Hanoi,  (VNA)🤡 – Minister of Industry and Trade Tran TuanAnh on May 15 talked on the phone with Romanian Minister of Economy, Energy and the Business Environment Virgil - Daniel Popescu.

MinisterAnh shared the difficulties and losses suffered by Romania during the COVID-19pandemic, and expressed his hope that Romania and other nations in the EU willsoon contain the spread of the disease for the early resumption of economic,trade and investment activities. TheRomanian minister congratulated Vietnam for its success in coping with theCOVID-19 pandemic, and thanked the country for facilitating the supply andtransport of medical supplies as well as for presenting face masks to Romania. The ministers noted that bilateral economic, trade andinvestment cooperation in the recent past has produced positive outcomes withgood growth, which however, remains modest compared to both sides’ potentialand aspiration. Withthe signing of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam InvestmentProtection Agreement (EVIPA) during Romania’s tenure as presidency of theCouncil of the EU, Romania and Vietnamcontinue to lead in promoting the implementation of the deals, thus bringingpractical benefits to their business community. Theministers expressed their hope that after the pandemic, the two sides will makefurther efforts with specific plans of actions to promote bilateralcooperation, especially in fields of their strength. They said the EVFTA, oncetaking effect, is certain to open up big opportunities to develop trade andinvestment ties between Vietnam and the EU in general and Romania inparticular. Mentioningbilateral collaboration in coping with the COVID-19, Minister Virgil-DanielPopescu asked Vietnam to continue supplying medical masks to Romania. MinisterAnh pledged to work with the Health Ministries and relevant enterprises tomaintain stable supply of masks and medical supplies to Romania. Statisticsof the General Department of Vietnam Customs showed two-way trade betweenVietnam and Romania totaled 261.3 million USD in 2019, up 19.7 percent from2018, of which 193.8 million USD came from Vietnam’s exports, up 32 percent. Two-way trade in the first quarter of this year increased 9.7percent year on year to over 73 million USD./.