Hanoi (VNA) – The upcoming officialvisit to Romania by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minhand his spouse from July 6-7 aims to reaffirm Vietnam’s consistency in itsforeign policy and deepen the efficiency-oriented cooperation between the twocountries, Vietnamese Ambassador to Romania Tran Thanh Cong has affirmed.

The diplomat told the press ahead of Minh’svisit that the friendship between Vietnam and Romania has been well cultivatedover the past 68 years.

Vietnamese people always keep in mind thesupport provided by the Romanian people and Government during their historicstruggle for national liberation, as well as the present-day nationalconstruction and development, he said.

Romania backed Vietnam’s bid to run for botha seat at the UN Human Rights Council for 2014-2016 and in joining theInternational Hydrographic Organisation (IHO), Cong recalled.

Highlighting the outstanding progressVietnam has made in economic development, the ambassador said Minh’s visit isexpected to help connect the two economies and elevate their relationship to anew level.

He said that the political trust betweenthe two countries has always been continuously consolidated. The two sides havemaintained high-level visits and meetings, and increased delegation exchangesbetween ministries and agencies.

Besides, Vietnam and Romania have supportedeach other in the international arena and at multilateral forums like theUnited Nations (UN), the Francophone community, and the Asia-Europe Meeting(ASEM).

Assuming the rotary presidency of the EU inthe first half of 2019, Romania will work as a bridge between Vietnam and otherEU member countries. In response, Vietnam will make efforts to help Romaniareinforce its ties with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN),Cong said.

He added that significant progress has beenmade in the bilateral economic links, with Vietnam’s export turnover to Romaniain the first four months of 2018 exceeding 42 million USD, up 24.43 percentyear-on-year.

The diplomat expressed his hope that the 16th meeting of the Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation – scheduled to takeplace in the third quarter of 2018 in Bucharest, Romania – will be a boost fortrade and investment cooperation between the two countries.

Cong cited experts as saying that theabolishment of the majority of import duties in the future under the EU-VietnamFree Trade Agreement (EVFTA) – expected to take effect this year – will benefitVietnamese businesses and help increase Vietnam’s export turnover for Europe ingeneral, and Romania in particular.

He added that Vietnam is one of Romania’sleading labour suppliers, with the number of Vietnamese guest workers in thecountry increasing from 300 to 1,500 within a year.

Apart from cooperation between the twocountries’ localities, that in culture and education-training has also receiveddue attention from high-ranking leaders of the two countries, the ambassadorsaid.

He cited the cooperation agreement ineducation signed during former Romanian Prime Minister Dacian Ciorlos’s visitto Vietnam in 2016, under which Romania pledged to increase its scholarships toVietnam from 10 to 20 each year. Romania has so far trained more than 3,000Vietnamese students and postgraduates of different majors.

Cong suggested the two countries increasethe exchange of delegations at all levels, organise further cultural and artexchange programmes and exhibitions, while also expanding partnerships ineconomy-trade, culture, education, science-technology, tourism, and employment.

Vietnam and Romania should work together tobring their trade ties to a new level, he said, calling on the two Governmentsto offer incentives to businesses which are pioneers in investing in therespective markets.

He also proposed establishing a jointventure specialising in the producing and processing of seafood, wine, andagricultural products to export to other countries.

Cong noted his belief that Deputy PM and FMMinh’s visit will create optimal conditions, better opportunities, and agreater momentum for the two countries to seek new measures in order to advancetheir bilateral ties more effectively and sustainably. -VNA