July 31, 2006
Vietnamese leaders welcome Venezuela President
(Nhandan.com) - "Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong exchanged views on Vietnam-Venezuela bilateral co-operation with visiting Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez at their meetings in Hanoi on July 30.
During the reception for President Chávez, Party General Secretary Manh thanked the Venezuelan people for their support, friendship and solidarity with Vietnam. The Party leader praised the great achievements of the Venezuelan Government and people under the leadership of President Chávez in recent years.
The Party leader also affirmed Vietnam's determination along with Venezuela to strengthen and promote the two countries' friendship and comprehensive co-operation for the benefit of the two peoples, contributing to the cause of peace, national independence, democracy and progress in the world.
President Chávez expressed his pleasure at being the first State leader of Venezuela to visit Vietnam, his admiration for Vietnam's achievements following its struggle for national independence, its current renovation process to build socialist goals. He praised Vietnam's role and prestige both in the region and the world.
President Chávez spoke with General Secretary Manh of the situation in his country, the results of his talks and meetings with other Vietnamese leaders as well as documents signed between the two sides during his current visit.
The Venezuelan President affirmed his hope that his visit would help develop Venezuela-Vietnam friendship and further co-operation years to come.
The same day, National Assembly Chairman Trong said during a meeting with President Chávez that Vietnam, which experienced a long-lasting struggle for national independence and freedom, valued independence and socialism highly. Vietnam supports and congratulates Venezuela on its political, economic, social and external relations reforms in the interests of building a democratic, equal and civilised society in Venezuela.
Chairman Trong affirmed that although the two countries were far apart they had many similarities in their tradition of struggle for national independence, with famous national heroes like Ho Chi Minh and Simón Bolívar. He expressed his hope that relations between the two countries, particularly the two National Assemblies, continue to develop in a positive way.
President Chávez said that the Vietnamese people's struggle had always been a source of encouragement for Venezuela and expressed his hope of sharing Vietnam's experiences in developing democratic ideals democracy, and economic, scientific and technological progress.
At another meeting with President Chávez, Prime Minister Dung noted that the two countries had great potential for co-operation in oil exploitation, agriculture and industry, and on the basis of co-operation agreements and co-operation agreements on energy and culture, the two sides would establish a co-operation committee in order to discuss and implement practical measures that would benefit both countries.
PM Dung affirmed that the Vietnamese Government would continue to promote bilateral co-operation in many areas.
President Chávez shared the desire to set up a co-operation committee with PM Dung and informed him of the achievements of Venezuela in poverty alleviation, education, and healthcare, and particularly in oil exploitation. Venezuela has a great deal of experience in building oil refineries, and the manufacture of petro-chemical products, he said".
