Deputy PM, FM Minh meets with German officials
VGP – Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh met with German Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy Peter Altmaier on February 20 as part of his ongoing two-day visit to Germany.
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| Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh (R) and German Minister of Economic Affairs and Energy Peter Altmaier |
During the meeting, both sides exchanged measures to foster trade and investment cooperation, considering it as a pillar of the Viet Nam-Germany strategic partnership.
Minh hailed Germany as a top European trade partner of Viet Nam over the pass consecutive years, expressing his belief that the European country’s investment would surpass the current volume of US$1.97 billion soon.
The German side pledged to continue accelerating the official signing and ratification of the free trade agreement between Viet Nam and the European Union (EVFTA) for the benefits of the two countries’ businesses.
Both sides agreed to step up delegation exchanges in order to encourage more small and medium-sized enterprises’ investments in Viet Nam, especially in such fields like supporting industry, pharmacy, tourism, vocational training and renewable energy.
Minh took the occasion to extend thanks to the German Government for having granted official development assistance (ODA) to Viet Nam over the past years, affirming it has contributed significantly to socio-economic development in the Southeast Asian country.
He suggested the German side continue ODA to areas like vocational training, climate change adaptation and waste treatment.
Meanwhile, Peter Altmaier spoke highly of Minh’s visit to Germany, saying it would contribute to tighten the two countries’ strategic partnership.
He also highly valued the sides’ economic, trade and investment potential as well as Viet Nam’s position in regional and international economic links, committing to work with Viet Nam to deploy ODA projects.
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Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh (L) and Vice President of the German Bundestag Hans Peter Friedric |
The same day, Minh met with Vice President of the German Bundestag Hans Peter Friedric.
Minh spoke highly of the effective cooperation between the two legislatures at both bilateral and multilateral aspects.
Welcoming Minh’s ongoing visit, Hans Peter Friedrich said it would help boost and create impetus for new developments of the bilateral ties.
He underlined the significance of the Viet Nam-Germany strategic partnership, expressing his wish that the relationship would continue advancing both in depth and width.
Both sides agreed on the importance of the EVFTA which should be signed and ratified soon to bring practical benefits to their business communities.
They also emphasized the important role of multilateral mechanisms and international law in maintaining peace and stability across the world.
Deputy PM, FM Minh asked the German side to continue its strong voice to support Viet Nam’s position of settling disputes through peaceful measures in line with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and through full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) while working toward early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
By Huong Giang
