President Tran Dai Quang (R) and his Irish counterpart Michael D.Higgins

The two Presidents told the press about what they have discussed and achieved during their talks in Hanoi on November 7, which was held following a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace.

President Michael D.Higgins and his spouse Sabina Higgins are on a State visit to Vietnam from November 5-14. 

At the press conference, President Quang said he and his Irish counterpart shared the view that Vietnam and Ireland hold great potential for cooperation in areas of mutual interest, like trade-investment, education-training, green technology, agriculture, health care and sustainable development. 

Economically, both agreed to create favourable conditions and encourage the two countries’ businesses to set up their partnerships and transfer technologies to each other, particularly in renewable energies, agriculture and food processing, aviation, health care, information and communications, he said. 

Education and training were agreed to be the key area of the two countries’ cooperation, he said, adding the leaders welcomed the signing of cooperation agreements by the education ministries and higher education institutions during the visit, helping facilitate the implementation of specific joint programmes and projects in the coming time. 

President Quang thanked the Irish Government for considering Vietnam a priority partner in its development cooperation policy, its official development assistance to the country during the 2017-2020 period, and its support for Vietnam in realising the UN Sustainable Development Goals (MDGs). 

Sharing the hope for enhanced solidarity, friendship and mutual understanding between their citizens, Vietnam and Ireland consented to effectively implement their collaboration in child adoption, increase cultural and art exchanges and promote the bridging role played by the Vietnamese in Ireland, contributing to strengthening the bilateral affiliation in other realms. 

The Presidents reached consensus on the need to maintain peace and security, and boost cooperation and development in the world. 

Vietnam and Ireland also agreed to continue their close coordination at international forums like the UN, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and within the framework of the ASEAN-EU cooperation in order to address global issues such as climate change and actualise the MDGS for a green, clean, peaceful and better world, President Quang said. 

Regarding the East Sea issue, the host said he and his guest shared the view that the disputes should be handled by peaceful measures in line with international law, especially the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS). 

For his part, President Higgins said their talks touched upon a range of cooperation areas, both bilaterally and multilaterally. 

They were also unanimous in how to reach their shared objectives, bilaterally and multilaterally, in order to fulfill their obligations to the international community. 

Higgins said he and his Vietnamese counterpart talked about migration as well as well as its global impacts, the affiliation in multilateral institutions like the UN Arms Trade Treaty, and their mutual support as candidacies to non-permanent seats of the UN Security Council. 

The Irish President stressed that the two sides exchanged information about each country’s economic situation, and discussed ways to make Ireland a bridge for Vietnam to access the EU and Vietnam as a springboard for Ireland to enter the nearly-600-million ASEAN market. 

He appreciated contributions of the Vietnamese in Ireland and the Irish community in the Southeast Asian nation. 

The leaders said they hope that the two countries’ young people will contribute to the world’s peace. 

Higgins used the occasion to invite President Tran Dai Quang and his spouse to soon pay a visit to Ireland. 

At the end of their talks, the Presidents witnessed the signing of several agreements in development cooperation and collaboration in education-training, wind power, information technology, telecommunications and medical equipment. 

Vietnam and Ireland have made strides in cooperation since their diplomatic relationship was set up on April 5, 1996. They have regularly exchanged high-ranking delegations and coordinated at international forums.

Bilateral trade reached 402 million USD in 2015, up 28 percent from the previous year. It hit 798 million USD in the first nine months of 2016, rising three-fold year on year, including 82 million USD of Vietnamese exports.

Vietnam mainly ships timber and wood products, footwear and garments to Ireland while importing medicine materials, computers and electronic components.

Ireland currently has 17 investment projects with a combined capital of 20.7 million USD in Vietnam, ranking 67th among 115 countries and territories investing here.

Vietnam is the only Asian nation among nine priority recipients of Ireland’s development assistance. Ireland gave 150 million USD in non-refundable aid to Vietnam between 2007 and 2016, focusing on poverty reduction, support for vulnerable groups, and improving economic management.

Irish President wishes to foster ties with Vietnam

Irish President Michael D. Higgins (R) and President Tran Dai Quang review the guard of honour in Hanoi on Novenber 7 morning 

Irish President Michael D. Higgins expressed his wish to foster cooperation with Vietnam, which he described as a country of increasingly important role in Asia-Pacific, during talks with President Tran Dai Quang in Hanoi on November 7. 

President Quang hailed the first Vietnam visit by President Michael D. Higgins, which is concurrent with the 20th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, saying that he believes the visit will generate a new momentum for bilateral friendship and cooperation. 

Both leaders pledged to boost ties across trade-investment, education-training, green technology, renewable energy, agriculture, health care, and sustainable development, as well as facilitate visits at all levels. 

On economic front, they promised to offer all possible support to businesses to enhance their links and transfer technology, especially in the fields of renewable energy, agriculture and food processing, communications, health care and aviation, given the signing of the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement. 

Regarding education – training, a focus of bilateral partnership, they vowed to encourage tertiary establishments to form partnerships. 

The host thanked the Irish government for considering Vietnam a priority partner in its development cooperation policy, adding that Irish-funded projects have contributed to Vietnam’s socio-economic development and global integration. 

Ireland will soon announce a national strategy on development cooperation with Vietnam for 2017-2020 and continue supporting the Southeast Asian country in poverty reduction, response to climate change and implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Higgins said. 

Both sides also committed to promoting cultural-art exchanges and upholding the bridge role of Vietnamese community in Ireland. 

Highlighting the significance of maintaining global peace, security and development cooperation, they agreed to continue working closely together at international forums such as the United Nations, ASEAN-Europe Meeting and the ASEAN-EU cooperation framework to deal with global issues, including climate change and the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

Regarding the East Sea issue, the two leaders agreed to settle disputes at the sea by peaceful measures in line with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). 

Following the talks, host and guest witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements in the fields of development cooperation, education-training, wind power, information technology, post and telecommunications, and medical equipment. 

At the press conference later, they expressed wish to boost the friendship and all-around collaboration between the two countries in the foreseeable future.

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (R) and Irish President Michael D. Higgins

VNA