Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh at talks with his visiting Serbian
counterpart Ivan Mrkic in Hanoi on March 1 affirmed that Vietnam
always attaches importance to consolidating and developing the
friendship and cooperation with international friends, including
Serbia.
Minh described Mrkic’s visit from
February 27 to March 2 as an important milestone in the two countries’
growing traditional relations.
He expressed his
delight at Serbian people’s achievements during the country’s
construction and development as well as its regional and international
integration.
Mrkic said that the celebration of
their 55 th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2012 created a
new momentum for Vietnam and Serbia’s developing relationship.
He spoke highly of great achievements Vietnam has
made during its renewal process, affirming that Serbia hopes to expand
and further intensify its traditional friendship with Vietnam.
The Serbian top diplomat said that there is much potential for
Vietnam-Serbia economic and trade ties to grow, and asked the two sides
to closely coordinate in fostering bilateral direct trade.
Both sides said they are pleased with the fine development of the
Vietnam-Serbia political ties and the regular exchanges of all-level
delegations, and affirmed that the two countries will continue to
increase meetings of their leaders, even at international forums.
The two ministers highly valued the official signings of an agreement
on double taxation avoidance and an arrangement on mutual recognition of
market economy status within the framework of Mrkic’s visit.
The two documents will create a legal basis to promote bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation, they added.
Both host and guest agreed to soon complete negotiations to sign an
agreement on economic cooperation and another on investment
encouragement and protection.
At the talks, the two
sides also exchanged views on measures to intensify cultural exchange,
foster people exchanges and develop tourism between Vietnam and
Serbia.
The two FMs appreciated the initial
results of the student exchange programme between the two nations, and
affirmed their willingness to negotiate and sign an agreement on
educational cooperation and the increase of student and postgraduate
exchanges.
They also exchanged opinions on regional
and international issues of mutual concern and highly valued the
effective cooperation between the two countries at international forums
over the past time, especially within the framework of the United
Nations and the Non-aligned Movement.-VNA