President To Lam hosts welcome ceremony for Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta
WVR/VNA - On August 1, President To Lam hosted a red-carpet welcome ceremony for President of Timor-Leste José Ramos-Horta who is paying a state visit to Vietnam from July 31 to August 3.
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| On August 1, President To Lam hosted a red-carpet welcome ceremony for President of Timor-Leste José Ramos-Horta. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
Following the welcome ceremony, the two leaders started their talks to evaluate the cooperation results over the past time, and pen orientations for collaboration in the future. They will witness the signing and exchange of several cooperation documents.
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| President To Lam and President of Timor-Leste José Ramos-Horta review the Guar of Honour.. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
This is the second trip to Vietnam by José Ramos-Horta following the first in 2010, and the fourth by a high-ranking leader of Timor-Leste.
Since the establishment of the diplomatic relations on July 28, 2002, Vietnam and Timor-Leste have seen substantial development in their friendship and multi-faceted cooperation. They have maintained close ties and supported each other in the international arena, while leaders of both sides have kept high-level contacts.
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| Overview of the welcome ceremony. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
The two nations have enhanced collaboration and coordination at both regional and international forums. Vietnam, together with other ASEAN nations and the ASEAN Secretariat, has always supported Timor Leste to fulfil the criteria necessary for ASEAN membership.
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| President To Lam and President of Timor-Leste José Ramos-Horta review the Guar of Honour.. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
Two-way trade between Vietnam and Timor-Leste remains modest, mainly driven by Vietnam’s rice and garment-textile exports to Timor-Leste. Last year, Vietnam’s shipment to the country stood at 15.49 million USD, while its import was worth 371,000 USD. In the first five months of this year, Vietnam sold 6.09 million USD worth of goods to Timor-Leste, up 29.4% year-on-year
Regarding investment, Viettel Telemor run by Vietnam’s Military Industry and Telecommunications Group (Viettel) has gained a firm foothold in the market with its investment capital rising to 15 million USD from the initial 500,000 USD in 2012, becoming one of the three largest telecom service providers in the country.
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| President of Timor-Leste José Ramos-Horta pays tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
Timor-Leste holds substantial potential for Vietnam’s exports like rice, processed food, milk and dairy products, footwear, beverages, household utensils, and machinery. Meanwhile, to serve its economic activities in the coming years, Vietnam will need more inputs such as fuels (oil and gas), raw wood, and minerals, which are of Timor-Leste’s potential.
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| President of Timor-Leste José Ramos-Horta and delegation lay a wreath at the Heroes and Martyrs Memorial. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
President José Ramos-Horta’s state visit is of significance to consolidating political trust while creating opportunities for both nations to continue discussing measures to boost their cooperation and deepen the bilateral ties, thus tightening the traditional friendship that has been nurtured over the past time.
