaboration at multilateral forums, join hands to combat cross-bordercrimes and soon ink judicial assistance agreements.
PM Nawar Sharif shared President Tran Dai Quang’sviews on the two countries’ potential for cooperation and the need tostrengthen the bilateral collaboration, particularly in economy and trade.
Pakistan considers Vietnam an important partner inthe region and wishes to further boost its relations with the country, heaffirmed.
At the separate meeting with Toshihiro Nakai, who isalso Chairman of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance, PresidentTran Dai Quang expressed his hope that the Liberal Democratic Party and Nakaihimself will contribute more to the Vietnam-Japan relationship.
He suggested the two countries increase visits andmeetings at all levels, particularly at the high level and between the two countries’parliamentarians.
The President appealed to Japan to continueproviding official development assistance for Vietnam and cooperating with thecountry across areas and at all levels.
Vietnam backs the extension of international tradeand welcomes Japanese investors to the country, as well as cultural,educational and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, he said.
Praising Vietnam’s role and position in the region,Toshihiro Nakai expressed his support for Vietnam’s hosting of APEC 2017.
He affirmed that Japan hopes to foster its extensivestrategic partnership with Vietnam and highly values cooperation and exchangesbetween the two countries’ legislative bodies.
Toshihiro Nakai, in his capacity as Chairman of theJapan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance, pledged to step up relationsbetween the two parliaments, contributing to the relationship between the twocountries.
Later the same day, President Tran Dai Quang and hisspouse attended a banquet hosted by Party General Secretary and President ofChina Xi Jinping for head delegates to the Belt and Road forum.-VNA