HA NOI — Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis is expected to arrive in Viet Nam today for a two day official visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.
The visit, the first made by a prime minister of Greece since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1975, is aimed at cementing firmer ties with Viet Nam, a country that Greece views as a potentially lucrative market for its businesses and an increasingly important partner in the region.
Viet Nam and Greece signed a framework agreement on economic, industrial and technological co-operation in 1996. The agreement was followed by a trip to Greece by then Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cam in 1998. His Greek counterpart, Petro Molyviatis visited Viet Nam in 2004 to attend the 5th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM5).
Marking the importance that Greece is attaching to forging broader interests with Viet Nam was the appointment of a permanent ambassador to the country in early 2007 and the vocal support that the Greek administration has given for its bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.
However trade between the two has been modest, with total two-way trade valued at US$207 million for the 2001-2005 period. In 2006 Viet Nam exported footwear, garments, aquatic products and woodwork worth $84.2 million to Greece, a 22.5 per cent increase over 2004. Most experts predict that trade will increase as ties are strengthened and that trade revenues could exceed $100 million in 2007.
Viet Nam is eager to co-operate with Greece in its traditional strengths of shipbuilding, tourism, historical preservation and labour exports. — VNS
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