During his state visit to Ireland, on the morning of October 3 (local time), in the capital Dublin, General Secretary and President To Lam met with Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Secretary and President To Lam and Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris expressed satisfaction with the substantive and effective development of the friendship and cooperation between the two countries in many fields after nearly three decades.
The two leaders agreed to increase delegation exchanges and contacts at high and ministerial levels; effectively implement existing cooperation mechanisms, and at the same time study and establish new cooperation frameworks suitable to the new situation.
General Secretary and President To Lam was pleased to inform Prime Minister Simon Harris that the Vietnamese Government has decided and is taking steps to open a Vietnamese Embassy in Ireland to actively contribute to the development of bilateral relations.
General Secretary and President To Lam suggested that the two sides continue to closely coordinate and effectively utilize the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), including considering facilitating each country's strong export products to access each other's markets; welcomed Ireland's policies to encourage and facilitate Irish businesses to increase investment in Vietnam in areas of strength such as digital transformation, renewable energy, high-tech agriculture, etc.
General Secretary and President To Lam also asked Ireland to soon complete the procedures for ratifying the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to facilitate equal and mutually beneficial investment relations between the two sides.
The two leaders agreed to continue strengthening cooperation in the fields of ecological agriculture, circular agriculture, sustainable food system transformation, aquaculture; digital transformation, green transformation; and climate change response.
The two sides agreed to continue to pay attention to and create favorable conditions for overseas Vietnamese of both countries to live, study and work in both countries, for the benefit of the people of both countries.
On this occasion, the two sides issued a Joint Statement on promoting Vietnam-Ireland cooperation; affirming that the visit of the General Secretary and President is an important milestone, contributing to bringing Vietnam-Ireland relations to a new height.
The Joint Statement also sets out directions for cooperation between the two countries in the fields of politics - diplomacy, security, education - training, trade, investment, development cooperation and other potential areas, focusing on education, agriculture, socio-economic development in remote areas and overcoming the consequences of bombs and mines.
After the meeting, General Secretary and President To Lam and the Irish Prime Minister witnessed the signing ceremony of the Agreement on establishing a Strategic Partnership on Higher Education between the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam and the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science of Ireland.
Previously, within the framework of the visit, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam and the Ministry of Enterprise, Trade and Employment of Ireland signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the fields of economy, trade and energy. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Maritime Affairs of Ireland signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation on food system transformation.
