WARSAW — Việt Nam wants to develop traditional friendship and multifaceted co-operation with Poland, one of its prioritised partners in East-Central Europe, said Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hoà Bình.

Bình has been on an official visit to Poland for the past three days at the invitation of Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and Higher Education Jaroslaw Gowin.

Bình held talks with Gowin and met with Marshal of the Senate Stanisław Karczewski and Chief of the Chancellery of the President Halina Szymanska.

At these meetings, Bình said Việt Nam always treasures the precious assistance and support that the Polish people extended during the cause of national liberation and construction, especially helping to train thousands of Vietnamese personnel.

He congratulated Poland’s achievements in socio-economic development and European integration, while the Polish leaders said they were impressed by Việt Nam’s high economic growth, stable society, and growing position in the region and in the world.

The Polish officials stressed that Việt Nam has been an important partner over the past seven decades.

They agreed with Deputy PM Bình’s proposal to organise the first meeting of the Việt Nam-Poland economic co-operation consultation mechanism and resuming the operation of the joint committee for science-technology cooperation, saying that they are ready to send delegations to Việt Nam.

They also concurred with the early signing of an agreement on degree equivalence and on the establishment of co-operation mechanisms in security and crime prevention. The Polish officials said they would create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community living and studying in Poland.

The two sides agreed to maintain meetings between their high-ranking officials, and exchange delegations at all levels, sectors, and localities.

They promised to support each other in issues of common interest at multilateral forums, particularly at the United Nations and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

Bình used the occasion to thank Poland for its support for Việt Nam’s bid to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-21 term and stressed his belief that Poland will achieve more while holding the non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council for the 2018-19 term.

At their talks, the two Deputy PMs reviewed past collaboration across sectors and reached an agreement on specific measures to boost bilateral ties.

They applauded the strong development in bilateral economic-trade-investment ties. Trade between Việt Nam and Poland exceeded US$1 billion last year and hit $750 million in the first half of 2018, up 50 per cent year-on-year.

Poland’s direct investment in Việt Nam increased 2.5 times in the past three years to reach $230 million.

To sustain the growth, the two Deputy PMs agreed to step up trade and investment promotion, as well as create conditions for Vietnamese and Polish firms to network, carry out market studies, seek investment opportunities, and form joint ventures in the fields of agriculture, food processing, pharmacy, and environmental protection, among others.

They affirmed the need to strengthen judicial co-operation, particularly the negotiation and signing of a regional agreement on extradition, as well as agreements on the transfer of prisoners and the criminal judicial assistance. They said the establishment of collaboration between the two supreme courts and supreme procuracies are also necessary.

The Polish leader stressed that Poland is willing to exchange its experience with Việt Nam concerning anti-corruption policy and measures.

Gowin and Karczewski agreed with Binh’s view on the importance of the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and stressed their commitments to backing the early signing of the pact in 2018 and its ratification next year.

The Polish officials showed their support toward Việt Nam’s stance on international and regional matters, including the East Sea issue. — VNS