Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (left) and his Romanian counterpart Luminita Odobescu. (Photo: tuoitre.vn) The two ministers noted with pleasure the strongdevelopments of the bilateral relationship, and stressed the importance the twosides attach to their traditional friendship.
Son used the occasion to thank Romania for itssupport over the past time, especially during the negotiation and signing ofthe EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and Romania’s early ratificationof the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).
The officials briefed each other on their respectivecountry’s situation and achievements in external affairs, and highlighted theclose, effective cooperation between the two ministries, both bilaterally andmultilaterally.
They agreed to step up all-level contacts anddelegation exchanges to foster mutual understanding and political trust, anddeepen the traditional friendship and fruitful cooperation between the twocountries across spheres.
They also consented to maintain the regularpolitical consultation mechanism between the two ministries, early sign a newmemorandum of understanding on cooperation, and continue coordinating theirstance at regional and international forums.
Theministers concurred to work to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in economy, trade, labour,education-training, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchange.
Earlier, during PM Chinh's visit to Hungary, FM Son held talks with Hungarian Minister ofForeign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó in Budapest, during which they engaged in in-depth discussion on measures to boost the Vietnam-Hungary comprehensivepartnership, especially in politics-diplomacy, economy-trade-investment,labour, culture and tourism, and support to Vietnamese in the host country.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó. (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Son thanked Hungary for supporting Vietnamduring the negotiation and signing of the EVFTA and being the first EUmember to ratify the EVIPA. He suggested that Hungary, which is scheduled totake over the six-month presidency in the second half of 2024, urge other EUmembers to ratify the agreement, and the EC to early remove its “yellow card”warning on Vietnamese seafood.
He suggested the two countries boost collaborationin traditional areas, particularly education-training, and culture-tourism,while expanding it in such potential fields as innovation, energy transitionand digital transformation.
Szijjártó, for his part, called on Vietnamese businesses to scope out investment opportunities in Hungary, expressed his readiness to enhance cooperation in labour between the two countries.
Touching upon regional and international issues,they shared the view on the importance of handling disputes by peacefulmeasures, not using force or threatening to use force, and in line withinternational law./.
