New York (VNA) – Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son met his counterparts from Cuba, Thailand, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Hungary and Algeria in New York on September 22.
He accompanies President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on a trip to attend the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
During the meetings, the ministers briefed on the socio-economic situation of their respective countries and pledged to strengthen political cooperation – diplomacy, economy, trade, investment, tourism and the fight against COVID-19, especially in terms of vaccine .
They also affirmed coordination and mutual support in important international forums. In particular, countries have said they will advocate for Vietnam’s candidacy for a seat on the UN Human Rights Council during the 2023-2025 term.
Speaking to Cuban FM Bruno Parrilla, Son thanked Cuba for its coordination to successfully organize the official visit of President Phuc, highly appreciating the country’s collaboration with Vietnam in the prevention and control of COVID-19, in particular the presentation of his Abdala vaccine just in the freshly completed tour.
Parrilla appreciated Vietnam’s solidarity and strong and timely support for Cuba in the current difficult time.
Meanwhile, the FMs of Vietnam and Thailand stressed that their countries will increase cooperation on vaccines and share their experience in resuming socio-economic development in the “new normal”.
The two sides also agreed to hold a meeting of the Joint Committee for Bilateral Cooperation by teleconference early to foster relations.
The meeting between FM Bui Thanh Son and his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar (Photo: baoquocte.vn)Meeting with Indian FM Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, the Vietnamese official praised India’s provision of medical equipment and COVID-19[female[feminine drugs for Vietnam, calling on the two countries to work closely together to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of bilateral relations. He also called on India to facilitate the access of Vietnamese products to its market.
The Indian FM affirmed the continued cooperation and assistance to Vietnam in terms of COVID-19 vaccine, drugs and medical supplies. He also expressed his hope for strengthening trade, investment and energy partnerships.
Vietnamese FM Bui Thanh Son (right) and Hungarian FM Peter Szijjarto (Photo: baoquocte.vn)Speaking to FM Son, Hungarian FM Peter Szijjarto said his country had almost completed the procedures for handing over 400,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Vietnam. It will continue to prioritize the sale of the COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnam if the latter has demand.
He also expressed his hope for cooperation in the fields of trade, health and education – training to be promoted.
During the meeting with Algerian FM Ramtane Lamamra, Son stressed the traditional friendship between the two nations, asking both to increase mutual visits at all levels, to organize a teleconference of the intergovernmental committee in the near future and to strengthen links in the trade, investment and oil and gas sectors.
The official called on Algeria to support Vietnam to strengthen its cooperation with the African Union.
Foreign ministers Bui Thanh Son from Vietnam and Hossein Amirabdollahian from Iran when they meet in New York on September 22 (Photo: baoquocte.vn)FM Son also met with his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian, recommending the two countries to maintain contact, to hold a meeting of their joint committee soon to strengthen bilateral relations and to coordinate to promote trade, investment and tourism. He called on Iran to import more agricultural products from Vietnam and continue to complete the legal framework for bilateral cooperation. /.
