Vietnam and Colombia have expressed a desire to promote cooperation in politics, diplomacy, trade, oil and gas, culture, education, tourism and poverty reduction in the near future.

At the talks with Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin in Hanoi on Feb. 27, FM Pham Binh Minh spoke highly of Colombia’s proposal of building a mechanism and legal framework for the two countries’ relations.

Minh also suggested the exchange of delegations at all levels and thanked the South American country for sending an art troupe to Hue festival 2012, which will be held this April within the framework of the Forum for East Asia – Latin American Cooperation (FEALAC).

FM Holguin said she hopes Vietnam will assist Colombia in promoting cooperation between Latin America and Southeast Asian regions.

The two sides agreed to work closely at international and multilateral forums such as the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and FEALAC for protecting legitimate interests and raising the position of the two countries at global and regional forums.

After the talks, the two ministers signed a visa exemption agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders between the two Governments and a memorandum of understanding on establishing a political consultation mechanism between the two ministries.

During her stay in Vietnam from Feb. 25-27, Holguin met with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, held a working session with Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang and visited some cultural and tourism spots.-VNA