Viet Nam is Romania's most important partner in Southeast Asia

President Iohannis made the above statement at his meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh who is on a three-day official visit to the European country.

Iohannis spoke highly of Viet Nam's role in the Asia-Pacific region, expressing his wish to further strengthen cooperation with Viet Nam in all fields.

Prime Minister Pham expressed his pleasured to visit Romania where he had learned for years and thanked Romania for its great support and assistance during the past struggle for national liberation and unification and the current reform process.

Particularly, Romania backed the EU's approval of the EU-Viet Nam free trade agreement (EVFTA) and became the first EU member country to donate Covid-19 vaccines to Viet Nam, said Pham.

In pursuance of its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multi-lateralization of external relations, Viet Nam always attaches importance and wishes to boost cooperation with traditional partners in central Europe, in which Romania is a priority partner, affirmed Prime Minister Pham.

The two leaders agreed to enhance the exchange of delegations across channels and people-to-people diplomacy. President Iohannis expected to visit Viet Nam soon to maintain dialogue between senior leaders of the two countries.

Both sides welcomed impressive growth in trade exchanges despite adverse impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic and instability in the region and agreed to promote the role the existing economic cooperation mechanisms while encouraging Romanian companies to strengthen investment in Viet Nam, especially in such areas as information technology, oil refinery, food processing, and renewable energy.

Both Prime Minister Pham and President Iohannis agreed that the two countries will continue mutual support at multilateral forums and international organizations; coordinate closely in addressing global issues in a bid to contribute to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Comparing notes on "hot spots" in the world, the two leaders shared the view that all disputes and conflicts must be settled via peaceful means in line with international law instead of using or threatening the use of force.

The same day, Prime Minister Pham met with President of the Senate of Romania Nicolae Ciuca, and President of Romanian Chamber of Deputies Alfred Simonis. 

He also attended the Viet Nam-Romania Business Forum./.