New York (VNA) – Prime MinisterPham Minh Chinh met with global leaders in New York on September 20 afternoon (localtime), on the sidelines of the high-level week of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Talking to First Secretary of theCommunist Party of Cuba and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel, PM Chinhaffirmed that the Party, State, Government, National Assembly, and people ofVietnam never forget Cuba’s wholehearted assistance for Vietnam’s struggle fornational liberation, always treasure and stay determined to further intensifythe traditional solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the twocountries, and support the just revolutionary cause of the Cuban people.

He underlined Vietnam’s consistentstance of not supporting but demanding the unilateral sanctions against Cuba beremoved.

The PM held that the two sides shouldmaintain close cooperation to enhance trade and investment links and developtheir economic ties on par with the sound political relations as directed andwished by the countries’ Party and State leaders.

President Miguel Diaz-Canel said theCuba - Vietnam relations form a noble symbol of the comradeship and close-knitfriendship, and thanked the Vietnamese Government and people for the precioussupport for Cuba to weather difficulties caused by the embargo and sanctions.

He pledged to direct Cuban ministriesand sectors to work more closely with Vietnam to promote bilateral economic,investment, and trade ties, especially in agriculture to guarantee foodsecurity.

Both leaders also affirmed coordinationto organise activities marking the 50 years since Cuban leader Fidel Castro Ruz visitedthe liberated zone in South Vietnam in September 1973, especially during thecoming trip to Vietnam by President of the Cuban National Assembly of People’sPower Esteban Lazo Hernandez.

Meetingwith Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, PM Chinh stressed the great importanceVietnam attaches to the traditional friendship and cooperation with Romania,and thanked the European country for its vaccine support for Vietnam during theCOVID-19 pandemic.

To continuefostering bilateral ties, he called on both sides to increase meetings andmutual visits, especially at the high level, continue making trade and investmentbreakthroughs so that the relations live up to the countries’ potential andadvantages. They also need to boost cooperation in labour and education -training, which are their traditional cooperation fields, and share experiencein the sustainable management of the Mekong and Danube deltas.

President Iohannis applauded thedevelopment of the countries’ partnership, particularly in economy - trade.

He pledged that Romania will work tofurther promote all-round ties with Vietnam, especially in economy, trade,tourism, and people-to-people exchanges, so that bilateral relations match thedevelopment of the countries’ ties.

Atthe meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda, PM Chinh highlighted Vietnam alwaystreasures and hopes to reinforce the traditional friendship and multifacetedcooperation with Poland, a priority partner in Central and Eastern Europe. He alsothanked the Polish Government and people for actively assisting Vietnam in thepandemic response.

He suggested both countries step upall-level delegation exchanges via all channels to enhance mutual politicaltrust and understanding and expand cooperation in all fields. He called on thePolish Government to continue creating optimal conditions for the Vietnamesecommunity in Poland to live, work, and integrate well into the local society.

PresidentDuda highly valued Vietnam’s achievements in socio-economic recovery anddevelopment after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Polish leader expressed hisspecial attention to fostering economic ties and perceived that there remainsmuch cooperation potential in education - training, information technology,health care, pharmaceutical, and agriculture. He also asked for the VietnameseGovernment’s support for Polish businesses to invest in the Southeast Asiannation.

Alsoon September 20, PM Chinh told Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar duringtheir meeting that Vietnam always attaches importance to and wishes tostrengthen the traditional friendship with Slovenia, one of its prioritypartners in Europe.

He asked the countries to boost mutualvisits at all levels, especially in 2024 when they celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and effectively implement the EU - VietnamFree Trade Agreement (EVFTA). The PM also called on the Slovenian Parliamentand Government to soon complete the ratification of the EU - Vietnam InvestmentProtection Agreement (EVIPA) and raise their voice so that the EuropeanCommission (EC) will lift the “yellow card” warning over illegal, unreportedand unregulated (IUU) fishing for Vietnam’s fisheries sector.

Noting PM Chinh’s opinions, PresidentMusar said Slovenia always views Vietnam as one of its propriety partners inSoutheast Asia, and that it will bolster multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam.

She also asked both sides to enhancecooperation in some potential areas such as labour, science - technology,natural resource protection, pharmaceutical, and environmental protection.

At the meeting with Finnish PresidentSauli Niinisto, PM Chinh said Vietnam always attaches importance to thetraditional friendship and sound cooperation with Finland.

To further boost bilateral ties, herecommended the countries increase all-level delegation exchanges to developtheir relations in a more substantive and effective manner, while continuing tofoster trade and investment ties to create momentum for bilateral relations togrow strongly. He also highlighted Vietnam’s hope to boost exporting farm produce,leather - footwear, textile - garment, and other products to Finland.

The PM appealed to the FinnishParliament and Government to soon finalise the EVIPA ratification to facilitateequal and mutually beneficial investment ties. He also asked Finland to supportthe EC’s removal of the “yellow card” warning for Vietnam’s fisheries sector.

Hailingthe development of bilateral cooperation, especially since the EVFTA tookeffect, President Niinisto expressed his hope that their countries will notonly promote bilateral cooperation but also serve as bridges linking Finlandwith ASEAN, Vietnam with the EU, and between ASEAN and the EU.

At the meetings, PM Chinh and the European leaders affirmed that their countries will keep strengthen cooperation and mutual support at multilateral forums, including the United Nations, and step up coordination within ASEAN and EU cooperation mechanisms.

Talking to his Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin also on September 20, PM Chinh noted that Thailand is an important andtrustworthy partner of Vietnam in the region, expressing his delight at theprogress of bilateral ties amid the 10th anniversary of thecountries’ strategic partnership.

To keep fostering the Vietnam - Thailand cooperation, he pointedout four focuses that should be promoted, namely effectively carrying out theaction plan for implementing the enhanced strategic partnership for 2022 -2027; further opening their markets and providing more favourable conditionsfor both sides’ businesses so as to achieve the trade target of 25 billion USDin a balanced and mutually beneficial manner; enhancing cooperation ineducation - training, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges; and maintainingclose coordination at multilateral mechanisms, especially ASEAN.

PM Thavisin agreed on his counterpart’s opinions, adding thatThailand wishes to join Vietnam in bolstering collaboration in trade,investment, tourism, infrastructure connectivity, and locality-to-localityties.

He also suggested Vietnam consider opening more direct airroutes to Thailand.

Both leaders agreed that their countries will jointlyimplement the cooperation focuses to boost the effective and substantivedevelopment of their strategic partnership./.