(VOVworld) - Timor Leste Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao began an official visit to Vietnam on Tuesday at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. During talks after the welcoming ceremony on Wednesday, the two Prime Ministers highlighted the achievements of bilateral cooperation. They pledged to further strengthen cooperation, especially in the fields that they have advantages in. Speaking to reporters after the talks, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said:“We have reviewed the cooperation between the two countries over the years and worked out orientations and mechanisms to further bilateral cooperation in politics, economics, trade, investment, agro-forestry-fisheries, energy, information technology, and education-training. The two sides reached a consensus on ensuring food security, signing an agreement on investment promotion and protection, cooperating in telecommunications, agro-forestry and holding the first meeting of the Joint Committee soon to discuss specific cooperative measures”.

They agreed to assign the relevant ministries and agencies to speed up negotiations and sign agreements on investment promotion and protection, cooperation in food security, education, training, oil and gas, tourism and people to people exchange. At the same time, they pledged to effectively implement a Vietnam-Timor Leste framework agreement on economic and technological cooperation signed in April 2010, and convene the first session of the joint commission soon to discuss specific areas of cooperation.

The two Prime Ministers discussed regional and global issues of mutual concern and promised to strengthen cooperation in multi-lateral forums. They agreed on the need to ensure maritime security and safety and maintain peace and stability in the region. The Timor Leste Prime Minister said he supports ASEAN’s stance on the East Sea, including the ASEAN six-point principles on the issue. Following talks, the two Prime Ministers witnessed the signing of the bilateral trade agreement between Vietnam and Timor Leste. This will serve as an important prerequisite for the two countries to increase their two-way trade turnover in the near future.