(VOVworld) – East Timor’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Hermani Coelho da Silva is on a working visit to Vietnam. At a reception on Thursday, Vice-chairman of the National Assembly Uong Chu Luu said Vietnam wants to increase its friendship and cooperation with East Timor. He asked the East Timor government to quickly complete all necessary procedures so that a bilateral trade agreement signed by the two countries in 2013 will soon come into force. He also called for the stepping up of rice trading cooperation for the 2015-2017 period and the implementation of signed agreements and memorandums of understanding. Mr. Luu said Vietnam’s National Assembly is willing to cooperate with East Timor’s parliament bilaterally and multilaterally.

Minister Silva hailed Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements and said the two countries should prioritize cooperation in agriculture, fisheries, energy, and infrastructure.