Tuesday, May 22, 2007

German president’s visit helps mould ties


Ha Noi — The current visit by German President Horst Kohler was an important event marking a new milestone in bilateral relationship between Viet Nam and Germany, said President Nguyen Minh Triet during a meeting between the two leaders yesterday.
In the meeting, Triet briefed his German counterpart on Viet Nam’s socio-economic development and directions set by the Party, State and Government to further develop achievements gained during the 20-years of doi moi (renewal).
Viet Nam would resolutely pursue industrial-oriented renewal with an aim to make Viet Nam a developed country by 2020, Triet told his guest.
Triet also informed Kohler that Viet Nam’s foreign policy was based on the principle of diversification and multilateral relations.
He then thanked Kohler for Germany’s assistance during the renewal process.
He hailed Germany’s policy on enhancing multi-faceted co-operation and joint projects in areas of hunger elimination and poverty reduction, economic reform, sustainable protection and use of natural resources, health care and education.
Triet also applauded Germany’s role in the European Union and all over the world.
"Viet Nam and Germany have favoured conditions and great potentials to broaden the co-operation for the sake of the two countries’ interests and peace, co-operation and development in the region and all over the world," Triet stressed.
Kohler applauded great achievements gained by Vietnamese people and the Government’s open-door policy.
He highly appreciated Viet Nam’s regional integration policies and World Trade Organisation membership.
"Germany desires to enhance multi-faceted ties with Viet Nam," Mr Kohler emphasised.
The two presidents discussed the positive development of the two countries’ friendly and co-operative relations in recent years and agreed on promoting bilateral ties in the future to match potential and interests.
The two presidents also covered regional and global matters, sustainable development, and protection for the environment and natural resources.
After the meeting, the leaders witnessed the signing ceremony of a bilateral agreement on teaching German as a second foreign language, behind English, in selected secondary schools. The agreement was organised between Viet Nam’s Ministry of Education and Training and Germany’s Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Also signed by the MoET and Germany’s Ministry of University, Research and Arts of Hassen State was another agreement on establishing a Viet Nam-Germany University in Viet Nam.
On the same day, the German President had a meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.
In the meeting, Dung told his guest that "Viet Nam-Germany relations have developed in all aspects, especially in economic co-operation, trade, investment, culture, education and training."
The Prime Minister wished the two countries would further tap potentials in areas of trade and investment, infrastructure construction and environmental protection.
He said the two governments would create favourable investment conditions for businesses, particularly small- and medium-sized enterprises.
"Germany’s economy totally depends on small- and medium-sized enterprises," M Kohler said. "So the German government always pays attention to businesses."
There are presently more than 85 projects with total capital of US$380 million invested by German businesses in Viet Nam. Two-way turnover has reached $2 billion. — VNS

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