Strengthening Vietnam - Venezuela comprehensive partnership

This is the first visit to Vietnam made by President Nicolas Maduro Moros since he took office in April, 2013.

The visit aims to further strengthen the friendship and comprehensive partnership between Venezuela and Vietnam, the two countries first set up diplomatic ties on December 18, 1989.

During the resistance war of the Vietnamese people, a movement to support Vietnam strongly spread and developed throughout Venezuela.

During the national construction and development period, many similarities have continued to bring Vietnam and Venezuela closer together. Vietnam is always interested in policies of social reform towards the poor and efforts to achieve the social justice of Venezuelan leaders. Venezuela highly appreciates and wishes to share experiences of Vietnam in the process of reform and economic development.

In particular, in 2007, the two countries elevated their bilateral relations to a comprehensive partnership, opening up a new phase of co-operation in a more practical and sustainable manner.

Two-way trade between Vietnam and Venezuela has continuously increased in recent years, hitting US$62.7 million last year from US$30 million in 2013.

The two nations signed several agreements in various fields and agreed to further focus their bilateral cooperation in the fields of economy, energy, oil and gas and agriculture as well as promote Vietnam's investment in Vegas Guinea in the areas of manufacturing and assembly, electrical appliances, construction and more.

Venezuela supports Vietnam joining the World Trade Organization (WTO) and recognises Vietnam's market economy status. It also backs Vietnam to become a non-permanent member of the Security Council of the United Nations (2008-2009 tenure) and member of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations (2015-2016 term).

The official Vietnam visit made by the Venezuelan President is an opportunity for leaders of both parties to discuss specific measures to expand cooperation and investment between the two countries, share experiences in development and enhance coordination in international forums and organizations.

We believe that with the foundation of the close ties between the two countries, with the great potential and desire of both sides, the official visit to Vietnam by President Nicolas Maduro Moros will be successful, contributing to promoting, in a stable and substantive manner, the comprehensive partnerships between Vietnam and Venezuela, for the benefit of people in both countries, contributing to peace, stability and development in the region and around the world.

(Source: Nhandan Online)