VNA 31/10/2011 - Vietnam and Venezuela have agreed to boost cooperation and increase solidarity and mutual understanding between the two legislative.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and his Venezuelan counterpart Fernando Soto Rojas reached this agreement during their talks in Hanoi on Oct. 31.

Chairman Hung said Vietnam and Venezuela have similarities and Vietnam has received Venuzuela’s positive support during its struggle for national independence and rebuilding.

He reiterated Vietnam ’s consistent policy of expanding relations with foreign countries for peace and development. As a member of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Vietnam is actively broadening cooperation with other countries, regions and territories in the world, he said.

The Vietnamese legislative body would do its utmost to enhance bilateral friendship between the two States, people and legislatures, Chairman Hung affirmed.

He urged the two sides to intensify exchanges of delegations of the two legislative bodies and friendship parliamentarians’ group to promote joint projects, especially those between the two legislative bodies.

President Fernando Soto Rojas said Vietnam and Venezuela should take advantage of their potential, especially in oil and gas exploitation and production, and step up bilateral cooperation in politics and economics for the benefit of both sides.

The same day, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong received President Fernando Soto Rojas.

The Vietnamese Party leader spoke highly of Venezuelan achievements in improving people’s living conditions and stabilising the country’s situation, as well as its contribution to the left-wing movement in the Latin American and Caribbean regions.

He also expressed his belief that Venezuela would reap greater achievements in national construction and development.

Party General Secretary Trong also highly valued past cooperative results between the countries and asked the two governments and national assemblies to expand cooperation fields and deepen bilateral ties.

He expressed thanks to the Venezuelan people for their support and solidarity for the Vietnamese people during their struggle for national independence and the country’s reunification, as well as in the renewal process.

Vietnam was determined to consolidate and further enhance the friendship and cooperation between the two countries, lifting the relations to a new height, he said.

President Fernando Soto Rojas expressed his deep impression of Vietnam ’s achievements during its renewal process, adding he wished the two countries’ solidarity and friendship as well as cooperation between the two legislative bodies would develop further.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai also gave a reception to President Fernando Soto Rojas, during which he said Vietnam wishes to enhance cooperation with Venezuela in energy and agriculture, as the latter has experience in the energy sector.

President Fernando Soto Rojas said this is the time to further boost cooperation and friendship between the two countries.

He said that the two sides need to make more efforts to develop their potential, adding that the Vietnam-Venezuela intergovernmental committee plays an important role in implementing cooperative projects agreed on by leaders of the two countries.

The two sides pledged to continue to promote cooperation between the two nations, especially in energy, agriculture and industry.

As part of his activities, President Fernando Soto Rojas met the President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations, Vu Xuan Hong, where he exchanged views on the traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnamese and Venezuelan people./.