(VOVworld) - On Friday Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received President of the German Parliament Norbert Lammert, who is attending IPU 132 in Hanoi.

He valued positive progress seen in bilateral cooperation since the countries lifted their ties to the strategic partnership. He said he hopes the German Parliament will support Vietnam and the European Union in their efforts to soon conclude bilateral free trade agreement negotiations. PM Dung also urged Germany to recognize Vietnam’s market economy so as to facilitate its development. On this occasion, PM Dung expressed condolences to German leaders and people over the recent crash of a Germanwings airplane, in which a number of Germans were killed.

At a reception on Saturday, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said that Vietnam values its strategic partnership with Germany and hopes that the German parliament will support the EU in increasing comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam, quickly concluding negotiations on a free trade agreement with Vietnam, and ratifying the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. Mr. Hung asked the German parliament and government to facilitate the Vietnamese community in Germany, contributing to friendship and cooperation between the two countries.