Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh andGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz defined major directions and measures tocomprehensively advance the bilateral cooperation during their talks in Hanoion November 13.

PM Chinh said the Chancellor's official visit toVietnam on November 13 - 14 was of great importance to bringing the bilateralrelations to a new phase of development, enhancing political trust,intensifying the strategic partnership, and strengthening cooperation inbilateral and multilateral aspects towards sustainable development and joint settlementof global issues.

Chancellor Scholz affirmed that Germany attachesimportance to Vietnam’s position and role in its Indo-Pacific strategy andsupports the strong promotion of the traditional relations and cooperation.

The two leaders expressed their delight at theprogress in the bilateral relations despite the COVID-19 pandemic’s impacts asseen in frequent meetings between senior leaders of Vietnam and Germany; thevigorous growth in bilateral investment and trade, which has turned Vietnam intothe largest trading partner of Germany in Southeast Asia; and the recentsigning of cooperation documents on defence, energy transition, and labour.They also highly valued bilateral collaboration in COVID-19 prevention andcontrol.

PM Chinh thanked the German Government and peoplefor their donation of COVID-19 vaccine, which have helped Vietnam contain thepandemic, reopen borders, and recover the economy early. Meanwhile, ChancellorScholz noted he was impressed with Vietnam’s recovery and dynamic economicdevelopment.

Regarding major directions and measures tocomprehensively foster the bilateral cooperation, the two sides agreed toincrease the exchange of visits at all levels and through all channels such asthe Parties, States, Governments, and parliaments while continuing toeffectively carry out bilateral cooperation mechanisms.

They promised to encourage Vietnamese and Germanagencies and enterprises to continue fully and effectively implementing the EU- Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

PM Chinh proposed the German parliament to sooncomplete the ratification of the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement(EVIPA); encourage German businesses to make and expand investment in Vietnam,especially in the fields matching their strength such as digitaltransformation, renewable energy, and strategic infrastructure development;prompt the European Commission to remove its “yellow card” warning againstVietnamese aquatic products; and create favourable conditions for Vietnam’sagricultural and aquatic exports to the German market.

For his part, Chancellor Scholz noted the EVFTA isan important impulse for bilateral economic and trade links. He called on bothcountries to continue diversifying their economic relations and voiced his hopefor the early ratification of the EVIPA.

He applauded Vietnam’s efforts to achieve asustainable fishery sector, stressing that German enterprises are payingincreasing attention to Vietnam, which boasts political stability and anoptimal investment and business environment, especially in such areas asrenewable energy, manufacturing industry, and infrastructure development.

Both host and guest agreed to expand the bilateralcooperation to other important spheres like science - technology, defence -security, health care - education, vocational training and labour.

Vietnam and Germany will step up coordination tojointly address global challenges such as food security and climate changeresponse, and work with the G7 nations so that the parties concerned will soonreach consensus on a political declaration on the Just Energy TransitionPartnership (JETP) on the basis of guaranteeing harmonious interests, they said.

PM Chinh suggested the German Government tocontinue assisting and providing favourable conditions for the Vietnamesecommunity to integrate successfully into the local society and contribute toGermany’s socio-economic development as well as the bilateral ties.

At the talks, the two leaders also discussedregional and international issues of common concern.

They affirmed that Vietnam and Germany willcontinue close coordination and mutual support at international forums andorganisations, especially in promoting the Association of Southeast AsianNations (ASEAN)’s relations with Germany and the EU, and strengtheningbilateral cooperation within the framework of the Asia - Europe Meeting (ASEM)and the United Nations.

The two leaders reaffirmed the importance ofensuring peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation andoverflight in the East Sea, and peacefully resolving disputes in accordancewith international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea(UNCLOS).

Following the talks, the two leaders met with thepress to inform about the main outcomes of their talks./.