Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made this statement during talks with his Polish counterpart, Donald Tusk, following an official welcome ceremony for the latter in Hanoi on Sept. 9.

Dung applauded the Polish PM’s ongoing visit, describing it as milestone in strengthening and promoting the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation, especially in economy and trade, between the two nations.

He noted with pleasure that two-way trade reached 550 million USD in 2009, higher than the set target of 500 million USD, and the figure is expected to hit 600 million USD this year. Vietnam is currently one of the largest trade partners of Poland , he added.

To step up economic relations, PM Dung suggested the two countries facilitate the flow of key and traditional commodities into each other’s markets.

“ Vietnam will create favourable conditions for Polish companies to seek long-term investment and business opportunities in the country,” he said.

The leader affirmed Vietnam ’s support for Poland ’s endeavours to expand cooperative ties with the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and requested Poland back Vietnam ’s bid to beef up cooperation with European Union (EU) states.

PM Dung urged concerned ministries and agencies of both nations to work together to accelerate the disbursement of Polish soft loans to Vietnam , and soon open a direct air route between the two countries.

Regarding education and training, Dung proposed the two sides increase cooperation programmes and asked Poland to grant more scholarships to Vietnamese students to study in the European country.

The PM took this occasion to thank and called on the Polish Government to provide more favourable conditions for overseas Vietnamese in Poland , noting that these people have worked as a bridge to enhance bilateral cooperation and mutual understanding.

PM Tusk said he agreed with PM Dung’s proposals and hoped that Vietnam would further boost bilateral cooperation in its strongest fields, including agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, labour, mining, restoration of relic sites and the environment. “ Poland regards Vietnam as an important partner in Asia ,” he stressed.

The two leaders also discussed a number of regional and international issues of mutual concern, and affirmed their desire for stronger bilateral coordination at international forums.

Following the talks, PM Dung and PM Tusk witnessed the signing of an agreement on the protection of secret information between the two governments, an agreement on defence cooperation between the two Ministries of National Defence, a protocol on cooperation between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs and a memorandum of understanding on veterinary cooperation.

On the evening of the same day, PM Dung hosted a banquet in honour of PM Tusk, his wife and entourage./.