Farewell ceremony for General Secretary and President To Lam. Photo: Tri Dung/VNA

Earlier, To Lam and Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris held talks, where they agreed to enhance delegation exchanges and contacts, continue their close coordination and utilize the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), facilitating the access of their key products to respective markets.

The Vietnamese leader appreciated Ireland’s incentives to Irish investors in Vietnam in spheres like digital transformation, renewable energy, and high-tech agriculture, and urged the European country to soon complete procedures for the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) for the equal and mutually beneficial investment ties between the two countries.

The leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in ecological agriculture, circular agriculture, sustainable food system transformation, aquaculture, digital transformation, green transition, and climate change response. They also stressed the need to enhance cultural, sport, and tourism exchanges between the two countries.

To Lam affirmed Vietnam’s readiness to serve as a bridge between Ireland and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He also suggested Ireland help Vietnam strengthen its ties with the EU.

General Secretary and President To Lam meets with Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris in Dublin, October 3, 2024. Photo: VNA

Host and guest concurred to maintain close coordination at regional and international forums and expressed their concern over the escalating tensions in the Middle East and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, calling on relevant sides to exercise restraint, not use force, and hold dialogues to seek peaceful resolutions to the conflicts, for stability, cooperation, and development in the regions and the world.

For the East Sea, they reiterated the importance of peace, stability, safety, security, and freedom of navigation in the waters, and stressed the need to resolve disputes through peaceful means, in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

On this occasion, the two sides issued a joint statement on strengthening the Vietnam-Ireland relationship. The document says Lam’s visit is an important milestone, contributing to advancing the relationship to a new height.

The two sides agreed to work for the prosperity and comprehensive development of both countries, and for peace, cooperation and development globally, in accordance with the fundamental principles of international law and the United Nations Charter.

The joint statement also sets out directions for cooperation between the two countries in the fields of politics-diplomacy, security, education-training, trade, investment, and development cooperation, focusing on education, agriculture, socio-economic development in remote areas, and the settlement of bomb and mine consequences.