(VOVworld)-Vienam and Ireland have agreed to boost cooperation in trade, investment, education, green technology and other areas. In talks with the visting Irish President in Hanoi on Monday, Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang spoke highly of Ireland’s prioritizing development cooperation with Vietnam.  Irish President Michael Daniel Higgins said Ireland will soon announce a national strategy on development cooperation with Vietnam towards 2020 and continue to help Vietnam fight poverty and climate change.

Meeting the press later the same day, the Vietnamese President said that the 2 sides agreed to expand the exchange of visits and contacts at all levels:“We see eye to eye on the importance of maintaining peace, security and promoting cooperation all around the world. We will continue to cooperate closely at international forums including the United Nations, the Asia-Europe Meeting and ASEAN-EU cooperation framework to address global issues such as climate change and the UN’s sustainable development goals for a better future”.

President Tran Dai Quang said that the 2 sides agreed that disputes in the East Sea should be settled by peaceful means and on the basis of international law, particularly the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.  President Higgins greatly valued Vietnam’s progress in poverty reduction, especially in areas inhabited by ethnic minority groups.     

Later the same day, the Irish leader met National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, who asked for Ireland’s continued Official Development Assistance (ODA) to help Vietnam reduce poverty, assist vulnerable groups, adapt to climate change and address other issues on macro-economic management. Ms. Ngan said Vietnam is ready to serve as a bridge linking Ireland with ASEAN markets and hopes Ireland will help facilitate Vietnam’s access to the European market.