HÀ NỘI – Israel wants to expand co-operation with Việt Nam in the fields of agriculture, space technology, and defense security, President Reuven Rivlin told Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc during their meeting in Hà Nội yesterday.

The President said Israel attaches great importance to the co-operative ties with Asia, including ASEAN, adding that Việt Nam plays a crucial role in the bloc.

Israel is keen on investment in education and hopes to share experience and promote co-operation with Việt Nam in this sphere, he added.

He supports the collaboration between the two countries’ businesses and suggested the two sides push negotiations to reach the signing of a bilateral free trade agreement in the near future.

PM Phúc urged to increase two-way trade to US$3 billion over the coming years, from the current level of $1.3 billion, via facilitating the entry of key products into the respective markets.

The two sides should support enterprises to seek investment and promote trade and information exchanges on business policies and cooperation opportunities, he recommended.

It is necessary to forge connectivity between chambers of commerce and industry and business associations, he said.

The PM proposed Israel consider the provision of preferential credit packages for Việt Nam to implement projects on infrastructure building, poverty reduction, agriculture and rural development, human resources, and natural disaster risk management.

Both countries need to push ahead with negotiations on the bilateral free trade agreement and pay attention to mutual benefits to create a long-term cooperation framework, he said.

He suggested enhancing collaboration in science-technology and prioritising hi-tech agriculture and industry, referring to the successful co-operation in milk cow breeding in southern HCM City and central Nghẹ An Province.

Việt Nam hopes Israel increases the transfer of hi-tech and environmentally friendly technologies to save natural resources and reduce production costs, he said.

He asked the two sides to strengthen affiliation in defense security, particularly in the defense industry and cyber security.

The PM called on Israel to work with Việt Nam to address continuing Agent Orange/dioxin contamination left over from the war.

He also hopes Israel will provide more assistance in human resource training in the fields of its strength such as agriculture, information technology, telecommunications, and science-technology.

Việt Nam wants Israel to consider the launch of negotiations on labour co-operation, and in the foreseeable future, receiving Vietnamese workers to work in agriculture and demanding sectors, he added.

Hailing Israel’s start-up model, PM Phúc proposed Israel send experts to help Việt Nam in this field, especially at manufacturing facilities and universities.

He also welcomed Israeli businesses to make investment in Việt Nam and hoped Israel will create favourable conditions for Vietnamese localities to cooperate with Israeli partners.

Later the same day, President Trần Đại Quang hosted a banquet for visiting Israeli President Reuven Rivlin and his entourage. — VNS