President Truong Tan Sang shakes hand with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg (L). Photo: VNA
President Truong Tan Sang had a meeting with Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg in New York on September 25 (New York time), during which he stated that Vietnam attaches much importance to developing ties with Norway.
He congratulated Norway on becoming a partner of ASEAN, affirming that Vietnam supports the partnership between the two sides.
The Norwegian PM said she is pleased that relationship between Norway and Vietnam has progressed, especially since her visit to the Southeast Asian country in April this year.
Both sides agreed that it is necessary to increase regular exchanges of delegations between businesses as well as ministries and localities of both countries.
The President proposed that the Norwegian Government encourage and back the country’s enterprises to invest more to Vietnam, especially in maritime, shipbuilding, hydropower, renewable energy, oil and gas, and aquaculture.
He also suggested that Norway hasten the European Union to sign and approve the Vietnam-EU free trade agreement as well as recognise Vietnam ’s market economy regulations. The deal will help boost economic cooperation between Vietnam and the EU and Norway in particular, he added.
The two leaders concurred to continue coordinating closely at multilateral forums. The Vietnamese President asked for Norway ’s support to its bid for the non-permanent membership at the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure.
Erna Solberg held that with outstanding achievements in realising the Millennium Development Goals, Vietnam deserves a seat at the UN Security Council.
The two sides also agreed to work together for the implementation of post-2015 sustainable development goals. President Sang expressed his hope that Norway continues maintaining ODA provision to Vietnam , focusing on economic infrastructure building, climate change response, health care and education, especially for children and women.
Regarding regional matters, both sides concurred that disputes in the East Sea should be solved through peaceful measures on the basis of respect for international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, contributing to maintaining peace, stability, aviation and maritime safety and freedom in the sea.
Also on September 25, President Truong Tan Sang, who is in New York to attend the 70th UN Summit, participated in a seminar with Vietnamese and US businesses on the impacts of the Trans-Pacific Partnership on enterprises of both sides.
Addressing the event, the President said that over the past two decades, businesses of both sides have made significant progress in their economic, trade and investment partnership, which serves as a foundation and momentum for the growth of the Vietnam-US ties.
Both Vietnamese and US firms at the event expressed their hope that the two countries continue creating more favourable conditions for them to access each other’s market.
US enterprises suggested that Vietnamese leaders maintain regular dialogues with business community to understand their opinions and aspirations, thus completing the country’s market economy mechanism and improving investment environment.
The Vietnamese side proposed that US businesses raise their stronger voice to the US Government to recognise the market economy of Vietnam and remove barriers against Vietnamese products.
The US firms also lauded Vietnam’s determinations and commitments during the TPP negotiations, as well as efforts of the Vietnamese negotiation team. The firms also received answers for their questions on Vietnam’s restructuring of State-owned enterprises, infrastructure development and regulations on pharmaceuticals management and copyright.
The same day at the UN headquarters, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh delivered a speech at a high-level dialogue on poverty reduction.
He shared Vietnam’s impressive attainments in the work, with poverty ratio reduced to 8 percent in 2014 from 58 percent in 1993.
He held that in order to secure sustainable poverty reduction, it is crucial to have a multidimensional approach to poverty as Vietnam has applied in its new strategy.
Besides, it is necessary to raise public awareness and improve the poor’s capacity in getting rid of poverty, while supporting poorest groups and areas.
He highlighted the need to continue fostering collaboration and global partnership for development, with the UN playing the role of a consulter and coordinator.
Addressing a high-level event themed “From Global Conversation to Global Action-Making the Sustainable Development Goals work”, Deputy PM Minh underscored perquisite conditions for success in the field, including high-level political commitment, a peaceful and stable environment for development, a focus on the people as the owner, driver and beneficiary of development efforts, and a strong global partnership for sustainable development that aims to leave no one behind.-VNA
