Vietnam, Timor-Leste keen to boost all-around cooperation
VOV.VN - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Timor-Leste counterpart Taur Matan have agreed to increase ties in culture, tourism, education, and people-to-people exchanges towards expanding into new fields such as digital transformation, green growth, and the circular economy.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on May 11 held a meeting with PM Matan as part of the occasion of their attendance at the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo in Indonesia.
The Vietnamese Government leader congratulated Timor-Leste on becoming an observer of ASEAN, while affirming that, in the spirit of the traditional friendship and close co-operation, Vietnam stands ready to share its experience and back Timor-Leste’s bid to become the 11th member of the ASEAN family in the near future.
The two sides consented to intensify the exchange of delegations at all levels, whilst effectively implementing signed agreements. They also acknowledged the potential for broader co-operation, especially in terms of trade and investment, as well as agreeing to create favourable conditions for their businesses to operate effectively in each other's markets.
PM Chinh asked Timor-Leste to create the correct conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to conduct business in Timor-Leste by definitively solving legal issues; swiftly ratifying the Bilateral Trade Agreement signed in 2013 and effectively implementing the Memorandum of Understanding on Trade in Rice signed in 2015.
Expressing his gratitude for positive Vietnamese feelings for the country and people of Timor-Leste, PM Matan affirmed that Vietnam represents a great friend, with his nation keen to strengthen linkages with the Vietnamese side. He added that President Jose Ramos-Horta desires to visit soon.
The Timor-Leste PM hailed the impressive Vietnamese socio-economic development achievements and expressed his pleasure to see the effective and substantive co-operative ties between the two countries, especially in the field of telecommunications and education.
PM Matan cordially invited PM Chinh to visit Timor-Leste, while PM Chinh responded by inviting him to visit Vietnam on a convenient occasion.