Vietnam and Portugal reached agreements on numerous measures to promotetheir relations on June 3 during a landmark visit by Prime MinisterNguyen Tan Dung, the first made by a Vietnamese Government leader sincethe two countries established diplomatic ties 40-year ago.
During talks between the two Prime Ministers, PM Pedro Passos Coelhodescribed the two-day official visit of his Vietnamese counterpart as“historic” and a significant milestone in bilateral relationship. Hesaid he was convinced that the success of the visit would increase thefriendship and cooperation between the two sides to a new stage ofstrong, intensive and effective development.
The Portuguese PM spoke highly of Vietnam’s increasing position, role and reputation in the region and the world.
PM Nguyen Tan Dung congratulated Portugal for its efforts to recoverand accelerate economic growth, and appreciated the active role thatPortugal has played in addressing global issues.
He said Vietnam would like to develop comprehensive ties with Portugal,adding that the two countries should continue to coordinate and supporteach other at multilateral, regional and inter-national forums such asthe United Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the ASEAN-EUcooperation.
Speaking about relations betweenVietnam and the EU, PM Coelho said that Portugal backs Vietnam’scomprehensive ties with the EU, and supports early conclusion of talkson and signing of the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the EU,as well as EU’s recognition of Vietnam’s market economy.
The two PM agreed that the FTA, together with the framework agreementon Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) betweenVietnam and the EU, will be solid ground for the development oflong-standing and in-depth ties between Vietnam and the EU in general,and Vietnam and Portugal in particular.
The twoleaders expressed their satisfaction at their bilateral economic andtrade ties, which continue to grow year by year. Two-way trade increasedfrom 90 million USD in 2008 to 364 million USD in 2014, but was yet toreach its full potential, they said.
The PMsagreed that they should push economic and trade cooperation and createfavourable conditions for enterprises from both sides to do business ineffort to bring bilateral trade to 1 billion USD.
“The two sides should make efforts to turn economics, trade andinvestment ties into an important pillar of our bilateral relationship.We should also establish practical ties in areas suitable with theirrespective strength and needs, such as the maritime economy, energy,trade and tourism,” said PM Dung.
AppreciatingPortugal’s initiative to organise the “Sea Week 2015” and expressingthanks for PM Coelho’s invite to the opening of the “Sea Economy Forum”,PM Dung stressed that “cooperation in the sea economy would be anopportunity and a field of great potential for cooperation between thetwo countries”.
In the spirit of mutual trust andand understanding, the PM exchanged views on regional and internationalmatters of mutual interests. They asserted the importance of peace,stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation to marine economiccooperation, and shared their concerns about the recent complexdevelopment in the East Sea.
The Portuguese PMstressed that disputes should be resolved through peaceful means,without using force or threatening to use force, in line with the UNCharter as well as the basic principles of international law.
They also agreed that the two sides should boost exchanges betweenpeople, and cultural and sports exchanges, which helped strengthen thefriendship, cooperation and mutual understanding between Vietnam andPortugal.
They expressed their willingness toexpand cooperation in education and training, including the teaching ofthe Portuguese language in Vietnam.
The two PMsjointly chaired an international press briefing following their talks,and witnessed the signing of a bilateral agreement on double taxavoidance and an MoU in tourism cooperation.
Talking to the press, PM Dung affirmed that Vietnam will always createfavourable conditions for Portuguese enterprises to develop theirbusiness cooperation with their Vietnamese partners.
Regarding the prospect of cooperation in the sea economy, the PM toldthe press that as countries with long coast lines and maritimestrategies, Vietnam and Portugal agree on the importance of the sea formutual development, security and prosperity, and consider it a field ofgreat potential for mutual cooperation.
ThePortuguese PM also told the media that the two sides has discussedcooperation in trade, investment, and culture, and agreed to takemeasures to boost cooperation between enterprises from both countries.
He reiterated that cooperation in the sea economy will be a priority for mutual cooperation.
In response to reporters’ questions about maritime security andsafety in the East Sea, PM Coelho said all differences and disputes mustbe settled via peaceful measures and comfort with international lawunder the UN’s surveillance.
