Ambassador sanguine on all-around ties with North Macedonia

Since Vietnam and North Macedonia established their diplomatic ties  on June 10, 1994, both nations have maintained good friendship and high mutual trust.

They have shared a tradition of mutual support at international forums such as the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the ASEAN-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP). North Macedonia backed Vietnam as a member of the UN Security Council in the 2008-2009 and 2020-2021 tenures, while the two nations have also offered mutual support in joining the UN Human Rights Council, he said.

In terms of economy, annual two-way trade reach around US$8-12 million and the result is still far from matching the potential of bilateral cooperation.

Their signing of an investment promotion and protection agreement, a double taxation avoidance agreement and an economic cooperation deal has showed their efforts and determination to create a favourable legal framework to facilitate economic cooperation and increase trade turnover.

The two sides have also cooperated in numerous other areas such as law-building, education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchange, he stated.

Regarding collaboration potential between the two countries, the ambassador said that Vietnam and North Macedonia hold huge potential for bilateral cooperation and at multilateral forums.

Vietnam has repeatedly affirmed that it stays ready to serve as a bridge to connect North Macedonia and ASEAN, while North Macedonia can help Vietnam enter the Balkan market.

The two nations need to capitalize on economic agreements to increase trade turnover and expand markets, especially in potential areas where they have strengths such as agriculture, food processing and textiles, he held.

He held that the two countries have rich historical and cultural traditions and there is still plenty of room for them to strengthen cultural and people-to-people exchanges as well as tourism cooperation.

Besides, there are a number of other fields that North Macedonia is focusing on developing such as education - training, health and science and technology, which also match Vietnam’s interest and demand, enabling the two sides to share experience and seek fresh cooperation opportunities.

Concerning multilateral cooperation, both sides enjoy a tradition of fruitful cooperation at international and regional forums and mutual support at important UN positions such as the Security Council, Human Rights Council, and Economic and Social Council.

Through contacts at all levels, the Southeast Asian nation has voiced support for North Macedonia's efforts to open up and integrate regionally and internationally, including the roadmap to join the European Union (EU), while North Macedonia has also repeatedly affirmed its backing for Vietnam's views and stance on dealing with disputes through peaceful measures on the basis of the UN Charter and international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

These are important premises for the two countries to develop cooperative relationships at multilateral forums as a contribution to joint efforts to maintain peace, stability and development in the region and the world, Long said.

In order to further enhance bilateral relations in the time ahead,  the ambassador suggested the two sides should intensify the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially visits by senior leaders, while boosting trade and investment promotion activities and offering favourable conditions for businesses of the two countries to access each other's markets.

Additionally, the two sides should focus on seeking new cooperation opportunities, especially in aspects and products of each other’s strengths and demand, while expanding partnerships in education, training, culture, tourism, agriculture, health care, and science-technology, and signing new cooperation deals in these areas.

The two nations need to go ahead with closer coordination and give mutual support at international and regional forums, back each other's candidacies for important UN agencies, maintain coordination on regional and international issues of mutual concern, contributing to the combined efforts of the international community for peace, stability and sustainable development on the basis of respect for international law and the UN Charter, Long continued.
He also outlined a number of areas for both sides to concentrate over the following years, including setting up a Vietnam-North Macedonia Inter-Governmental Committee for Cooperation, and launching a number of business forums and trade promotion events.