Trade Minister Vu Khoan on results of PM's visits to Europe
Ha Noi, Oct. 17 (VNA) -- There is every reason now to say that the recent tour of Spain, Germany and the Netherlands by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai has been a success, said Trade Minister Vu Khoan.
He further said that the tour succeeded, both bilaterally and multilaterally, laying the foundation for long-term cooperation and contributing to raising Viet Nam's position in the international arena.
Mr. Khoan, who accompanied PM Khai during his European tour from Oct. 8-16, granted an interview to Nhan Dan newspaper's correspondent about the result and significance of the PM's visit.
He said that the tour has considerably helped boost multi-faceted cooperation, particularly in economics and commerce, between Viet Nam and the three countries. During the tour, Viet Nam signed a series of agreements and memorandums of understanding, including a framework agreement on cooperation with Spain; a finance cooperation agreement and three others on railway, afforestation and integration of returnees worth USD 90 million; and an agreement to double the Dutch Government's ODA to USD 24 million in 2003 from USD 12 million last year and other projects on strengthening the management capacity of local authorities and on poverty reduction worth millions of US dollars.
Viet Nam has concluded an agreement with Spain and Germany to expand cooperation in tourism.
These agreements manifested the three European nations' desire to expand cooperation with Viet Nam. All the three countries have listed Viet Nam as prioritized country to receive their official development assistance (ODA), Khoan stressed.
He added that Viet Nam has received the three countries' support in boosting relationship with the European Union. This is an important event because the EU is a key trade partner of Viet Nam and the two sides are going to hold new negotiations on trade relations. Moreover, the three countries have expressed their support for Viet Nam's policies on economic integration and its joining the World Trade Organisation, Mr.Khoan noted.
He spoke of the tour's success, focusing on foreign countries' high appreciation of the renewal process and socio-political stability of Viet Nam. The visit took place at a time when the Vietnamese people are striving to carry out the socio-economic development plan for 2001, the first year of the five-year plan passed by the ninth Party Congress, which aims to promote efforts to expand and increase cooperation efficiency and actively integrate into the international economy. Furthermore, the three countries are located in typical regions of Europe, Southwestern, Middle and Northern Europe. Although having established relations with Viet Nam at different levels, all the countries considered Viet Nam as a key country in Asia to broaden cooperation with.
However, Mr. Khoan said, the visit's results have only created pre-conditions for boosting cooperation. He called for further efforts to fully tap the above-said advantages to improve Viet Nam's position in a fiercely competitive world.
The Trade Minister laid stress on the requirements of uniform and clear policies and mechanisms. He urged businesses to actively meet with European partners, particularly through trade and investment promotion organisations, diplomatic and commercial representative offices as well as Vietnamese communities in foreign countries, to increase understanding and the exchange of goods and investment cooperation, thus bringing benefits to themselves and the country.--VNA
