President Nguyen Minh Triet recently concluded his ten-day state visits to Italy, Spain and Slovakia to boost friendly and cooperative relations with these European countries.
In Italy, President Triet and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements on tourism and development between the two governments, and a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in research, science and education between the two ministries of education and training.
Meeting with Pope Benedict XVI, the President reaffirmed that Vietnam consistently pursued the foreign policies of independence and sovereignty to ensure that the nation is a trustworthy partner and responsible member of the world community.
He said Vietnam was willing to boost ties with the Vatican in the spirit of peace and cooperation and on the basis of respecting international laws.
During his visit to Spain, the President and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luiz Rodriguez Zapatero agreed on measures to lift bilateral cooperation to a new level, emphasizing an effort to build a strategic partnership towards the future.
They stressed the need to create favorable conditions for trade and investment in areas where exist Spain’s strengths and Vietnam’s demands, including infrastructure, renewable energy, science and technology, and tourism.
After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of the Common Action Plan which aims to define a framework for the Vietnam-Spain strategic partnership; a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in science and technology, social affairs, and provision of capital for a subway system in Ho Chi Minh City; an agreement on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic passports; and memoranda on political cooperation between the two ministries of foreign affairs and on cooperation in labor and social insurance.
In Slovakia, the final leg of his European visit, which lasted from December 9-18, President Triet and his Slovak counterpart Ivan Gasparovic agreed on new bilateral economic and trade ties and the fast increase in two-way trade.
They witnessed the signing of an agreement on investment protection and promotion; a memorandum of understanding between the two foreign ministries; and a cooperation deal between Vietnam’s State Audit Office and the Supreme Audit Office of the Slovak Republic.-