(VOVworld) – President Truong Tan Sang held talks with Iceland’s President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson in Hanoi on Wednesday. President Sang urged both countries to increase exchanges and contacts at all levels and support their businesses to seek investment opportunities in fishing, seafood processing, and renewable energy.

President Grimsson said that his visit was intended to expand bilateral cooperation, share Iceland’s experiences with Vietnam in fishing and clean energy, and promote cooperation between the two countries’ universities. He said that Iceland would increase scholarships for Vietnamese students in fishing and renewable energy and help them attend UN training programs in fishing and thermal power in Iceland.

The two Presidents discussed a number of regional and global issues of mutual concern including Iceland’s support for Vietnam joining the UN Human Rights Council and the UN Economic and Social Council. President Sang said he hoped Iceland would support Vietnam’s bid to join the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term. They stressed the need to resolve disputes in the East Sea through peaceful measures in line with international law, the UN Charter, and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. They agreed that all parties should quickly adopt a binding Code of Conduct to ensure peace, stability, trade, and navigation and aviation security, freedom, and safety in the East Sea.

President Sang told the media after their talks that Vietnam would do its best to promote its relations with Iceland and the EU: “We agreed to boost cooperation in a number of areas in which Iceland had advantages and Vietnam was in need. Vietnam is determined to quickly conclude negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement with the European Free Trade Association for mutual benefit. We believe that that agreement will create opportunities for both countries’ businesses.”

President Grimsson said that the ealry signing of the FTA would be a driving force in bilateral cooperation. He agreed to promote negotiations for the early signing of a free trade agreement between Vietnam and Iceland. The two Presidents also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on geo-thermal power between Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade and Iceland’s Foreign Ministry and a Memorandum of Understanding between the Vietnam National University, Hanoi and Reykjavik University.   

During a reception on the same day National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said he hoped that Iceland would continue to support Vietnam in climate change mitigation. They agreed to strengthen parliamentary cooperation and increase mutual support at bilateral and multilateral forums.