On the afternoon of June 18, National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong met with President Traian Basescu and Prime Minister Popescu Taricenanu and attended the Romania-Vietnam business forum.

At the meeting, the Romanian President spoke highly of Mr Trong’s visit, which, he said, will help to further strengthen cooperative relations between the two countries.

"Romania always follows with keen interest Vietnam’s development process and admires its tremendous achievements in the Doi Moi (Renewal) process. Romania will help Vietnam to foster its relations with the EU and remain a reliable friend willing to promote Vietnam’s bilateral and multilateral relations. Romania attaches great importance to Vietnam’s position in the international arena and wants to boost its economic and trade ties with the country”, said Mr Basescu.

Vietnam and Romania should finalise the previously signed cooperation agreements to enhance economic cooperation.

Mr Trong proposed that both countries promote bilateral cooperation in their areas of strength such as oil and gas exploitation, mechanical engineering, tropical agricultural products and light industry.

Mr Trong asked Romania to assist Vietnam in human resources training, recognize Vietnam as a full market economy and continue to support it at international forums.

On the occasion, Mr Trong passed on State President Nguyen Minh Triet’s invitation to visit Vietnam to his Romanian counterpart Traian Basescu and his invitation was accepted with pleasure.

Later, Mr Trong met with Romanian Prime Minister Popescu Taricenanu. The Romanian PM appreciated Mr Trong’s visit, considering it a testimony to the success of bilateral cooperation. Mr Taricenanu expressed his condolences to the Vietnamese leader and people over the death of former PM Vo Van Kiet who had made significant contributions to Vietnam’s renewal process.

The Romanian PM said that both countries should enhance economic and trade ties by finding new ways to promote cooperation. Romania wants to invest in some of Vietnam’s major projects, particularly in oil and gas and cement production and to share their experiences in restructuring the economy and building a law-governed State, said Mr Taricenanu.

Mr Trong also conveyed PM Nguyen Tan Dung’s invitation to visit Vietnam to his Romanian counterpart Popescu Taricenanu.

Earlier the same day, Mr Trong attended and delivered a speech at the Romania-Vietnam business forum where he said cooperation in economics and trade and investment between the two countries remains modest in comparison with their political ties and potential.

Mr Trong spoke of prospects for both countries to tap into each other’s potentials for mutual development, citing Vietnam’s strength in farm produce, garments and textiles and footwear and Romania’s advantages in the oil refining and construction industries.

He highly praised businesspeople’s role in promoting economic, trade and investment ties between the two countries, and drew Romanian businesses’ attention to Vietnam as a safe and favourable destination to invest.

The same day, Mr Trong met with staff from the Vietnamese Embassy in Romania and the 500 overseas Vietnamese that live in the country.

The Vietnamese community in Romania plays an important part in promoting the friendship between Vietnam and Romania, said Mr Trong.

Mr Trong hoped that the Vietnamese Embassy and the overseas Vietnamese community in Romania will join efforts to further strengthen their friendship and gain a better understanding of economics, social affairs and culture between the two countries.