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| Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ meets with President of the Portuguese National Assembly Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues in Portugal on Friday. — Photo vov.vn |
HÀ NỘI — Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ began his working visit to Portugal on Friday, where he met with President of the Portuguese National Assembly Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues.
At the meeting, the two officials spoke highly of the positive development of the partnership between Việt Nam and Portugal in politics-diplomacy, economy and trade. Two-way trade rose by 15 per cent to US$391 billion in 2017.
They agreed that the bilateral co-operation has yet to fully tap their potential and that they should increase the exchange of delegations at all levels and bolster cooperation in sea-based economy, shipping, renewable energy and tourism, among others.
Việt Nam always treasures relations with Portugal, said Huệ, noting that some leading corporations in Việt Nam are accompanying him during the visit as an effort to enhance economic and trade ties with Portugal.
He urged Portugal, as a EU member, to take a more active role in bridging ASEAN and the EU, and to support the early signing of the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
Rodrigues, for his part, recalled his memories 50 years ago when he, at the age of 18, flocked to streets to take part in anti-war demonstrations in support of Việt Nam.
He highly evaluated Việt Nam’s role in the international arena and voiced his support for multilateral trade and the signing of EVFTA.
Huệ later had a meeting with Portuguese Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security José António Vieira Da Silva in which the two sides agreed that social welfare plays an essential role in ensuring stable socio-economic development.
The Portuguese minister promised to assist Việt Nam’s Ministry of Labour, War Invalid and Social Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs and Việt Nam Social Security in reforming social security and wage policies. — VNS
