BUCHAREST — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh paid an official visit to Romania yesterday and today at the invitation of Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu. 

During the stay, Minh met with Vice Chairwoman of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies Carmen Ileana Mihalcescu and had talks with FM Teodor Melescanu.  He also met with Prime Minister Viorica Dancila. 

Meeting Carmen Ileana Mihalcescu, Minh recalled the support of Romania for Việt Nam, including the training of more than 4,000 Vietnamese who are now contributing greatly to Việt Nam’s national development and the friendship between the two nations. 

He affirmed Việt Nam’s hope to boost ties with Romania, particularly in economics-trade-investment and areas where the two countries can supplement each other. 

Mihalcescu stated her support for developing co-operation, noting that the Romanian parliament advocated the early signing of the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and would approve the Investment Protection Agreement after its official signing. 

The two sides expressed satisfaction at the friendship between the two countries over the past nearly seven decades and the political-diplomatic ties, especially the two parliaments’ regular exchange of visits and co-ordination at international forums. 

At his talks with FM Teodor Melescanu, Minh highlighted progress in bilateral economic-trade-investment partnership, saying that though still modest, it provided an important prerequisite for future co-operation.     

  
Minh called for more attention on people-to-people exchange, suggesting organising cultural activities and inviting a Romanian art troupe to Việt Nam’s Huế Festival in 2019. He also asked the Romanian Government to help the Vietnamese community in Romania integrate into the host country. 

Minister Melescanu affirmed that Việt Nam was an important partner of Romania in Asia and Southeast Asia, hailing the visit by Minh as significant to boosting bilateral relations. 

The two officials welcomed positive changes in bilateral ties, but noted that economic-trade-investment relations remain modest with two-way trade reaching only US$207 million in 2017. Romania has only two investment projects in Việt Nam worth $1.2 million. 

They explored the potential that can be tapped to boost relations, including Romania’s technology and experience in power, oil and gas, mining, pharmaceuticals, agriculture and food processing, and Việt Nam’s seafood, tropical fruits and textiles-garment products. 

The two sides also agreed to promote collaboration in tourism and science-technology, and consider the possibility of sending skilled Vietnamese workers to Romania. 

They shared the view that the two countries should continue to work together in filmmaking, organising cultural events and send delegations to attend each other’s festivals.

Romania promised providing more scholarships for Vietnamese students and suggested Việt Nam send young diplomats to short-term training courses in Romania. 

The two officials also discussed international and regional issues, and the maintenance of regional and world peace and stability, along with the settlement of disputes by peaceful measures on the basis of respect for international law and treaties of the UN, including the 1982 UN Convention of the Law of the Sea. 

Melescanu said as EU Chair in the first six months of 2019, Romania would support relations between Việt Nam and the EU, including the EVFTA. 

Minh affirmed that Việt Nam was willing to work to connect Romania and ASEAN member countries. 

Following the talks, the two Foreign Ministers met the press on the outcomes of their meeting. They witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on co-operation between the diplomatic academies of the two countries. 

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Viorica Dancila told Minh at their meeting that the two countries have many opportunities to upgrade their ties, especially in economics-trade-investment and science-technology. She noted that Vietnamese labourers are hardworking and eager to learn, and thus will be able to work in Romania. 

Host and guest agreed that to lift economic-trade ties to match political-diplomatic relations, it is necessary to remove obstacles in economic collaboration. To this purpose, they stressed the importance of the inter-governmental committee, and of a legal framework, which will need negotiations and signing of legal documents on economic, agricultural, cultural and education co-operation. 

Minh conveyed an invitation to visit Việt Nam from Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc to the Romanian Government leader, who accepted with pleasure. — VNS