Vietnam seeks stronger multifaceted cooperation with Poland

ABO/VNA - Vietnam wants to develop traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Poland, one of its prioritised partners in East-Central Europe, said Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh (L) and Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and Higher Education Jaroslaw Gowin (Photo: VNA).

Binh has been on an official visit to Poland from September 20-22 at the invitation of Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and Higher Education Jaroslaw Gowin.

Binh has held talks with Gowin and met with Marshal of the Senate Stanisław Karczewski and Chief of the Chancellery of the President Halina Szymanska.

At these meetings, Binh affirmed that Vietnam always treasures the precious assistance and support that the Polish people extended to Vietnam during the cause of national liberation and construction, especially its help in training thousands of Vietnamese personnel.

He congratulated Poland’s achievements in socio-economic development and European integration, while the Polish leaders expressed their impression at Vietnam’s high economic growth, stable society, and growing position in the region and in the world.

The Polish officials stressed that Vietnam has been an important partner of Poland over the past seven decades.

They agreed with Deputy PM Binh’s proposal on soon organising the first meeting of the Vietnam-Poland economic cooperation consultation mechanism and resuming the operation of the joint committee for science-technology cooperation, saying that they are ready to send delegations to Vietnam.

They also concurred with the early signing of an agreement on degree equivalence and on the establishment of cooperation mechanisms in security and crime prevention. The Polish officials said they would create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community living and studying in Poland.

The two sides agreed to maintain meetings between their high-ranking officials, and exchange delegations at all levels, sectors, and localities.

They promised to support each other in issues of common interest at multilateral forums, particularly at the United Nations and the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

Binh took the occasion to thank Poland for its support for Vietnam’s bid to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term and stressed his belief that Poland will achieve more while holding the non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council for the 2018-2019 term.

At their talks, the two Deputy PMs reviewed past collaboration across sectors and reached an agreement on specific measures to boost bilateral ties.

They applauded the strong development in bilateral economic-trade-investment ties. Trade between Vietnam and Poland exceeded 1 billion USD last year and hit 750 million USD in the first half of 2018, up 50 percent year-on-year. Poland’s direct investment in Vietnam increased 2.5 times in the past three years to reach 230 million USD.

To sustain the growth, the two Deputy PMs agreed to step up trade and investment promotion, as well as create conditions for Vietnamese and Polish firms to network, carry out market studies, seek investment opportunities, and form joint ventures in the fields of agriculture, food processing, pharmacy, and environmental protection, among others.

They affirmed the need to strengthen judicial cooperation, particularly the negotiation and signing of a regional agreement on extradition, as well as agreements on the transfer of prisoners and the criminal judicial assistance. They said the establishment of collaboration between the two supreme courts and supreme procuracies are also necessary.

The Polish leader stressed that Poland is willing to exchange its experience with Vietnam concerning anti-corruption policy and measures.

Gowin and Karczewski agreed with Binh’s view on the importance of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and stressed their commitments to backing the early signing of the pact in 2018 and its ratification next year.

The Polish officials showed their support toward Vietnam’s stance on international and regional matters, including the East Sea issue.

(Source: VNA)