Vietnam, Nepal issue joint statement

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) welcomes his Nepalese countepart K P Sharma Oli in Hanoi on May 11 (Photo: VNA)

The following is the full text of the joint statement:

“1. H.E. K P Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of Nepal and his spouse paid an official visit to Viet Nam from 9 - 13 May, 2019 at the invitation of H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Vietnam. Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli was accompanied by his spouse Radhika Shakya, Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Advisors to the Prime Minister, Members of Parliament and high ranking government officials. A business delegation also accompanied the Prime Minister of Nepal.

2. The official welcoming ceremony was solemnly held at the Presidential Palace on 11 May 2019. After the welcoming ceremony, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli held talks with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, met with President of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli also addressed the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and the Vietnam - Nepal Business Forum. Prior to the welcoming ceremony, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli paid floral tribute and deep respect at President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, and laid a wreath at the Memorial of the Unknown Martyrs and Heroes. Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli will attend and address the United Nations Day of Vesak on 12 May 2019.

3. The official talks were held in a warm, cordial and friendly atmosphere. The two leaders discussed all aspects of the bilateral relations, and exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli expressed his admiration for President Ho Chi Minh and congratulated Vietnam on the latter’s tremendous achievements in socio-economic development. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli for having chosen Vietnam as his first destination in Southeast Asia since he took office in February 2018, underlining that the first visit of a Nepali Prime Minister to Vietnam would contribute to strengthening the multifaceted relations between the two countries in the coming days. Prime Minister of Vietnam congratulated the people of Nepal for the historic political achievement and for its' unique and homegrown peace process and its institutionalization through a democratic constitution and the formation of a stable government. He lauded Nepal Government’s efforts to bring about visible transformation in the living standard of Nepali people and expressed his best wishes for the realization of the national resolve of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali’. Following the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of the Agreement on Visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders, the MOU on establishment of bilateral consultation mechanism between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs and the Letter of Intent on negotiating and signing the framework Agreement on trade and investment cooperation.

4. Both leaders underlined the cultural and historical similarities between their countries, and recognized the importance of Buddhism as a strong binding thread between the people of the two countries. The two leaders noted that both Vietnam and Nepal had to undergo various kinds of struggle to preserve sovereignty, territorial integrity and national independence.

5. Both sides welcomed practical commemorative activities to be held in 2020 for the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. Both sides shared the views that the visit – a key milestone in their relations, would pave the way for a new stage and an enhanced level of cooperation in tourism, trade and people to people contact between the two countries.

6. Acknowledging the remarkable progress in their bilateral relations and on the basis of mutual understanding and trust, the two leaders shared a vision on further widening and deepening the Vietnam – Nepal traditional friendship across all areas.

7. Recalling their meeting on the sidelines of World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2019, the two leaders agreed to enhance mutual visits and exchanges at the high and all levels, between their political parties, governments, legislative institutions, local bodies and peoples.

8. Both sides welcomed the signing of the Agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders, the MOU on establishment of a bilateral consultation mechanism between their Foreign Ministries, the Letter of Intent on negotiating and signing the framework Agreement on trade and investment cooperation and underlined the importance of those agreements in promoting bilateral relations and cooperation in the years ahead.

9. Both leaders shared the assessment that their bilateral economic and trade cooperation remained far below their potentials and strengths. They welcomed the renewal of the MoU on cooperation between the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) in April 2018, and tasked their relevant authorities to explore establishment of bilateral economic and trade cooperation mechanisms, encourage their businesses to survey each other’s market and participate in trade promotion activities, particularly in such areas as electric appliances, coffee, tea, seafood, textile, leather footwear and to explore new areas of cooperation, including energy, renewable energy, high-tech agriculture, and tourism.

10. Both leaders agreed to look into proposals of market access for the agricultural products that they held competitive edge, encourage information exchange and cooperation in agricultural science and technical research, and promote exchange of agricultural experts. Recognizing the desire of Nepal to graduate from LDC status at an early date, the Vietnamese side welcomed further imports of Nepali products into Vietnam’s market and agreed to encourage Vietnamese investors and entrepreneurs to invest in productive sectors in Nepal.

11. Both sides agreed to exchange experience on law enforcement, information on criminals and consider negotiation and signing of agreements in order to create the legal framework for their cooperation in combating crimes and criminal justice, with immediate priority given to the signing of an agreement on crime prevention and combat between the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and the Ministry of Home Affairs of Nepal.

12. The two sides agreed to enhance exchange and cooperation in culture, tourism and people-to-people interaction. Both leaders welcomed the success of the Nepali tourism promotion program in Ho Chi Minh City in March 2019, and agreed to encourage more tourists to each other’s tourist attractions. The Vietnamese side expressed its support to Visit Nepal Year 2020 by sending more tourists to Nepal, including Buddhist pilgrims to Lumbini, the birth place of Buddha and the fountain of Buddhism. Both sides underlined the need for establishing direct air service between the two countries and instructed the concerned Ministries to consider an Agreement on Air Services at the earliest to promote trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people contacts. Both leaders commended the effective performance of the Nepal – Vietnam Research Centre since its inception in November 2018 and agreed to promote establishment of the Vietnam-Nepal Friendship Association in Hanoi in the time to come.

13. Both sides agreed to bolster cooperation in other potential areas such as science and technology, information and communication, logistics, and disaster preparedness.

14. Both leaders shared similar views on various regional and international issues of mutual interest. They reiterated the importance of faithfully observing the Charter of the United Nations, principles of international law and norms. They reiterated their resolve to preserve multilateralism and find common solutions to common problems. They further reiterated the need to work together for a just, equitable, inclusive, rules-based and democratic world order.

15. Both Prime Ministers spoke highly of the cooperation and coordination between the two countries at regional and international forums, including the United Nations, and agreed to further strengthen this tradition. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc expressed his gratitude to the Government of Nepal for supporting Vietnam’s bid to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the term of 2020-2021.

16. Prime Minister of Nepal K P Sharma Oli expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the people of Vietnam for the warm and gracious hospitality, and extended his cordial invitation to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to visit Nepal in the near future. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc gladly accepted the invitation.”