Venezuela wishes to cement ties with Viet Nam

HA NOI – Venezuelan Foreign Relations Vice-Minister for Asia, the Middle East and Oceania David Nieves Velasquez Caraballo has affirmed that his country attaches importance to and wants to boost relations with Viet Nam.

The diplomat made the statement at a courtesy visit to Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, a political consultation with Deputy FM Le Luong Minh and a meeting with President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Vu Xuan Hong in Ha Noi yesterday.

At the events, both sides discussed measures to promote comprehensive partnership between the two countries.

The Vietnamese side congratulated Venezuela on its recent socio-economic achievements and its official admission to the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), and highly valued Venezuelan's role in regional organisations, including the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Bolivarian Alternative of the Americas (ALBA).

The two sides spoke highly of the strong developments of their bilateral friendship and all-round cooperation, especially in politics-diplomacy, trade-investment, energy-oil and gas, and education-training.

The Venezuelan guest agreed to speed up the implementation of cooperation documents and the signing of new agreements, expand bilateral cooperation in potential fields such as construction, agriculture and education.

The two sides discussed an action plan to mark the 25th anniversary of the establishment of their bilateral diplomatic ties which will come in 2014.

They agreed to enhance coordination and support each other at international organisations and multilateral forums to which both countries are members, especially the UN, the Non-Aligned Movement and the South-South cooperation forum.

Hosts and guest also reached consensus on further promoting the Southeast Asia-Latin America cooperation through existing mechanisms. - VNA