Bolivia wishes to further enhance its mutually-benefiting cooperation with Vietnam, stated Bolivian Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera at his talks with visiting Vietnamese Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan in La Paz on May 18.

The host described the Vietnamese Vice President’s official visit as an important milestone which creates a new driving force for the two countries’ friendship and multi-faceted collaboration.

Doan, in turn, declared that Vietnam attaches importance to expanding its relations with countries in Latin America, including Bolivia.

The two leaders agreed that bilateral relations have seen positive developments, especially in politics and diplomacy, as reflected by the outcomes of high-level visits and the close coordination at international organisations.

However, both admitted that economic-trade-investment ties have yet to match potential, as two-way trade now stands below 10 million USD per year.

Therefore, they suggested the two countries speed up negotiations towards the signing of cooperation documents in order to complete a legal framework for bilateral cooperation, early activate established cooperative mechanisms, including the joint committee on trade and investment.

They also asked the two Governments to create favourable conditions for businesses to access each other’s market, and set up a partnership level suitable with their policies and laws, particularly in energy, oil and gas, telecommunications and agriculture.

The two sides agreed to continue coordination and cooperation at international organisations, especially the United Nations. They shared the viewpoint that territorial disputes should be dealt with through peaceful negotiations and dialogues with respect for international law, not using or threatening to use violence.

On the same day, Vice President Doan was received by President of the Bolivian Senate Jose Alberto Gonzalez and President of the Chamber of Deputies Gabriela Montano Viana, who both pledged to strongly support the Bolivian Government in enhancing multi-faceted cooperation with Vietnam.

Doan affirmed that the Vietnamese State also backed the two parliaments’ strengthened collaboration at bilateral and multilateral levels.-VNA