The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Le Danh Vinh.

The participants agreed that thanks to joint efforts, remarkable progress has been made in economic and trade ties between Vietnam and Belarus and Vietnam and Moldova over recent years. However, these countries should further enhance economic and trade links in the future by tapping into the huge available potential more effectively.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Le Danh Vinh met with Belarus’ Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov, Deputy Foreign Minister Gaisenok and leaders from the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Both sides reviewed the implementation of agreements agreed upon from the previous session and discussed measures to further boost bilateral cooperation in economics, trade, industry, agriculture, education and training and science and technology. Preparations for the forthcoming scheduled visit to Vietnam by senior Belarussian leaders were also debated.

At the end of the session, both parties signed an agreement on the mutual recognition of educational qualifications between Vietnam and Belarus.

In Moldova, the Chairman of the Vietnamese Sub-Committee worked with Moldova’s leaders from the Ministry of Economics and Trade and the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure, and met with the Chairman of the Belarussian Sub-Committeee, Kisteruga E.G.

Both sides acknowledged the significant progress in exports as two-way turnover between the two countries in the first half of this year rose by 50 percent from the year earlier. They agreed to boost the exchange of trade in highly competitive products such as tropical agricultural products, seafood, garments and textiles, footwear from Vietnam and small-scale mechanical engineering products and chemicals from Moldova.

Both sides agreed to discuss the early signing of agreements with a view to creating a legal foundation for enhancing economic, trade, scientific and technological ties. On the occasion, they also signed a memorandum of understanding on the session.

Moldova voiced its support for Vietnam’s bid for a non- permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2008-2009 term and recognised the country as a full market economy.

The schedules for next sessions of the Vietnam-Belarus Joint Government Committee and the Vietnam-Moldova Joint Committee for economic, trade, scientific and technological cooperation will be announced through diplomatic channels at a later date.