Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan held talks with Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva, met with Vice President of the Portuguese parliament Edite Estrela, and chaired a business dialogue forum on Oct. 29, VNA reported.

Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan and Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva. Photo: VNA

During the talks with Minister Augusto Santos Silva, Vice President Xuan affirmed that Vietnam is pursuing a foreign policy of independence and diversification and multilateralization, under which it is deepening bilateral cooperation with important partners, including the European Union in which Portugal is a member.

The two sides took note with satisfaction of the positive progress in Vietnam-Portugal relations in recent years and agreed-upon measures to further the bilateral cooperation in the time ahead. They said the two countries should increase the exchange of visits at all levels, particularly at the high level, to create momentum for bilateral ties.

Vice President Xuan conveyed an invitation to visit Vietnam from Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to his Portuguese counterpart Antonio Costa.

The sides stressed the need to study directions for bolstering cooperation in all aspects, especially economics, trade, and investment. They agreed on the target of raising bilateral trade value from USD 471 million to USD 1 billion.

The Vietnamese leader called on Portuguese businesses to increase their investment and business operation in Vietnam, especially in fields that the two countries can complement each other such as sea economy, maritime, renewable energy, and tourism. She said Vietnam is willing to serve as a bridge connecting Portuguese firms with the Southeast Asian and Asia-Pacific markets.

Xuan asked Portugal to assist Vietnam in developing trade and investment ties with the EU, and urged the country to early verify the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and help with the removal of the EC’s yellow card on Vietnamese seafood.

Minister Augusto Santos Silva affirmed that Vietnam is a priority partner of Portugal as well as the EU. He said there remains large room for the two countries to boost cooperation in trade and investment, and promised that Portugal will create favourable conditions for agencies and businesses of both sides to connect and expand markets. He also pledged to work for the early completion of procedures for the verification of the EVIPA.

The minister informed that Portugal has decided to grant Vietnam 160,000 doses of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine through the Covax mechanism, and suggested that the two countries continue to work together in responding to challenges posed by the pandemic and in helping the Vietnamese community in Portugal stabilize their life.

The two sides also discussed international and regional issues of common concern and pledged to coordinate on multilateral and regional forums as well as support each other at cooperation mechanisms such as the ASEAN-EU and the United Nations.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan (L) meets with Vice President of the Portuguese parliament Edite Estrela. Photo: VNA

At the meeting the same day, the Vice President met Vice President of the Portuguese parliament Edite Estrela. Xuan took the occasion to thank the Portuguese parliament for its strong support for strengthening relations between the two countries and the comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and the EU.

She proposed that the two countries’ parliaments increase the exchange of delegations. She conveyed an invitation to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time from National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to the President of the Portuguese parliament.

The two sides affirmed that cooperation between the two parliaments and countries will continue to be promoted in both bilateral and multilateral frameworks. They expressed support for maintaining peace and stability, respecting the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in the region and the world, promoting dialogue and facilitating cooperation and development for common prosperity.

Vice President Xuan addresses the Vietnamese-Portuguese business dialogue. Photo: VNA

Addressing the Vietnamese-Portuguese business dialogue, Vice President Xuan briefed the business delegates on Vietnam’s socio-economic situation and the country’s development priorities such as high technology, innovation, and digital economy. She affirmed that Vietnam will create all possible favorable conditions for Portuguese investors to operate long-term and reap success in the country.

Portuguese business representatives showed interest in Vietnam’s orientation and strategy for development and integration, as well as possibilities for business cooperation.

The business dialogue was the last activity of Vice President Xuan in Portugal. On the same day, she met Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo De Sousa and received Vice-President of the Assembly of Portugal Antonio Filipe Gaiao. She also had a meeting with the Vietnamese community in Portugal.

Vietnam and Portugal established diplomatic ties on July 1, 1975.

Vice President Xuan had a meeting with the Vietnamese community in Portugal. Photo: Foreign Affairs Ministry

Vice President Xuan is scheduled to start an official visit to Greece on Oct. 31. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1975, both sides have made relentless efforts to promote friendship as well as multi-faceted cooperation. The two countries signed a number of agreements and economic contracts.

2018 marked advancements in bilateral ties as there were high-level visits by delegations from both sides. In July 2018, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh paid an official visit to Greece. In return, in December of the same year, Terens Nikolaos Quick, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece, led a business delegation to Vietnam to attend the Vietnam-Greece Business forum organized by VCCI.

Despite the modest trade turnover between the two countries over the past few years, when the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) was successfully negotiated, the figure is improved.

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