BAKU — Vice President Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh on Saturday met with leaders of Venezuela, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Pan-African Parliament on the sidelines of the 18th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Azerbaijan.

At the meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Thịnh said Việt Nam supports the constitutional government of Venezuela and wishes to further enhance the comprehensive partnership with the country.

Expressing her sympathy over difficulties facing the Venezuelan government and people, the Vice President said she believes that Venezuela will soon overcome these challenges to stabilise and construct the nation.

She suggested Việt Nam and Venezuela step up delegation exchange at different levels and implement cooperation mechanisms such as the Inter-governmental Committee and political consultations between the two foreign ministries.

Venezuela has played an active role in the NAM, Thịnh said, suggesting the country make more contributions in order to maintain principles of the movement.

For his part, President Maduro stressed that Venezuela attaches importance to cooperation with Việt Nam within the bilateral framework and at multilateral forums like the United Nations and the NAM.

He pledged to further facilitate the operation of Vietnamese businesses in Venezuela in such areas as agriculture, food and oil and gas.

Vice President Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh (left) meets President of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) Choe Ryong Hae. — VNA/VNS Photo Phương Hoa

Meeting with President of the Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Choe Ryong Hae, Thịnh lauded delegation and people-to-people exchanges, as well as cultural and sport ties between the two countries, which have significantly contributed to consolidating their traditional friendship.

The Party, State and people of Việt Nam always treasure the time-honoured relationship, she said, highlighting the success of the official visit to Việt Nam by DPRK leader Kim Jong-un last March.

Việt Nam and the DPRK should boost cooperation in line with international law and relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council, she suggested.

Việt Nam always supports the DPRK’s economic reform and development and stands ready to share its experience in national construction and development with the country, the official said.

The two sides agreed to increase all-level delegation exchanges, especially between their citizens and youths, towards the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties in 2020.

In reply, Choe praised Việt Nam’s role in promoting dialogues between concerned parties on the Korean peninsula, especially the organisation of the second US-DPRK summit in Hà Nội last February.

At the meeting with President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) Roger Nkodo Dang, Thịnh said Việt Nam attaches importance to the role and position of African nations and the African Union (AU), and wishes to establish an official relationship with the union.

Việt Nam is willing to share its experience and cooperate with African nations in the areas in which it has the strengths and African nations have demand, particularly agriculture, IT, education and health care.

She thanked African countries for backing Việt Nam’s role as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-21 period and pledged that Việt Nam’s will make all-out efforts to constructively and responsibly contribute to peace and stability in Africa when it assumes the post.

The PAP President noted his hope for stronger cooperation between the AU and Việt Nam in the time ahead.

Regarding the East Sea issue, leaders of Venezuela, the DPRK and the PAP shared the stance of Việt Nam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on maintaining peace and stability, ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, and settling disputes in the East Sea by peaceful measures in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS), thus contributing to peace, cooperation and development in Asia-Pacific and the world at large. — VNS