The PM also committed to do whatever he can to help Ambassador Fernando Curcio Ruigomez successfully fulfil his assigned tasks during his mission in Vietnam so as to contribute to further elevating bilateral cooperation and relations.

PM Dung asked the new ambassador to coordinate with relevant Vietnamese ministries and agencies to prepare for State President Nguyen Minh Triet’s upcoming visit to Spain to make it a success for the sake of both countries’ practical benefit.

He thanked Spain for investing in the development of Ho Chi Minh City ’s subway project and its active participation in programmes marking the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

PM Dung expressed his hope that the two countries will have an opportunity to beef up their cooperation in particular and ASEAN-EU ties in general in 2010 when Vietnam will assume the ASEAN Chair and Spain will take the EU Chair.

The ambassador informed his host of Spain ’s preparations along with those of Vietnam for President Nguyen Minh Triet’s visit to Spain .

He reiterated his country’s eagerness for cooperation with Vietnam in infrastructure development, education and training, science and technology and development assistance.

Spain provided 5 million USD for the construction of Ho Chi Minh City ’s subway system and will provide a credit worth 200 million USD for the project, the diplomat said.

Appreciating Vietnam ’s support for the building of a UN house in Vietnam , the ambassador said his country is working with others in deploying this model and wants to join hands in Vietnam ’s social activities, especially the celebration of the 1,000th Thang Long-Hanoi anniversary.

The same day, PM Dung received the out-going Algerian Ambassador, Naceur Boucherit, who shared the deep impression made upon him by Vietnam ’s land and people and pledged to continue working to foster friendship between the two countries.

The diplomat laid special stress on the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group’s investment in Algeria and described it as an example of the two countries’ bilateral cooperative model.

From the success of this investment, the Algerian Government wants to carry out cooperative projects in agriculture, aquaculture and infrastructure development with Vietnamese businesses in order to increase two-way trade to 1 billion USD in the coming years, the diplomat said.

PM Dung praised the out-going Algerian ambassador for what he has done to boost the two countries’ wide-ranging cooperation during his working term in Vietnam .

He stressed that the Vietnamese Government wants and will do its best to raise Vietnam-Algeria ties to a new height in a wide range of areas, particularly economy, trade, investment, education and training.

He suggested the Vietnam-Algeria inter-governmental committee convene its meeting annually to push up cooperation and effectively implement Vietnam-invested projects in energy and infrastructure in Algeria .

On the occasion, PM Dung said he expected the Algerian Government to continue providing possible assistance for the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group to effectively carry out its investment project in Algeria to bring in benefits to both countries./.