Vietnam attaches importance to strengthening cooperation with Iran at international forums.
State President Truong Tan Sang was speaking at a reception for Mehdi Ghazanfari, Iranian Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade, in Hanoi on May 14.
He welcomed the results of working sessions between the Iranian Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade with relevant Vietnamese ministries and agencies, and said both sides need to realise agreements to boost cooperation in economics, trade, culture, and social affairs.
He valued Iran’s trade cooperation initiatives and proposed that the two countries remove obstacles to raise bilateral trade to a new level.
Minister Ghazanfari voiced Iran’s resolve to work closely with Vietnam to raise two-way trade to US$500 million in the near future.
He said his ministry and the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have selected a representative group to realise cooperation agreements.
Vietnam needs to have incentives for its farm products, primarily rice and rubber, to penetrate the Iran market, and in turn, Iran’s oil and wheat can access the Vietnam market, he said.
In addition to agricultural cooperation, Ghazanfari proposed Vietnam develop cooperation mechanisms in science-technology and tourism to welcome future Iranian businesses to the country.
Source: VNA