Greek President`s visit to complete legal for cooperation

Hanoi (VNA) - Greek President Karolos Papoulias's official visit to
Vietnam from Oct. 11-16 is expected to complete the legal corridor for
boosting relations with the signing of a series of agreements.

During the visit, the first by a Greek head of State since the two countries
set up diplomatic ties in April 15, 1975, the two sides plan to sign
agreements on avoidance of double taxation, investment encouragement and
protection, and marine transport. The two foreign ministries will also ink a
memorandum of understanding on their cooperation and the two ministries of
trade and industry are to sign an MoU on cooperation in energy.

Relations between Vietnam and Greece saw strong development over the
past years with Prime Minister Petro Moliviatis's visit to Vietnam in May
2007, President Nguyen Minh Triet's trip to Greece in June 2008 and the
opening of the Greek Embassy in Hanoi in March 2007.

The two sides already signed framework agreements on cooperation in economy,
industry and technology. However, trade turnover between Vietnam and
Greece was very modest.

Greece and Vietnam have potential to cooperate in sea transport, ship
building, tourism and energy.

The Greek people and the Communist Party of Greece supported the Vietnamese
people in the past struggle for national independence. In recent years, the
Greek Government expressed wish to expand multifaceted cooperation with
Vietnam.