Vietnam is willing to share its experiences in joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and boost cooperation in various areas with the African nation, says National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong.
Mr Trong told his Algerian counterpart Abdelaziz Ziari during talks in Hanoi on January 19 that conducting WTO negotiations is not an easy task, but it is important to seize opportunities and overcome challenges in the post-admission period.
He praised Algeria’s efforts to cushion the impact of the global economic and financial turmoil and become one of four newly emerging economies in Africa. He said Algeria plays a very important role in maintaining peace in North Africa and the whole continent as well as in the non-aligned movement struggling for a new and fair world order.
Vietnam attaches great importance to strengthening the friendly and cooperative relations with its traditional friends, including Algeria, affirmed Mr Trong.
He underlined the need to educate the two countries’ young generations about the Vietnam-Algeria relationship, which has stood the test of time and developed constantly over the years.
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| The two legislative leaders briefed the media on the results of their talks in Hanoi |
He noted that despite encouraging progress, economic, trade and investment ties between Vietnam and Algeria have not matched their potential and have not lived up to their people’s expectations. He proposed that the two legislative bodies and governments create optimal conditions for their business communities to explore each other’s markets and establish partnerships.
Mr Trong said both Vietnam and Algeria see the potential for increasing cooperation, citing Vietnam’s advantages in agricultural production, food and consumer good processing and Algeria’s experience in developing the oil, gas and steel sectors.
Algeria could serve as Vietnam’s gateway to the huge African market, and Vietnam could help Algeria penetrate the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said the Vietnamese legislator.
He said both sides should increase the sharing of their experiences in developing a market economy and carrying out legislative operations.
“Algeria is developing an organized market economy while Vietnam is embarking on a socialist-oriented market economy. The bottom line is how we can bring into full play the advantages of the market economy and ensure social welfare,” said Mr Trong.
He stressed that during the globalisation process, international economic integration is an inevitable trend, but “we’d better preserve and develop our own cultural identity and ethical values.”
For his part, Abdelaziz Ziari expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s past struggle for national liberation, and said the Algerian revolution stemmed from Vietnam’s Dien Bien Phu victory in 1954 as well as the two nations’ wars of resistance against colonialism.
Wartime sacrifice and current development achievements have laid a foundation for promoting Algeria-Vietnam friendship, and our task is to educate young generations to preserve and develop this valuable friendship, said Mr Ziari.
He voiced the Algerian people’s desire to strengthen solidarity, friendship and cooperation with Vietnam and other nations to promote the values of the just struggle that peace-loving people and other progressive forces have pursued so far.
Mr Ziari lauded Vietnam’s impressive economic development and its increasing role in the world and said Algeria wants to boost cooperation with Vietnam, especially in economics, trade, and investment.
He also said his nation is working hard to increase trade with Vietnam on a par with several Asian countries whose trade ties have seen flourishing in recent years.
As Algeria is in a period of transition to a competitive market economy and at the same time is carrying out a national social policy, it needs to share development experiences with Vietnam, especially in joining the WTO, said Mr Ziari. He proposed that both countries consider establishing advisory groups to carry out this task.
Both host and guest agreed that the two legislative bodies should speed up the implementation of their cooperation agreements signed in 2005 and increase the exchange of visits to promote mutual understanding and cooperation. They also agreed to work closely in regional and international forums.
Mr Ziari began an official visit to Vietnam on January 19 at the invitation of Mr Trong.