Athens (VNA) – Vietnam always treasures and wants to intensify itsfriendship and multifaceted cooperation with Greece, a Vietnamese Partyofficial has said.

VoVan Thuong, Head of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’sCommission for Information and Education made that statement at his meetingswith Deputy Speaker of Greece’s Hellenic Parliament ChristodoulopoulouAnastasia, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Greece DimitrisKoutsoumpas, and General Secretary of the ruling Coalition of the Radical Left(SYRIZA) Panagiotis Rigas during his working visit to Greece from May 27 toJune 1.

Thuongnoted that both sides have coordinated closely and supported each other at multilateralforums and international organisations. Two-way trade has posted an averageannual growth of more than 20 percent in the past 5 years.

However,economic cooperation should be stepped up to meet the two countries’ finerelations, he stressed.

Theofficial said Vietnam’s economy is developing significantly and its defencesecurity is maintained and social welfare policies are ensured.

Thecountry continues its foreign policy of peace, independence, self-reliance,cooperation, development, multilateralisation and diversification of relations,and active international integration, for the interests of people of Vietnamand other nations.

Vietnamis always a friend, reliable partner and responsible member of theinternational community and proactively participates in regional andinternational cooperation, he added.

Hetook the occasion to thank Greece for supporting Vietnam’s efforts to boostties with the European Union, including the Hellenic Parliament’s ratificationof the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, the country’s efforts to speed upthe signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and its recognition ofVietnam’s market economy.

TheGreek leaders spoke highly of the visit by the Vietnamese Party delegation,believing that it will contribute to bolstering the bilateral relations.

Thetwo sides discussed measures to boost the ties, especially in economics, trade,investment, tourism, marine transport, seaport services, and the cooperationwith the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Theyagreed to maintain the exchange of high-level delegations, regularly organiseconsultant mechanisms, and coordinate in raising bilateral trade and boostingcultural and people-to-people exchanges.

Whilein Greece, the Vietnamese delegation visited several localities, historicalrelic sites and farm produce processing facilities, and met Governor of Edessacity Dimitrios Giannou.

TheVietnamese delegation left Greece on June 1, concluding its working visit tothe European country.-VNA