Vietnam will create favourable conditions to help Bolivia enter the ASEAN market, President Truong Tan Sang has said.

Sang made the pledge while receiving visiting Bolivian Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera in Hanoi on Sept. 25.

President Sang also expressed his hope that the two countries will continue to strengthen cooperation in all fields.

He spoke highly of the visit by Vice President Linera, the most senior State leader of Bolivia ever coming to Vietnam, since the two countries set up diplomatic ties.

For his part, Vice President Linera said trade ties between the two sides have seen positive changes but failed to match their potential, adding that his visit aims to seek ways to lift the two countries’ relations to a new height, creating a mechanism for bilateral trade collaboration.

On this occasion, he also invited President Sang to visit Bolivia at a convenient time.

In his meeting with the Bolivian Vice President, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung suggested that the two sides increase exchanges at all levels in order to strengthen mutual understanding, and setting up direct partnerships, especially in trade, industry, agriculture, consumption goods production and science and technology.

In this spirit, he urged that the two countries will soon set up a joint committee to foster economic, trade and investment cooperation, and conduct negotiation on necessary legal frameworks for cooperation such as agreements on economics, trade, double taxation avoidance, and investment encouragement and protection.

PM Dung also suggested the two sides support each other at international forums.

Vice President Linera said he agreed to the need to set up a joint committee on economic, trade and investment cooperation to foster the implementation of cooperative programmes.

He said Vietnam should send business delegations to Bolivia to study investment opportunities, especially in industry and oil and gas.-VNA