Senior Vietnamese officials made this announcement during talks and meetings with Ecuador ’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Integration Kintto Lucas, who is on a Viet Nam visit from September 25-28.

During his stay in Viet Nam , the Ecuadorian Deputy Minister held talks with Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Le Luong Minh, during which they signed a memorandum of understanding on the political consultation mechanism between the two foreign ministries.

He also met with Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly’s Committee for External Relations Tran Van Hang, leaders of the Ministry of Education and Training, and several economic groups.

During the meetings, the Vietnamese side applauded upcoming Viet Nam visits by Ecuadorian President Rafael Corea and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Integration Ricardo Patino. They spoke highly of the Ecuadorian Government’s intention to open a representative agency in Hanoi as well as its specific proposals on creating a legal mechanism and framework for bilateral ties.

For his part, Kintto Lucas affirmed that the Ecuadorian Government will create favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to access the Ecuadorian market and set up partnerships with Ecuadorian enterprises as well as consider recognising Viet Nam as a market economy.

The two sides agreed on measures to continue consolidating and expanding their multifaceted cooperation and strengthen coordination and mutual support at international organisations and multilateral forums./.