Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh holds talks with Cabinet Secretary of the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Monica Juma in Hanoi on Tuesday.

The two sides will enhance the exchange of delegations, especially high-level ones and those from ministries, agencies, localities and businesses.

The officials said bilateral trade had yet to match the potential of the two countries.

Minh suggested Kenya facilitate Vietnam’s export of garment-textiles, rice, clinker, mobile phones and components, saying the two countries should support their enterprises in market survey and investment promotion.

Lauding achievements Vietnam had recorded, Juma said Kenya wanted to learn from the country’s experience in socio-economic development. She welcomed Vietnamese firms to invest in her country.

They agreed Vietnam and Kenya need to soon sign documents creating a legal framework for co-operation, especially in the sphere of economy, like a framework agreement on collaboration in economy, culture, education and IT, an agreement on investment protection and promotion, one on double taxation avoidance and another on visa exemptions for diplomatic and official passport holders.

The two sides will set up a political consultation mechanism between their foreign ministries to intensify co-ordination, identify promising co-operation areas and the demands and strength of each side.

Minh praised ties between Vietnam and Kenya at multilateral forums as well as Kenya’s role in the East African Community, and expressed his hope for further support from the country when Vietnam performs the role of non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and establishes an official relationship with the African Union.

The officials also discussed regional and international matters of shared concern, including the East Sea issue. Both stressed the importance of peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation, and respect for international law.

Later the same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met Cabinet Secretary of the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Juma.

PM Phuc suggested ministries and sectors of the two countries be more active in negotiating to sign agreements to create a legal framework for the expansion of co-operation in all fields.

Potential for bilateral ties was huge, particularly in trade, agriculture, transport, construction, education and healthcare, he said. However, economic co-operation results remained modest with two-way trade turnover stood at US$50 million.

He hoped that Kenya would send a business delegation to visit Vietnam in the future to seek investment opportunities.

PM Phuc proposed Kenya create conditions for Vietnamese products to enter the country.

Juma said she wished to develop relations between the two countries to a new level. — VNS