Vietnam, Serbia agree to build concrete cooperation framework hinh anh 1Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) and his Serbian counterpart, Ivica Dacic (Source: VNA)
 
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and his Serbian counterpart, Ivica Dacic, have agreed to build a specific cooperation framework in order to boost bilateral collaboration in all fields, especially in economy, trade and investment.

During their talks in Hanoi on September 8, the two officials also emphasised the need to increase political consultations and coordination between the foreign ministries of Vietnam and Serbia.

More favourable conditions should be created to facilitate the penetration of Vietnam’s key exports such as seafood, garments-textiles, coffee and wooden products into Serbia and other Balkan countries, as well as the access of Serbian goods like foodstuff, equipment and machines to the Vietnamese and ASEAN markets, they said.

Minh spoke highly of the signing of an agreement on double taxation avoidance and another on mutual recognition of the market economy status between Vietnam and Serbia.

He suggested the two nations soon complete negotiations on an agreement on economic and trade cooperation in an effort to finalise the legal framework for bilateral economic, trade and investment ties.

Minh highly evaluated Dacic’s official visit to Vietnam from September 7-11, stressing that this is the first visit to the Southeast Asian nation by a high-ranking Serbian leader since 1989.

The officials consented to intensify and expand cooperation in areas that the two countries have potentials, particularly culture, tourism, transport and national defence and security.

Having hailed the effective collaboration at international forums and organisations between Vietnam and Serbia, they held that the two countries need to continue close coordination at multilateral institutions, especially within the framework of the UN.

Minh used this occasion to thank Serbia for its support for Vietnam’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council during the 2020-2021 term.

While discussing international and regional issues of mutual concern, the officials highlighted the significance of peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation, the peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of respect for international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS), the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the early completion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC). -VNA 
VNA