Greek President Karolos Papoulias.

Greek President Karolos Papoulias’s official visit to Vietnam from October 11-16 is expected to complete the legal corridor for boosting relations with the signing of a series of agreements.

During the first visit 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 co-operation and the two ministries of trade and industry are to sign an MoU on co-operation in energy.

Relations between Vietnam and Greece has seen strong development over the past few 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 co-operation in economy, industry and technology. However, trade turnover between Vietnam and Greece is still very modest.

Greece and Vietnam have potentials to co-operate 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 has expressed wish to expand multifaceted co-operation with Vietnam. (VNA)