Deputy PM hopes for stronger Vietnam-Nepal cooperation

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh received Nepalese Minister for Commerce Romi Gauchan Thakali in Hanoi on March 9, asking the two countries to augment cooperation in the spheres they have potential in.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) and Nepalese Minister for Commerce Romi Gauchan Thakali (Photo: VNA)

Deputy PM Minh congratulated Nepal on its development and re-construction achievements, including the settlement of the consequences of the historic earthquake in April 2015 and the issuance of a new constitution in September 2015.

Vietnam treasures its traditional friendship with Nepal, he said, noting his pleasure with the solidified bilateral relationship, especially the flourishing cooperation between their ruling parties, he noted.

He called on both sides to finalise the negotiations on an agreement on visa exemptions for each other’s holders of diplomatic and official passports, along with cooperation deals on the economy, investment, trade, culture, tourism and aviation.

Bilateral trade reached US$41 million in 2016, which is still modest compared to the potential, Minh said. He asked Nepal to provide optimal conditions in which for Vietnamese firms to seek opportunities for investment in energy, infrastructure and telecommunications, and to export consumer goods to this country.

He said Vietnam set up an honorary consulate in Kathmandu in October 2016, hoping that Nepal will consider establishing a corresponding office in Vietnam to bolster ties.

For his part, Minister Romi Gauchan Thakali expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s socio-economic accomplishments, noting that his country wants to strengthen relations with Vietnam, particularly in economics and trade.

He hoped the two sides will increase delegation and people-to-people exchanges to share experience and promote collaboration.

The Nepalese official was in Hanoi to attend the UN high-level meeting for the Euro-Asia region on improving cooperation in transit, trade facilitation and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

(Source: NDO)