PM Chính hosts Turkish finance, industry ministers

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính (right) had talks with Turkish Minister of Budget and Finance Mehmet Simsek in Ankara as part of his official visit to Turkey. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

ANKARA — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính hosted separate receptions for Turkish Minister of Budget and Finance Mehmet Simsek and Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacir in Ankara on Thursday (local time).

Hosting Minister Simsek, PM Chính stressed that Việt Nam and Türkiye hold strategically important geographical positions, capable of helping each other connect with major markets in Europe, the Middle East-Africa, and Asia.

Việt Nam values the strengthening of economic cooperation on a mutually beneficial basis between the two countries, he said.

As there remains huge room for bilateral collaboration and the two economies are complementary to each other, Chính suggested the minister continue actively contributing to improving the effectiveness of bilateral economic ties. The measures include stepping up negotiations on the Việt Nam-Türkiye Free Trade Agreement (FTA), removing trade barriers for Vietnamese exports, recognising Việt Nam as a market economy, and increasing the sharing of experience with Việt Nam in building fiscal and monetary policies.

Simsek, for his part, affirmed that Türkiye and Việt Nam are well-positioned to develop ties. He affirmed Việt Nam is one of the priority economic partners of Türkiye, wished that their multifaceted cooperation will grow stronger.

Agreeing with cooperation directions set by the PM, he underscored the importance of combining efforts to enhance exchanges through promoting air connectivity, creating favourable visa conditions, and opening branches of commercial banks in Việt Nam.

He highlighted the need to reduce protective measures to facilitate trade cooperation, explore the possibility of initiating FTA negotiations to create breakthroughs in bilateral trade at an opportune time, aiming for a trade balance and establishing stronger cooperation frameworks in the future; and encourage Turkish enterprises to engage more in infrastructure development investment projects in Việt Nam.

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính (right) and Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacir had talks on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

Meeting Minister Kacir, PM Chính expressed his wish to bolster coordination with Türkiye in national industrialisation process.

Hailing Türkiye as Việt Nam’s biggest direct investor from the Middle East, he welcomed and committed all possible support to Turkish firms and groups doing business in the country.

The Vietnamese leader proposed that given Türkiye’s experience in operating industrial zones (IZs), the country explore opportunities for investment and share management experience in operating IZs and hi-tech zones in Việt Nam. Both sides could discuss this matter in detail at the eighth session of the Intergovernmental Committee, he said.

In reply, Kacir affirmed that as an industrial and manufacturing nation, Türkiye wishes to further improve the effectiveness of cooperation with Việt Nam in areas of strength such as industry, high technology, automation, defence industry, automobile manufacturing, and satellite technology.

Suggesting further collaboration between Turkish electric car manufacturers and Vietnamese partners, he said it as a new but highly potential area.

He agreed with the importance of a network of free trade agreements in accessing and expanding markets, suggesting that both countries continue refining the legal framework to facilitate their cooperation activities in the near future. — VNS