Hanoi (VNA)🅺 - Vietnam always attaches importanceto Vietnam-Israel relations, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told visiting Israeli Minister of Economy and Industry Nir Barkat, who is also head of the Israel sub-committee of the Vietnam-Israel Intergovernmental Committee, in Hanoi on August 16.

He said that Vietnam consistently implements the foreignpolicy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversificationof foreign relations; be a good friend, a reliable partner of countries all over the world, and an active andresponsible member of the international community, for the goal of preserving anenvironment of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region andin the world. Vietnam is deploying a “four nots” defence policy: not joining military alliances, not associating with one country to fight against another,not allowing foreign countries to set up military bases or use Vietnameseterritory to oppose other countries, and not using force or threatening to use forcein international relations, he noted. The visit and the organisation of the 3rd meeting of theVietnam - Israel Intergovernmental Committee are a practical step to realise agreements reached during the official visit to Israel by Deputy Prime Minister Tran LuuQuang in July and the freshly-signed Vietnam - Israel Free Trade Agreement, the PM said.

He informed the Israeli minister that Vietnam has decided toissue electronic visas to citizens of foreign countries, including Israel, fromAugust 15, while welcoming the preparation by both sides for the opening of adirect airline between the two countries.

🌊 To foster the bilateral relations substantively andmore effectively, the PM urged the two sides to strengthen the exchange ofvisits, promote the effective implementation of cooperation mechanisms, effectively implement the Vietnam-Israel FTA, and initiatenegotiations for the signing of cooperation agreements in the industrialfield. He also emphasised the need for coordination in the organisation oftrade promotion activities, enhancing the export of flagship Vietnameseproducts such as agricultural and aquatic products, fruits and vegetablesand processed foods to Israel.

The head of the Vietnamese Government also asked the two sides tostrengthen their cooperation in the fields of innovation, high technology and climatechange response, including cooperation in dealing with drought in the centralprovinces and training of high quality human resources.  He affirmed that Vietnam is ready to serve asa bridge to promote cooperation between Israel and the Association of SoutheastAsian Nations (ASEAN). On this occasion, he extended an invitationto Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to pay an official visit toVietnam. Minister Nir Barkat, for his part, affirmed that the Israeli Government always regards Vietnam as an important partner in the region andwishes to strengthen cooperation with the country in all fields. He hailed Vietnam as a dynamic economy with a market of 100 million consumers and agateway to 700-million-strong ASEAN. He said that Israel is working to coordinate with Vietnam toquickly complete the relevant procedures so that the Vietnam-Israel Free TradeAgreement enters into force as soon as possible, speed up connection between businesses of thetwo countries as well as foster cooperation in the fields of high technology,medicine, the fight against desertification, marine development and aquaculture, and especially innovation./.