Vietnam, Liberia endeavour to triple trade revenue

Vietnam and Liberia have affirmed their determination to double or triple the current bilateral trade of US$35.3 million.

The announcement was made during talks between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Liberian Foreign Minister Marjon Vashti Kamara in Hanoi on December 8.

Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh and Liberian FM Marjon Vashti Kamara (credit: VGP).

At the talks, Minh asserted that Vietnam always attaches importance to developing its friendship and cooperation with Liberia, a promising partner in West Africa.

The two officials agreed on concrete measures to further bilateral ties in a comprehensively effective manner.

In terms of the economy, the Liberian official imploredVietnam to help his country in agriculture, mining, building infrastructure, and telecommunication. He welcomed Vietnamese businesses to Liberia for market research on establishing trade and investment relations.

The two sides agreed to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese and Liberian enterprises to promote trade and attend fairs and exhibitions in respective countries.

Discussions covered measures to step up collaboration in agriculture, oil and gas, telecommunication, and defence-security. They also agreed to promptly sign the framework agreement on cooperation between the two Governments, the bilateral trade agreement, the agreement on investment encouragement and protection, the protocol on cooperation between the two foreign ministries, creating a favourable legal corridor for bilateral cooperation.

In terms of politics, the two sides emphasised the need to increase the exchange of all-level delegations via the channels of Party, State, National Assembly, ministries and localities while facilitating people-to-people exchange to further solidarity and mutual understanding. They also pledged to continue coordination at multilateral forums.

Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh expressed his wish to welcome the President of Liberia in Hanoi next year. He suggested the West African country support Vietnam’s bid to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure and recognise Vietnam as a full market economy.

Regarding regional and international issues of mutual concern, the Vietnamese official affirmed the principle stance of Vietnam and ASEAN is to resolve disputes, including those in the East Sea, by peaceful means, ensuring full respect for diplomatic and legal processes on the basis of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and objection to the use of force or threat of use of force.

Stressing the need for the full and serious implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) towards the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), Minh suggested Liberia back the principal stance of Vietnam and ASEAN.

Following the talks, Deputy PM and FM Pham Binh Minh and Liberian FM Marjon Vashti Kamara witnessed the signing of the agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders, the first agreement between the two countries.

(Source: NDO)