Vietnamese, Micronesian parliamentary leaders hold talks

She glowingly spoke of the sound political ties between the two countries in the past time, especially after their diplomatic relations was established on September 22, 1995 and thanked the Federated States of Micronesia for supporting Vietnam’s bid to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2008-2009 tenure.

The Vietnamese top legislator suggested both sides sign cooperation deals in the fields of their strengths as they boast great potential to develop cooperative ties in the areas of economics, trade, investment, culture, and tourism.

Reciprocal support to deal with consequences of natural disasters is seen as a vivid manifestation of the friendship between the two countries, she said, noting that in the context of complex developments of the regional and international situation, both sides need to boost closer coordination and support each other at regional and multilateral forums and organisations, especially the United Nations.

In reply, the Micronesian Speaker highlighted the importance of relations with Vietnam, saying his ongoing visit affirms the Federated States of Micronesia’s commitment to boost bilateral relations, especially when the two countries are celebrating the 23rd founding anniversary of diplomatic ties.

He also extolled the strengthened bilateral parliamentary diplomacy as well as Vietnam’s proactive participation in and hosting of the 132nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union in 2015 and the 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum in 2018.

He pledged that the Micronesian Government and Congress will do their best to step up cooperation with Vietnam in agriculture, aquaculture and tourism.

Currently, small businesses of the Federated States of Micronesia are keen on running investment in Vietnam, he said, adding that both nations are enjoying fruitful cooperation in environmental and climate change issues.

NA Chair Ngan told her guest that Vietnam always backs the Federated States of Micronesia as well as other South Pacific island countries in reinforcing relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), thus opening up new cooperation prospects and interest for ASEAN as well as regional countries.

She proposed the Federated States of Micronesia back Vietnam’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council in the 2020-2021 tenure.

 Regarding the East Sea issue, Ngan underlined that the East Sea issue is the shared interest of all countries, while highlighting Vietnam’s goodwill and unwavering policy of maintaining friendship with all regional countries, and settling disputes in the East Sea via peaceful means in line with international law, the UN Charter and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 as well as other regional commitments.

Concerning the relationship between the two legislatures, both sides expressed their elation at the growing bilateral legislative cooperation both bilaterally and at multilateral parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF).

On the occasion, Ngan hailied Simina’s role as the Chair of the Asia-Pacific Group at the 138th Assembly of the IPU in Geneva, Switzerland, from March 24-28. During the event, participants heralded the report by Vietnam in the role as a member of the IPU Executive Committee.

She urged both sides to intensify high-ranking delegation exchange and people-to-people exchanges, and build mechanisms for cooperation and negotiation towards the signing of agreements on investment protection and double-tax avoidance as well as in technical cooperation.

Vietnam can share its experience with the Federated States of Micronesia in growing rice and industrial crops, ensuring food security, processing industrial trees’ products, infrastructure construction and tourism development. The two sides should bolster trading in agricultural products, consumer goods and agricultural machineries, she stressed.

Immediately after the talks the same day, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan hosted a banquet in honour of  the Speaker of the Micronesian Congress, his wife and delegation.