Timor Leste congratulates VN on election to Security Council

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Timor Leste's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Dionisio Babo Soares leave the talks room at the Government Guest House in Ha Noi on Monday morning. Photo: VGP/Hai Minh

The event signifies trust of the international community for Viet Nam’s contribution to peace, stability, cooperation and development across the region and the world, Babo Soares told Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh at their talks in Ha Noi on Monday.

Regarding bilateral ties, both Minh and Babo Soares were delighted at the positive advancements of the Viet Nam-Timor Leste cooperation since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 2002.

The pair agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in a range of areas like trade and investment, education, agriculture among others and vowed to foster exchange of delegations at all levels.

They also agreed the two countries will soon ink an agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders and deploy the joint committee for bilateral cooperation.

Both sides agreed to accelerate the signing or extension of other bilateral deals on trade, investment, and education to consolidate legal framework for bilateral cooperation.

The host and the guest vowed to continue close coordination at regional and international fora, particularly the United Nations.

For Timor Leste’s wish to join ASEAN, Minh said Viet Nam will actively work with other ASEAN member countries to consider the issue and provide technical support for Timor Leste to meet membership criteria.

Babo Soares affirmed his country always supports Viet Nam to successfully fulfil its role as ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020.

The same day, Babo Soares will pay a courtesy call on Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the Government Office./.

By Huong Giang