Sunday 18 October 2009

Timor-Leste and Vietnam agreed to establish Joint Bilateral Cooperation Commission

Timor-Leste's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr Zacarias Albano da Costa and the
Foreign Ministers of the S.R. of Vietnam Mr. Pham Gia Khiem

Hanoi, Vietnam, September 15 - The Foreign Ministers of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste have agreed to establish Joint Bilateral Cooperation Commission during the official visit of the Foreign Minister of Timor-Leste, Dr. Zacarias Albano da Costa.

In the meeting both leaders agreed to start with the negotiations on the framework agreement for the technical and economical cooperation and the negotiation on the agreement for the reciprocal promotion and protection of investment, and also discussed the possibility to establish two plus one (trilateral) cooperation and to create condition for people to people cooperation.

H.E Dr. da Costa highlighted the importance of the visit as it constitutes the starting point of the overall cooperation between the two countries in the relevant areas of the mutual interest.
Potential areas of bilateral cooperation highlighted by both leaders consist off: Agricultural and fishery development, Rural development, Education, Infrastructure, Health ,Oil and Gas sector, Trade and Commerce.

Dr da Costa further said that “ the similarities in the history of both countries will contribute to facilitate the understanding and cooperation between both countries for the national development.”

During this bilateral talk, H.E. the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam Mr. Pham Gia Khiem reassured the commitment of his government to support the accession of Timor-Leste to ASEAN.

Both leaders made a summary of the socio-political and economical situation in each country, and briefly touched on the current agendas of regional and international issues.

At the margin of this bilateral meeting Dr Zacarias Albano da Costa paid a courtesy call on H.E. the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Mr Nguyen Minh Triet, Minister for Planning and investment Dr Hoan Van Thu, Deputy Minister for the Agriculture and Fishery Dr Bui Ba Bong.

Minister Zacarias da Costa with President Mr Nguyen Minh Triet

During that courtesy call the President of Vietnam extended the official invitation to the President of Timor-Leste to pay a visit to Vietnam by next year, during the celebration of one thousand years of the establishment of Vietnam and the Vietnam’s chairmanship of ASEA. The ministers also conveyed their invitation to their Timorese counterparts to visit Vietnam.

The talks between Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Phan Gia Khiem and his counterpart Dr Zacarias Albano da Costa were held today, at the Presidential Guest House, in Hanoi. END