The government of Denmark is actively implementing the new Growth Strategy for Vietnam, encouraging Danish businesses to invest in Vietnam, aiming to raise bilateral trade ties to US$1 billion in 2016.

Danish Foreign Minister Martin Lidagaard made the statement at a meeting with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on the sidelines of the 20th ASEAN-EU Ministerial Meeting (AEMM) in Brussels, Belgium, on July 23.

Valuing Vietnam’s recent dynamic development and its increasing role globally, Lidagaard said Denmark considers the Southeast Asian nation one of its priority partners in the region.

He told Minh that Denmark has proposed bilateral negotiations of a free trade agreement (FTA) with Vietnam, and it pledged to help speed up current FTA negotiations between Vietnam and the EU.

For his part, Minh thanked Denmark for maintaining official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam, saying the aid has been used effectively in the areas of administrative reform, education, and the environment.

The two diplomats said both Vietnam and Denmark will accelerate implementation of the 2014-2015 Action Plan to soon realise their Comprehensive Partnership established in September 2013.

Regarding the East Sea issue, Lidagaard said Denmark supports the EU’s stance and hopes parties concerned will resolve the dispute by peaceful means in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Nguồn: http://www.vir.com.vn