Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính (right) and Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau had a meeting on the sidelines of G20 Summit. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

RIO DE JENAIRO — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính held separate meetings with leaders from Spain, Paraguay, Canada, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Vatican, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Brazil, on November 19 (local time).

The Vietnamese government leader respectfully conveyed the regards from Party General Secretary Tô Lâm, President Lương Cường, and National Assembly Chairman Trần Thanh Mẫn to the leaders. He extended Lâm's and Cường's invitations to the leaders to visit Việt Nam.

Meeting with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, PM Chính expressed his gratitude to the Canadian government for assisting Việt Nam in recovering from the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi and extended an invitation for PM Trudeau to visit Việt Nam soon.

To deepen and elevate the Việt Nam-Canada Comprehensive Partnership, both sides agreed to further strengthen bilateral relations, particularly in high-level delegation exchanges, economic, trade, and investment cooperation, ODA collaboration, peacekeeping force training, and to better leverage the strengths of the CPTPP, of which both countries are members.

PM Phạm Minh Chính (right) and Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez. — Photo from Việt Nam Government Portal

Meeting with his Spanish counterpart Pedro Sanchez, Chính affirmed that Việt Nam always attaches importance to and wishes to deepen its strategic partnership with Spain, and thanked the Spanish government for its support to help Việt Nam in overcoming the aftermath of Typhoon Yagi.

He proposed the two sides strengthen delegation exchanges at all levels and soon sign a new joint action programme between the two governments; promote cooperation with Việt Nam in areas of transport infrastructure, renewable energy, science - technology, and agriculture.

He expressed his hope that Spain will help urge other European Union (EU) member countries to quickly ratify the EU-Việt Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), and the European Commission (EC) to lift its 'yellow card' warning against Vietnamese seafood.

Agreeing with Chính's proposals, Sanchez called on the two sides to cooperate in infrastructure development such as subways, urban railways, and urban planning; and promote people-to-people exchanges, and cooperation in sports, tourism, and culture; and mutually support each other at multilateral forums.

PM Phạm Minh Chính (right) and Ahmed Sayegh, Minister of State of the United Arab Emirates. — Photo from Việt Nam Government Portal

In his meeting with Ahmed Sayegh, Minister of State of the United Arab Emirates, PM Chính affirmed Việt Nam's readiness to become a strategic supplier of Halal products, contributing to ensuring food security for the UAE.

The two sides discussed measures to further intensify bilateral cooperation in order to implement the outcomes achieved during the Vietnamese leader’s visit to the Middle East nation, and to prepare for the upcoming visit to Việt Nam by the UAE President. They agreed to boost cooperation in maritime connectivity, tourism, aviation, labour, and other potential fields.

The UAE Minister of State stated that his country will actively support and share its experience with Việt Nam in building an international financial hub; and strengthen the connection between innovation hubs of the two nations.

PM Phạm Minh Chính (right) and President of Paraguay Santiago Pena. — Photo from the Việt Nam Government Portal

Talking to President of Paraguay Santiago Pena, PM Chính proposed that the two countries strengthen political and diplomatic exchanges; expand economic, trade and investment cooperation; boost people-to-people exchanges; and promote negotiations on cooperation agreements.

The Vietnamese leader asked Paraguay to continue supporting the completion of the internal review process of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) to facilitate the signing of the Việt Nam-MERCOSUR free trade agreement as soon as possible.

For his part, Pena affirmed that his country always treasures the relationship with Việt Nam and stands ready to act as a bridge promoting Việt Nam's relations with MERCOSUR – the world's leading food trading region.

PM Phạm Minh Chính and Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong. — VNA/VNS Photo

During their discussion, Chính and his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong discussed orientations to strengthen bilateral relations in the future, including promoting bilateral cooperation mechanisms; developing new-generation Việt Nam-Singapore industrial parks; enhancing infrastructure and logistics connectivity, and digital connectivity between the two economies. They also talked about collaborating on developing clean and renewable energy systems, forming an electricity grid within ASEAN, and sharing experiences in building international financial hubs. The two PMs also addressed regional and global issues of mutual concern.

PM Phạm Minh Chính and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. — Photo from the Việt Nam Government Portal

During a meeting between PM Chính and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the two sides expressed their pleasure at the positive developments in the Việt Nam-Holy See relationship in recent times, as evidenced by high-level visits and exchanges between the two sides’ leaders.

Chính took the occasion to invite Pietro Parolin to visit Việt Nam. The Vatican PM accepted the invitation with pleasure and said that Pope Francis eagerly looks forward to visiting Việt Nam, thus contributing to promoting the bond between the Holy See and the Catholic Church in Việt Nam, and further fostering the relationship between Việt Nam and the Vatican.

PM Phạm Minh Chính and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. — Photo from the Việt Nam Government Portal

In a discussion with WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Chính thanked and valued WHO for providing effective vaccines to Việt Nam through the COVAX mechanism, which helped Việt Nam respond to and overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. He stated that Việt Nam always attaches importance to developing cooperation with WHO to ensure public health.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus commended Việt Nam's policies and efforts in responding to epidemics, hoping that Việt Nam will actively support the international community in swiftly adopting a global agreement on epidemic prevention and response for the future. He also proposed strengthening cooperation with Việt Nam to develop an ecosystem for biotechnology and healthcare. — VNA/VNS