VN, Portugal agree to raise trade volume to US$1 bln

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh and Portuguese FM Augusto Santos Silva hold talks as part of the former's official visit to the Iberian country.

The pair expressed their pleasure at the positive advancements of the Viet Nam-Portugal relations over the past years, discussed on concrete measures to further strengthen ties, including the exchange of delegations at all levels, political consultations, and coordination between the two foreign ministries.

Both sides agreed to set up mechanisms to work out specific measures to beef up cooperation in various fields, especially economy, trade and investment and tighten coordination at regional and international forums like the United Nations, ASEM, and EU-ASEAN.

Deputy PM, FM Minh thanked Portugal for early ratification of the Viet Nam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement while asking the Portuguese President and other leaders to accelerate the signing and ratification of the Viet Nam-EU free trade agreement to facilitate cooperation between Viet Nam and the EU in general and Viet Nam and Portugal in particular.

He took the occasion to call on Portuguese businesses to expand investment in Viet Nam in such field like marine-based economy, navigation, electronics, tourism and renewable energy.

The two sides also stressed the need to realize the Memorandum of Understanding on tourism cooperation inked in 2015 and push education-training cooperation and cultural exchanges. Deputy PM, FM Minh asked the Iberian country to assist Portuguese training in Viet Nam.

In the spirit of mutual trust and understanding, the two sides exchanged views on regional and international issues of common concerns.

They stressed on the importance of peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and shared concerns over the recent developments in the East Sea.

Deputy PM, FM Minh asked the Portuguese side to support the positions of Viet Nam and ASEAN on settling disputes in the East Sea through peaceful measures on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and working towards to early formation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

During his visit to Portugal, Deputy PM, FM Minh also met with Minister of Economy Manuel Caldeira Cabral.