Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) meets President of the Norwegian Parliament Tone Troen. (Photo: VNA)

Both leaders expressed their delight at the positive development of relations between Vietnam and Norway as well as between the parliaments in particular over the years.

They held that Vietnam and Norway boast great potential for stronger cooperation in various areas.

PM Phuc conveyed Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan’s greetings and invitation to the Norwegian leader to visit Vietnam.

Troen lauded Vietnam’s completion of the Millennium Development Goal in poverty reduction ahead of schedule, pledging that Norway will continue supporting Vietnam in the field.

She said that in the coming time, the two parliaments should increase the exchange of experience in law building, supervision and enforcement, while supporting each other at multilateral parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).

The leaders highlighted the significance of economic cooperation and the need for the soon signing of a Free Trade Agreement between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Vietnam.

PM Phuc proposed the parliament of Norway support the business communities of both nations to strengthen connections and partnerships, while encouraging Norwegian firms to invest more in Vietnam in marine transport, shipbuilding, oil and gas, aquaculture, renewable energy, consumer goods, and information technology.

The Vietnamese Government is implementing many policies to encourage and support foreign investors, including those from Norway, to operate effectively in Vietnam for a long term, he stressed.

PM Phuc also proposed that Norway open its market for Vietnamese traditional products, especially farm produce, consumer goods and electronics products.

In the context that Vietnam and Norway are switching their relations from development cooperation to development partnership for mutual benefit, Vietnam expects that the Norwegian parliament will back dialogue mechanisms and political consultations as well as other new cooperation methods, especially in climate change, clean energy, blue economy and sustainable development, he said.

The PM expressed his hope that Norway’s parliament will continue assisting the 20,000-strong Vietnamese community in the country to stabilise their lives and well integrate into the host society, so that they could work as an important bridge to enhance the friendship, mutual understanding and close relationship between the two nations.

Both leaders agreed to work together in maintaining peace and ensuring freedom and security of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)./.

VNF/VNA