Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc receives Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Denis Moncada in Hà Nội on Friday. VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI Việt Nam wants to develop trade ties with Nicaragua, said Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc when receiving visiting Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Denis Moncada in Hà Nội yesterday.
At the reception, Phúc thanked Nicaragua for supporting Việt Nam in its successful bid to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-021 tenure.
He lauded the outcomes of recent talks between his guest and Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh, adding that he believed the guest’s visit would help open a new chapter in Việt Nam–Nicaragua relations.
The Government leader said bilateral trade remained low, suggesting the two countries capitalise on their potential for better turnover.
Việt Nam has strengths in agriculture, farm produce export, infrastructure construction, and telecommunication, and can co-operate with Nicaragua in such fields, according to the Prime Minister.
For his part, the top Nicaraguan diplomat said his current visit aimed to boost bilateral economic, trade and investment collaboration and open up new co-operation areas.
He told his host that during talks with Minh, both sides agreed to increase delegation exchanges and named agriculture, animal husbandry, processing industry and health, among others, as sectors for improved bilateral engagement.
The Nicaraguan official said his country wanted to reinforce co-operation with Việt Nam by optimising the strengths of both nations.
Earlier the same day, Moncada said Nicaragua considered Việt Nam a friend and an important partner in the Asia-Pacific at his talks with host Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh in Hà Nội, expressing his admiration for Việt Nam’s progress.
For his part, Minh said Việt Nam always appreciated the support of the Nicaraguan government and people during its past struggle for independence and current national construction.
He said Việt Nam wanted to enhance bilateral co-operation for the common development of the two nations.
Both host and guest agreed to consolidate political ties and mutual trust, increase delegation exchanges and carry out negotiations and sign pacts to form the legal framework for bilateral collaboration.
They said it was necessary to create favourable conditions for linking Vietnamese and Nicaraguan firms in trade, agriculture, aquatic farming, health, construction, infrastructure, energy, and telecommunication. 
The officials also said they wanted to enhance Việt Nam- Nicaragua co-operation in defence, culture-sport and tourism.
The sides said they would continue working together at international organisations and multilateral forums.
The Nicaraguan FM is paying an official visit to Việt Nam on September 5–7.
As part of the visit, he met with head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Hoàng Bình Quân and leaders of the Ministry of Industry and Trade. He also paid tribute at the mausoleum of late President Hồ Chí Minh and toured historical and cultural sites in Hà Nội.
Việt Nam and Nicaragua established diplomatic relations on September 3, 1979. — VNS