Viet Nam and Macedonia have signed several agreements that will boost bilateral economic ties, which leaders of both nations say are modest at present.

In talks held in Skopje yesterday, Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan and Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov also agreed to enhance co-operation in education and training and boost cultural exchanges including increased people-to-people meetings.

Doan said that Viet Nam was always willing to be a bridge between Macedonia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and Ivanov said his country could be Viet Nam's gateway to the Balkan market.

The bilateral agreements, signed during the Vietnamese President's three-day visit to the southeast European country, include one on reciprocal protection of investments, double taxation avoidance and strengthening economic co-operation.

The two leaders said the agreements would create a favourable legal framework for boosting bilateral multifaceted co-operation and enhancing trade turnover.

They also exchanged opinions in international and regional issues of mutual concern and affirmed that they would work closely at all international forums, especially the United Nations and the Francophonie bloc.

On the East Sea issue, Ivanov said that Macedonian leaders had always supported Viet Nam's stance in solving disputes through peaceful measures, based on international laws including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Viet Nam wishes to deepen ties with Macedonia

Meeting Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski on December 2, Vice President Doan informed the host of the outcomes of her talks with President Gjorge Ivanov earlier on the day.

Both sides shared the view that the two countries' bilateral political ties and coordination at multilateral forums have grown remarkably, but economic cooperation has yet to match their potential.

They agreed to consider the establishment of an inter-governmental committee for economic cooperation and expand ties in education and training, culture and tourism with the possibility of signing agreements on partnership in these fields.

On the same day, the Vietnamese Vice President also met with President of Macedonia's Assembly Trajko Veljanovski, who described her visit as a new milestone in the two countries' relations, especially in the context of the 20 th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

He confirmed that the legislature always backs the Macedonian government's policy of strengthening ties with Viet Nam in all fields, particularly politics, economics, culture and education.

He suggested setting up friendship parliamentarians' groups in both countries to enhance legislative cooperation.

On this occasion, Viet Nam and Macedonia signed an agreement on economic cooperation and another on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders.

VNS/VNN