The view was shared by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and Foreign Minister Delcy Rodriguez during their meetings in Margarita, Venezuela, on September 18 (Venezuelan time). The meetings took place on the fringe of the 17 th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) which was hosted by Venezuela.

At both meetings, the two sides vowed to work actively to materialise commitments and outcomes of visits by Vietnamese and Venezuelan leaders, especially in strategic areas like agriculture and energy-oil and gas.

To implement a joint agricultural project for 2015-2018, Vietnam has set up groups of experts and labourers who will be sent to Venezuela in October and November this year, said Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh.

He called upon the Venezuelan President to provide instructions on specific measures or mechanisms in order to raise two-way trade on the basis of the bilateral agreement on trade collaboration.

The two sides consented to soon convene the Vietnam-Venezuela Intergovernmental Committee’s meeting to mull over specific cooperation contents.

The two sides also compared notes on regional and international issues, including those regarding the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the East Sea.

The Vietnamese Deputy PM and FM said Vietnam hopes that Venezuela, as NAM Chair in the 2016-2019 tenure, will maintain the principles of the Movement, helping it grow stronger.

On the sidelines of the 17 th NAM Summit, Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh also met with Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al-Shaiker Al-Jafari, during which the two sides agreed to enhance the exchange of information and create the best possible conditions for the two countries’ businesses to access the other country’s market.

Vietnam wishes that Iraq will help the country with oil and gas exploration and exploitation activities in Iraq, the Deputy PM and FM said, noting his hope that the situation in Iraq will soon stabilize to facilitate the bilateral multifaceted cooperation.

The two officials were unanimous on the need to step up their coordination and mutual support at regional and regional forums.

VNA