Prime Minister meets New Zealand, Mongolia, and Barbados counterparts on WEF meeting sideline

At the meeting with New Zealand PM Chris Hipkins, Pham reiterated that Viet Nam attaches importance to and expects to promote the strategic partnership with New Zealand. 

The Vietnamese Government will facilitate enterprises from New Zealand to invest in the country in fields New Zealand has advantages and Viet Nam has demand such as education-training, processing and manufacturing technology, the agro-aquatic-forestry sector and construction. 

Chris Hipkins consented with proposals of the Vietnamese leader, especially fostering bilateral cooperation with a focus on economics and trade as well as enhancing coordination at multi-lateral forums. 

He voiced his support for strengthening the centrality of ASEAN over regional issues. 

The Prime Ministers pointed to the need for relevant ministries and agencies of the two countries to work together to step up trade promotion activities and broaden market access for each side's commodities, particularly farm produce, heading to raise the bilateral trade value to US$2 billion by 2024. 

The two leaders underscored the importance of maintaining peace, security, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea. 

They vowed to promote dialogues, build trust and settle disputes via peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982). 

During the meeting with his Mongolian counterpart Oyun-Erdene Luvsannamsrai, Pham affirmed that Viet Nam welcomes and stands ready to play the bridging role to support Mongolia to bolster relations with ASEAN for peace and prosperity in the region and the world. 

Luvsannamsrai, for his part, recommended both nations uphold the role of the Mongolia-Viet Nam inter-Governmental Committee, adding that Mongolia hopes to expand relations with Viet Nam in fields of transport, railway, aviation, people-to-people exchanges and tourism. 

Both sides expressed their delight on the fruitful developments in the traditional friendship relations over the past 70 years and discussed international and regional issues of mutual concerns, including upholding the role of multilateralism and complying with international law.

In his meeting with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Pham proposed two nations step up bilateral cooperation, giving priority to signing cooperation documents to create a legal corridor for enhancing economic, trade and investment ties, firstly the signing of the agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic and service passport holders.

Barbados holds a crucial location in the Caribbean region, noted Pham, expecting that Viet Nam will further strengthen its relations with the region via Barbados. 

Prime Minister Mia Mottley expressed her wish that the two sides will continue creating favorable conditions for trade, investment and tourism activities and maintaining close coordination and mutual advocate at international organizations and multilateral forums.  

Barbados is willing to work as a bridge for Viet Nam to foster relations with other countries in the Caribbean region, she stated. 

The two Prime Ministers pledged to increase all-level delegation exchanges to develop friendship between their peoples./.