At the reception given to Lao counterpart Bouasone Bouphavanh , the two PMs affirmed their determination to raise the two-way trade turnvoer to US $1 billion by 2010, US $2 billion in 2015 and US $5 billion in 2020. The leaders agreed that there are great potentialities for bialteral cooperation between the two countries and that the two sides should make greater efforts in all fields. In the near future, the two PMs suggested, the two government should review and revise improper procedures to facilitate better cooperation. PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng stressed that Vietnamese enterprises always want and are ready to copperate with Lao counterparts.

PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and Bulgarian President Georghi Parvanov – Photo: VGP

Greeting Bulgarian President Georghi Parvanov , PM Dũng congratulated Bulgaria’s admission to ASEM and asked the Bulgarian Government to further support the Vietnamese community .

The Vietnamese PM also welcomed the Bulgarian President’s plan to pay an official visit to Việt Nam in early 2009, considering the event a new important milestone in the development of the Việt Nam–Bulgaria relationship in the new stage.

President Georghi Parvanov stated that the traditional friendship between the two countries is an invaluable property of the two peoples and also a solid foundation for better and closer ties in the future. He pledged to give best conditions to Vietnamese nationals in Bulgaria, so that they can settle and integrate into the local society.

The two leaders agreed to enhance cultural exchanges, friendship and mutual understanding, as well as coordination and support on international forums.

Both PM Dũng and EC President José Manuel Barroso expressed their pleasure at positive progress of the Việt Nam-EU relationship, highly speaking of the exchange of high-ranking delegations in order to cement and deepen mutual understanding and multifaceted cooperation. While being glad at good results of the talks for the Việt Nam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), the PM felt regretful of some recent decisions made by the EU, including moving some Vietnamese products out of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) and asked the EC to stop the process of tax reviewing.

The new resolution of the European Parliament on human rights in Việt Nam is incommensurate with the realities, intervening into Việt Nam’s internal affairs and negatively affecting the Việt Nam-EU relationship, stressed PM Dũng.

President Manuel Barroso confirmed his support to Việt Nam in reinforcing its ties with the EU, believing that the two sides would reach positive results in the PCA talks. The EC President highly valued Việt Nam’s role as the coordinator of the process of negotiations for the ASEAN- EU Free Trade Agreement.

PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and RoK President Lee Myung-bak – Photo: VGP

PM Dũng and the Republic of Korea’s President Lee Myung-bak were pleased at the good development of bilateral ties, especially in economics, trade, investment, education. The two leaders underlined that, in the current context of global financial crisis, the two countries should closely cooperate each other in all fields, at bilateral and multilateral levels. The Vietnamese PM applauded the RoK Government’s decision to grant US $1 billion as preferential loans to Việt Nam in 2008-2011, stating that Việt Nam always welcomes RoK investors.

The RoK President pledged to assist Việt Nam to improve its economic competitiveness, hoping to promote bilateral cooperation with Việt Nam in all fields.

Meeting PM Dũng, Indian PM Manmohan Singh said that his Government and people always have deep and good sentiments to Việt Nam and determine to build a strategic partnership with Việt Nam. India recognizes Việt Nam’s market economy and will officially announce its recognition soon at the upcoming ASEAN Meeting.

Việt Nam will do its utmost to nurture its relationship with Indian, said PM Dũng, asking India to facilitate the penetration of Vietnamese products into India, so as to improve the trade balance between the two countries .

The two leaders underscored the need to raise their role on regional and international forums. Việt Nam vowed to support India to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

By Hồng Uyên