Vietnam, Morocco top legislators hold talk to boost ties

NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (right) and President of the Moroccan House of Representatives Habib El Malki - Credit: VOV

Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and President of the Moroccan House of Representatives Habib El Malki held talks after a welcome ceremony for the Moroccan top legislator, who is making an official visit to Vietnam from December 16-22.

The host and guest expressed their pleasure at the growing relations between the two legislatures, thanks to exchanges of visits as well as regular meetings, consultations and mutual support at multilateral forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Parliamentary Assembly of Francophonie (APF).

They agreed to step up high-level delegation exchanges to increase mutual understanding and trust as well as strengthen coordination at the aforesaid multilateral forums.

The two sides will coordinate to monitor the implementation of agreements signed between the two countries’ governments and ministries for mutual benefits.

The two parliamentary leaders noted that economic and trade ties are still modest, with bilateral trade at only US$190 million in 2016, and vowed to further promote those ties.

Chairwoman Ngan affirmed that Vietnam attaches much importance to developing friendship and multidimensional cooperation with African countries, of which Morocco is a priority partner in North Africa.

She congratulated Morocco for coming back to the African Union and hoped the country will support the development of relations between Vietnam and the union.

The National Assembly of Vietnam supports the enhancement of multifaceted cooperation with Morocco via refining the legal system and creating a favourable legal framework for Moroccan businesses, she noted.

The NA Chairwoman recommended fostering connectivity between the two countries’ businesses in potential fields such as trade, tourism, finance, and renewable energy, looking toward the establishment of a joint business council.

Vietnam and Morocco need to step up trade promotion activities, increase business delegation exchanges at international workshops, forums and trade fairs while tapping the cooperation potential in agriculture, mining, construction material, chemicals, garment-textile, footwear, and food processing, said top legislator Ngan.