Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on May22 held phone talks with his Irish counterpart Simon Coveney to discuss measures to enhance bilateral cooperation as well as coordination between the two nations at multilateral forums.
Minh shared Vietnam’s measures to curb COVID-19 and develop theeconomy in the post-pandemic period.
He affirmed that Vietnam is willing to share experience and coordinate withIreland to enhance medical capacity in response tothe pandemic and support each other in citizen protection.
Coveney highly appreciated Vietnam’s strong measures and active roles as ASEANChair 2020 and non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council(UNSC) for 2020-2021 in promoting regional and global cooperation to push backthe disease.
Hesuggested the two countries further step up partnership in the cooperation frameworks between the European Union (EU) and Vietnam, and between the Association of SoutheastAsian Nations (ASEAN) and the EU, as well as at international forums, especially the United Nations, regarding issues of mutual concern.
Minh affirmed thatVietnam is a responsible partner of the international community, and alwaysclosely works with partners, including Ireland, at multilateral forums, to makemore contributions to peacekeeping, stability, respect for international law,and response to global issues.
Minh thanked Ireland for supporting the signing and ratification of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement(EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). He recommendedthe two sides to cooperate to optimise opportunities from the deals, thus helping the two economies to overcome the current challenges.
The twoofficials recognised positive progress in the bilateral relations and agreedto jointly organise activities marking the 25th founding anniversary ofVietnam-Ireland diplomatic ties (1996-2021), while enhancing multifacetedcooperation, especially in economy, trade and development cooperation./.