HÀ NỘI – Việt Nam hopes to strengthen its cooperation with Algeria across many key sectors, particularly economy and trade, to match the success of their bilateral political ties, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc told visiting Algerian Foreign Minister Abdelkader Messahel. 

During their meeting in Hà Nội on Friday, the Prime Minister said Việt Nam wanted to further enhance its fruitful relationship with Algeria, urging the two sides to fulfill their joint commitments and intensify their exchange of high-level delegations. 

Việt Nam and Algeria should continue to step up the implementation of plans made at the 11th meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee in November 2017, PM Phúc suggested. 

Việt Nam welcomed the consensus reached by agencies of both sides on the formation of the Business Council, as well as their resolve to continue with the negotiations on investment promotion and double taxation avoidance agreements, he noted. 

The PM called for joint efforts to raise bilateral trade revenue to US$1 billion in 2020, saying businesses and business associations played an important role in this regard. 

Việt Nam attached importance to enterprises and their role as drivers of bilateral economic and trade links, he added. 

Lauding the successes of the Bir Seba oil and gas joint venture between the two countries, PM Phúc expressed his hope that Algeria would create more favourable conditions for the company to operate successfully, especially in terms of administrative procedures. 

Việt Nam backed Algeria’s joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and stood ready to dispatch officials and experts to help the country in this field, he said. 

For his part, A. Messahel said his visit aimed to boost co-operation between Việt Nam and Algeria in various spheres. 

The guest used the occasion to affirm Algeria’s support for Việt Nam’s bid to run for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021. 

Algerian Foreign Minister expressed his wish to foster ties with Việt Nam in the fields of politics-diplomacy, trade, investment, oil and gas and labour during his talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh the same day.

He proposed enhancing co-operation between the two countries’ provinces and cities via visits, trade fairs, training courses and scholarships. 

Deputy PM Minh thanked Algeria for providing invaluable support to Việt Nam both in the past with its struggle for national independence, as well as during the current cause of national development.

In the foreseeable future, Minh suggested the two sides prepare well for the Algerian PM’s visit to Việt Nam in 2019, while also strengthening the legal framework to facilitate bilateral trade and investment. 

Specifically, the Deputy PM hoped to see more done to realise the agreements in the fields of investment encouragement and protection, double taxation avoidance, plant quarantine, vet hygiene and protocol on goods trade. 

He urged Algeria to continue assisting PetroVietnam’s investment activities in the country, making it easier for the group to expand exploration and exploitation of potential lots and provide technical services in the field. 

Minh proposed that Algeria create favourable conditions for Vietnamese labourers to work for long term in the country and consider the signing of a labour cooperation agreement between the two nations in the near future. Minh also accepted Messahel’s invitation to visit Algeria with pleasure. – VNS