At the meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann. (Photo: VNA) At a meeting in Hanoi with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann, which took place on the sidelines of the OECD – Southeast Asia Ministerial Forum 2023, Son thanked the organisation and the official in particular for their support and close coordination, which has contributed to the success of the forum as well as the Vietnam Investment Forum – OECD 2023.
The minister expressed his belief that with the theme “Sustainable and Quality Investment: New Momentum for OECD- Southeast Asia Partnership”, the OECD – Southeast Asia Ministerial Forum will help enhance cooperation, especially in investment, between OECD countries and Southeast Asia, towards the 10th anniversary of the OECD-run Southeast Asia Regional Programme (SEARP) next year.
He also emphasised the importance of implementing the signed memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Vietnam and the OECD, and called on it to further support the dispatch of Vietnamese coordinators at the organisation.
For his part, Cormann expressed his impressions on the economic silver linings created by Vietnam for the gloomy world economic picture.
He thanked the country for its close coordination and congratulated it on the successful organisation of the OECD – Southeast Asia Ministerial Forum for two consecutive years as SEARP co-chair, opening up new cooperation orientations between the OECD and regional countries in the time ahead.
The OECD and its member countries will continue to support Vietnam in implementing sustainable development goals, bringing the cooperation to a new height in a more substantive and effective manner, in association with Vietnam’s priorities in emerging areas like digital transformation and green growth.
This is the second time Cormann has visited Vietnam and attended the OECD-Southeast Asia Ministerial Forum since assuming the position of OECD Secretary General, demonstrating the organisation’s respect for its cooperation with Vietnam as well as the country's role in promoting cohesion between OECD members and Southeast Asian nations.
The same day, Son hosted a reception for Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Tsuji Kiyoto who was in Hanoi for the OECD – Southeast Asia Ministerial Forum.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (R) and Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Tsuji Kiyoto. (Photo: VNA) Recalling the official visit to Vietnam by Japanese Crown Prince Fumihito Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko last month, he said it has contributed to fostering sentiments and understanding between the two peoples.
Cooperation between ministries, agencies and localities, and people-to-people exchanges have also been intensified and reaped many positive results, he continued, stressing that nearly 500 activities have been held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties.
Son suggested Tsuji and the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs closely coordinate to advance the Vietnam-Japan relationship to a new height by increasing high-level exchanges and contacts; strengthening collaboration between ministries, agencies and localities; maintaining cooperation in economy, investment and official development assistance (ODA); and beefing up partnerships in new fields like green transition, digital transformation and emission reduction.
Appreciating Japan’s granting of electronic visas to Vietnamese tourist groups, he suggested the country further streamline visa procedures for Vietnamese citizens, thus contributing to boosting people-to-people exchange and tourism cooperation between the two countries.
Tsuji affirmed that high-level visits and the celebration of the bilateral diplomatic ties have created new momentum for the two countries to promote their friendship.
Vietnam’s stability and development is significant to the region and Japan, the official said, pledging that Japan will maintain its support to the Southeast Asian nation in industrialisation and modernisation, and create favourable conditions for the 500,000-strong Vietnamese community to live, study and work there.
Both agreed to reinforce cooperation between the two countries at multilateral forums like the OECD and ASEAN.
Tsuji spoke highly of cooperation between Vietnam and the OECD, along with Vietnam's initiatives and efforts as SEARP co-chair, and wished that the country will carry forward its role in forging the ASEAN - Japan cooperation in the coming time./.
VNA
