Việt Nam intensifies ties with Norway, Ireland

November 22, 2017 - 09:03

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh met Norway’s Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide and Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland Ciaran Cannon yesterday on the sidelines of the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh met Norway’s Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide yesterday on the sidelines of the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.— Photo baoquocte.vn

NAY PYI TAW — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh met Norway’s Foreign Minister Ine Eriksen Soreide and Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland Ciaran Cannon yesterday on the sidelines of the 13th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar.

At their meeting, Minh and Soreide expressed their delight at the positive development of the two countries’ relations, agreeing to boost co-operation in trade, investment, maritime economy, education and training.

Appreciating Norway’s important contributions to realising the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the global level, the Vietnamese diplomat asked Norway to continue supporting Việt Nam in realising the SDGs, especially in health, education, clean water and environmental sanitation. 

The Norwegian minister affirmed that Norway attached importance to its co-operation with Việt Nam, both bilaterally and multilaterally, and would intensify cooperation in ship building, navigation, renewable energy, oil and gas, and aquatic farming. 

She thanked Việt Nam for backing the establishment of the dialogue partnership between ASEAN and Norway, while pledging to speed up the completion of negotiations on a free trade agreement between Việt Nam and the European Free Trade Area (EFTA).

Meanwhile, Irish Minister of State Ciaran Cannon spoke highly of the multi-faceted co-operation and effective co-ordination between the two countries at multilateral forums. 
He said he hoped to consolidate and expand collaboration with Việt Nam in economics, trade, education and training. 

Minh, in turn, suggested the two foreign ministries co-ordinate closely in implementing the 2017-20 co-operation strategy. 

Thanking Ireland for its provision of 7.5 million euros (US$8.1 million) per year in official development assistance (ODA) for Việt Nam during 2017-20, he asked Ireland to continue helping Việt Nam reduce poverty, develop human resources and realise SGDs. — VNS

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