Vietnam’s Foreign Minister visits Luxembourg

Vietnam and Luxembourg have agreed to continue taking steps to deepen bilateral ties, especially in finance and banking, insurance, heavy industry, tourism and transport services.
Vietnam and Luxembourg have agreed to continue taking steps todeepen bilateral ties, especially in finance and banking, insurance,heavy industry, tourism and transport services.

A consensus was reached during talks between Luxembourg’s DeputyPrime Minister and Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn and Vietnam’svisiting Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, on June 26.

During their talks, Jean Asselborn spoke high of Minh’s visit, thefirst by a Vietnamese Foreign Minister since 1994, saying that it marks anew phase in Vietnam and Luxembourg’s relationship, especially asthe two countries are preparing to celebrate their 40th anniversaryof diplomatic ties in 2013.

Minister Minh said heis delighted to visit Luxembourg, the first European country he hasset foot in since he took office. He stated that his visit reflectsVietnam’s appreciation and determination to strengthen its friendshipand multi-faceted cooperation with Luxembourg .

Both host and guest expressed pleasure with the developments in theirfriendship and joint initiatives between the two countries in the past,particularly in politics and diplomacy, economics and developmentcooperation.

They agreed to boost cooperation inscience and technology, the environment and sustainable development,health, information and communications and cultural exchanges.

They applauded the outcomes of several joint development projects andagreed to get the remaining projects, agreed under theVietnam-Luxembourg Orientation Cooperation Programme from 2011-2015, upand running as soon as possible. They mainly focus on health, vocationaltraining and rural development in areas with socio-economicdifficulties.

Regarding cooperation between thetwo Foreign Ministries, Minh suggested that the Foreign Ministry ofLuxembourg encourages universities, research centres and institutes toexchange researchers and students with their Vietnamese partners as wellas support Vietnam in French language training, internationalrelations and drawing up new legislation.

Theyalso agreed to discuss visa exemptions for the holders of diplomaticpassports and that Vietnam and Luxembourg will continue to workclosely at international forums and organisations.

Minh stressed that Vietnam will help Luxembourg to broaden its tieswith ASEAN while Jean Asselborn said Luxembourg will assist Vietnam todevelop its relationship with the EU and back the Southeast Asiancountry’s bid to secure EU recognition as a market economy.

Deputy PM Jean Asselborn praised Vietnam’s increasing role in theregion and its taking over the role as coordinator of ASEAN-EUrelations from July 2012.

Later the same day,Minister Minh met with Luxembourg’s Minister of Development Cooperation,Marie-Josee Jacops, to discuss implementing Luxembourg’s ODA projectsin Vietnam and ways of boosting bilateral ties in this field.-VNA

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