National Assembly Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu hosted a reception in Hanoi, on April 7, for Timor Leste’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Hermani Coelho da Silva, assuring his guest that Vietnam continually treasures friendship and all-around ties with Timor Leste.

Luu asked Timor Leste to promptly complete internal procedures to validate the 2013 Vietnam – Timor Leste free trade agreement as soon as possible.

Both sides need to accelerate rice trade and effectively realise a relevant agreement for the 2015-2017 period, he said, adding that negotiations and signing of agreements on fighting crime, legal assistance in criminal matters and extradition should be considered.

He wished that the two countries will facilitate exchanges to raise mutual understanding while creating the best conditions for Vietnamese businesses operating in Timor Leste.

The Vietnamese NA is ready to foster friendship with the Timor Leste legislature, bilaterally and multilaterally, including experience sharing in legislation and supervision, he said.

Hermani Coelho da Silva, who is on a visit to Vietnam from April 6-8, vowed that the trade agreement with Vietnam would be signed soon.

The guest suggested increased joint work in agriculture, fisheries, energy and infrastructure as well as pushing forward exchange activities.

Vietnam, Timor Leste seek increased cooperation

Vietnam and Timor Leste will intensify their cooperation across politics, economy, investment, trade, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, energy, and communications.

This was reached during the talks in Hanoi on April 7 between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Timor Leste’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Hermani Coelho da Silva, who is on an official visit to Vietnam from April 6-8.

Minh affirmed that Vietnam’s policy is to boost the friendship with Timor Leste bilaterally and multilaterally and expressed his hope that the visit will help spur the friendship and multi-dimensional affiliation between the two countries.

He vowed that Vietnam is ready to support Timor Leste in agriculture, rural development, poverty reduction, and aquaculture while asking for the country’s facilitation of operations of Vietnamese investors there.

The guest minister wished to learn from Vietnam’s development experience and develop mutually-beneficiary cooperation with Vietnam.

He said he was delighted with the two countries’ rice trade and suggested the early organisation of the first meeting of the foreign minister-level joint committee.

He pledged to steer relevant ministries and sectors to work on the signing of agreements on investment protection and promotion, agriculture cooperation, trans-national crime prevention and combat and judicial assistance in crime maters and extradition.

The officials exchanged views on regional and international cooperation issues of shared concern, pledging to enhance coordination at multilateral forums and organisations.

Vietnam valued Timor Leste’s determination and efforts to soon join ASEAN and will work with other bloc members to support the country in realising its desire.

On the East Sea issue, the two sides agreed on the need to ensure maritime and aviation security and safety, address disputes in the sea by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the UN Convention on the law of the sea 1982, and maintain peace and stability in the area.

VNA