President Tran Dai Quang and his Irish counterpart Michael D. Higgins on November 7 expressed their desire to deepen the friendship and multi-dimensional cooperation between Vietnam and Ireland in the time ahead.
The two Presidents told the press about their discussions and achievements during their talks in Hanoi, following a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace for President Michael D.Higgins and his spouse Sabina Higgins who are on a state visit to Vietnam from November 5-11.
 |
| President Tran Dai Quang (right) receives his Irish counterpart Michael D. Higgins in Hanoi__Photo: VNA |
At the press conference, President Quang said he and his Irish counterpart shared the view that Vietnam and Ireland hold great potential for cooperation in areas of mutual interest, like trade-investment, education-training, green technology, agriculture, health care and sustainable development.
Economically, both agreed to create favorable conditions and encourage the two countries’ businesses to set up partnerships and transfer technologies to each other, particularly in renewable energies, agriculture and food processing, aviation, healthcare, information and communications, he said.
Education and training were agreed to be the key areas for the two countries’ cooperation, he said, adding the leaders welcomed the signing of cooperation agreements by the education ministries and higher education institutions during the visit, helping to facilitate the implementation of specific joint programs and projects in the future.
President Quang thanked the Irish Government for considering Vietnam a priority partner in its development cooperation policy, its official development assistance to the country during the 2017-2020 period, and its support for Vietnam in realizing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (MDGs).
Sharing the hope for enhanced solidarity, friendship and mutual understanding between their citizens, Vietnam and Ireland consented to effectively implement their collaboration in child adoption, increase cultural and art exchanges and promote the bridging role played by the Vietnamese in Ireland, contributing to strengthening the bilateral affiliation in other realms.
The Presidents reached consensus on the need to maintain peace and security, and boost cooperation and development in the world.
Vietnam and Ireland also agreed to continue their close coordination at international forums like the UN, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and within the framework of ASEAN-EU cooperation in order to address global issues such as climate change and actualize the MDGS for a green, clean, peaceful and better world, President Quang said.
Regarding the East Sea issue, the host said he and his guest shared the view that the disputes should be handled by peaceful measures in line with international law, especially the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS).
For his part, President Higgins said their talks touched upon a range of cooperation areas, both bilaterally and multilaterally.
They were also unanimous in how to reach their shared objectives, bilaterally and multilaterally, in order to fulfill their obligations to the international community.
Higgins said he and his Vietnamese counterpart talked about migration as well as its global impacts, the affiliation in multilateral institutions like the UN Arms Trade Treaty, and their mutual support as candidacies to non-permanent seats of the UN Security Council.
The Irish President stressed that the two sides exchanged information about each country’s economic situation, and discussed ways to make Ireland a bridge for Vietnam to access the EU and Vietnam as a springboard for Ireland to enter the nearly-600-million person ASEAN market.
He appreciated contributions of the Vietnamese in Ireland and the Irish community in the Southeast Asian nation.
The leaders said they hope that the two countries’ young people will contribute to world peace.
Higgins used the occasion to invite President Tran Dai Quang and his spouse to soon pay a visit to Ireland.
