Top legislator wraps up Morocco visit, heads to France for official visit

Marrakech (VNA) – National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan concluded her official visit to Morocco on March 30 afternoon (local time), and headed for France for another official visit.

In an interview with Moroccan reporters earlier the same day, the top legislator said the Morocco visit is a success.

She highlighted the fruitful political and diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Morocco. However, the leader said, the bilateral economic and trade ties have yet to match their potential and aspirations.

Due to the geographical distance, two-way trade stood at only over 200 million USD in 2018, she added.

Therefore, during the visit, leaders of the two countries discussed measures to step up the economic and trade links, she said, noting that the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade, and Morocco’s Ministry of Industry, Investment, Trade and Digital Economy signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the establishment of a sub-committee on cooperation in trade and industry.

They also wanted to promote collaboration in culture and tourism, as well as twining relationship between localities of the two sides, according to the NA Chairwoman.

On this occasion, Vietnam’s Da Nang city and Tangier city of Morocco also inked a MoU on setting up the friendship and cooperation, she said, adding that the two sides will accelerate the establishment of the twining relationship between Vietnam’s Hue ancient capital city and Morocco’s Marrakech city.

The leader said Vietnam has rolled out a national strategy on climate change while Morocco has devised a strategy on green economic development strategy towards sustainability.

Given this, the two countries can enhance partnerships in these fields, especially in renewable energy.

She further said the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Moroccan Ministry of Energy, Mines and Sustainable Development signed a MoU on environment and sustainable development.

Ngan expressed her belief that the legislatures and governments of the two countries will foster collaboration in the spheres.

Regarding coordination between Vietnam and Morocco at regional and international forums in the coming time, she said under an agreement signed in late 2017, the two sides consented to further their close coordination at these forums, especially within the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the United Nations to which both countries are members.

As host of the General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in 2020, Vietnam will invite President of the Moroccan House of Representatives to attend the meeting.

Along with developing the bilateral parliamentary ties, the two sides will exchange information and experience in dealing specific issues, she said.-VNA