Vietnam, Estonia resolve to foster bilateral ties

Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on September 14 held talks with Estonian Foreign Minister Sven Mikser, during which he hailed the first Vietnam visit by an Estonian FM since the two nations established diplomatic ties in 1992, describing it as an opportune occasion for both nations to examine ways to further bilateral relations.

The two diplomats noted with satisfaction the two countries’ positive developments in recent times since the Vietnam visit of Estonian Prime Minister Andrus Ansip in 2011.

The duo consented to offer favourable conditions for Vietnam’s key exports such as agro-forestry products, garments and textiles and wood products to enter the Estonian market and other Baltic countries, and for Estonia’s staple items like information and technology, wood, and foodstuff products to gain access to the Vietnam and ASEAN markets.

Minh lauded the signing of an agreement on double taxation avoidance by Vietnam and Estonia, and suggested early negotiation for the signing of an agreement on economic cooperation, there facilitating bilateral economic, trade, and investment ties. 

Host and guest are unanimous in broader cooperation on potential areas, such as education-training, agriculture, culture-tourism, and national defence and security. 

They placed a high value on effective bilateral cooperation at international forums and organisations while agreeing to continue with their close coordination at multilateral institutions and within the United Nations, the ASEM, and other multilateral forums of which both Vietnam and Estonia are members. 

FM Sven Mikser affirmed that his nation supports Vietnam in enhancing comprehensive cooperation with the EU, including the early signing and ratification of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFFTA).

The two FMs also compared notes on regional and international issues of shared concern and underlined the significance of peace, stability, security, and navigation safety and freedom. 

Sven Mikser said Estonia advocates the stance of ASEAN and Vietnam on settling disputes in the East Sea by peaceful measures on the basis of respect for international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). 

The Estonian FM is on an official visit to Vietnam over September 13-14 at the invitation of Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh.