Vietnam attaches importance to relations with Israel, says PM
VOV.VN - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed Vietnam’s desire to enhance multifaceted cooperation with Israel during his reception in Hanoi on August 16 for visiting Minister of Economy and Trade Nir Barkat who is also co-chairman of the Vietnam – Israel Inter-government Committee.
He said the organisation of the third meeting of the Vietnam – Israel Inter-government Committee is a practical step towards realizing the outcome of the recent Israel visit by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang and the recent signing of the Vietnam – Israel free trade agreement (VIFTA).
He highly appreciated Israel’s development gains and expected that Israel would share its development experience with Vietnam.
The PM announced Vietnam’s recent decision to extend the validity of e-visas to citizens of global countries, including Israel, to 90 days as of August 15, and welcomed both sides’ efforts to soon launch a direct air route.
To improve the efficiency of bilateral cooperation, Chinh proposed that the two sides increase visit exchanges, soon implement the VIFTA effectively, and negotiate and sign an agreement on industrial cooperation.
He underlined the need for the two sides to facilitate business connectivity, including exchanging business delegations and organizing trade promotion activities in each other’s markets.
He proposed that Israel increase the import of key Vietnamese products such as agricultural and aquatic products, fresh vegetables, processed foods and household utensils.
The PM also proposed that the two sides promote cooperation in innovation, high-tech fields, climate change response, and high-quality human resource training. He assured his guest that Vietnam is willing to act as a bridge to enhance cooperation between Israel and ASEAN.
On this occasion, the PM sent his greetings and invitation to pay an official visit to Vietnam to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Welcoming Chinh’s proposals, Minister Nir Barkat affirmed that the Israeli Government always considers Vietnam an important partner in the region and it wishes to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in all fields.
He highly appreciated Vietnam’s potential as a dynamic economy and a lucrative market of more than 100 million consumers, serving as a gateway to a larger ASEAN market of nearly 700 million consumers.
He said Israel is working closely with Vietnam to complete necessary procedures for the enforcement of the VIFTA, as well as to ramp up cooperation in the fields of high technology, medicine, anti-desertification, maritime cooperation, aquaculture and especially innovation.
