Vietnam is an important partner of Ireland in the Asia-Pacific region.

Within the framework of the State visit to Ireland, on the morning of October 3 (local time), in the capital Dublin, General Secretary and President To Lam met with Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris. In a sincere, friendly and open atmosphere, the two leaders informed each other about the situation in each country, discussed cooperation orientations and measures to further deepen the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Ireland. Prime Minister Simon Harris warmly welcomed General Secretary and President To Lam on his State visit to Ireland, believing that the visit will create a new impetus to strongly promote Vietnam-Ireland relations in the coming period; congratulated Vietnam on its great achievements in socio-economic development in recent times; shared the losses caused by Typhoon Yagi, said that he would support Vietnam in overcoming the consequences of this storm; affirmed that Vietnam is an important partner in the Asia-Pacific region. General Secretary and President To Lam thanked the State, Government and People of Ireland for the warm and thoughtful reception given to the delegation, affirming that Vietnam always attaches importance to and wishes to strengthen the friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Ireland.

General Secretary and President To Lam meets with Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris in Dublin, October 3, 2024. (Photo: Tri Dung/VNA)

Discussing bilateral relations, General Secretary and President To Lam and Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris expressed satisfaction with the substantive and effective development of the friendship and cooperation between the two countries in many fields after nearly three decades. Ireland is currently an important trade partner of Vietnam in the European market with bilateral trade turnover growing continuously in recent years, reaching 3.5 billion USD in 2023. The Irish Government has provided Vietnam with important development assistance, contributing to helping Vietnam achieve many Millennium Development Goals ahead of schedule and realize the Sustainable Development Goals. Cooperation in the fields of education and training, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, electronics, culture and people-to-people exchange has also made significant progress in recent times. In order to increase political trust and exploit the cooperation potential of the two countries, the two leaders agreed to increase the exchange of delegations, high-level contacts and ministerial and sectoral levels; effectively implement existing cooperation mechanisms, and at the same time study and establish new cooperation frameworks suitable to the new situation. General Secretary and President To Lam was pleased to inform Prime Minister Simon Harris that the Vietnamese Government has decided and is taking steps to open a Vietnamese Embassy in Ireland to actively contribute to the development of bilateral relations. Regarding economic cooperation, General Secretary and President To Lam suggested that the two sides continue to closely coordinate and effectively utilize the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), including considering facilitating each country's key export products to access each other's markets; welcomed Ireland's policies to encourage and facilitate Irish businesses to increase investment in Vietnam in areas of strength such as digital transformation, renewable energy, high-tech agriculture, etc. General Secretary and President To Lam also suggested that Ireland soon complete the procedures for ratifying the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to facilitate equal and mutually beneficial investment relations between the two sides. The two leaders agreed to continue to strengthen cooperation in the fields of ecological agriculture, circular agriculture, sustainable food system transformation, aquaculture; digital transformation, green transformation; and climate change response. To enhance mutual understanding and strengthen friendship between the people of the two countries, the two leaders emphasized the need to promote cultural, artistic, sports and tourism exchanges in the two countries. The two sides agreed to continue to pay attention to and create favorable conditions for overseas Vietnamese of the two countries to live, study and work in both countries, for the benefit of the people of the two countries. Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, General Secretary and President To Lam appreciated Ireland's interest in promoting relations with Southeast Asia, and Vietnam's willingness to act as a bridge to help Ireland strengthen relations with ASEAN; and suggested that Ireland act as a bridge to help Vietnam strengthen relations with the EU. The two leaders agreed to continue to coordinate closely at regional and international forums, especially the United Nations, ASEAN, EU, etc.; and strengthen cooperation in the field of UN peacekeeping. Regarding regional and international security issues, the two sides expressed concern about the escalation of tensions in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, calling on relevant parties to exercise restraint, not to use force, and engage in dialogue to seek peaceful solutions to conflicts for the sake of stability, cooperation and development of the regions and the world. Regarding the East Sea, the two Leaders reaffirmed the importance of peace, stability, safety, security and freedom of navigation in the East Sea, emphasizing the need to resolve disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). On this occasion, the two sides issued a Joint Statement on promoting Vietnam-Ireland cooperation; affirming that the visit of the General Secretary and President is an important milestone, contributing to bringing Vietnam-Ireland relations to a new height; agreeing to cooperate for the prosperity and comprehensive development of both countries, for peace, cooperation and development globally, in accordance with the fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations Charter. The Joint Statement also sets out directions for cooperation between the two countries in the fields of politics-diplomacy, security, education-training, trade, investment, development cooperation and other potential areas, focusing on education, agriculture, socio-economic development in remote areas and overcoming the consequences of bombs and mines.

General Secretary and President To Lam and Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris witnessed the signing ceremony of a strategic cooperation agreement on higher education between the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training and the Irish Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. (Photo: Tri Dung/VNA)

After the talks, General Secretary and President To Lam and the Irish Prime Minister witnessed the signing of an agreement to establish a strategic partnership on higher education between the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training and the Irish Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to promote cooperation in education and training, focusing on increasing the exchange of scholarships for students and postgraduates, and links between higher education and research institutions of the two countries. *Previously, within the framework of the visit, the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Irish Ministry of Enterprise, Trade and Employment signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the fields of economy, trade and energy. The Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Irish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and the Maritime Affairs signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation on food system transformation. Source: https://nhandan.vn/viet-nam-la-doi-tac-quan-trong-cua-ireland-o-khu-vuc-chau-a-thai-binh-duong-post834703.html