Vietnam believes that with its first-ever participation in the approaching Summit of the Americas, Cuba will continually exert efforts to contribute to peace, stability, co-operation, and development on the continent.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Le Hai Binh (Photo: VNA)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Le Hai Binh made the remark at a regular press conference on April 9 when asked about the presence and role of Cuba at the 7th Summit of the Americas to be held in Panama City, Panama on April 10-11.
He added Vietnam welcomes all efforts made by countries to actively contribute to the consolidation and enhancement of peace, stability, co-operation, and development in America.
The Summits of the Americas are institutionalised gatherings of heads of state and governments in the western hemisphere where leaders discuss common policy issues, affirm shared values and commit to action at the national and regional level to address continuing and new challenges in the Americas.
Responding to reporters’ queries relating to Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s recently concluded official visit to Vietnam and the FTA, which was discussed at length during the visit, he said that the signing and implementation of a free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) will be a great and important step, lifting the time-honoured relationship between Vietnam and EEU members to a new height.
Binh told the media that Vietnam and the EEU issued a joint statement on the conclusion of negotiations on the agreement in December last year and are looking to sign the document within the first half of this year.
The parties agreed on the basic contents of the agreement with strong commitment, equal benefits and specific conditions of each party included, he said.
The agreement will create a new market for Vietnamese products as well as open up opportunities to expand trade and investment between Vietnam and the union’s members Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, he added.
Regarding the situation of 19 Vietnamese guest workers in Yemen, where violence has recently been escalating, safely travelling to Oman on April 8, Binh told reporters that immediately after being informed of the issue, the Vietnamese embassy in Arab Saudi and Yemen kept close contact with representatives of these workers and co-ordinated with Yemen agencies, embassies of ASEAN nations and other countries to ensure their safety.
Most of the workers are offshore fishermen contracted with a Korean company.
NDO/ VNA
