Estonian Prime Minister Adrus Ansip’s visit to Vietnam plays an important role in boosting traditional relations and cooperation between the two countries.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the affirmation during talks with his Estonian counterpart Adrus Ansip on November 7.

This is the first visit made by an Estonian PM to Vietnam since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992.

In the spirit of friendship and mutual trust and understanding, both government leaders briefed each other on their respective countries’ socio-economic situation as well as foreign policies.

The PMs discussed specific measures to accelerate Vietnam-Estonia cooperation in all fields, especially economics, trade, investment, information technology, education, training, culture, and tourism.

They agreed to promote the exchange of high-ranking delegations and  to move forward with negotiations of agreements on economic cooperation, double taxation avoidance, education and training,  and visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders. These agreements will provide important legal foundations for both countries to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
The leaders also reached a consensus on the establishment of a Vietnam-Estonia Joint Committee on Economics, as well as direct relations between the two countries’ ministries, localities, and businesses in order to boost cooperation in infrastructure and urban construction, bio-technology, and information technology.

Speaking at a press briefing after the talks, PM Ansip affirmed that Estonia is willing to receive Vietnamese students and researchers to study in the country. He also expressed his support for the signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement as well as the EU’s early recognition of Vietnam’s full market economy mechanism.

Estonia will create the best conditions to help Vietnam forge its ties with the EU, he said.

PM Dung said both sides will work closely together in holding various events to commemorate the 20th anniversary of diplomacy in 2012 and will support each other in international forums such as the United Nations and the Asia Europe Meeting.

Vietnam and Estonia will join hands to deal with global challenges such as energy and food security, Mr Dung said, adding that the former will help the latter cooperate closely with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Regarding East Sea issues, the PMs agreed to settle related disputes through peaceful means in compliance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.

PM Ansip invited his Vietnamese counterpart to visit Estonia. Mr Dung accepted the invitation with pleasure and said the visit will be arranged by both Foreign Ministries.

After the talk, the two PMs witnessed the signing of a protocol to strengthen cooperation between their Ministries of Foreign Affairs.

**Also on November 8, PM Ansip was received by State President Truong Tan Sang, who affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to friendship and traditional cooperation between Vietnam and Estonia.

President Sang thanked Estonia for training many Vietnamese students and proposed the two countries boost cooperation at international forums, accelerate the exchange of visits and set up direct relations between ministries of the two sides.

President Sang also expressed his hope that Estonia will assist Vietnam to boost relations with the EU.

PM Ansip praised Vietnam’s investment environment and the quality of its human resource.

He said that Estonia and Vietnam should take have measures to increase two-way trade to match the two countries’ potential. He expressed his belief that bilateral relations will be developed to a new height.

VOV