Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam attaches importance to its traditional friendship with Romania, which has been nurtured by generations of leaders and people of both countries over the past more than seven decades, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has said.

Receiving Romanian Ambassador to Vietnam Cristina Romila in Hanoi on July 30, PM Chinh spokehighly of positive development steps in the Vietnam-Romania relations over the pastyears, reflected throughthe exchange of delegations at all levels, especially the high-level ones, aswell as between ministries, agencies and localities of the two countries

He thanked the Romanian Government for its donationof 100,800 doses of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnam, which, he said,demonstrates the time-honored friendship between the two countries, as well asthe wholehearted and close-knit ties between the two peoples.

The PM expressed his belief that the timely andvaluable support will practically contribute to Vietnam’s COVID-19 fight, andsuggested the Romanian side consider transferring its abundant vaccines toVietnam as much and as soon as possible.

The ambassador promised to convey the VietnameseGovernment’s proposal to Romania’s high-ranking leaders for consideration.

PM Chinh also thanked Romania for its support in accelerating the signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) when the country held the rotating EU Presidency in June 2019. Romania was also one of the first three EU countries toratify the EVIPA, he added.

The PM urged the ambassador to coordinate withVietnamese and Romanian ministries and agencies to effectively implement anumber of orientations and measures to strengthen the traditional friendshipand multifaceted cooperation in potential spheres between the two countries, especially in economy,trade, investment, education-training and labour.

Regarding bilateral trade ties, PM Chinh said the twocountries’ exports are reciprocal, suggesting the two sides maximise advantagespresented by the EVFTA.

At the same time, the two sides should coordinate toseek flexible and suitable forms of sea, rail and air transportation to facilitate the exchange ofgoods, especially the export of Vietnamese coffee, seasonal fruitsand aquatic products to Romania, he said.

Vietnam also stands ready to work as a gateway forRomania to bring its products to the ASEAN market, the government leader added.

Regarding regional and international cooperation, PM Chinh and Romila shared the view that Vietnam and Romanianeed to step up cooperation at multilateral and regional forums.

For the East Sea issue, they emphasised the importanceof ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in thesea, and settling disputes on sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction throughpeaceful solutions and measures in accordance with the 1982 United NationsConvention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Romila pledged to make efforts to contribute toconsolidating and tightening the traditional friendship and multifacetedcooperation between the two countries, especially amidst the complexdevelopments of the COVID-19 pandemic./.