State President receives int’l guests

VGP – State President Tran Dai Quang separately hosted receptions on May 21 for Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Maksim Oreshkin, Indonesian Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita, and Minister of International Trade of Canada François-Philippe Champagne who were on their working visits to Viet Nam.

May 22, 2017 9:47 AM GMT+7

State President Truong Tan Sang and Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Maksim Oreshkin, Ha Noi, May 21, 2017 - Photo: VNA

Preparing for VN-EAEU FTA

At the reception for Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation Maksim Oreshkin, the host leader proposed the two sides proactively prepare for the Viet Nam-Eurasia Economic Union Free Trade Agreement (VN-EAEU FTA) with a view to beefing up exchanges of goods, services, and investment among Viet Nam and EAEU members in general and Russia in particular.

Regarding cooperation in economics, trade, and energy, State President Quang recommended the Russian side support Vietnamese joint venture and other investment projects in such areas as petroleum, agriculture, and light industry in Russia and offer preferential policies for Vietnamese light industry zones in Moscow.

The State President asserted Viet Nam creates favourable ways for Russian enterprises to do business in Viet Nam in energy, oil and gas, automobile and stands ready to facilitate Russian engagement in new projects in infrastructure construction as well as thermo-electricity in Viet Nam.

In reply, Minister Maksim Oreshkin stressed that Viet Nam and Russia enjoyed a long-lasting friendly and traditional ties, especially in economics and trade.

He noted that Viet Nam is one of Russia’s important partners in ASEAN. Hence, Russian hopes to cement and deepen the ties not only in trade but also in investment in order to raise the two-way trade volume to US$ 10 billion by 2020.

Striving for US$ 10 billion trade revenue by 2018

State President Tran Dai Quang noticed that the outcomes in the bilateral ties between Viet Nam and Indonesia brought back practical benefits for the two countries and the building of the ASEAN community while receiving Indonesian Trade Minister Enggartiasto Lukita.

To boost the bilateral relations, the State President suggested the two sides strengthen reciprocal visits at all levels; prepare for the 7th meeting of the Viet Nam-Indonesia Joint Commission on Economic, Scientific, and Technological Cooperation and strive for US$ 10 billion two-way trade turnover by 2018.

The host leader called upon the two sides to speed up negotiation rounds on the delimitation of the exclusive economic zone in areas where both sides reached the agreement on delimitation of their continental shelf boundary.

Mr. Quang recommended Indonesia refrain from damaging Vietnamese vessels it captured. He stressed the importance of handling the issue in the spirit of humanity and in line with the bilateral strategic partnership and members of the ASEAN Community.

In response, Minister Lukita underlined that Indonesia extremely attaches importance to the relations with Viet Nam, especially in economics and trade.

In economic cooperation, Viet Nam is an important partner of Indonesia with over US$ 5.5 billion of two-way trade. The two countries are sparing no effort to raise the figure to US$ 10 billion in 2018.

Minister Lukita also promised that Indonesia would resolve the Vietnamese boat and fishermen issue in the humanitarian spirit and inform it to the Indonesian Minister o Maritime Affairs and Fisheries and the President.

Canada’s prioritized market for trade and investment

The Vietnamese Head of State lauded Canada’s policy which attaches importance to strengthening ties with the Asia-Pacific Region; respecting for the roles of ASEAN and Viet Nam; and regarding Viet Nam as a significant partner and prioritized market in the region.

According to Mr. Quang, the goal on US$ 10 billion two-way trade volume is within reach over the next five years.

Minister of International Trade of Canada François-Philippe Champagne highlighted that the Viet Nam-Canada relations have flourished over the last decades. Viet Nam has emerged as the largest trade partner of Canada in ASEAN. Education cooperation has become an important cooperative aspect, one of the pillars in the comprehensive ties between the two countries. In addition, around 250,000 overseas Vietnamese are living and studying in Canada, serving as effective bridges for the two peoples.

On this occasion, Minister François-Philippe Champagne suggested Viet Nam back Canada’s effort to become a member of the East Asia Summit (EAS) and its campaign for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council in the 2021-2022 term./.

By Kim Anh