Addressing the meeting, Luong Van Cu, President of the Vietnam – Uzbekistan Friendship Association, affirmed that Vietnam and Uzbekistan had a time-honoured friendship, always assisted each other in national salvation and development as well as at international forums.

He said that a lot of agreements on such fields as economics, science and technology, investment and tourism had been signed since Vietnam and Uzbekistan established diplomatic ties.

Economic co-operation between the two countries has seen significant progress, especially since Vietnam – Uzbekistan Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic and Trade Co-operation was set up in 1996. Two-way trade between reached around US$6.6 million in 2007, a year on year increase of US$600,000, in which Vietnam exported goods worth nearly US$1 million.

However, according to Uong Chu Luu, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly, who used to study in Uzbekistan, the value remains low and far to meet each other’s potential, Nhan Dan reported.

He said that the two countries are active in strengthening co-operation and commodity exchange, especially in the fields of oil and gas, textile, garment, footwear and agriculture, Nhan Dan reported.