Vietnam and Macedonia have great potentials for tourism cooperation.

During his visit to Macedonia on Monday, Vice Chairman Luu told his Macedonian counterparts Goran Misovski and Frosina Tashevska-Remenski that the political and diplomatic relations between the two countries have seen positive developments, but economic and trade relations have not matched potential cooperation of the two countries. He suggested that ministries of the two countries actively cooperate to support businesses to meet and explore opportunities for cooperation while the two countries should set up an Intergovernmental Committee shortly to promote bilateral cooperation in economics, trade and investment. He urged the two legislative bodies to maintain contacts, coordination and mutual support at the regional and international inter-parliamentary forums in which the parliaments are members, such as the World Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP). Mr. Misovski said that the trip to Macedonia by the high-level delegation of the National Assembly of Vietnam will be the foundation for promoting cooperation between the two countries.

At a meeting with Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov on the same day, Vietnam asserted its support for Macedonia's early joining the European Union (EU). The Foreign Minister of Macedonia expressed his desire to promote cooperation with Vietnam in the areas where the two countries have strengths such as agriculture and tourism. The Foreign Minister also asked Vietnam to open the Vietnamese embassy in Macedonia soon to promote bilateral ties. The Vietnamese delegation left Macedonia on Tuesday for a working visit to Romania from May 2-5.