VN, Germany establish strategic partnership

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng shakes hands with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Hà Nội, October 11, Hà Nội – Photo: VGP/Nhật Bắc

The signing took place as part of the talks between Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and German Chancellor Angela Merkel during the latter’s two-day official visit to Việt Nam.

At the talks, which was held after the solemn welcoming ceremony, Prime Minister Dũng said he treasured the valuable assistance Germany has provided Việt Nam, describing the fresh signing of the Hà Nội Joint Declaration as a new progress in the bilateral ties.

The Vietnamese Government chief recommended the two sides create more incentives for their business circles to boost trade and investment linkages and organize more dialogue mechanisms to speed up key cooperative projects.

Mr. Dũng spoke highly of Germany’s commitments to ODA provision for Việt Nam especially in the areas of socio-economic development, climate change mitigation, education and healthcare.

“Việt Nam always backs Germany in deepening its ties with other ASEAN member states,” said Mr. Dũng. He also sought further support from Germany for bettering the relations with other European countries. 

Prime Minister Dũng expressed his hope that Germany would soon recognize Việt Nam as a market economy and support the country’s negotiation progress for the Việt Nam-EU Free Trade Agreement.

He suggested the two sides ink an Agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic passport holders; increase judiciary cooperation in 2012-2014, foster ties in education, training, environmental protection, response to climate change and sea level rise, and cultural heritage preservation. 

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and German Angela Merkel sign “Hà Nội Joint Declaration: Việt Nam and Germany- Strategic partnership for future”, Hà Nội, October 11, Hà Nội – Photo: VGP/Nhật Bắc

For her part, German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her good impressions of Việt Nam’s socio-economic achievements, affirming Germany’s wishes to boost the comprehensive ties with Việt Nam.

In terms of investment, Germany hoped to seek hands with Vietnamese partners in such fields as education and training, construction of a telecom cable system as well as transport infrastructure, said the guest leader.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said that a large number of German businesses have accompanied her in this visit as they are interested in investment opportunities in Việt Nam.

The guest leader pledged that Germany would assist the host country in realizing the Metro Line 2 project in Hồ Chí Minh City and high-quality vocational training projects.

Germany would support negotiations on the Việt Nam-EU Free Trade Agreement which is expected to benefit Việt Nam, and Germany, which is part of the EU, Ms. Angela Merkel said.

At the end of the talks, Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and his German counterpart Angela Merkel also signed an Agreement on legal issues relating to the establishment of a German House at No. 3-5 Lê Văn Hưu Street in Hồ Chí Minh.  

The two leaders also witnessed the signing of an Agreement on financial cooperation in 2010; a letter of intent between the Vietnamese Justice Ministry and the German Federal Ministry of Justice on legal and judiciary cooperation, a letter of intent between the General Department of Logistics and Technology of the Ministry of Public Security and the German National Printing House./.

                                                                                                                         By Hương Giang