VGP – Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Botswana’s Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation Unity Dow signed a visa exemption agreement for diplomatic and official passport holders in Ha Noi on Monday. 

Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Botswana's Minister
of International Affairs and Cooperation Unity Dow sign an agreement on visa
exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders in Ha Noi on August 26, 2019.
Photo: VGP

 This is the 88th agreement of this kind that Viet Nam has signed with foreign countries so far.

During their talks earlier the same day, Deputy PM, FM Minh highly valued the significance of Dow’s ongoing official visit to Viet Nam, which took place on the occasion of the 10th founding anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties.

Minh asked the two countries to actively support their business communities to organize trade promotion and market research activities in a bid to beef up bilateral economic cooperation.

He also welcomed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Botswana’s Center for Trade and Investment, within the framework of Dow’s Viet Nam visit.

The host also asked the two countries to launch talks on several agreements on economic, cultural, education, science; investment encouragement and protection; and double taxation avoidance to create legal corridor for the bilateral ties.

On multilateral aspect, Minh spoke highly of the two sides’ effective coordination in multilateral forums, welcoming the positive role played by Botswana in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

He expressed his wish that Botswana would support and coordinate closely with Viet Nam as the Southeast Asian country will take over the UNSC non-permanent membership for 2020-2020 tenure.

Meanwhile, Dow extended congratulations to Viet Nam for having won the UNSC non-permanent seat and highly valued the country’s development achievements.

The pair discussed on regional and international matters of common concern, including the East Sea issue, underlining the importance of peace, stability, maritime security and freedom, and observation of international law./.