Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked Nepal to support Vietnamese businesses.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his wife and Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and his wife pose for a photo at the Government Headquarters before holding talks. Photo: Van Diep/VNA

At the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal KP Sharma Oli and his wife paid an official visit to Vietnam from May 9-13.

On the morning of May 11, at the Presidential Palace, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted an official welcoming ceremony for Nepalese Prime Minister Sharma Oli. Immediately after the welcoming ceremony, the two Prime Ministers held talks.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc welcomed Prime Minister Sharma Oli on his historic visit, the first by a senior Nepalese leader to Vietnam since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1975, emphasizing that this is a vivid manifestation of the traditional friendship that is developing well between the two countries.

Prime Minister Sharma Oli expressed his pleasure in visiting Vietnam, his first destination in Southeast Asia since taking office in February 2018, and expressed his admiration and appreciation for the great achievements in economics, society and foreign affairs that Vietnam has achieved; and invited Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to soon visit Nepal.

The two sides shared a common vision on deepening the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Nepal in all fields.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Nepalese Prime Minister Sharma Oli were both pleased with the results of the Nepalese Prime Minister's visit, especially the signing of many important documents by the two sides, including the Agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders between the two governments, the Memorandum of Understanding on establishing a bilateral consultation mechanism between the two foreign ministries and the Letter of Intent on negotiating and signing a framework agreement on trade and investment cooperation between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supply of Nepal.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Nepalese Prime Minister Sharma Oli hold talks. Photo: VGP

The two Prime Ministers agreed that these documents create a foundation for the two sides to continue expanding and deepening bilateral cooperation in the new period.

The two Prime Ministers agreed to increase delegation exchanges and contacts at all levels, through the channels of the State, Government, political parties, legislative bodies, localities and people-to-people exchanges, and agreed to coordinate in organizing meaningful and practical activities to celebrate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2020. The two sides also agreed to promote the expansion of relations between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Communist Party of Nepal in the coming time.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc highly appreciated the results of the Vietnam - Nepal Business Forum held on May 10 with the direct participation of the Prime Minister of Nepal.

The two sides agreed that bilateral economic and trade relations are not yet commensurate with the potential and strengths of each country, and assigned relevant ministries and branches to study and establish new, practical cooperation mechanisms in economics, trade and investment, encourage businesses to survey each other's markets, and implement connection and trade activities.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked Nepal to support Vietnamese businesses in exploring investment opportunities in all fields, especially energy, infrastructure and telecommunications.

The Prime Minister of Nepal asked Vietnam to facilitate Nepalese goods to enter the Vietnamese market.

The two sides assessed that agriculture is a field with great potential for development, on that basis they agreed to consider proposals to open markets for each country's agricultural products, especially rice, pepper, cashews, rubber and tropical fruits, while promoting information exchange, expanding cooperation in high-tech agriculture and exchanging agricultural experts.

The two sides agreed to enhance exchanges and cooperation in the fields of culture, tourism, people-to-people exchanges, promote tourism to Lumbini and the Everest range of Nepal as well as famous landscapes of Vietnam. The Vietnamese side agreed to promote the establishment of the Vietnam - Nepal Friendship Association in Hanoi in the near future.

The two sides also agreed to promote cooperation in other potential areas such as science and technology, information and communications, aviation connectivity and in a number of areas such as security, logistics and disaster prevention.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hopes that the Government of Nepal will continue to create favorable conditions to support and help Vietnamese citizens living and working to contribute to Nepal's economy and serve as a bridge for the relationship between the two countries.

The two sides also shared many common views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, affirming to continue close coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, especially within the framework of the United Nations.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc thanked Nepal for supporting Vietnam's candidacy for a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 term.