Vietnam always attaches importance to strengthening its friendship and cooperation with Nicaragua , said Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

Minh stated this in Hanoi on July 4 while receiving his Nicaraguan counterpart, Samuel Santos Lopez, who is in Vietnam to attend a trade and investment forum between Vietnam and Latin America.

The Vietnamese FM praised the achievements that the Nicaraguan Government and people have made in boosting socio-economic development, improving people’s living standards and raising the country’s status in the international arena in recent years.

Lopez said he admires the achievements Vietnam has recorded in the renewal process and international integration and he applauded the positive role the country has played at regional and international forums.

He stressed that Nicaragua always prioritises developing its ties with Vietnam as part of its policy on the Southeast Asian region.

The Nicaraguan diplomat thanked Vietnam’s Government for organising the Vietnam-Latin America Trade and Investment Forum, especially as the global economy has shrunk and competition in the market is fierce.

During their meeting, they discussed ways of fostering their friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between both countries and both foreign ministries, including increasing the exchange of delegations at all levels and facilitating both business communities.

After sharing views on regional and international issues of common concern, the FMs agreed that the two countries should continue cooperating closely at international organisations and multilateral forums such as the UN, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the Forum for East Asian-Latin American Cooperation (FEALAC)./.