Morocco a priority partner in Vietnam's external policy

He affirmed his nation's readiness to connect Vietnam with Africa while calling on the two sides to work together to build cooperation strategies to capitalize on these advantages.

Host and guest expressed their delight at the growing relations between the two law-making bodies as a result of increased exchange visit as well as regular meetings, consultations and mutual support at multilateral forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Parliamentary Assembly of Francophonie (APF).

They concurred to boost high-level delegation exchanges to deepen mutual understanding and trust as well as stepping up coordination at the aforesaid multilateral forums.

The two sides will work hand in hand to supervise the implementation of agreements signed between the two countries’ governments and ministries for mutual benefit, they stated.

Economic and trade ties are still far from matching the two nations' full potential with bilateral trade standing at just US$190 million in 2016, the two parliamentary leaders said and pledged to further promote those ties in future.

Vietnam and Morocco have shared common principles and values in external policies aimed at protecting and promoting peace, security and prosperity of nations, Malki said while voicing his nation's support for V

ietnam’s stance on the settlement of all disputes through peaceful dialogues.

With regard to the East Sea issue, Ngan reiterated Vietnam’s unswerving policy of settling sovereignty and territory disputes peacefully on the basis of respect for international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Vietnam has preserved a Moroccan-style village gate in Hanoi, which was constructed in 1956-1960 by Moroccan soldiers who joined the League for the Independence of Vietnam (Viet Minh) in the resistance war against France, saying that the work signifies the solidarity and cooperation between the two countries, Ngan said.

On the occasion, Ngan accepted the invitation of the Morocco’s President of House of Representatives to pay an official visit to the country at an appropriate time.

After talks, the two sides signed a cooperation agreement between the Vietnam National Assembly and Morocco’s House of Representatives.

In reply to reporter's question about the cooperation agreement at a press briefing the same day, the Vietnamese NA leader said the signing of the cooperation agreement ushers in a new period of cooperation between the two legislatures. This is the first time the Vietnam National Assembly has signed such a cooperation agreement with the parliament of an African country nation.

This cooperation agreement will help re-organize the way of cooperation across a variety of fields, thus promoting the relationship between the two countries in a practical and effective manner, especially the collaboration between the two legislative bodies, Ngan said.

President of the Moroccan House of Representatives Habib El Malki is on an official visit to Vietnam from December 16-22.