Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel
On the morning of May 4, at the Presidential Palace, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a solemn welcoming ceremony for Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel and a high-ranking Luxembourg delegation on an official visit to Vietnam from May 3-5. Immediately after the welcoming ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel held talks and met with the press.
This is the first official visit outside Europe by the Prime Minister of Luxembourg in 2023, and also the first visit to Vietnam by the Prime Minister of Luxembourg in more than 20 years and the first high-level foreign activity on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Luxembourg (1973 - 2023). The visit takes place just 5 months after Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to Luxembourg (December 2022).
Immediately after the very successful talks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel witnessed the signing of a number of cooperation documents between the two countries' ministries and agencies and held a press conference to announce the results of the talks.
In the presence of the two Prime Ministers, leaders of ministries and sectors of the two countries signed the Protocol amending the Agreement between the two Governments on the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of tax evasion with respect to taxes on income and property; and the Strategic Partnership Agreement on green finance between the two Ministries of Finance.
Speaking at the press conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh once again warmly welcomed Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and the high-ranking delegation of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on their official visit to Vietnam. The visit is of great significance, coming on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Luxembourg.
The visit took place five months after the meeting between the two Prime Ministers in Luxembourg. This shows the desire and determination of both sides to strengthen cooperation to bring the bilateral relationship to a new stage of development, in depth and effectiveness for the benefit of the two peoples, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said that the two sides had a sincere, substantive, trustworthy and effective meeting, discussing many cooperation issues in many fields, both bilaterally and multilaterally. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh conveyed the greetings of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Vo Van Thuong to Prime Minister Xavier Bettel.
The two sides were pleased to see that the Vietnam-Luxembourg relationship is developing well, especially in the fields of politics-diplomacy, finance, trade and investment, and is expanding in many other potential fields, such as education and training, science and technology, information and communications, etc.
Discussing the situation of each country, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his admiration and said that Vietnam wishes to refer to and learn from Luxembourg's experience in the process of developing from an agricultural country to steel production and then strongly developing the finance-banking sector, to now becoming a developed economy with the highest per capita income in the world, the lowest public debt in the world, strong in industry and services, and a financial center of Europe.
At the talks, the two sides highly agreed on directions to promote future cooperation to enhance political trust, contribute to the recovery of each country's socio-economic development, as well as effectively coordinate in responding to global challenges.
Specifically, the two sides agreed to continue to increase delegation exchanges at all levels, especially high-level ones, through all channels, the State, the Government, and the National Assembly; promote people-to-people exchanges between the two countries; and effectively implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms.
Second, continue to effectively utilize the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), thereby agreeing to create more favorable conditions for goods from the two countries to increasingly access each other's markets; promote the construction of logistics centers, and establish bonded warehouse systems in each country.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam welcomes Luxembourg's ratification of the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and asked Luxembourg to urge the remaining EU member states to soon ratify the agreement. The Vietnamese Government affirmed its readiness to create all favorable conditions for Luxembourg businesses to increase investment in Vietnam, especially in areas of strength such as strategic infrastructure, digital transformation, renewable energy, pharmaceutical technology, etc.
At the same time, Vietnam hopes that Luxembourg will urge the EU to remove the IUU yellow card on Vietnam's seafood exports, taking into account Vietnam's recent efforts in fully and seriously implementing the EC's recommendations on IUU standards to develop sustainable fisheries and ensure the livelihoods of Vietnamese fishermen.
Third, the two countries agreed to establish a Strategic Partnership Framework on Green Finance, considering this a new pillar of cooperation, contributing to further deepening bilateral relations and contributing to the goal of sustainable economic development. The two sides also agreed to promote the effective implementation of the Cooperation Agreement between the Vietnam Stock Exchange and the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, while strengthening cooperation in the banking sector, connecting Luxembourg's financial resources to help Vietnam implement the Green Growth Strategy for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel hold talks
Fourthly, regarding development cooperation, Vietnam proposed that Luxembourg continue to provide ODA to Vietnam in the process of socio-economic development, especially in the fields of agriculture, rural development, finance, banking and education, etc., and at the same time expand the scope of aid, in line with Vietnam's orientation in using ODA capital in the coming time.
Fifth, the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in addressing global issues, focusing on climate change response and adaptation. In that spirit, Vietnam has asked Luxembourg to provide technological and resource support to implement climate change adaptation projects in Vietnam, especially in the Mekong Delta, and to increase support to the Mekong River Commission, especially in the management and sustainable use of water resources.
Sixth, the two sides pledged to promote cooperation in the fields of education and training, information and communications, science and technology, culture, sports, tourism and people-to-people exchange, especially cultural cooperation; further resolve visa issues for citizens of the two countries. Vietnam requested Luxembourg to continue creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Luxembourg to successfully integrate, contribute to the socio-economic development of Luxembourg and become a bridge of friendship in the relationship between the two countries.
Seventh, the two countries agreed to continue to closely coordinate and support each other at multilateral forums, regional and international organizations such as the United Nations, ASEM, and the ASEAN-EU framework, in order to make practical contributions to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
Eighth, regarding the East Sea, the two sides reaffirmed the importance of ensuring security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, and resolving disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Prime Minister Xavier Bettel thanked the Vietnamese side and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh for the warm, thoughtful and friendly reception. He expressed his impression of the beauty of the country and people of Vietnam, especially Ha Long Bay, Hanoi's Old Quarter, and the delicious Vietnamese dishes that he had the opportunity to visit during his visit. He is expected to visit the Temple of Literature and the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum in the afternoon of the same day. He hopes and believes that more and more Luxembourg people will visit Vietnam.
Prime Minister Xavier Bettel recalled the good results of the 50-year relationship between the two countries and assessed that Vietnam has made remarkable progress in recent times. He said that his visit had achieved good and very practical results in many areas, such as removing obstacles for investment and business activities of enterprises, promoting financial cooperation, promoting climate change response, cultural cooperation, people-to-people exchange, visa issues, etc.
He highly appreciated the drastic, specific and effective direction of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in removing difficulties and obstacles for investment and business activities, such as the problems with Luxembourg's Cargolux airline... He affirmed that he would discuss with the European Commission (EC) about the IUU yellow card issue for Vietnamese seafood and that Luxembourg would actively support Vietnam in this field.
He said that the main goal of development cooperation activities is to provide opportunities for all countries and peoples to have a better life and future, and that Luxembourg's development cooperation activities have been actively and effectively implemented by Vietnam in recent times.
In fact, Vietnam is one of two Asian countries and one of 10 countries in the world receiving development aid from Luxembourg with a total value of 160 million euros.
"We always stand side by side with Vietnam, even in difficult times, and the two countries are determined to elevate relations to new heights, especially on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries," he said.
TUNG QUANG; photo: NHAT BAC
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