President Trần Đại Quang meets his Peruvian counterpart Pedro Paplo Kuczynsky in Lima on November 18. — VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sáng

LIMA — President Trần Đại Quang and his Peruvian counterpart Pedro Paplo Kuczynsky discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties during their talks in Lima on November 18. The Vietnamese President was in Peru to attend a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) forum. 

The two leaders witnesses the signing of three co-operation agreements, including an MoU on fishing development, a cultural co-operation agreement and another on the control of psychotropic substances, drugs and drug precursors.

Both leaders agreed to increase the exchange of high-level, local and business-level visits, and hasten the signing of co-operation agreements in diverse areas, especially in telecommunications and oil and gas.

They pledged to help their business communities access Southeast Asian and Latin American markets.

On regional and global issues of shared concern, the Vietnamese leader underscored the importance of strengthening collaboration to maintain a climate of peace and stability for development.

The two presidents expressed their satisfaction with the increasingly effective co-ordination between the two countries at regional and global mechanisms such as the APEC, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Co-operation (FEALAC).

The guest suggested joint work be continued to implement a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on co-operation within the APEC framework, thereby ensuring the success of the APEC Peru Year 2016 and APEC Việt Nam Year 2017.

Earlier, Quang delivered a speech to Peruvian business representatives, briefing them on Việt Nam’s economic integration, including its economic partnerships with 224 markets. The country has also signed 90 bilateral and six regional free trade agreements, and actively joined regional and inter-regional co-operation mechanisms, he said.

He told them that Việt Nam was adopting a range of measures to improve the business climate, making it easier for foreign investors, including those from Peru, to do business.

Bilateral trade ties are yet to match each side’s potential due to the geographical distance and limited investment, Quang said, urging both sides to work harder to increase co-operation in agriculture, fisheries, construction materials, software services and mining. — VNS