Prime Minister hosts Romanian economic minister

Pham reiterated Viet Nam always attaches importance to the traditional friendship with Romania.

He expressed thanks to Romania, as the rotating President of the European Union (EU) in 2019, for advocating the negotiation and signing of the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and becoming one of first three nations in the EU ratifying the EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

He hailed the fruitful developments in the bilateral relationship in all fields of politics, diplomacy, economy, security, defense, culture, education and training.

The two-way trade value hit US$425 million in 2022, up 14.8 percent against the previous year, however, it has yet matched their potential, shared the PM.

Pham proposed economic-trade-investment cooperation should still be a crucial pillar in the bilateral ties in the upcoming time; strengthen transport connectivity, including aviation; take advantages of the EVFTA, and further open the market for their commodities, such as coffee, tea, peppercorn, shrimps, tra fish and basa fish from Viet Nam, suggested the host.

He underlined the need to enhance business linkages and attract investment in fields of agriculture, digital transformation, and renewable energy, as well as foster collaboration in labor, education-training, particularly human resource training in all spheres of petrol, health and pharmacy.

He called on Romania to encourage other EU member states to soon ratify the EVIPA.

Stefan-Radu Oprea, for his part, said Romania attaches importance to and expects to deepen cooperation with Viet Nam, willing to be a gateway for Viet Nam to enter the EU.

He recommended both nations actively promote their relations more intensively, practically and effectively, pledging to work closely with the Vietnamese side to support their businesses./.