Portugal eyes strengthened ties with VN

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh talks with President of the Portuguese Parliament Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues on Thursday in Lisbon.- VNA/VNS Photo Ngự Bình

LISBON — Portugal attaches special importance to and wishes to deepen the friendship and cooperation, including legislative ties, with Việt Nam, President of the Portuguese Parliament Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues told visiting Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh. 

During their meeting on Thursday as part of the Vietnamese official’s ongoing visit to Portugal, the two sides expressed their satisfaction at the flourishing development of bilateral relation in recent time, and agreed to increase exchange of visits and meetings at all levels, towards effectively and extensively promoting bilateral ties. Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues appreciated the role and position of Việt Nam in the Southeast Asia region, asserting that the Portuguese parliament backs all-round cooperation with Vietnam, especially economic, trade, cultural and tourism links. Portugal was willing to share experience in law-making and supervision with the Vietnamese National Assembly, and supports the signing and approval of the Việt Nam-EU Free Trade Agreement, he said. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese official spoke highly of the role of Portugal in the EU as well as in addressing co妹妹on issues facing the international co妹妹unity. The two nations should continue supporting each other at multilateral forums such as the UN, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the EU-ASEAN cooperation mechanism, the Inter-Parliamentary Union, and the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP), he suggested. He asked Portugal’s parliament to assist and encourage Portuguese enterprises to expand business and investment in Việt Nam, affirming that Việt Nam always creates favourable conditions for foreign firms. Regarding East Sea-related issues, Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues stressed the maintenance of peace, stability, and navigation and over-flight safety and freedom, and peaceful settlement of disputes in the sea would bring interest to the international co妹妹unity, including his country. The Vietnamese official called on the Portuguese parliament to contribute its voice for peace, and security in the Southeast Asian region and the East Sea, and enhance exchanges and coordination on the issue at international forums, contributing to retaining peace and stability in the region and the world. Deputy PM Minh conveyed National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân’s invitation to visit Việt Nam to the host. — VNS