Lisbon (VNA) – Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan metwith Vice President of the Portuguese parliament Edite Estrela, held talks with Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva and chaired a businessdialogue forum on October 29, as part of her working trip to the Europeancountry.             

During the talks with Minister Augusto Santos Silva, Vice President Xuanaffirmed that Vietnam is pursuing a foreign policy of independence anddiversification and multilateralization, under which it is deepening bilateralcooperation with important partners, including the European Union in whichPortugal is a member.

The two sides took note with satisfaction the positive progress inVietnam-Portugal relations in recent years, and agreed upon measures to furtherthe bilateral cooperation in the time ahead.

They said the two countries should increase the exchange of visits at alllevels, particularly at high-level, to create a momentum for bilateral ties.

Vice President Xuan conveyed an invitation to visit Vietnam from Prime MinisterPham Minh Chinh to his Portuguese counterpart Antonio Costa.

The sides stressed the need to study directions for bolstering cooperation inall aspects, especially economics, trade and investment. They agreed on thetarget of raising bilateral trade value from 471 million USD in 2020 to 1billion USD in 1 billion USD.

The Vietnamese leader called on Portuguesebusinesses to increase their investment and business operation in Vietnam,especially in fields that the two countries can complement each other such as seaeconomy, maritime, renewable energy and tourism. She said Vietnam is willing toserve as a bridge connecting Portuguese firms with the Southeast Asian andAsia-Pacific markets.

Xuan asked Portugal to assist Vietnam in developing trade and investment ties withthe EU, and urged the country to early verify the Vietnam-EU InvestmentProtection Agreement (EVIPA) and help with the removal of the EC’s yellow cardon Vietnamese seafood.

Minister Augusto Santos Silva affirmed that Vietnam is apriority partner of Portugal as well as the EU. He said there remains largeroom for the two countries to boost cooperation in trade and investment, andpromised that Portugal will create favourable conditions for agencies andbusinesses of both sides to connect and expand markets. He also pledged to workfor the early completion of procedures for the verification of the EVIPA.

The minister informed that Portugal has decided to grant Vietnam with 160,000doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine through the Covax mechanism, and suggestedthat the two countries continue to work together in responding to challengesposed by the pandemic and in helping the Vietnamese community in Portugal stabilizetheir life.

 The two sides also discussed international and regional issuesof common concern, and pledged to coordinate on multilateral and regionalforums as well as support each other at cooperation mechanisms such as theASEAN-EU and the United Nations.

At the meeting the same day with Vice President of the Portuguese parliament Edite Estrela, Vice President Xuan took the occasion to thank the Portugueseparliament  for its strong support for strengthening relations between thetwo countries and the comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and the EU.

She proposed that the two countries’ parliaments increase the exchange ofdelegations. She conveyed an invitation to visit Vietnam at an appropriate timefrom National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to the President of thePortuguese parliament.

The two sides affirmed that cooperation between the twoparliaments and countries will continue to be promoted in both bilateral andmultilateral frameworks. They expressed support for maintaining peace andstability, respecting the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) inthe region and the world, promoting dialogue and facilitating cooperation and development for common prosperity.   

Addressing the Vietnamese-Portuguese business dialogue, Vice PresidentXuan briefed the business delegates on Vietnam’s socio-economic situation andthe country’s development priorities such as high technology, innovation anddigital economy. She affirmed that Vietnam will create all possible favourableconditions for Portuguese investors to operate long term and reap success in thecountry.

Portuguesebusiness representatives showed interest in Vietnam’s orientation and strategyfor development and integration, as well as possibilities for business cooperation.

The business dialogue was the last activity of Vice President Xuan in Portugal.She is scheduled to start an official visit to Greece on October 31./.