Vietnam develops relations with traditional partners
Vietnam’s National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong held bilateral talks with top legislators from Bangladesh, Fiji, and Georgia on the margins of the plenary session of the 136th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on April 3.
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| Vietnam’s National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong (second from right) meets with Speaker of Bangladeshi Parliament Sharin Sharmin Chaudhury (third from right) (Photo: VNA) |
At a meeting with Speaker of Bangladeshi Parliament Sharin Sharmin Chaudhury, Phong affirmed that Vietnam wants to enhance the traditional friendship and sound cooperation with Bangladesh, and suggested the two sides maintain visits at all levels and people-to-people exchanges.
She also called for continued mutual support at multilateral forums, especially those under the United Nations framework.
The host recommended both countries step up collaboration via the parliament channel. She accepted the Vietnamese National Assembly’s invitation to participate in the IPU Asia-Pacific thematic symposium on tackling climate change and realizing the UN sustainable development goals, which is scheduled to take place in Ho Chi Minh City on May 11-13.
While meeting with Speaker of the Parliament of Fiji Jiko Luveni, Vice NA Chairwoman Phong reiterated Vietnam’s consistent policy of cementing friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with countries in the Asian-Pacific region, including Fiji.
Vietnam is willing to help Fiji in the fields of its strengths such as agriculture, food security, fisheries, infrastructure building, and healthcare by means of experience sharing, training support or experts dispatch, she said.
Phong also invited the Fiji top legislator to attend the IPU symposium in HCM City in May 2017 and the 26th Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) to be held in Vietnam in January 2018.
Jiko Luveni said Fiji is ready to share know-how with Vietnam in training personnel for the UN peacekeeping activities, and agreed to cooperate with Vietnam at international forums.
During a meeting with Chairperson of the Parliament of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze, Phong extolled the long-standing relations between the two countries despite geographical distance.
She said the Vietnamese people always remember the valuable assistance of Georgia during the wartime and in the cause of national construction.
Vietnam’s policy is to preserve and develop rapports with traditional partners, including Georgia, she said, adding that Vietnam wants to boost comprehensive cooperation with Georgia in economics, tourism, culture and education, thus increasing mutual understanding and trust for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and beyond.
Irakli Kobakhidze agreed that the two sides need to promote mutual visits and people-to-people exchanges and stressed Georgia is willing to share experience and support Vietnam in the fields of education and science-technology.
He suggested the two countries’ legislatures increase meetings between relevant committees and agencies to propel the bilateral cooperation forward.
