The fourth meeting of the Vietnam- Morocco Joint Committee and the fifth political consultation between the two foreign ministries took place in Hanoi from April 23^rd to 24^th.

Delegates at the fourth meeting of the Vietnam- Morocco Joint Committee in Hanoi. (Photo: MOFA)

Deputy Foreign Minister Vu Hong Nam and Moroccan Secretary of State to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Mounia Boucetta co-chaired the meeting.

At the event, both sides expressed their pleasure at the fine development of relations between the two countries in past years, with recent visits to each nation by President of the Moroccan House of Representatives Habib El Malki and Deputy Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Phung Quoc Hien in 2017.

Deputy Minister Nam affirmed that Vietnam has always attached great importance to its comprehensive cooperation with Morocco, while expressing his sincere thanks to Morocco for supporting Vietnam's candidature for a non-permanent member seat at the U.N. Security Council for the 2020-2021 term. The guest also conveyed her sincere thanks to Vietnam for its support of Morocco’s participation in the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia with ASEAN.

Regarding economic cooperation, the two sides agreed to further promote bilateral trade and investment through the exchange of business delegations to lead a thorough exploration of each other’s markets and develop joint projects in other African countries.

Bilateral trade turnover stood only just USD 170 million in 2017, a modest level compared to its potential and the level of political cooperation between the two countries. To boost relations in this area, Morocco suggested the two sides consider re-launching the Bilateral Business Council and promoting bilateral relations that could complement each other, such as in fertiliser production, pharmaceuticals, aquaculture, and rice imports.

The two countries affirmed their continued exchange of university and postgraduate scholarships and agreed to promote cooperation in the field of education and training through the signing of cooperation agreements between research institutions of both countries, exchanging research delegations, and organising academic seminars. Vietnam welcomed Morocco’s willingness to send its correspondent under the Maghreb Arab Press (MAP) in Vietnam and its establishing of the Morocco-Vietnam Friendship Association to promote exchanges between the two peoples.

In addition, in the coming time, both countries will jointly promote twinning proposals between their localities, including Nha Trang - Agadir, Ho Chi Minh City - Casablanca, and Da Bang - Tangier.

At the meeting, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam and the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs of Morocco, and a Memorandum of Understanding between the Vietnam Maritime University and the Morocco Higher Institute of Maritime Studies.

The signing ceremony for a document after the political consultations between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs.

Within the framework of political consultations between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs, the two sides exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, such as cooperation within the framework of the U.N., ASEAN, and the African Union; the situation in the Asia Pacific and the North Africa; climate change response; and sustainable development.

Both sides expressed concern about the escalation of conflict and instability in several areas around the world, arguing that such disputes need to be resolved through peaceful means and negotiations, on the basis of international law and the U.N. Charter./.

VNF/NDO