Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked the Vietnamese and Greek governments to boost ties across marine-based economy, maritime navigation, shipbuilding, agriculture and tourism, adding that Vietnam advocates enhancing ties with the European Union, including Greece. 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Greek Foreign Minister N. Kotzias

During a reception in Hanoi on February 13 for Greek Foreign Minister N. Kotzias, Phuc said given the 40-year cooperation since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties, the two countries need to facilitate visits at all levels and channels, thereby raising mutual understanding and collaboration in potential fields between the two nations. 

Vietnam highly values Greece’s support for the development of Vietnam-EU ties and the Greek legislature’s approval of the Vietnam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, he said, suggesting Greece back the early signing and adoption of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). 

He expressed his hope that Greece will support Vietnam’s stance on the East Sea issue, including the settlement of the East Sea issue by peaceful means, including diplomatic and legal measures; the objection to the use of force or threat to use force; and the serious abidance by international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), contributing to maintaining peace, stability and development in the region. 

Kotzias, for his part, said Greece holds great potential of goods transit thanks to its geographical location as an important gateway from Asia to Europe. 

He affirmed that Greece backs Vietnam’s strengthening of ties with the EU as well as Vietnam-Greece ties in shipbuilding and culture. 

Informing the host of the outcomes of his talks with Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, he said both sides discussed measures to reinforce bilateral links in diverse areas. 

The two countries will continue working closely together within the framework of multilateral cooperation mechanisms, he said.

Greece looks to bolster multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) and Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Nikolaos Kotzias 

Greece wishes to strengthen cooperation in all fields with Vietnam, visiting Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Nikolaos Kotzias has told Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

During their talks in Hanoi on February 13, Kotzias said Greece appreciates Vietnam’s increasingly important role in the region and the world and the country’s achievements in national defence and socio-economic development. 

Minh expressed his belief that Kotzias's current visit to Vietnam will contributes to deepening friendship and cooperation between the two countries. 

The two sides expressed their joy at fruitful cooperation between Vietnam and Greece since former President Nguyen Minh Triet’s trip to Greece and former Greek President Karolos Papoulias’s visit to Vietnam, in 2008. 

They discussed how to further promote cooperation between the two countries, focusing on enhancing all-level visits and effectively deploying cooperation mechanisms like political consultation between the two foreign ministries. 

They agreed to continue encouraging and making it easier for the two countries’ business communities to foster partnership and share experience, especially in terms of ship building and repairing, maritime shipping service, seaport exploitation and logistics service, education-training, culture and heritage preservation. 

The two sides were unanimous in accelerating negotiations to soon conclude agreements on avoidance of double taxation, maritime transport, and visa exemption for diplomatic passport holders.

Minh and Kotzias also compared their notes on international and regional issues of common concern, and agreed to continue coordinating closely at international and regional forums, especially at the United Nations, the ASEAN-EU, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

As an ASEAN member, Vietnam will help Greece expand cooperation with the grouping and its other member nations, Minh said, whilst Kotzias affirmed that Greece backs Vietnam to boost comprehensive relations with the European Union (EU).

After the talks, the two officials met with media to inform the results of their talks.

VNA