Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (fourth right) receives Jean Asselborn, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg in Hà Nội on Thursday.— VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam always regards Luxembourg as an important friend and partner, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc said at his reception for Jean Asselborn, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg in Hà Nội on Thursday. 

PM Phúc welcomed the signing of a framework agreement on co-operation between the two governments, saying it creates a co-operation framework suitable for the new situation, especially in co-operation for development and climate change response support. 

He spoke highly of Luxembourg as the fifth biggest European Union investor in Việt Nam and expressed his hope that the two countries will work to facilitate their businesses to meet and partner in the fields of finance-banking, tourism and green growth. 

The two countries should accelerate the completion of all remaining issues of the Investment Protection Agreement (IPA) and launch relevant procedures to sign the Free Trade Agreement on the sidelines of the upcoming 12th ASEM, the leader said. 

Phúc expected that the European country will continue aiding Việt Nam in responding to climate change, and speed up co-operation with the country in building and developing the financial and banking markets as it has a lot of experience and has carried out a number of efficient co-operative programmes with Việt Nam in the field. 

Minister Asselborn said Luxembourg’s maintenance of official development assistance for Việt Nam over the past 25 years showed its respect to developing the ties with Việt Nam. 

He expressed his delight at the growing trade value between the two countries and pledged that his country will work together with Việt Nam to raise the value. 

He spoke highly of PM Phúc’s speech relating to environmental protection at the recent G7 Outreach Summit and offered the sharing of his country’s experience in green bond model for application in Việt Nam. 

He expected that the EU and Việt Nam will soon sign their free trade agreement to facilitate the stronger co-operation between Việt Nam and other EU members in the future. — VNS