Strengthening Vietnam - Hungary and Vietnam - Denmark relations in an effective manner

Reporter: Could you please brief us about the outcomes of the recent state visits made by President Truong Tan Sang to Hungary and Denmark?

Minister Pham Binh Minh: At the invitations of Hungarian President Ader Janos and Danish Queen Margrethe II, President Truong Tan Sang paid state visits to Hungary and Denmark from September 15-20. The visits affirmed Vietnam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, co-operation and development,multilateralisation, diversification of relations, and proactive international integration.

Vietnam always attaches importance to consolidating and developing the friendship and multi-faceted co-operation with its traditional friends, including Hungary. Meanwhile, it was the first state visit made by a Vietnam President to Denmark, in the context the two countries have enjoyed fruitful co-operation in all fields. Vietnam and Denmark established a strategic partnership in the areas of climate change, energy, environment and green growth. Denmark is now among Vietnam's biggest ODA providers. Both Hungary and Denmark are important partners of Vietnam in Europe. Therefore, the state visits recently made by President Truong Tan Sang contributed to consolidating and promoting friendship and multi-faceted co-operation with the two European countries, especially in economics, trade and investment.

Through talks and exchanges, leaders from both Hungary and Denmark appreciated the role and position of Vietnam in Southeast Asia, and considered Vietnam their preferred partner to promote co-operation. In Hungary, the two sides issued a joint statement and mapped out important political principles as a basis for further strengthening the traditional friendship and co-operation between the two countries in the new situation. In Denmark, Vietnam and Denmark signed a historic joint statement on the establishment of a comprehensive partnership. During President Sang's visits to Hungary and Denmark, a series of important co-operative documents were singed in the areas of security, preferential credit, wind power, agriculture, aquaculture, water resource management, education and training, culture, and sports.

During talks with senior leaders from Hungary and Denmark, President Truong Tan Sang focused on the major orientations in order to increase two-way trade, diversify export items to each other, as well as expand and promote the implementation of FDI and ODA projects in Vietnam and opportunities for Vietnam enterprises to invest in Hungary and Denmark. Denmark reaffirmed their commitment to choose Vietnam as one of ten nations to implement its Market Development Strategy. In addition, business forums were successfully held in both Hungary and Denmark with the participation of many enterprises seeking investment opportunities in Vietnam. The Vietnam enterprises signed a number of co-operative agreements with their Danish partners in the fields of building materials, application of green technology, and finance - banking.

Besides, President Sang also discussed with the leaders of the European countries to promote co-operation in a number of areas of the countries' needs and strength. Hungary affirmed that the country continue to strengthen co-operation with Vietnam the field of pharmaceuticals, as well as help Vietnam train atomic energy experts. Vietnam and Hungary Governments also reached an agreement in water resource management while Denmark committed to providing ODA for Vietnam in the spheres of climate change response, clean energy and renewable energy.

In addition, both Hungary and Denmark agreed to enhance co-operation with Vietnam in international and regional forums and organisations such as the United Nations, ASEM, etc., and voiced their support for Vietnam to strengthen comprehensive relations with the European Union, particularly in the process of ratification to the EU-Vietnam Partnership and Co-operation and negotiation of a Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and EU, and recognition of Vietnam's full market economy status.

Reporter: Can you tell us about new prospects for co-operation between Vietnam and the two European countries?

Minister Pham Binh Minh: As traditional friends, both Hungary and Denmark are important partners of Vietnam in Europe. We are optimistic about the prospects for Vietnam's relations with Hungary and Denmark. Along with a series of co-operative documents being signed, and strong determination and efforts, we believe that Vietnam - Hungary and Vietnam - Denmark relations definitely develop in a deeper and more effective manner in the future.

In addition, Vietnam, as an active member of ASEAN, and Hungary and Denmark as constructive ones in the EU, the Vietnam - Hungary traditional friendship and Vietnam - Denmark comprehensive partnership will be further promoted, contributing to strengthening the ASEAN - EU relation, for the benefit of peoples, and for peace, stability, co-operation and development in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world.

Reporter: Thank you very much for the interview.

(Source: nhandannewspaperonline)