Vietnam, Macedonia to fortify economic ties
Vietnam and Macedonia have signed several agreements that will boost bilateral economic ties, which leaders of both nations say are modest at present.
In talks held in Skopje on December 2, Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan and Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov also agreed to enhance co-operation in education and training and boost cultural exchanges including increased people-to-people meetings.
Doan said that Vietnam was always willing to be a bridge between Macedonia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and Ivanov said his country could be Viet Nam's gateway to the Balkan market.
The bilateral agreements, signed during the Vietnamese President's three-day visit to the southeast European country, include one on reciprocal protection of investments, double taxation avoidance and strengthening economic co-operation.
The two leaders said the agreements would create a favourable legal framework for boosting bilateral multifaceted co-operation and enhancing trade turnover.
They also exchanged opinions in international and regional issues of mutual concern and affirmed that they would work closely at all international forums, especially the United Nations and the Francophonie bloc.
On the East Sea issue, Ivanov said that Macedonian leaders had always supported Viet Nam's stance in solving disputes through peaceful measures, based on international laws including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.