Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (right) and Greek Foreign Minister Nikolaos Dendias (Photo: VNA) He thanked the Greek government for its gift worth50,000 EUR to the Vietnam Olympics Committee and its donation of hundreds ofthousands of COVID-19 vaccine doses to the Southeast Asian nation in November2021.
Vietnam and Greece should step up meetings and delegationexchanges at all levels, especially the high-level one, and continue theirmutual support at multilateral forums and international organisations, the PMsaid.
He also suggested the two countries play a moreactive role in handling regional and global issues, and effectively cooperatein such spheres as trade, agriculture, labour, culture, sports and tourism.
Expressing his delight at the bilateral trade, thePM called on Greece to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese agriculturalproducts to penetrate the Greek market and the EU.
Businesses of the two countries should optimise thegreat opportunities generated by the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA)and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) in order to raisethe bilateral trade revenue to 5 billion USD as agreed by Vietnamese and Greek seniorleaders, Chinh continued.
He also asked ministries and agencies of the twosides to remove obstacles, towards the signing of a maritime transportagreement and another on double tax avoidance.
The PM lauded Greece as one of the first European countriesto ratify the EVIPA, and called on the country to urge the EuropeanCommission (EC) to soon remove its “yellow card” warning on Vietnamese seafood.
He also suggested the two countries accelerate theimplementation of a cultural cooperation agreement signed in 2008, especiallythe sharing of experience in archeology, the conservation and restoration ofrelics, making dossiers to seek UNESCO recognition.
Dendias congratulated Vietnam on its achievements in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, controlling inflation, stabilising the macro-economy, ensuring major balances, and boosting economic recovery and development.
He affirmed that Greece always considers Vietnam a priority and important partner in the region and wishes to further strengthen multifaceted cooperation with the Southeast Asian nation.
The Greek FM spoke highly of Vietnam's increasing role, position and contributions to maintaining peace, stability and development in the region and in the world.
He asserted his country’s strong support for Vietnam's stance as well as agreed on the importance of ensuring security and safety of aviation and navigation, and settling disputes in the East Sea by peaceful measures on the basis of respect for international law, and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS).
PM Chinh welcomed the proposal of the Greek side to build a monument and memorial space for President Ho Chi Minh in Greece.
He suggested agencies of the two sides work specifically to implement the proposal.
PM Chinh took the occasion to convey an invitation to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to visit Vietnam in the coming time./.
VNA
