PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs Joao Gomes Cravinho (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese Government alwaysvalues the development of traditional friendship with Portugal, Prime MinisterPham Minh Chinh told Portuguese Minister of Foreign Affairs Joao Gomes Cravinhoduring a reception in Hanoi on January 18.
PM Chinh suggested both sides facilitate visits, especiallythose at high level to raise mutual understanding and political trust, as wellas fully and effectively tap existing cooperation mechanisms and build new onesto step up collaboration in promising areas that match their interests.
On multilateral cooperation, he proposed working closelytogether and offering mutual support at multilateral forums and internationalorganisations, making active contributions to dealing with regional and globalissues.
About economic ties, the host asked Portugal to createfavourable conditions for Vietnamese farm produce to navigate the country. Hewished the two nations would continue taking advantage of opportunities fromVietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement to raise two-way trade, toward lifting it to 1billion USD in the near future.
On the occasion, he suggested Portugal soon approve theEU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to facilitate fair and win-wininvestment relationship between the two nations, urge the EuropeanCommission’s early removal of yellow card warning on Vietnam’s aquatic productsto meet interests of Portuguese and EU consumers as well as ensure livelihoodsfor hundreds of thousands of workers in the Vietnamese aquaculture industry.
Cravinho, who is on Vietnam visit from January 17-19, affirmedthat Portugal always considers Vietnam an important partner in the region andexpects to further develop all-around ties with the country.
He agreed to enhance collaboration in fields of Portugal’sstrength and Vietnam’s demand such as marine economy, maritime, renewableenergy, circular economy and digital transformation.
The FM vowed to continue realising contents ofVietnam-Portugal tourism cooperation agreement and sharing experience intourism development, boost sport exchanges, particularly football training andincreasing scholarships to students specialised in tourism management, anddiscuss the signing of labour cooperation deals.
He expressed his support for Vietnamese PM’s proposals related to jointwork to fight climate change toward fulfilling goals set at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference.
Portugal will create favourable conditions for Vietnamesecommunity living in the country, open the market for Vietnamese farm produceand have a say with the EC on the IUU yellow card, he said.
꧋ Regarding the East Sea issue, host and guest underscored theimportance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom ofnavigation and overflight in the East Sea, settling disputes by peaceful means inline with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention onthe Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)./.
