National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou. Photo: VOV

He suggested that the two countries continue to promote collaboration in areas of Greece’s strength and Vietnam’s demand such as maritime economy, shipbuilding, seaport, and tourism, while working together to reach a double taxation avoidance agreement and another on maritime transportation to create favorable conditions for economic exchange and trade.

Mr. Hue thanked the Greek parliament for ratifying the EVFTA, suggesting that it hasten the act on the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) as well as the removal of the “yellow card” on Vietnamese fisheries sector.

The two sides should work closely together to optimize advantages from the two deals, protecting the legitimate interest of businesses of both countries during their investment and business activities in each other’s market after the COVID-19 pandemic is under control, he said.

Regarding cooperation between the National Assembly agencies of the two countries, Chairman Hue suggested that the Greek President support strengthening the parliamentary cooperation between the two countries in both bilateral framework and at multilateral parliament forums.

The two sides will further twinning relations between their localities, including the completion of twinning procedures between Sparta and Hue city, he said.

On this occasion, the National Assembly Chairman said he hopes that Greece will continue to support the stance of ASEAN and Vietnam in the East Sea issue on the basis of respect to international law, as well as ASEAN-led mechanisms.

The Greek President said the two countries should rely on each other’s potential to increase in trade turnover, adding that hopefully, the signing of the maritime agreement and the agreement on double taxation avoidance will promote bilateral trade cooperation.