(VOVWORLD) - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Luxembourg counterpart Xavier Bettel held talks in Hanoi on Thursday, affirming their determination to bring bilateral relations to a new stage of development, which is more substantive and beneficial for both parties.
 Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel held talks in Hanoi on May 4, 2023 (photo: Nhat Bac/VGP) |
PM Chinh praised the Luxembourg Prime Minister’s official visit’s significance, especially as the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties. He reaffirmed that Vietnam values the friendship and multifaceted cooperation.
PM Chinh applauded the strides in economic and various trade links, noting that Luxembourg is now the third largest European investor in Vietnam with capital totaling 2.6 billion USD.
PM Bettle agreed to fully and effectively carry out the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to bolster bilateral trade, along with campaigning other EU countries’ ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), support a more solid cooperation notably between the EU and Vietnam in sustainably developing the fisheries sector, and further persuade the European Commission to soon remove the “yellow card” warning in terms of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The two Prime Ministers agreed on measures to enhance the political trust, friendship and overall cooperation between the two countries, especially increasing all-level delegation exchanges, effectively implementing existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and considering the establishment of new areas which match the countries’ potential and demand.
The affirmed that Vietnam and Luxembourg will maintain mutual support at multilateral forums and international organizations such as the cooperation framework between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the EU, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and the United Nations, especially during the time both serve as members of the UN Human Rights Council, so as to contribute to regional and global peace, stability, cooperation, and development.
Regarding the East Sea issue, both sides acknowledged the importance of guaranteeing peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and airspace in the East Sea, not using or threatening to use force, and resolving disputes by peaceful means in line with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They also voiced support for the early finalization of a Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea that is substantive, efficient, and in conformity with international law.
Following the talks, PMs Chinh and Bettel witnessed the signing of a protocol amending the two Governments’ agreement on double taxation avoidance and the prevention of income and asset tax evasion, along with an agreement on the strategic partnership in green finance between the two ministries.
 The two Prime Minister hold a press conference |
They also had a meeting with the press to inform about the outcomes of their talks.
Later the same day, the two PMs enjoyed both a tour of Van Mieu-Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature), Vietnam's first university built nearly a millennium ago, and the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum.