Hanoi (Xinhua) – Vietnam and Timor-Leste pledged to further strengthen cooperation in fields of politic, economics, trade and investment, agriculture, forestry and fishery, energy and education.

The consensus was reached by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his visiting Timor-Leste counterpart Kay Rala Xanana Gusmao in Vietnam's capital Hanoi on Wednesday.

The two prime ministers agreed to assign relevant ministries and agencies to accelerate the signing of the agreements on investment promotion and protection, cooperation on food security, education and training, oil and gas, tourism and people-to-people exchange as well as to speed up the implementation of the framework agreement on economic and technical cooperation which signed on April 2010.

During the talks, the two sides also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern, affirming to continue cooperating at multilateral forums and organizations.

After talks, the two prime ministers witnessed the signing of the trade agreement between Vietnam and Timor-Leste, which is assessed by the two sides as a legal foundation to facilitate bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

Vietnam and Timor-Leste established their diplomatic ties in 2002, however, the two countries' relations began in 1975 when the Fretilin (Revolutionary Front for an Independent Timor Leste) unilaterally declared independence. Vietnam was one of the first countries to recognize Timor-Leste's independence.

In 2012, the two-way trade turnover reached 34.4 million US dollars, with Vietnam exports mainly rice and seafood to Timor-Leste.