Vietnam, Timor-Leste examine ways to bolster all-around cooperation

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) and Timor-Leste’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Dionisio Babo Soares.

Deputy PM Minh hailed the achievements Timor-Leste has recorded during national construction and international integration, voicing his hope that the country will become more prosperous with a stronger voice and position in the region and the world.

Dionisio Babo Soares, in turn, congratulated Vietnam on winning the non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council with a record number of votes, which indicates the international community’s recognition of Vietnam’s contributions to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world as a whole.

The two diplomats showed their elation at the progress in bilateral ties since the two nations established diplomatic ties in 2002.

They agreed to intensify delegation exchange at all levels, soon sign an agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders, and launch the Joint Committee on Bilateral Cooperation to create a forum for ministries and sectors to examine ways to propel cooperation forwards.

Both sides are set to sign new bilateral deals and extend the existing ones to make a legal framework for stronger cooperation, including those on mutual legal assistance, investment encouragement and protection, bilateral trade cooperation, and a memorandum of understanding on education collaboration.

They concurred to bolster economic-trade cooperation by incentivizing businesses to seek cooperation opportunities in each other’s market.

Dionisio Babo Soares lauded the Military Industry Telecoms Group Viettel of Vietnam for its effective operation in the country, thereby becoming the second mobile service supplier in Timor-Leste.

He said he hopes that more Vietnamese investors involving in construction materials, garment, footwear, electronics, and dairy production will gain entry into the Timor-Leste market.

The two sides defined agriculture, seafood, and oil and gas to be huge potential to become key areas in bilateral cooperation in the time ahead.

Minh assured Vietnam’s willingness to provide technical support for Timor-Leste and send experts to the country to help in personnel training, while sharing experience in coping with illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

The two sides were of the same mind about closer coordination at international and regional forums, especially within the UN.

With regard to Timor-Leste’s wish to join ASEAN, Minh stated that Vietnam and other ASEAN state members will consider the idea and provide technical support to Timor-Leste, so that the country is able to meet the grouping’s membership criteria.

The same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception for the Timor-Leste official who is on an official visit to Vietnam from June 9-11.