Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (R) receives Iranian President Hassan Rouhani yesterday in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc congratulated Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on the removal of the international sanctions and the nuclear deal secured with world powers, saying the developments opened up great co-operation opportunities for Việt Nam and Iran.

He expressed his hope that President Rouhani’s visit this week would open up a new chapter in the two countries’ relations.

Phúc lauded the outcome of talks earlier in the day between the two Presidents and the agreements reached during the visit so far, and pledged to lead the Government in implementing them with the goal of lifting bilateral trade turnover to US$2 billion annually. 

Specifically, the PM suggested the sides focus on facilitating trade activities, particularly the export of tea, seafood, rice, cashew, coffee, peppercorns, apparel and rubber from Việt Nam - as well as the shipments of plastic materials, metal, chemicals, ores, machinery, dried fruit and carpets from Iran.

He proposed elevating rice trade to the State level to stabilise the market in the long term, adding that he supports a joint project between Iran and the Mekong Delta city of Cần Thơ on the cultivation of Iranian long-grain rice in Việt Nam for export to Iran. 

The PM urged stronger co-operation in information and telecommunications, asking the Iranian Government to facilitate the operation of Vietnamese telecom companies in Iran.

He also requested further support from the Iranian side for PetroVietnam in resuming oil exploration at the Danan oil block in Iran.

PM Phúc noted that Việt Nam’s participation in a range of free trade agreements would provide opportunities for foreign investors and businesses, including those from Iran.

Concerning the East Sea issue, the PM urged Iran to continue supporting the principle of maintaining peace, stability, security, freedom and safety of navigation and aviation; the settlement of disputes by peaceful measures in line with international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea; the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties on the East Sea (DOC) and efforts to achieve a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) within 2017.

For his part, Hassan Rouhani said Iran wants to work together with Việt Nam in realising agreements secured by the two countries’ inter-governmental committee, particularly in the fields of energy, oil and gas, IT and agriculture. 

He agreed with his host about the need to facilitate ties between Vietnamese and Iranian businesses, adding that Iran was willing to supply Việt Nam with construction materials and join co-operation projects in building thermo-power plants, water supply systems, and roads and bridges.

He thanked Việt Nam for supporting his country in becoming a member of the Treaty of Amity and Co-operation in Southeast Asia. 

Rouhani said he hoped the two countries accelerate negotiations to sign a bilateral free trade pact and suggested the establishment of a maritime route between the two countries.

He described PetroVietnam’s oil exploration project in the Danan oil block as a symbol of bilateral co-operation, adding that the two sides should work together to resume the project.

Rouhani also promised more scholarships for Vietnamese students.  — VNS