Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives Jean Asselborn, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg in Hanoi on June 14 (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam always regardsLuxembourg as an important friend and partner, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phucsaid at his reception for Jean Asselborn, Minister of Foreign and EuropeanAffairs of Luxembourg in Hanoi on June 14.
Minister Jean Asselborn said this is the fifth time he has visited Vietnamsince 2004 and he will spend time touring the country in his upcoming visits.
PM Phuc welcomed the signing of a framework agreementon cooperation between the two governments, saying it creates a cooperationframework suitable for the new situation, especially in cooperation fordevelopment and climate change response support.
He spoke highly of Luxembourg as the fifth biggest EuropeanUnion investor in Vietnam and expressed his hope that the two countries willwork to facilitate their businesses to meet and partner in the fields offinance-banking, tourism, and green growth.
The two countries should push up the completion of allremaining issues of the Investment Protection Agreement (IPA) and launchrelevant procedures to sign the Free Trade Agreement on the sidelines of theupcoming 12th ASEM, the leader said.
Vietnam has treasured and thanked Luxembourg forproviding it with non-refundable aid worth 124 million Euros from 1995 to 2015,he said.
He expected that the European country will continueaiding Vietnam in responding to climate change, and speed up cooperation withVietnam in building and developing the financial and banking markets as it hasa lot of experience and has carried out a number of efficient cooperativeprogrammes with Vietnam in the field.
Minister Jean Asselborn said Luxembourg’s maintenanceof ODA provision for Vietnam over the past 25 years showed its respect todeveloping the ties with Vietnam.
He expressed his delight at the growing trade valuebetween the two countries and pledged that his country will work together withVietnam to raise the value.
He spoke highly of PM Phuc’s speech relating toenvironmental protection at the recent G7 Outreach Summit and offered thesharing of his country’s experience in green bond model for application inVietnam.
He expected that the EU and Vietnam will soon sign their free trade agreementto facilitate the stronger cooperation between Vietnam and other EU members inthe future. -VNA
VNA
