Vietnam is ready to be a bridge to promote cooperation between ASEAN and AU.

At the meeting with President of the Comoros Federation Azali Assoumani by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the two leaders assessed that the two countries have a traditional friendship but the level of cooperation is still modest, not commensurate with the potential of the two countries. The two sides agreed to further increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, promote the exchange of information on economy, trade, investment, opportunities and strengths of each side.

Regarding bilateral cooperation, the Prime Minister proposed that Comoros facilitate some of Vietnam's key products such as rice, food, consumer goods, textiles, footwear, machinery, etc. to access the Comoros market; proposed that the two sides strengthen cooperation in the agricultural sector, including tripartite agricultural development cooperation projects, including mechanisms with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the African Development Bank in Comoros.

The Prime Minister also suggested that the two countries increase exchanges and coordination at international organizations and multilateral forums; at the same time, he affirmed that Vietnam wishes to cooperate and support the AU in realizing the vision of an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa for the people; Vietnam is ready to be a bridge to promote cooperation between ASEAN and the AU.

President Azali Assoumani highly agreed with the proposals of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and suggested that Vietnam share its experience with Comoros in ensuring food, energy, and health security, etc. to support Comoros in implementing its plan and vision of becoming an emerging economy by 2030.

President Azali Assoumani agreed that the two sides should soon negotiate and sign a number of important documents such as the Visa Exemption Agreement for Diplomatic and Official Passport Holders, etc. to create a favorable legal basis for bilateral cooperation. Regarding multilateral cooperation, Comoros will continue to closely coordinate with Vietnam, supporting multilateralism and the role of international law.

Vietnam is a bright star in the world economic sky.

Receiving International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his gratitude for the IMF’s support and advice on the Government’s macroeconomic policy management, contributing to building policy frameworks in line with trends and accessing investment funds; hoping that the two sides will have a new phase of more effective cooperation in the face of rapid changes in the world.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked the IMF to continue providing policy advice to the Vietnamese Government on economic management, improving fiscal and monetary tools, and restructuring finance and banking. Along with that, the Prime Minister had a frank discussion, going straight to issues of mutual concern, suggesting new issues in the context of continued global economic difficulties.

The IMF Managing Director expressed his delight at the positive results of Vietnam's economy, assessing Vietnam as a bright star in the world economic sky, with a stable economy and positive growth rate, in the context of a volatile global economy with many risks and being heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ms. Kristalina Georgieva highly appreciated Vietnam's socio-economic management policies, early control of the COVID-19 pandemic, and rapid transition to opening the economy; said that the Government's implementation of a firm, proactive, flexible, timely, and effective monetary policy is very appropriate, helping Vietnam maintain its growth momentum in the recent difficult context.

The IMF General Director said that Vietnam's economy is forecast to grow twice as fast as the global economy and that the IMF hopes to advise on interest rates, monetary policies, and enhance the self-reliance of Vietnam's economy to cope with the crisis. She affirmed that the IMF and she herself strongly support and will accompany Vietnam in its development process.

Hope OECD supports sharing research and approaches on new issues

At the meeting with Mr. Mathias Cormann, Secretary General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested that the two sides continue to promote cooperation, first of all, prepare well for the 2023 Southeast Asia Programme Ministerial Meeting; and asked the OECD to create conditions for many Vietnamese coordinators to work at the Secretariat.

The Prime Minister emphasized that Vietnam is a developing country, a transitional economy, with a large economic openness and limited resilience to external shocks. He hoped that OECD would support the sharing of research and approaches on new issues, especially global minimum tax, energy security, knowledge economy, circular economy, etc.

The OECD Secretary-General congratulated Vietnam on its achievements in economic reform and transformation, thanked Vietnam for its positive contributions and key role in the Southeast Asia Programme as Co-Chair of the Programme, especially the successful organization of the Southeast Asia Programme Ministerial Meeting in October 2022 in Hanoi.

Mr. Mathias Cormann expressed his impression of Vietnam's international role with Vietnam being invited to attend the expanded G7 Summit as well as the upcoming OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in June 2023.

The OECD Secretary General pledged to continue promoting exchanges and cooperation with Vietnam, supporting Vietnam in economic recovery and development, especially in areas of interest to Vietnam, including building investment policies adapted to global minimum taxes, green economy, circular economy, etc.

Secretary-General Mathias Cormann hopes that Vietnam will join the Initiative for Forum on Carbon Reduction Methods (IFCMA) to contribute to building a standard, comprehensive approach to carbon reduction at the global level.