Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives Secretary of State at the Romanian Foreign Ministry Monica Gheorghita in Hanoi on May 14 (Photo: VNA)

The PM welcomed the Romanian official to Vietnam for the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) conference on promoting economic and social inclusion in Asia and Europe, and for the political consultation with the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry.

The Secretary of State said her trip aims to put into details the cooperation agreements and commitments made during the PM’s visit to her country. 
Romania wishes to foster cooperation with Vietnam not only within the governmental framework but also through business-to-business partnership in various fields, she said, noting that she visited a human resources training centre in Vietnam, and labour is an area in which Romania hopes to enhance bilateral cooperation.
Gheorghita also affirmed Romania’s pledge to strongly push for the signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). 
PM Phuc said to help implement his visit’s outcomes, the two sides should organise the 16th meeting of the joint committee for economic cooperation as soon as possible, accelerate the signing of framework cooperation documents like the cooperation agreement on crime prevention and control, a cultural cooperation programme for 2019-2021, and an educational cooperation deal.

He spoke highly of the countries’ close coordination and mutual support in the international arena, especially within the framework of the United Nations and ASEM. He also appreciated Romanian leaders’ commitment to strongly supporting the signing and ratification of the EVFTA and the EVIPA during the country’s term as EU presidency in the first half of 2019.

Mr. Phuc urged both sides to soon carry out the deals signed at the business forum held during his trip to Romania to bring bilateral trade on par with potential, higher than the 218 million USD in 2018.