Croatian, Vietnamese Presidents Discuss Boosting Economic Ties

Text of report in English by Croatian state news agency HINA

Hanoi, 10 March: Croatian President Stjepan Mesic, who is on an official visit to Vietnam, on Monday met his host, Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet.

After an official welcome ceremony, the two presidents held official talks at which they concluded that the two countries had both the will and the potential to improve their cooperation, notably in the shipbuilding and construction industries, agriculture, and in the manufacturing, power and pharmaceutical industries.

President Mesic said that Vietnam was particularly interested in Croatia’s experience in tourism.

“We are not competing with one another, but rather we can be partners and offer (Vietnam) our know-how,” Mesic said.

The Croatian president also told his hosts that Vietnamese goods could access the Southeast and Central European markets via Croatian ports.

Croatian and Vietnamese business people today held an economic forum that was attended by representatives from as many as 55 Vietnamese companies.

The two countries’ chambers of commerce signed a cooperation agreement.

The vice-president of the Croatian Chamber of Economy, Vesna Trnokop Tanta, said that the two countries should sign agreements on the avoidance of double taxation and on the protection of investments as soon as possible.

Representatives of the cities of Zagreb and Hanoi signed an agreement on economic cooperation and on the cancellation of visa requirements for diplomats.

President Mesic also held a meeting with a deputy speaker of the Vietnamese parliament as well as with the Secretary-General of the Vietnamese Communist Party, Nong Duc Manh.

Originally published by HINA news agency, Zagreb, in English 1254 10 Mar 08.

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