Hanoi (VNA) – President of Ireland MichaelD. Higgins has agreed to foster bilateral cooperation and connectivity withVietnam across spheres, especially economy, people-to-people exchange, and education-training.

At a reception for visiting Vietnamese Minister ofForeign Affairs Bui Thanh Son on February 28, the President lauded Son's officialvisit, the first to Ireland by a Vietnamese foreign minister over the past morethan 20 years, and expressed his belief that it will contribute to deepeningthe friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries.

He congratulated Vietnam on its socio-economic achievementsover the past time, and affirmed the importance Ireland attaches to theSoutheast Asian nation’s position and role in its strategy towards theAsia-Pacific.

For his part, Son stressed Vietnam always wishes toenhance the bilateral friendship and multi-faceted cooperation, saying he hopesthat through the visit, the two sides will review and set out majororientations and measures to enhance the relationship comprehensively andintensively, for the sake of their people.

The minister suggested the President support jointefforts in stepping up all-level delegation exchanges and contacts, and raise his voice for the Irish parliament to soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment ProtectionAgreement (EVIPA).

He also expressed his hope for strongercollaboration in education-training, as well as further culture and artexchanges, and connectivity between localities of the two countries.

Son proposed the host leader continue his support forVietnam as a priority partner in development cooperation policies in the timeahead, and help the country in human resources development, digitaltransformation, and high-tech agriculture.

Expressing his delight at the strong, intensive, andextensive development of the Vietnam-Ireland cooperation, Higgins agreed withSon’s proposals to enhance coordination and mutual support at multilateralforums, settle conflicts and disputes by peaceful measures in line with theUnited Nations Charter and international law, and cope with global challengeslike climate change and food security, for sustainable development in eachcountry, and for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.

On this occasion, the President commendedcontributions by the Vietnamese community in Ireland to the country, andpledged to create favourable conditions for them to further integrate into thehost society, study and work there, serving as a bridge in the bilateralfriendship./.