President meets Berlin Mayor, German parliamentarians

Berlin, (VNA) – President Truong Tan Sang on November 25 held a meeting with Berlin Mayor Michael Muller as part of his three-day State visit to Germany.

President Sang said he is impressed by the city’s modern public transport system and a green and clean environment.

He suggested the city share its experience with and support Vietnam in this field.

Speaking highly of the cooperation agreement between Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem district and Lichtenberg district of Berlin, the President described the pact as the foundation for collaboration between the two capital cities in the time ahead.

The two sides agreed to promote economic cooperation between Berlin and Vietnam.

Mayor Michael Muller pledged more favourable conditions for Vietnamese in Berlin to run business and stabilise their lives in his city.

The same day, President Truong Tan Sang and his entourage laid wreaths at the Neue Wache Memorial dedicated to war victims and at the French Embassy in Berlin to pay tribute to victims of the recent terrorist attacks in Paris.

During his stay in Germany, the President also met with the German parliament’s Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group with ASEAN.

Hailing the group’s active support for enhancing relations between Germany and ASEAN in general and Vietnam in particular over the pat time, the leader said the group is an important bridge contributing to fostering ties between the law making bodies of Germany and ASEAN member countries.

He suggested the German parliament back Vietnam’s efforts in stepping up the comprehensive cooperation with the EU as well as the EU’s early signing of a free trade agreement with Vietnam.

The President noted his hope that the group will encourage the European Parliament to ratify the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and the EU to recognise Vietnam’s market economy status at an early date.

The German parliamentarians said they support the enhancement of the legislative ties between the two countries and increase exchanges between the two countries’ people, students and economic groups.

They proposed the two countries increase vocational training programmes, considering high-quality personnel training a basic condition and momentum for the bilateral ties.

The group showed their readiness to help build vocational training schools in the Southeast Asian nation.

Regarding the East Sea issue, they said they back viewpoints of Vietnam and the ASEAN in settling the disputes through peaceful measures and on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.-VNA