Icelandic Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson (left) and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry and Iceland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade should work together to boost engagements between their countries’ ministries, localities and businesses, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has said.
Meeting Icelandic Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade Gunnar Bragi Sveinsson in Hanoi on November 4, Minh stated that Vietnam highly values ties with traditional friends in Europe, including Iceland.
He thanked Iceland for backing Vietnam’s bid for a seat at the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2014-2016 tenure and the United Nations Socio-Economic Council for 2016-2018.
He wished that the two nations would continue close liaison and consultations as well as mutual support at regional and global forums.
Sveinsson, for his part, said the visit of the Icelandic President is to execute the policy of expanding ties with Asia, in which Vietnam is a significant partner.
Both sides reached consensus on launching joint work in the areas of trade-investment, aquaculture, renewable energy, tourism, education-training.
They also agreed to accelerate the negotiations and signing of a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association, creating a favourable framework for expanding bilateral trade and investment links.
Host and guest also discussed regional and global issued of shared concern, including the East Sea issue.-VNA
