HÀ NỘI – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg Jean Asselborn reviewed the development of bilateral ties during their talks in Hà Nội yesterday.

Deputy PM Minh thanked Luxembourg for its strong commitments to development cooperation programmes in Việt Nam and welcomed the establishment of Luxembourg’s Honourary Consulate offices in Hà Nội and HCM City, which he said, has reflected the country’s desire to strengthen bilateral ties.

He asked for the early organisation of the 10th meeting of the Việt Nam – Luxembourg Partnership Committee in 2018 in the European country to review the implementation of Luxembourg-funded projects and programmes for the 2016-20 period.

The host hoped that investors from Luxembourg would diversify investment in the fields of construction, food processing and high-tech media in Việt Nam, and the European nation would make it easier for Vietnamese goods to enter the country and the European Union.

Asselborn, for his part, affirmed that the Luxembourg government wants to develop collaboration with Việt Nam and considers Việt Nam a priority partner in development cooperation in Asia.

The two sides discussed measures to step up bilateral ties such as facilitating all-level visits and implementing the framework agreement on cooperation signed in November 2017. They identified cooperation fields in the new period to effectively use non-refundable aid provided by the Luxembourg Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for climate change-related projects in Việt Nam.

On regional and global issues of shared concern, they pledged to work closely together at regional and global forums.

The Luxembourg side affirmed support for Việt Nam to reinforce ties with the EU and its willingness to push for the EU’s early approval of the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement.

Luxembourg shared Việt Nam’s stance on the East Sea issue that maritime freedom must be respected everywhere and disputes need to be settled by peaceful means in line with international law, stressing that ensuring maritime and aviation security and safety in the region is not only for the interest of regional countries but also the common interest of the global community.

Asselborn expressed support for denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula to contribute to peace, stability and security in the region.

Following the talks, Deputy PM Minh received two honourary consuls of Luxembourg in Hà Nội and HCM City.

Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Luxembourg Jean Asselborn is on an official visit to Việt Nam on June 14 and 15 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh. — VNS