Vietnamese PM hails Iran’s initiatives for cooperation

VGP – Receiving Iranian Trade Minister Mehdi Ghazanfari who is on a working visit to Việt Nam, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng on Tuesday lauded the Middle East country’s initiatives for cooperation with Việt Nam.

December 22, 2009 3:02 PM GMT+7

PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng (R) and Iranian Trade Minister Mehdi Ghazanfari, Hà Nội, December 22, 2009 - Photo: VGP

PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng highly spoke of results of the working sessions of Minister Mehdi Ghazanfari with Vietnamese competent agencies and confirmed that the Government of Việt Nam will offer favorable conditions for the negotiation and signing of bilateral cooperation agreements.

Quoting the 2008 two-way trade turnover of US $145 million, which doubled the previous year, as a positive indicator for the flourishing cooperation between the two countries, the Vietnamese PM encouraged the two sides to further make use of their untapped potentials and advantages.

PM Dũng appreciated Iran for supporting the Việt Nam Oil and Gas Group, PetroVietnam, to explore and exploit petroleum in Iran, expecting to see closer cooperation in this field.

Việt Nam is ready to work with Iran on both bilateral and multilateral forums, said the host leader.

PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng (R) receives Iranian Trade Minister Mehdi Ghazanfari, Hà Nội, December 22, 2009 - Photo: VGP

In the working sessions with some Vietnamese ministries and agencies, said Minister Mehdi Ghazanfari, he proposed an overall ten-year program which is supposed to pave the way for stronger bilateral cooperation.

He also suggested the two countries negotiate for a Free Trade Agreement and other cooperation deals.

The guest stressed that Iran really wants to deepen its cooperation with Việt Nam.

By Xuân Hoàng