Netanyahu and Vietnamese DPM
Netanyahu and Vietnamese DPMKobi Gideon, GPO

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu met at the Knesset on Wednesday with an official delegation from Vietnam led by Deputy Prime Minister Hoàng Trung Hải.

At the start of the meeting, a memorandum of understanding on diplomatic and political dialogue was signed on behalf of the Israeli and Vietnamese foreign ministries.

Netanyahu welcomed Hải and his delegation as well as the "formal expansion" of dialogue between the two countries. 

"Our trade is already robust both ways, which I think is the healthiest," the Prime Minister stated. "I think there are many opportunities between Vietnam and Israel in so many fields, in almost every field." 

"And we look forward to doing this and we believe our countries can seize the future individually, but better together."

Netanyahu also said Israel would positively consider recognizing Vietnam as a market economy and added that it would be possible to issue a statement to this effect during the negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement.

He proposed contributing from the knowledge that Israel has accumulated in research and development, as well as cooperation in the areas of – inter alia – water, bio-technology and agriculture.

Deputy Prime Minister Hải thanked the Prime Minister and invited him to make an official state visit to Vietnam.