Vietnamese, Norwegian PMs hold talks

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and Norway's Prime Minister Erna Solberg in Oslo, Norway on May 24, 2019. Photo: VGP

The two PMs welcomed the bilateral growing economic ties, as seen in the ever closer bilateral cooperation in fields such as forestry, environmental protection, fisheries, aquaculture, renewable energy, LNG, maritime transport and shipbuilding.

They reaffirmed their determination to further strengthen economic, trade and investment relations in a sustainable and inclusive way, and expressed their countries’ commitment to seeking an early conclusion of the negotiations on a comprehensive and ambitious Free Trade Agreement between Viet Nam and EFTA.

The pair encouraged the business communities of both countries to continue to promote and expand their trade and investment cooperation, especially in important areas such as the ocean economy, green and renewable energy, information technology and consumer goods.

Both sides also encouraged ministries and agencies in both countries to expand their bilateral dialogue and cooperation in areas such as education, tourism, sport, culture, people-to-people exchange, and in areas relating to the women, peace and security agenda, including UN Security Council resolution 1325.

As Viet Nam and Norway are both under review by the UPR Working Group this year, the two leaders highlighted the importance of the UPR process as a universal, transparent, state-led peer review mechanism based on dialogue and cooperation.

They acknowledged the constructive human rights dialogue between Viet Nam and Norway, and highlighted the importance of the rule of law, human rights, and the implementation of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work and commitments made under regional and international free trade agreements.

The two sides stressed the importance of global efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, and welcomed the successful completion of the six-year year UN-REDD program in Viet Nam.

They also emphasized their shared commitment to inclusive and sustainable development, as reflected in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals and applauded the important action taken by many countries to tackle the issues of climate change, rising sea levels and marine plastic litter.

PM Solberg referred to ongoing and new regional projects on marine litter involving ASEAN member states. She welcomed the fact that Viet Nam will be represented at the Our Ocean Conference in Oslo in October this year.

Both Viet Nam and Norway have shared a commitment to a fair, just and rules-based international order and a multilateral system with the UN at its core and attach importance to the role of the UN in addressing international disputes through dialogue and consultations, in accordance with the UN Charter and international law.

The two PMs agreed that, if both countries are elected non-permanent members of the UN Security Council for the periods 2020-2021 and 2021-2022, respectively, this will provide a good opportunity for Viet Nam and Norway to work together to promote regional and global peace and security cooperation.

The leaders expressed their support for efforts to promote peace, stability, cooperation and friendship in South East Asia, reaffirming the importance of safeguarding the freedoms, rights and duties set out in the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which provides the legal framework for all activities in the oceans and seas, and called on all parties to settle any disputes through peaceful means and in accordance with international law.