Ecuador is ready to facilitate Vietnamese businesses in doing business in the country, especially in the fields of oil and gas, and telecommunications, said visiting Ecuadorean Minister of Foreign Relations, Trade and Integration Ricardo Patino Aroca. The minister, who is on his first visit to Vietnam from June 21-25, made the statement in a meeting with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Hanoi on June 24. The official also said Ecuador regards Vietnam as an important partner in Southeast Asia and wants to step up cooperation with Vietnam. He said he highly values Vietnam’s achievements in its struggle for national independence in the past and in national development at present. For his part, Minister Minh thanked Ecuador’s assistance and cooperation, affirming that Vietnam wishes to boost friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Ecuador as well as other countries in Latin America. The two ministers agreed to effectively carry out the mechanism of political consultation, step up the establishment of suitable legal frameworks, increase visits by the two countries high-ranking leaders, strengthen activities of diplomatic missions, and promote cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, science-technology, culture and tourism. The two officials also discussed international issues of mutual interests and agreed to boost coordination and mutual support at international organizations and multilateral forums. After the meeting, the two ministers signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two ministries on economic cooperation mechanisms in the Pacific Rim. In the press conference held later the same day, Minister Aroca said regular exchanges on development experience and political and diplomatic ties should be enhanced to help implement trade agreements recently signed between the two countries. “In the coming time, experience sharing between the two countries will be furthered,” Aroca said.