Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (right); Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Abdyldaev Erlan Bekeshovich (left)

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has proposed that Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan promptly sign economic agreements to create a legal foundation for stepping up their trade-investment relations.

The Government leader made the proposal during a meeting with Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Abdyldaev Erlan Bekeshovich in Hanoi on February 18.

PM Dung said the traditional relationship between Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan is developing, and he believed that the visit to Vietnam by the Foreign Minister will make practical contributions to stepping up their bilateral ties.

He affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to cooperation with Kyrgyzstan and proposed that the two sides further mutual support at international forums and increase discussions to enhance their partnership in education and culture.

Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan should establish joint ventures in production to boost exports to the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, he said.

The Kyrgyz Foreign Minister informed PM Dung of the outcomes of his talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

He said his country wishes to accelerate collaboration with Vietnam in light industry, garments, textiles and mining. He proposed that the two nations soon sign economic pacts.

He told his host that Kyrgyzstan, like Vietnam, is moving to join the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia and this is an opportunity for the two sides to strengthen ties in economics, trade and investment.

At the talks between Deputy PM Minh and visiting Minister Abdyldaev Erlan Bekeshovich earlier in the day, both sides informed each other of the socio-economic situation in their respective countries.

Minh stated that Vietnam always places importance on cooperation with its traditional friends, including Kyrgyzstan.

The visiting Minister, for his part, said his Government considers Vietnam as one of its important partners in Southeast Asia and hopes to further develop the bilateral friendship and cooperation.

The two sides held that despite the geographical distance, the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan has been nurtured and well developed, especially in politics and diplomacy.

Host and guest agreed to increase all-level delegation exchanges. Bekeshovich delivered a letter from Kyrgyzstan ’s President Almazbek Atambaev inviting his counterpart Truong Tan Sang and Deputy Prime Minister Minh to visit the country.

Both sides also discussed a number of measures to enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields as well as ways to increase work together at multilateral forums such as the United Nations.

They agreed to quicken negotiations for agreements on economics, trade, investment and finance to create a legal foundation for a stronger and wide-ranging connection in economic, culture, sports, tourism and education between the two nations.

After the talks, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the two Foreign Ministries.

 As part of his working visit from February 17-20, the visiting minister also met with Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for External Affairs Tran Van Hang, and Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang.

VNA