Prime Minister Pham Minh Chính attends the plenary session of the expanded BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia. (Photo: VNA)

KAZAN – Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính had brief meetings with foreign leaders on the sidelines of the expanded BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, on October 23.

At these meetings, he conveyed regards from Party General Secretary Tô Lâm and State President Lương Cường to the foreign leaders. They compared notes on directions and measures to boost relations, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

The foreign leaders said they are impressed with Việt Nam’s socio-economic achievements, and affirmed the importance they attach to the relations with the Southeast Asian nation. They also highlighted their hope for stronger cooperation with Việt Nam across the board, especially economy, trade, investment, energy, education, response to global challenges, as well as delegation and people-to-people exchanges.

Meeting South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa, PM Chính conveyed President Cuong’s invitation to him to visit Việt Nam. The South African leader accepted the invitation with pleasure.

At the meeting with President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, the two leaders affirmed the commitment to deepening the traditional friendship between their countries, making it match the two sides' potential. They agreed to strongly uphold the role of the Việt Nam - Azerbaijan Intergovernmental Committee for Economic, Trade, and Scientific-Technological Cooperation, and to expand collaboration in oil and gas, agriculture, tourism, and locality-to-locality cooperation.

Meanwhile, PM Chính and President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov concurred in effectively implementing the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Việt Nam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). They also discussed strengthening partnerships in in agriculture, education, health care, culture, sports, tourism, and aviation.

PM Chính conveyed the invitation from President Cường to the Kyrgyz President to visit Việt Nam.

The Vietnamese leader and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon concurred to facilitate activities of investors from the two countries in each other's markets, and promote cooperation in potential areas such as agriculture, culture, and tourism.

PM Chính suggested Tajikistan create favourable conditions for Vietnamese garments - textiles, agricultural and aquatic products, and building materials, to access its market, contributing to raising the bilateral trade turnover.

At the meeting with President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian, the two leaders agreed to continue facilitating business interactions and the export of the countries' key products to each other's markets, while strengthening ties in finance and banking, including the early resumption of activities of the joint working board for banking cooperation and the working group for trade cooperation between the two countries.

At PM Chính's meeting with President of the Republic of Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso, the leaders agreed to continue coordination in holding activities celebrating the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations (1964-2024). The two sides will step up market information exchanges and seek cooperation opportunities in potential fields, particularly agriculture.

President Nguesso acknowledged PM Chính’s proposal to facilitate the access of Việt Nam's key items such as rice, agricultural products, consumer goods, garments - textiles, and leather - footwear, to his country's market.

He suggested Việt Nam share its experience in national development and in building policies for reform and international integration.

At another meeting, PM Chính and United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pledged to continue coordination in implementing the key outcomes of the Summit of the Future.

Việt Nam strongly supports the UN’s central role in global governance and will continue to actively and responsibly participate in efforts to promote peace, stability, and inclusive and sustainable development, both regionally and globally, Chính said.

Besides, Chính also had a meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono during which the Vietnamese leader suggested the two sides further enhance their trade ties, striving to raise bilateral trade turnover to US$18 billion, and effectively carry out agreements on maritime cooperation and humane treatment of fishing vessels and fishermen.

Talking to Thai Foreign Minister Maris Sangiampongsa, the PM expressed his hope to soon welcome his Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra on an official visit to Việt Nam and to co-chair the 4th Joint Cabinet Meeting.

He proposed the two sides actively implement the "Three Connections" initiative, focusing on connecting supply chains, transport infrastructure, digital economy, green economy, and energy transition.

He called for joint efforts to raise bilateral trade to US$25 billion in a more balanced manner.

At the meeting with Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, PM Chính noted his hope that his upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia at the end of October will yield practical results, further enhancing bilateral cooperation, especially in potential areas such as Halal, digital transformation, green transition, and energy.

On this occasion, PM Chính and the foreign leaders exchanged views on several international and regional issues of shared concern, affirming their commitment to strengthening consultation and coordination at regional and international forum. VNS