OREANDA-NEWS. August 6, 2010. The Vietnamese Government will facilitate Vietnamese leather, textile and silk business projects in Uzbekistan, VNA reported citing Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam Hoang Trung Hai.

Deputy PM Hai met First Deputy Minister of Foreign Economic Relations, Investment and Trade N. Najimov and Deputy Foreign Minister A. Salikhbaev of Uzbekistan in Hanoi.

He welcomed the Uzbekistani delegation's attendance at the fourth session of the Vietnam-Uzbekistan Inter-Governmental Committee for Economic, Commercial, Scientific and Technological Cooperation.

The two sides will promote in-depth cooperation in oil, gas and mining industries, plus textile and garment, silk and leather processing, based on the newly-reached agreement, said the deputy PM.

The Vietnam-Uzbekistan business forum slated for 28 July in Ho Chi Minh City will be an opportunity for businesses to explore their countries' business potential, he said.

Deputy Minister N. Najimov informed the host of the results of the fourth session, adding both sides noted bilateral economic and trade co-operation remains modest and fails to meet the two countries' potential and desires.

Both sides have agreed to increase trade promotion activities and facilitate business cooperation, said N. Najimov.

Deputy Minister A. Salikhbaev said he admired Vietnam's socioeconomic development over the past decade and Vietnam's role as ASEAN Chair in 2010. He said he hoped his country, via Vietnam, could access markets of other ASEAN countries.

At the fourth session, Uzbekistan agreed to provide cotton products, chemical fertilizers and liquified gas to Vietnam on a long-term and stable basis while Vietnam will provide agro-forestry and fisheries and civil light industry products to Uzbekistan.

Vietnam and Uzbekistan also reached unanimous agreement on improving cooperation in oil, gas and mining industries, textile and garment, silk and leather processing for domestic consumption and exporting to other countries.

While in Vietnam from July 26-28, Deputy Foreign Minister A. Salikhbaev had a political consultation with his Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son.

The two deputy FMs discussed ways to accelerate co-ordination at international and regional forums and promote bilateral ties in trade, oil and gas, agriculture, tourism and culture.

Deputy Minister A. Salikhbaev affirmed that his country sees its relationship with Vietnam as very important and wants further development of the two countries' traditional friendship and closer co-operation between the two foreign ministries.