Vietnam and Macedonia have signed an agreement on strengthening economic cooperation, which leaders of both nations say are modest at present.

The agreement was signed during the Vietnamese Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan’s visit to the southeast European country from December 1-3.

In talks held in Skopje on December 2, Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan and Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov also agreed to enhance cooperation in education and training and boost cultural exchanges including increased people-to-people meetings.

Vice President Doan said that Vietnam is always willing to be a bridge between Macedonia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), while the Macedonian President said his country can be Vietnam’s gateway to the Balkan market.

They also exchanged opinions in international and regional issues of mutual concern and affirmed that they will work closely at international forums, especially the United Nations and the Francophone bloc.

On the East Sea issue, President Gjorge Ivanov said that Macedonian leaders have always supported Vietnam’s stance in solving disputes through peaceful measures, based on international laws including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.-VNA