Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) and Secretary of State at the Polish President’s Chancellery Krzysztof Szczerski

Meeting Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Hanoi on December 16, Szczerski said Poland backs Vietnam’s strengthening of ties with the European Union (EU) and will push for the signing of the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement. 

Deputy PM Minh, for his part, made it clear that Vietnam treasures the development of friendship and long-standing cooperation with Poland. 

He agreed with the guest on closer liaison to prepare for the Vietnam visit by the Polish President next year. 

The host suggested establishing an Inter-Governmental Committee on economic cooperation and signing a framework agreement on financial cooperation, under which Poland will supply a preferential credit package worth 250 million EUR to Vietnam. 

Both sides pledged to continue refining a legal framework for bilateral cooperation and signing cooperation agreements on customs, aviation, tertiary education and scientific research. 

Poland is now Vietnam’s largest trade partner in the Central Eastern Europe. Two-way trade in the first 10 months of this year hit 655 million USD, up 5 percent annually. In terms of investment, the European country now has 12 projects in Vietnam worth 138.8 million USD. 

On region and global issues of shared concern, Szczerski expressed his support of Vietnam’s viewpoint on settling disputes in the East Sea by peaceful means in line with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, ensuring security, safety and freedom of maritime and aviation activities in the East Sea. 

During the stay in Vietnam, the Polish Secretary of State held talks with Chairman of the Presidential Office Dao Viet Trung and visited several economic and cultural establishments in Hanoi.

Vietnam suggests establishing inter-gov’t committee with Poland

Chairman of the Presidential Office Dao Viet Trung has suggested Poland consider the establishment of an Inter-Governmental Committee on bilateral economic cooperation at the earliest. 

During a reception in Hanoi on December 16 for Secretary of State at the Polish President’s Chancellery Krzysztof Szczerski, Trung expressed his wish that Poland would back Vietnam’s bid for a seat at the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure as well as the European Union’s signing and approval of a free trade agreement with Vietnam.. 

He also called on Poland to soon recognise Vietnam’s market economy and work together with Vietnam to assist the two countries’ businesses in accessing each other’s markets. 

Szczerski, for his part, urged that Vietnam support Poland’s run for the UN Security Council for 2018-2019. 

He agreed with his host on organising bilateral trade promotion activities and considering the signing of several agreements between the two countries.

Both sides agreed to continue the exchange of cultural-art delegations along with holding film weeks and photo exhibitions, and partnering up in restoration and upgrade of cultural heritage sites, contributing to promoting people-to-people diplomacy./.

VNA