Vietnamese NA wishes for closer coordination with Latvian Parliament

The top Vietnamese legislator urged the two legislative bodies to intensify all-level delegation exchange and maintain meetings on the fringes of multilateral forums and discussions on regional and international issues of common concern.

She asked the Latvian diplomat to convey her invitation to the Latvian Parliament’s Speaker to make an official visit to Vietnam in the time to come.

Ngan expressed her confidence that the Latvian Foreign Minister’s visit will contribute to deepening the time-honoured friendship and cooperation between the two nations in a practical and effective manner

The Vietnamese NA leader thanked Latvia for supporting Vietnam’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for 2020-2021 and called for more support and coordination from the country.

Vietnam is Latvia’s biggest trade partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) while Latvia is Vietnam’s largest Baltic trade partner, with last year’s two-way trade hitting US$187.2 million and US$ 88.9 million during the first five months of this year. 

However, the bilateral trade is still far from matching the sound political and diplomatic ties as well as the two countries’ potential for stronger cooperation. The Vietnam-Latvia business conference and trade and investment promotion activities launched during the visit have provided cooperation and business opportunities for enterprises, Ngan noted. 

Regarding the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), Ngan said the trade deals would deliver practical benefits to not only the Vietnam-EU cooperation but also economic, trade and investment ties between Vietnam and Latvia. 

She also suggested the Latvian Government offer more favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to stabilize their lives and run business in the country. 

Edgars Rinkevics, in turn, called on Vietnamese and Latvian legislatures to foster their partnership and soon set up a friendship parliamentarians’ group in each country. 

Vietnam and Latvia are considering the signing of an agreement on labour cooperation, and voiced his hope for stronger bilateral trade and investment ties in the time ahead, he told his host.

Lativa will spare no efforts to expedite the European Parliament to soon ratify the EVFTA and the Latvian Parliament to approve the EVIPA, he said. 

During the reception, host and guest compared notes on regional and international issues of shared concern, including the East Sea issue.

The Latvian diplomat voiced his nation’s support for the stance on the settlement of disputes by peaceful means, without using force.