State President To Lam held talks with visiting President of Timor-Leste José Ramos-Horta in Hanoi on August 1 (photo: VOV)

The two leaders agreed to increase exchanges and meetings at high and all levels in the coming time, while efficiently implementing the Framework Agreement on Economic and Technical Cooperation, working for the early organization of the first meeting of the Vietnam – Timor-Leste Joint Committee at the Foreign Minister level, and considering establishing new bilateral mechanisms suitable to the cooperation demands of the two countries.

Lam affirmed that Vietnam is willing to supply rice to Timor-Leste, contributing to helping the country ensure food security. He suggested that the two sides extend or sign a new memorandum of understanding on rice trade, and encouraged Timor-Leste to import high quality products of Vietnam such as garments and textiles, footwear, beverages, dairy foods, processed foods, agricultural and aquatic products.

At the talks

The Vietnamese President proposed that Timor-Leste ratify the bilateral trade agreement signed in 2013 with Vietnam, creating favorable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to expand their operations and investment in the country.

The two leaders agreed to efficiently promote the cooperation potential in other important areas, especially agriculture, fisheries, telecommunications, education, oil and gas, infrastructure construction, education, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

Discussing regional and international issues of shared concern, the two sides concurred to continue to cooperate with and support each other at international and regional organizations.

Lam highly evaluated the determination and efforts by Timor-Leste in realizing the roadmap to become a full member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), affirming Vietnam’s support to Timor-Leste’s full ASEAN membership at an early date.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the two sides committed to continuing to support the upholding of the law in maintaining peace, stability and ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea, as well as the settling of disputes through peaceful measures in line with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the serious, full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and the negotiations of a Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC), contributing to maintaining peace, stability and development in the region.

Following the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of an agreement on bilateral visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders.

The same day, President To Lam and President of Timor-Leste José Ramos-Horta visited the Ho Chi Minh Museum.