Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (R) meets his Turkish counterpart Binali Yildirim in Hà Nội yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and his Turkish counterpart Binali Yildirim discussed measures to promote trade and investment ties between the two countries during talks in Hà Nội yesterday. 

Lauding the outcomes of the two countries’ joint committee’s seventh meeting in July, the two PMs stressed their determination to raise two-way trade to US$4 billion in 2020 by boosting trade and investment promotion activities. 

The Turkish PM suggested that the two sides consider co-operation in the defence industry. 

Welcoming the Turkish businesses accompanying PM Binali Yildirim, PM Phúc said that he hoped enterprises of both countries would make use of their meetings during the visit to boost the trade of goods, investment, people-to-people exchange and tourism between the two countries. 

He proposed that Turkey recognise Việt Nam’s market economy soon, and asked that Turkey remove unreasonable taxes and fees on Vietnamese products such as footwear, belts, air conditioners and cell phones. 

The two sides agreed to work closely to enhance co-operation in transportation, especially aviation and maritime affiliation, science-technology, culture-education, security-defence and people-to-people diplomacy. 

PM Yildirim suggested the two countries provide scholarships to students of each other and encourage their students to study the language and culture of the other country. 

The two PMs agreed to collaborate to organise celebrations of the 40th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2018. 

On political ties, they decided to increase delegation exchanges and encourage co-operation between their ministries, sectors, localities and friendship organisations.

They pledged to continue with mutual support at international forums, while the Turkish PM asked for Việt Nam’s support for Turkey’s bid for a seat in the UNESCO Executive Board for 2017-21, while backing Việt Nam to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-21. 

The two sides also shared concerns on rising terrorism and affirmed their support for regional and international efforts to combat terrorism. 

Regarding the East Sea issue, PM Yildirim affirmed his support for Việt Nam’s efforts in maintaining stability in the region and the East Sea in particular, as well as the stance of Việt Nam and ASEAN countries on settling disputes in the East Sea by peaceful methods and with respect for international law. 

Following the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing of an agreement between Việt Nam’s Ministry of Finance and Turkey’s Ministry of Customs and Trade on administrative co-operation and support in customs, and a memorandum of understanding between the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Turkish Ministry of Economy on developing export processing and economic zones.

The Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality of Việt Nam and the Turkish Standards Institution also signed a co-operation plan for 2017-18. — VNS