Hanoi (VNA) – Parliamentary cooperation is one of theeffective channels to boost the multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam andMorocco, said the heads of the legislative bodies of the two countries at theirtalks in Hanoi on December 18.

Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and President of the Moroccan House of Representatives Habib El Malki heldtalks after a welcome ceremony for the Moroccan top legislator, who makes anofficial visit to Vietnam from December 16-22.

The host and guest expressed their pleasure atthe growing relations between the two legislatures thanks to exchange of visitas well as regular meetings, consultations and mutual support at multilateralforums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the ParliamentaryAssembly of Francophonie (APF).

They agreed to step up high-level delegationexchanges to increase mutual understanding and trust as well as strengthencoordination at the aforesaid multilateral forums.

The two sides will coordinate to monitor theimplementation of agreements signed between the two countries’ governments andministries for mutual benefits.

The two parliamentary leaders noted that economicand trade ties are still modest, with bilateral trade at only 190 million USDin 2016, and vowed to further promote those ties.

Chairwoman Ngan affirmed that Vietnam attachesmuch importance to developing friendship and multidimensional cooperation withAfrican countries, of which Morocco is a priority partner in North Africa.

She congratulated Morocco for coming back to theAfrican Union and hoped the country will support the development of relationsbetween Vietnam and the union.

The National Assembly of Vietnam supports theenhancement of multifaceted cooperation with Morocco via refining the legalsystem and creating a favourable legal framework for Moroccan businesses, she noted.

The NA Chairwoman recommended forgingconnectivity between the two countries’ businesses in such potential fields astrade, tourism, finance, and renewable energy, looking toward the establishmentof a joint business council.

Vietnam and Morocco need to step up tradepromotion activities, increase business delegation exchanges at internationalworkshops, forums and trade fairs while tapping cooperation potential inagriculture, mining, construction material, chemicals, garment-textile,footwear, and food processing, Ngan said.

She suggested that the two sides should establishdirect payment ties between their commercial banks and use the Moroccan bankingnetwork in Africa to support business activities, including payment, forVietnamese firms in the region.

Ngan took this occasion to thank the MoroccanGovernment and House of Representative for facilitating the settlement andintegration of the Vietnamese community in the African country, adding that theoverseas Vietnamese will continue to be an important factor to tighten thebilateral friendship and promote two-way trade.

For his part, the Moroccan parliament leader describedVietnam as a dynamic and future-oriented country, noting that he wants to studythe Southeast Asian country’s history and culture to boost bilateralcooperation in the fields.

He congratulated Vietnam on the successfulorganisation of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Da Nang in November anddescribed Vietnam as a gateway to connect Morocco with the Association ofSoutheast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Vice versa Morocco is ready to link Vietnamwith Africa, he said, adding that the two sides should work together to buildcooperation strategies to make use of these advantages.

Vietnam and Morocco have shared common principlesand values in external policies, which are protecting and promoting peace,security and prosperity of nations, Malki said. He stressed that Moroccosupports Vietnam’s stance on addressing all disputes via peaceful dialogues.

Regarding the East Sea issue, Chairwoman Nganreiterated Vietnam’s consistent policy of settling sovereignty and territorydisputes peacefully on the basis of respecting international law, including the1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). 

She told the guest that Vietnam has preserved aMoroccan-style village gate in Hanoi, which was constructed in 1956-1960 byMoroccan soldiers who joined the Leaguefor the Independence of Vietnam (Viet Minh) in the resistance war againstFrance, saying that the work demonstrates the solidarity and cooperationbetween the two countries.

Ngan accepted the invitation of the Morocco’s President ofHouse of Representatives to pay an official visit to the country in an earlytime.

After talks, the two sides signed a cooperation agreementbetween Vietnam’s National Assembly and Morocco’s House of Representatives.

They later informed the outcomes of their talks to thepress.

The same day, Chairwoman Ngan is scheduled to host abanquet for the guest and his spouse.-VNA