Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Foreign Minister Vu Dung paid official visits to the State of Israel and the State of Palestine from March 31 to April 3.

In Israel , the Deputy FM and his entourage conducted the second political consultation between the two foreign ministries and paid a courtesy visit to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni.

During the meetings, the Vietnamese and Israeli officials reviewed the two countries’ recent cooperation. They expressed their satisfaction at the encouraging outcomes obtained in the fields of trade, investment, agriculture, education and training.

They agreed that priority should be given to agriculture, telecommunication, information technology, and hi-technology in the future.

The Israeli side highly valued the tremendous achievements Vietnam has recorded and affirmed that Israel gives the Southeast Asian country the priority in its foreign policy and economic cooperation.

Israel appreciated and valued Vietnam ’s decision to open its embassy in Israel at a time the two countries celebrate their 15th diplomatic ties anniversary.

The Israeli and Vietnamese officials also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern.

The Vietnamese side reiterated the country’s consistent support for the peace process in the Middle East and the settlement of other issues in the region in pursuant to international laws and United Nations resolutions and with regard to legitimate interests of the concerned parties.

They asserted that as a United Nations Security Council non-permanent member, Vietnam will make active contributions to the peace process in the Middle East .

The two sides reached a consensus on increasing their exchange of views on international forums, especially at the United Nations.

Deputy FM Vu Dung conveyed an invitation to visit Vietnam from Deputy PM and FM Pham Gia Khiem to Deputy PM and FM Tzipi Livni.

During the visit, the Vietnamese diplomats also held working sessions with officials from the Israel-Vietnam Chamber of Industry and Commerce and representatives of Israeli businesses.

The Israeli businesspeople said they valued Vietnam ’s renovation achievements and showed their interests in promoting business ties and investment in Vietnam .

Deputy Foreign Minister Dung assured those businesspeople that they will be provided with favourable conditions when doing business in Vietnam .

He advised Israeli businesspeople to boost their exchange of information with Vietnamese counterparts in order to figure out the areas for joint cooperation.

During the visit to the State of Palestine, Deputy Foreign Minister Vu Dung held working sessions with former Prime Minister and chief peace negotiator Ahmed Corey, Foreign Minister Riat Al- Maliki and the Secretary General of the Presidential Palace of the State of Palestine. They also paid floral tributes to the memorial house of late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat.

The Palestinian leaders warmly welcomed Vietnam ’s first delegation to Palestine , saying that the visit was a significant event in the relationship between the two States.

The Palestinian host expressed their thanks to Vietnam for its consistent support to the Palestinian people’s just struggle as well as their admiration for the Vietnamese people’s past struggle and achievements in its current national construction and development.

Vietnam consistently supports basic national rights of the Palestinian people, including the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people and the establishment of the State of Palestine, affirmed Deputy FM Dung.

He went on to say that Vietnam supports the two-State solution in which the State of Palestine and the State of Israel together exist and develop in peace and calls on concerned parties to strictly implement agreements reached at the Annapolis Conference in November 2007 in the US.

Deputy FM Dung affirmed that Vietnam is willing to contribute to seeking a comprehensive and durable peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Vietnam calls on Palestinian parties to promote national reconciliation and implement the content of the Mecca Agreement signed in February 2007.

The two sides discussed possibilities for promoting bilateral economic, trade and investment ties.

Deputy FM Dung conveyed an invitation to visit Vietnam from Vietnamese leaders to the Palestinian leaders and the latter accepted the invitation with pleasure.