Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives Israeli President Reuven Rivlin (Photo: VNA)The President said Israel attaches great importance to the cooperative ties with Asia, including ASEAN, adding that Vietnam plays a crucial role in the bloc.
Israel is keen on investment in education and hopes to share experience and promote cooperation with Vietnam in this sphere, he added.
He supports the collaboration between the two countries’ businesses and suggested the two sides push negotiations to reach the signing of a bilateral free trade agreement in the time ahead.
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc urged to increase two-way trade to 3 billion USD in the years to come from the current level of 1.3 billion USD via facilitating the entry of key products in the respective markets.
The two sides should support enterprises to seek investment and promote trade and information exchanges on business policies and cooperation opportunities, he recommended.
It is necessary to forge connectivity between chambers of commerce and industry and business associations, he said.
The PM proposed Israel consider the provision of preferential credit packages for Vietnam to implement projects on infrastructure building, poverty reduction, agricultural and rural development, human resources, and natural disaster risk management.
Both countries need to push ahead with negotiations on the bilateral free trade agreement and pay attention to mutual benefits to create a long-term cooperation framework, he said.
He suggested enhancing collaboration in science-technology and prioritising hi-tech agriculture and industry, referring to the successful cooperation in milk cow breeding in southern Ho Chi Minh City and central Nghe An province.
Vietnam hopes Israel to increase the transfer of hi-tech and environmentally friendly technologies to save natural resources and reduce production cost, he said.
He asked the two sides to strengthen affiliation in defense security, particularly in defense industry and cyber security.
The PM called on Israel to work with Vietnam to address Agent Orange/dioxin contamination left over from war.
He also hopes Israel will provide more assistance in human resources training in the fields of its strength such as agriculture, information technology, telecommunication, and science-technology.
Vietnam wants Israel to consider the launch of negotiations on labour cooperation, and in the foreseeable future, receiving Vietnamese workers to work in agriculture and demanding sectors, he added.
Hailing Israel’s start-up model, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc proposed Israel send experts to help Vietnam in this field, especially at manufacturing facilities and universities.
He also welcomed Israeli businesses to make investment in Vietnam and hoped Israel will create favourable conditions for Vietnamese localities to cooperate with Israeli partners.
Later the day, President Tran Dai Quang hosted a banquet for visiting Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and his entourage.-VNA
VNA
