Norway Highly Values MDGs Outcomes

PM Erna Solberg affirmed that Norway expects to strengthen relations with Viet Nam during her talks with PM Nguyen Tan Dung on Friday

The two PMs expressed their pleasure at the fine development of the bilateral ties, especially in politics, development cooperation, education and training, between the two countries over the four decades.

Both sides agreed to further enhance the exchange of delegations at all level, security and defense cooperation, boost the current political dialogue mechanisms, and encourage business communities to seek investment opportunities in such prioritized areas like maritime economy, aquaculture, energy, information technology and green growth.

They agreed to intensify cooperation between universities and research centers, particularly in such fields like science and technology, petroleum, agriculture management, environment and natural resources management.

The two leaders also agreed to beef up the free trade agreement talks between Viet Nam and the European Union Free Trade Association in 2015, creating favorable framework for expanding the bilateral trade and investment linkages in the future.

PM Dung took the occasion to thank Norwegian Government for providing ODA for Viet Nam over the past years, focusing on environmental protection, education, gender equality, healthcare, bomb and mine clearance. Particularly, Norway is a major sponsor for UN-led program to reduce emission from deforestation and degradation in Viet Nam.

Meanwhile, PM Erna Solberg highly valued Viet Nam's achievements in completing many millennium development goals ahead of schedule, pledging to continue active assistance for Viet Nam to realize the remaining ones and design post-2015 sustainable development targets.

The two countries agreed to foster coordination at multilateral forums and international organizations, especially the United Nations and the Asia-Europe Meeting. Viet Nam welcomes Norway's efforts in enhancing ties with ASEAN.

PM Dung and PM Erna Solberg also discussed regional and international issues of common concern. Regarding the East Sea issue, the two PMs voiced concern over the recent developments in the East Sea while stressing the necessity to settle disputes through peaceful measures in accordance with international law, especially the UN Charter and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and to speed up the building of a more binding Code of Conduct in the East Sea, considering it as an effective tool to ensure peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea./.