Vietnam and Portugal reached agreements on fields of potential for future cooperation during a landmark visit by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to Portugal on June 3-4.
.jpg) |
|
|
Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho said the historic visit marked a significant milestone in bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Portugal and would help lift their friendship and cooperation to a new stage of strong, intensive and effective development.
Cielho said Portugal would back Vietnam’s negotiations for the signing of a free trade agreement with the EU to support its recognition of the country’s market economy.
In response, Dung said Vietnam would like to develop comprehensive ties with Portugal, suggesting the two countries further coordinate with and support each other at multilateral, regional and international forums such as the United Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the ASEAN-EU Cooperation.
The two leaders agreed to push economic and trade cooperation and create favorable conditions for enterprises of both countries in order to bring two-way trade to USD 1 billion.
The two sides should make efforts to cooperate in economics, trade and investment and establish practical ties in such areas as marine economy, energy and tourism, Dung said.
He emphasized that cooperation in the marine economy would be an opportunity and a field of potential for bilateral cooperation.
Dung and Cielho also agreed that the two sides should boost people-to-people, cultural and sports exchanges for strengthening the friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding between the two countries.
They expressed their willingness to expand cooperation in education and training, including the teaching of Portuguese in Vietnam.
Following their talks, the two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of a number of agreements between the two countries, including an agreement on double taxation avoidance and a memorandum of understanding on tourism cooperation.-
