Vietnam, Tunisia reach consensus in various fields

The Vietnam-Tunisia intergovernmental committee concluded a meeting in Hanoi on December 13 with the signing of minutes on further cooperation in a large range of areas, from diplomacy to finance.
The Vietnam-Tunisia intergovernmental committee concluded a meeting in Hanoi on December 13 with the signing of minutes on further cooperation in a large range of areas, from diplomacy to finance.

The minutes, signed by Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Le Duong Quang and Secretary in charge of Foreign Affairs Saida Chtioui of Tunisia, highlights broader cooperation in diplomacy, trade, industry, agriculture, oil and gas, investment and finance.

The two sides agreed to exchange lists of major hard currency earners in an effort to boost two-way trade revenues to between 150 million USD and 250 million USD by 2015.

They also pledged to provide optimum conditions for State-owned Vietnam Oil and Gas Group and its partners from the north African nation to explore, exploit and refine oil and gas resources.

Investors from the two countries were encouraged to invest in petroleum and the energy industry. The Vietnamese side presented the Tunisian delegation with the draft of an agreement on investment encouragement and protection, with agreement for an early signing.

The meeting also discussed programmes on cooperation in finance, agriculture, aviation transport, labour, education, culture, tourism, construction and trade promotion.

The Vietnamese head delegate officially asked Tunisia to recognize Vietnam as a full market economy.

In return, Saida Chtioui reaffirmed Tunisian respect for relations with Vietnam for its dynamic growth and position in Southeast Asia.

“We are eagerly looking forward to the day when Vietnam opens a trade representative office in Tunisia, which will benefit both economies,” said the Tunisian head delegate.

Vietnamese business circles consider Tunisia one of their major potential markets and a gateway into other markets in north Africa.

However, bilateral trade revenues remain modest at just 8 million USD in the first 10 months of the year./.

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