Vietnam, Israel discuss East Sea issue

President Tran Dai Quang and Israeli President Reuven Rivlin emphasized the importance of considering the economy as the focus and making science and technology a priority pillar in bilateral cooperation in the coming time.

On March 20, 2017, at the Presidential Palace, President Tran Dai Quang and his wife solemnly welcomed President of the State of Israel Reuven Rivlin and his wife, who are on a State visit to Vietnam from March 19-25, 2017.

After the welcoming ceremony, President Tran Dai Quang held talks with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin.

The two leaders discussed in detail the multifaceted cooperation between the two countries in the fields of trade, agriculture, science and technology, training, etc. and affirmed their determination to strengthen and further develop this relationship in the coming time, especially in the fields of economics and science and technology.

The two leaders affirmed their determination to strengthen bilateral cooperation in many fields, especially economics and science and technology.

The two leaders agreed to consider the economy as the focus and make science and technology a priority pillar in bilateral cooperation in the coming time. The two sides agreed to maximize the potential and complementarity of the two economies, and agreed to set a target of raising bilateral trade turnover to 3 billion USD in the coming years.

On that basis, the two sides pledged to speed up negotiations towards the early signing of the Vietnam - Israel Free Trade Agreement, encourage and facilitate direct cooperation between businesses and localities of the two countries to promote trade and business exchanges, boost investment in areas such as high-tech agriculture, human resource training, information technology - electronics - communications, water treatment, etc.

The Israeli President pledged to support Vietnam in handling and cleaning up areas contaminated with Agent Orange. In addition, the two leaders also focused on exchanging measures to strengthen cooperation in the fields of security - defense, culture, education - training, tourism... as well as cooperation between localities of the two countries.

Politically, the two sides agreed on the need to increase contacts at all levels, encourage direct cooperation between localities, ministries and branches, and promote the effective role of bilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the Intergovernmental Committee and political consultations.

The two sides also exchanged views on the East Sea issue, the Middle East region as well as international issues, emphasizing the important role of cooperation and the trend to maintain peace and stability in the world. Vietnam reaffirmed its policy of resolving disputes, including those in the East Sea, by peaceful means, fully respecting diplomatic and legal processes, on the basis of fundamental principles of international law, including the United Nations Charter and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The two sides also exchanged views on the East Sea and the Middle East region at the talks this morning in Hanoi.

Vietnam also wishes for peace in the Middle East soon, therefore Vietnam supports all regional, international and relevant parties' efforts to bring peace to this region on the basis of international law, United Nations resolutions... to reach a comprehensive, fair and sustainable solution, towards the establishment of an independent and sovereign Palestinian State, coexisting peacefully alongside the State of Israel.

President Tran Dai Quang affirmed Vietnam's consistent foreign policy of being a friend and reliable partner of countries in the international community, striving for peace, independence and development. In its foreign policy of diversification and multilateralization, Vietnam attaches importance to developing friendly and cooperative relations with Middle Eastern countries, including Israel, wishing to deepen the Vietnam-Israel relationship, making it effective and stable, contributing to the development of each country, for the benefit of the people of Vietnam and Israel, for peace and friendship in the Middle East and Southeast Asia as well as in the world.

On this occasion, the President of Israel respectfully invited President Tran Dai Quang to pay an official visit to Israel. President Tran Dai Quang thanked him and happily accepted the invitation.

According to Dan Tri