Venezuelan President to visit Vietnam
Venezuela's President Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias will make an official visit to Vietnam soon, at the invitation of President Nguyen Minh Triet.
The Foreign Ministry made the announcement in a communique issued on July 26.
The ministry said that the visit will further develop friendship and a comprehensive, stable and long-term partnership between the two countries, and will also promote co-operation in economics, trade, investment, and scientific and technological transfer.
The Vietnam-Venezuela relations has developed in a positive way since the two nations first established diplomatic ties on December 18, 1989. Vietnam opened its embassy in Caracas in September 2005, while Venezuela inaugurated its embassy in Hanoi in January 2006.
Two-way trade remains modest, reaching only 8.1 million USD last year. However, experts said the two countries have great potential to expand their co-operation, especially in the areas of oil and gas, mining and agriculture.
In March 2006, the Venezuelan National Assembly formed the Parliamentary Group for Friendship with Vietnam.
The two sides signed an agreement on visa exemptions for holders of diplomatic and official passports, and are currently working on a co-operative agreement in the areas of oil and gas, mining and cultural affairs.
Nhan Dan - July 27, 2006
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