Vietnamese, Timor-Leste Presidents hold talks

The Vietnamese President said, the third visit of Timor-Leste's President to Viet Nam will create a new impetus for the bilateral ties.

He congratulated Timor-Leste on its socio-economic development achievements, expecting the nation will soon implement its National Strategic Development Plan for the period 2011-2030, making active contributions to peace, prosperity and development in the region.

Viet Nam stands ready to continue providing rice to help Timor-Leste ensure food security, he said, recommending the two sides extend or sign a new Memorandum of Understanding on rice trade.

He called on Timor-Leste to increase imports of high-quality Vietnamese products, such as textiles, footwear, beverages, dairy foods, processed foods, agricultural and aquatic products.

The host recommended Timor-Leste soon ratify the bilateral trade agreement and facilitate Vietnamese businesses to expand business and investment in the country.

To Lam hailed Timor-Leste's determination and efforts in implementing the Roadmap for Timor-Leste's full ASEAN membership, affirming Viet Nam's support for Timor-Leste to soon become a member of ASEAN.

Jose Ramos-Horta, for his side, considers Viet Nam as a model of development, affirming that Timor-Leste treasures and expects to further promote friendly relations with Viet Nam.

He took the occasion to extend his deep condolences over the passing of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

He underlined the need to work closely to boost economic cooperation, trade and investment between the two countries; bolster cooperation in potential fields such as agriculture and fisheries exploitation; exploiting and processing forest resources, mineral resources, metal ores and non-ferrous metals.

He voiced his support for Viet Nam's proposals for stepping up cooperation, and taking advantage of new trends for development.

The President expressed his expectations that Viet Nam would continue sharing experience and assisting Timor-Leste in developing human resources, ensuring food security, and reducing poverty.

Timor-Leste strongly advocates Viet Nam's candidacies at multilateral mechanisms, including the UN Security Council, the UN Human Rights Council and other international organizations, he stressed.

The two sides vowed to increase all-level delegation exchanges, effectively implement the framework agreement on economic and technical cooperation, soon organize the first meeting of the Viet Nam-Timor-Leste Joint Committee at the Foreign Ministerial level; and explore the possibility of establishing new bilateral mechanisms.

They pledged to effectively exploit the potential for cooperation in other important fields, especially agriculture, fisheries, telecommunications, education, oil and gas, infrastructure construction, education, tourism and people-to-people links.

Both sides agreed to continue strengthening cooperation and mutual support at international and regional organizations.

Regarding the East Sea issue, both leaders asserted to continue highlighting the rule of law in maintaining peace and stability, and ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea.

They underlined the importance of addressing disputes by peaceful means based on international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), negotiate the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC), contributing to maintaining peace, stability and development in the region.

Following the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of an agreement on bilateral visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders./.