Vietnam, Ireland hold high-level talks

At their talks in Hanoi on November 7 following a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace, the two leaders said that

Vietnam and Ireland boast potential for cooperation across a variety of fields such as trade-investment, education-training, green technology, agriculture, health care and sustainable development.

Both sides welcomed the signing of cooperation agreements by the education ministries and higher education institutions during the visit, helping facilitate the implementation of specific joint programmes and projects in the coming time.

On economics, they concurred to offer favourable conditions and encourage businesses to set up their partnerships and transfer technologies to each other, particularly in renewable energies, agriculture and food processing, aviation, health care, information and communications.

They agreed to actualize their collaboration in child adoption, increase cultural and art exchanges and promote the bridging role played by the Vietnamese in Ireland, contributing to strengthening the bilateral affiliation in other fields.

President Quang thanked the Irish Government for considering Vietnam a priority partner in its development cooperation policy, its official development assistance to the country during the 2017-2020 period, and its support for Vietnam in realising the UN Sustainable Development Goals (MDGs).

The two State leaders also reached consensus on the need to maintain peace and security, and boost cooperation and development in the world.

They concurred to continue their close coordination at international forums like the UN, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and within the framework of the ASEAN-EU cooperation aiming to deal with global issues such as climate change and actualise the MDGS for a green, clean, peaceful and better world.

Concerning the East Sea issue, the two Presidents shared the view that the disputes should be addressed by peaceful measures in line with international law, especially the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS).

President Higgins, in turn said their talks touched upon a host of cooperation areas, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

They were also unanimous in how to reach their shared objectives, bilaterally and multilaterally, in order to fulfill their obligations to the international community.

Higgins said he and his Vietnamese counterpart talked about migration as well as well as its global impacts, the affiliation in multilateral institutions like the UN Arms Trade Treaty, and their mutual support as candidacies to non-permanent seats of the UN Security Council.

The Irish President emphasized the two sides exchanged information about each country’s economic situation, and discussed ways to make Ireland a bridge for Vietnam to access the EU and Vietnam as a springboard for Ireland to enter the nearly-600-million ASEAN market.

He hailed contributions of the Vietnamese in Ireland and the Irish community in the Southeast Asian nation.

Higgins used the occasion to invite President Tran Dai Quang and his spouse to visit Ireland soon.

At the end of their talks, the Presidents witnessed the signing of several agreements in development cooperation and collaboration in education-training, wind power, information technology, telecommunications and medical equipment.

Vietnam- Ireland cooperation has grown steadily since their diplomatic relationship was set up on April 5, 1996. They have regularly exchanged high-ranking delegations and coordinated at international forums.

Vietnam is the only Asian nation among nine priority recipients of Ireland’s development assistance. Ireland provided US$150 million in non-refundable aid to Vietnam between 2007 and 2016 with a focus on poverty reduction, support for vulnerable groups, and improving economic management.

President Michael D.Higgins and his spouse Sabina Higgins are on a State visit to Vietnam from November 5-14.

On November 8, the Irish President will lay a wreath at the Monument for Heroic Martyrs and have a talk with students at the Hanoi National University. Later on, he is due to meet with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong.

During his stay, President Higgins will visit projects on landmine clearance and poverty reduction funded by Ireland in Hue and Quang Tri. He will also visit Ho Chi Minh City and Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh province.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit marks the 20th anniversary of Vietnam-Ireland diplomatic ties and opens a new period of development in bilateral relationship.