Vietnam to strengthen bilateral relations with Uzbekistan

While on an official visit to Uzbekistan Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met with his Uzbek counterpart Shavkat Mirziyoyev to discuss trade relations between the two nations. Mirziyoyev spoke very highly about Vietnam's achievements and socio-economic progress. He also congratulated Dung on his re-election.

For his part, Dung said he was glad to see Uzbekistan prosper and maintain socio-political stability, economic development, improving people's life and raising Uzbekistan's position in Asia and on the international arena.

The two men confirmed their respective nations' desire to further develop bilateral relations, and agreed to increase co-operation via exchange of delegations at all levels, especially high-ranking. They noted that bilateral trade remains modest with $18 million in 2010 and $15.5 million in this year's first half, and that it is yet to reach its full potential.

The leaders also agreed to foster export-import, step up trade promotion activities, and create conditions for Vietnamese and Uzbekistani partnerships in the fields of oil and gas, agriculture, fertilizer production, construction materials, electronics, information technology and telecommunications.

Both Dung and Mirziyoyev spoke highly about PetroVietnam's operations in Uzbekistan, stressing that oil and gas is a spearhead co-operative area between the two nations.

Dung said the two countries were soon to finalise procedures for the signing of a contract between PetroVietnam and Uzbekistan's Oil and Gas National Holding Company in Bukhara Khiva.

Sources: Vietnam News Agency, Saigon Daily

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