The PMs said theywere happy with their friendship and cooperation over the past fourdecades, however, both said they should increase exchanges at alllevels, especially high-ranking delegations. On the occasion, PM Dunginvited PM Coelho to visit Vietnam.-VNA
During talks between the two Prime Ministers, PM Pedro Passos Coelhodescribed the two-day official visit of his Vietnamese counterpart as“historic” and a significant milestone in bilateral relationship. Hesaid he was convinced that the success of the visit would increase thefriendship and cooperation between the two sides to a new stage ofstrong, intensive and effective development.
The Portuguese PM spoke highly of Vietnam’s increasing position, role and reputation in the region and the world.
PM Nguyen Tan Dung congratulated Portugal for its efforts to recoverand accelerate economic growth, and appreciated the active role thatPortugal has played in addressing global issues.
He said Vietnam would like to develop comprehensive ties with Portugal,adding that the two countries should continue to coordinate and supporteach other at multilateral, regional and inter-national forums such asthe United Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the ASEAN-EUcooperation.
Speaking about relations betweenVietnam and the EU, PM Coelho said that Portugal backs Vietnam’scomprehensive ties with the EU, and supports early conclusion of talkson and signing of the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the EU,as well as EU’s recognition of Vietnam’s market economy.
The two PM agreed that the FTA, together with the framework agreementon Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) betweenVietnam and the EU, will be solid ground for the development oflong-standing and in-depth ties between Vietnam and the EU in general,and Vietnam and Portugal in particular.
The twoleaders expressed their satisfaction at their bilateral economic andtrade ties, which continue to grow year by year. Two-way trade increasedfrom 90 million USD in 2008 to 364 million USD in 2014, but was yet toreach its full potential, they said.
The PMsagreed that they should push economic and trade cooperation and createfavourable conditions for enterprises from both sides to do business ineffort to bring bilateral trade to 1 billion USD.
“The two sides should make efforts to turn economics, trade andinvestment ties into an important pillar of our bilateral relationship.We should also establish practical ties in areas suitable with theirrespective strength and needs, such as the maritime economy, energy,trade and tourism,” said PM Dung.
AppreciatingPortugal’s initiative to organise the “Sea Week 2015” and expressingthanks for PM Coelho’s invite to the opening of the “Sea Economy Forum”,PM Dung stressed that “cooperation in the sea economy would be anopportunity and a field of great potential for cooperation between thetwo countries”.
In the spirit of mutual trust andand understanding, the PM exchanged views on regional and internationalmatters of mutual interests. They asserted the importance of peace,stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation to marine economiccooperation, and shared their concerns about the recent complexdevelopment in the East Sea.
The Portuguese PMstressed that disputes should be resolved through peaceful means,without using force or threatening to use force, in line with the UNCharter as well as the basic principles of international law.
They also agreed that the two sides should boost exchanges betweenpeople, and cultural and sports exchanges, which helped strengthen thefriendship, cooperation and mutual understanding between Vietnam andPortugal.
They expressed their willingness toexpand cooperation in education and training, including the teaching ofthe Portuguese language in Vietnam.
The two PMsjointly chaired an international press briefing following their talks,and witnessed the signing of a bilateral agreement on double taxavoidance and an MoU in tourism cooperation.
Talking to the press, PM Dung affirmed that Vietnam will always createfavourable conditions for Portuguese enterprises to develop theirbusiness cooperation with their Vietnamese partners.
Regarding the prospect of cooperation in the sea economy, the PM toldthe press that as countries with long coast lines and maritimestrategies, Vietnam and Portugal agree on the importance of the sea formutual development, security and prosperity, and consider it a field ofgreat potential for mutual cooperation.
ThePortuguese PM also told the media that the two sides has discussedcooperation in trade, investment, and culture, and agreed to takemeasures to boost cooperation between enterprises from both countries.
He reiterated that cooperation in the sea economy will be a priority for mutual cooperation.
In response to reporters’ questions about maritime security andsafety in the East Sea, PM Coelho said all differences and disputes mustbe settled via peaceful measures and comfort with international lawunder the UN’s surveillance.
The PMs said theywere happy with their friendship and cooperation over the past fourdecades, however, both said they should increase exchanges at alllevels, especially high-ranking delegations. On the occasion, PM Dunginvited PM Coelho to visit Vietnam.-VNA
