Ambassador meets with Vatican representative; Uzbekistan opens honorary consulate office in Hanoi; Vietnam does its best to expand ties with Poland

The reception was attended by embassy staff, representatives from relevant agencies in China and Vietnamese living in Beijing.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese ambassador to China Nguyen Van Tho spoke of the historic significance of National Day and reviewed the outstanding achievements of the Vietnamese people over the past 64 years, highlighting the 20 years of Doi Moi (Renewal) and the international integration process.

Ambassador Tho also informed the Chinese and other foreign guests of Vietnam’s efforts to soften the impact of the recent global financial crisis. Under the government’s direction, Vietnam has overcome difficulties steadily and expects to reach a GDP growth rate of 5 percent this year.

The ambassador expressed his delight at the Vietnam-China relationship, which has been strengthened and expanded in all fields in recent years. He was confident that the strategic partnership between Vietnam and China will continue to grow and flourish.

Uzbekistan opens honorary consulate office in Hanoi

An honorary consulate for Uzbekistan in Vietnam was officially opened in Hanoi on August 27.

Attending the event were representatives from the Uzbekistani Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Industry and Trade of Vietnam.

Le Van Nghia, who was selected by both governments as the honorary consul in February 2009, said that the office will work with various government agencies to organise cultural exchanges, conferences and fairs on tourism and agriculture in Uzbekistan’s capital city of Tashkent. It will also liaise with Vietnamese agencies and different economic sectors to send students and officials to Uzbekistan to study.

Vietnam and Uzbekistan established diplomatic ties on January 17, 1992. The two countries set up an inter-governmental committee on economic, commercial, scientific and technological cooperation.

Uzbekistani is keen to import tropical farm produce like tea, coffee and rubber, cookingstuffs, handicrafts and electronics from Vietnam to satisfy domestic demands. It is able to supply Vietnam with cotton, nonferrous metals, fertilizer and machines.

Two-way trade between the two countries reached US$4.8 million in 2006, US$6.6 million in 2007 and US$8.3 million in 2008.

In 2008, Vietnam earned almost US$2.5 million from exports to Uzbekistan and imported goods worth US$5.8 million.

Vietnam does its best to expand ties with Poland

The Vietnamese Government spares no effort to expand ties with Poland for the benefit of both sides, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at a reception for out-going Polish Ambassador Miroslaw Gajewski in Hanoi on August 27.

PM Dung highly appreciated the Ambassador’s effective contributions to boosting the friendship and cooperation between the two countries, particularly in economics, trade, development assistance, education and training and culture.

The PM took this occasion to express thanks to the Polish Government in assisting the Vietnamese community to recover from the damage done by the August 22 fire at the EACC trade centre in Wolka Kosowska.

For his part, Ambassador Miroslaw Gajewski expressed his fine sentiments towards the people and the land of Vietnam and stated that Poland-Vietnam relations remain a special phenomenon marked by faithful ties despite global, geo-political changes.

He said that over 4,000 Vietnamese students who have studied in Poland and over 30,000 Vietnamese people currently living in the country form a bridge between the two nations.

He stated that during his term of office in Vietnam, he witnessed relations between the two countries develop strongly in many fields.

Poland and Vietnam previously set a target to elevate two-way trade turnover to US$500 million by 2010, but the figure already hit US$650 million in 2008. Poland also granted a loan of US$280 million to Vietnam to help in shipbuilding, energy and mining.

The Ambassador said he will continue to contribute to fostering the friendship between Poland and Vietnam in his new position.

Vietnam, Malaysia strengthen ties

Malaysian citizens living in Ho Chi Minh City are determined to strengthen cooperative relations between Malaysia and Vietnam for the benefit of a growing Southeast Asian community.

These remarks were made by Khairi Bin Omar, Malaysian General Consul in Ho Chi Minh City, at a function on August 27 to mark the 52nd anniversary of Malaysia’s National Day. The meeting was jointly organised by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Vietnam-Malaysia Friendship Association in HCM City.

The General Consul shared with delegates the key strength that has helped bring Malaysia out of economic difficulties and maintain its growth targets for 2010, namely, solidarity among its various ethnic minorities, tolerance of differences and mutual support.

Le Thanh Tam, Chairman of the Vietnam-Malaysia Friendship Association in HCM City, highlighted the steady development of bilateral trade between the countries over the past five years.

He confirmed that his association would step up exchange activities for peace, friendship and solidarity between people of both countries in hopes of making a larger contribution to further enhancing bilateral cooperation in trade, culture, and education, along with defence and security, and science and technology.

Malaysia is Vietnam’s third largest trade partner within ASEAN with two-way trade topping US$4.55 billion last year. It now ranks as the top Southeast Asian investor in Vietnam, having pumped around US$19.7 billion into 322 projects.

PV