Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh holds phone talks with Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu on Wednesday. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh held phone talks with Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu on Wednesday to discuss co-operation in the fight against COVID-19 as well as coordination at the United Nations Security Council to which both countries are non-permanent members in the 2020-21 tenure. 

Minh informed the Estonian FM about measures implemented by the Vietnamese Government and achievements in containing COVID-19 and maintaining economic growth.

Việt Nam is ready to share information and experience with Estonia, and work with the country to promote international co-operation in driving back the epidemic and dealing with global challenges, he said.

Reinsalu, for his part, spoke highly of Việt Nam’s drastic and effective measures as well as its active and proactive role at international and regional forums, especially its success in the role of rotary President of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in January 2020.

He suggested that both countries continue working closely together at the UNSC on issues of global concern, especially when Estonia will serve as rotary UNSC President in May 2020.

Minh thanked Estonia for supporting the signing of the EU–Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU–Việt Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) in June 2019.

He proposed that the Estonian Parliament soon ratify the EVIPA to boost trade between the two countries, as well as between Việt Nam and the EU.

Speaking highly of recent progress in bilateral ties, both sides vowed to strengthen traditional friendship and all-around bilateral co-operation in fields of their strength and demand in the near future, including in digital economy and e-government. — VNS