President Truong Tan Sang and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani have agreed to increase the exchange of high-level delegations and meetings between the two countries.

President Truong Tan Sang (L) talks with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani.

The consensus was reached during the two leaders’ talks in Tehran city on March 14 as part of President Sang’s State visit to the Middle East country.

Host and guest were unanimous in their stance on regional and international issues, especially at the UN and the Non-Aligned Movement, while supporting each other at international forums and organisations.

The Iranian President described President Truong Tan Sang’s visit as a major event, particularly at a time when Iran is about to welcome its traditional New Year, saying it opens up a new period of cooperation between the two countries.

Vietnam and Iran have both experienced wars and embargoes, he said, suggesting the the two countries make greater efforts to fulfill joint targets for the interests of their people.

The leaders held that historical similarities and the mutual support of the two countries’ people have served as fundamental foundations for bilabial ties to further develop.

They said both countries have enormous potential to boost socio-economic development and should strive to further cooperate in economy, trade and investment to raise two-way trade to 2 billion USD in the next five years.

They hailed the State Bank of Vietnam and the Central Bank of Iran for signing a cooperation agreement, which creates a foundation to enhance the two nations’ trade and investment affiliation.

The two sides pledged to create all favourable conditions for businesses to increase collaboration in high-potential fields such as agriculture, fisheries, industry, energy, telecommunication, automobile manufacturing, electricity, pharmaceutical products, spare parts, machinery, garment-textiles, mechanics, oil and gas, and tourism.

President Truong Tan Sang proposed Iran enables the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) and the military-run telecom group Viettel to expand investment in and to provide telecom services to Iran.

The host promised to encourage Iranian enterprises to cooperate with Vietnam in these fields.

The two leaders said they will ask relevant ministries and agencies to actively prepare for the organisation of the 9 th joint committee between the two countries in the Iranian capital Tehran.

They expressed their hope that the two countries’ businesses will reach cooperation agreements at a business forum on March 15.

In addition to economy and investment, the Presidents also stressed the need to expand affiliation to tourism, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

They agreed to increase exchanges between students and experts. The Iranian President appreciated the Persian language department in Vietnam and hopes the Southeast Asian country will open more courses on Iran.

Both host and guest were unanimous in pushing ahead with negotiations towards the early signing of cooperation agreements in finance, floral quarantine and protection, information and communication.

They also exchanged regional and international issues of mutual concern such as terrorism, border and territorial disputes in Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific.

President Truong Tan Sang showed his support for “The World Against Violence and Extremism” (WAVE) initiated by Iran.

The two sides confirmed they would work closely together to make active contributions to maintaining peace in the world, adding that all disputes must be settled through dialogues and peaceful means based on respecting international law.

President Hassan Rouhani said he will arrange a Vietnam visit in the near future.

President Truong Tan Sang paid State visits to Tanzania, Mozambique and Iran from March 9 – 15.

Vietnam, Iran eye stronger multi-faceted cooperation

President Truong Tan Sang held meetings with Speaker of the Iranian National Consultative Assembly Ali Larijani and Chairman of the Expediency Council of Iran Rafsanjani on March 14 as part of his State visit to the Middle East country.

The leaders noted with pleasure the fruitful development of the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Iran over the past years.

President Truong Tan Sang spoke highly of the contributions that the National Consultative Assembly and the Expediency Council of Iran as well as the two leaders themselves have made to Iran’s development and the bilateral relationship between Iran and Vietnam, especially through the first visit to Vietnam by Rafsanjani in his capacity as Iranian President in October 1995.

He briefed his hosts on outcomes of his talks with President Hassan Rouhani, during which the two sides compared notes on specific measures in order to strengthen the multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries.

The Vietnamese State leader suggested the two countries’ legislative bodies closely coordinate with each other in supervising and accelerating the realisation of bilateral commitments and agreements.

He expressed his hope that with their prestige and role, the Speaker and the Chairman will constructively contribute to enhancing the traditional friendship between the two countries.

For their part, the Iranian leaders affirmed their support for the all-round cooperation with Vietnam, particularly in the field of economy.

Speaker Larijani suggested the two sides promptly set up collaboration in the banking sector and increase the connectivity between enterprises to create foundations for further economic, trade and investment ties.

Chairman Rafsanjani said Vietnam and Iran share may similarities in their history and both have experienced tough periods of embargoes.

He said trade and economic cooperation between the two countries remain modest compared to their potential and proposed both sides mobilise all resources to lift ties in these fields.

The chairman also suggested expanding bilateral affiliation to science-technology, education and culture, apart from economic activities.

President Truong Tan Sang used the occasion to convey National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung’s invitation to Speaker Larijani to visit Vietnam at an early date.

VNA