Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (right) and Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics

Theyagreed to enhance the exchange of all-level delegations in order to seekopportunities to expand cooperation across spheres, especially economy, tradeand investment.

Theofficials consented to facilitate the export of Vietnameseagro-forestry-fishery products, garments-textiles, footwear, handicrafts andwooden products to Latvia and other Baltic countries, as well as Latvian greenand food and wood processing technologies, equipment and machines to Vietnamand the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Theyalso compared notes on orientations to step up the bilateral collaboration insuch areas as education-training, labour, tourism and transportation.

Hostand guest spoke highly of the effective cooperation between Vietnam and Latviaat multilateral forums, and concurred to tighten coordination within theframeworks of the United Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting and internationalforums.

Minhhighly valued Edgars Rinkevics’s visit, the first trip to Vietnam by a LatvianForeign Minister since 1996, and expressed his hope that it will contribute tocreating momentum to advance the bilateral friendship and multifacetedcooperation.

Heused the occasion to thank Latvia for its support for the signing of theEU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and the EU-Vietnam Investment ProtectionAgreement.

Inthis regard, Edgars Rinkevics affirmed that Latvia backs the agreements andwill work to push ahead with the ratification and implementation of thesedeals, contributing to bringing practical benefits to the bilateral economic,trade and investment ties.

Minhalso lauded the signing of the agreement on educational cooperation between thetwo countries and the organisation of the Vietnam-Latvia business conferenceduring the visit.

Theofficial thanked Latvia for its support to Vietnam’s candidacy for anon-permanent seat at the UN Security Council for 2020-2021, and called formore backing and coordination from the country during performing the post.

Whileexchanging views on regional and international issues of shared concern, thetwo sides stressed the significance of peace, stability, security, safety andfreedom of navigation.

Latviaaffirmed its support for the settlement of East Sea disputes by peacefulmeasures, without using force or threatening to use force, and on the basis ofrespect for international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law ofthe Sea (1982 UNCLOS).-VNA