Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang had separate meetings with the newly-accredited ambassadors of Turkmenistan and Iceland to Vietnam in Hanoi on June 21.
Hosting Turkmenistan Ambassador Parakhat Hommadovich Durdyev, Hang proposed the two sides continue to promote exchanges and contacts at all levels in both bilateral and multilateral frameworks to enhance mutual trust and understanding, and create a basis for expanding cooperation in economics, tourism, education - training, and energy.
The two sides can consider the possibility of negotiating and signing an agreement on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports to facilitate delegation exchanges and bilateral contacts, she suggested.
Parakhat Durdyev pledged to consider and propose to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Government of Turkmenistan measures to strengthen cooperation in areas the two countries have strengths and demand, such as trade, investment, information technology, agriculture, oil and gas, tourism, and education and training.
Receiving Icelandic Ambassador Thórir Isben, Hang agreed with the need for the two sides to intensify political and diplomatic cooperation and mutual consultations at multilateral forums and the United Nations.
Appreciating Iceland's role in negotiating a Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), she suggested Iceland pay attention to promoting bilateral trade, and encourage more Icelandic enterprises to do business and invest in Vietnam.
She also proposed studying and promoting collaboration in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, high technology, renewable energy, education - training, tourism, and culture.
Thórir Ibsen affirmed that Iceland values cooperation with the Asian region, including Vietnam.
He proposed the two sides continue to implement the Memorandum of Understanding on clean energy cooperation signed during the President of Iceland's visit to Vietnam in 2015; and create favourable conditions for large Icelandic businesses in the geothermal field to operate in Vietnam; effectively implement cooperation in such traditional fields as fisheries, education - training, culture and tourism; and expand it to new ones like gender equality, science and high technology./.
