Strengthening and close ties between Vietnam and Vanuatu

At the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu Joe Natuman and his wife began an official visit to Vietnam from October 5-9, 2014.

The two sides said that the two countries have great potential for cooperation and agreed that in the coming time, they need to promote the exchange of delegations at high and all levels, and encourage people-to-people exchanges to enhance mutual understanding and trust.

Official welcoming ceremony for the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu. Photo: VGP

This morning (October 6), after the official welcoming ceremony, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung held talks with the Prime Minister of Vanuatu.

Attending the talks on the Vietnamese side were Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh; Minister and Head of the Government Office Nguyen Van Nen; leaders of the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development, Transport and the Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia and Vanuatu.

On the Vanuatu side, there were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief of the Prime Minister's Office, Political Advisor to the Prime Minister and Vanuatu Ambassador to Australia.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung warmly welcomed Prime Minister Joe Natuman and the high-ranking delegation of the Vanuatu Government to their official visit to Vietnam; emphasizing that the visit will open a new stage of development in the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Prime Minister Joe Natuman expressed his pleasure on his first official visit to Vietnam and thanked the Vietnamese Government and people for the warm and thoughtful welcome given to the delegation.

Scene of the Vietnam-Vanuatu talks. Photo: VGP

At the talks, both sides expressed satisfaction with the good friendship between the two countries in recent times; said that the two countries share many similarities, especially that both peoples had to go through a difficult struggle to gain national independence and freedom. Prime Minister Joe Natuman expressed his admiration for the great President Ho Chi Minh and the heroic Vietnamese people, who are inspirational examples for Vanuatu's struggle for independence, and praised the Vietnamese people for quickly overcoming the severe consequences of war, achieving many achievements in the cause of national construction and development, making Vietnam a dynamically developing economy in the region.

The two leaders said that the two countries have great potential for cooperation and agreed that in the coming time, it is necessary to promote the exchange of delegations at high and all levels, and encourage people-to-people exchanges to enhance mutual understanding and trust.

Prime Minister Joe Natuman appreciated Vietnam's willingness to share experiences in the fields of integration and development; affirmed that Vanuatu wishes and agrees to work with Vietnam to promote cooperation between the two countries in potential fields such as agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and mining; and at the same time, have measures to encourage and promote trade, investment, and tourism between the two countries.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung thanked the Vanuatu Government for creating favorable conditions for Vietnamese citizens to live and do business in Vanuatu.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Vanuatu Foreign Minister Sato Kilman signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Vietnam and the Government of Vanuatu on technical and development cooperation. Photo: VGP

Discussing the regional and international situation, the two leaders highly appreciated the mutual support and assistance at regional and international forums in recent times; agreed to continue to coordinate at multilateral cooperation mechanisms in which both sides participate, especially at the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Francophone Community, for peace, stability and development in the region and the world. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung highly appreciated Vanuatu's official recognition of Vietnam as a market economy.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the Vanuatu Prime Minister affirmed his support for the stance of Vietnam and ASEAN countries on resolving East Sea disputes through peaceful negotiations, complying with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, fully and seriously implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and soon completing the Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Prime Minister Joe Natuman invited Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to pay an official visit to Vanuatu and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung happily accepted.

At the end of the talks, the two leaders witnessed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Vanuatu Foreign Minister Sato Kilman sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Vietnam and the Government of Vanuatu on technical and development cooperation.

In the afternoon of the same day, at the Presidential Palace, President Truong Tan Sang received Vanuatu Prime Minister Joe Natuman.

President Truong Tan Sang receives the Prime Minister of the Republic of Vanuatu. Photo: VNA

At the reception for Vanuatu Prime Minister Joe Natuman, President Truong Tan Sang welcomed the Vanuatu Prime Minister to his visit and work in Vietnam.

The President thanked Vanuatu for supporting Vietnam in participating in important international organizations and creating favorable conditions for Vietnamese people in Vanuatu to live in the locality. He hoped that through the Prime Minister's visit, many opportunities would be opened up for the two sides to continue to strengthen cooperation.

In terms of diplomacy, along with carrying out more high-level activities, the two sides need to actively exchange views at international forums. Through the contents of the talks between the two sides, Vietnam and Vanuatu can promote cooperation in areas of mutual strength, especially the economy...

Conveying the respectful greetings of the President of the Republic of Vanuatu to President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Joe Natuman also informed the President of the results of his talks with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Affirming that although Vietnam and Vanuatu are geographically distant, they are very close and cordial at international forums. The Prime Minister of Vanuatu emphasized that the two sides need to have active cooperation both bilaterally and multilaterally.

The Prime Minister of Vanuatu said that the Vietnamese community, formerly exiled by the French colonialists to Vanuatu, is now making many contributions to the socio-economic development of Vanuatu. Vanuatu encourages Vietnamese citizens to return to their homeland and believes that through this connection, the bridge connecting the two peoples and two countries will be increasingly strengthened and closely connected.

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