State President hosts outgoing ambassadors of Oman, Czech Republic

VOV.VN - State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on July 19 received the outgoing ambassadors of Oman and the Czech Republic who came to bid farewell to the president.

Receiving Ambassador of Oman Saleh Mohamed Ahmed Al Saqri, President Phuc noted with satisfaction the growing political ties between the two countries over the years, supporting bilateral cooperation across various fields.

Notably, he said two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Oman rose 100% in 2021 compared to the previous year, hitting US$340 million. The Vietnam - Oman Investment fund has operated effectively by pouring US$300 million into infrastructure and sustainable development projects in Vietnam.

He partly attributed such gains to the ambassador’s contributions during his working term, and at the same time suggested that the two sides promote delegation exchanges at all levels.

Opening the Vietnamese Embassy in Oman is a priority of Vietnam in the near future, said Phuc, hoping that the diplomat would continue to promote the growing friendship and cooperation between Oman and Vietnam in whatever position he would hold in future.

He also extended his invitation to the Oman sultan to visit Vietnam.

For his part, Ambassador Saleh Mohamed Ahmed Al Saqri poited to the fact that the two countries have signed 10 agreements and three memorandums of understanding on cooperation in various fields will help ramp up bilateral cooperation in the near future.

Oman attaches great importance to cooperation with Vietnam and will continue to promote cooperation programmes agreed upon, he said.

He also expressed hope that the Vietnam – Oman Investment fund would expand cooperation to other areas alongside existing areas of health, education, and infrastructure development.

At another reception for Ambassador of the Czech Republic Vitezslav Grepl, President Phuc affirmed that Vietnam wants to foster the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with the Czech Republic on the close bond between the two countries over the past decades.

He said he is happy to see that during the Ambassador’s term, the economic and trade ties between Vietnam and the Czech Republic have recorded positive results, with two-way trade turnover last year rising 32% to US$740 million. The Czech Republic has invested in 38 projects with a total capital of more than US$90 million. However, the result is still not commensurate with the potential of the two sides.

As the Czech Republic is currently holding the position of the European Council president in the last six months of the year, Phuc proposed that the Czech Republic lobby EU member states to soon ratify the EU-Vietnam investment protection agreement (EVIPA), and at the same time, the EU to soon remove the ‘yellow card’ on Vietnamese seafood exports.

He welcomed the Czech automaker Skoda’s decision to enter the Vietnamese market, and assured that Vietnam always creates favourable conditions for foreign firms, including those from the Czech Republic, to operate successfully in the country.

Ambassador Vitezslav Grepl said the Czech Republic is one of the first EU countries to ratify the EVIPA and is also calling on other EU members to do the same.

He revealed that many large Czech firms want to invest in Vietnam after Skoda Auto penetrated this lucrative market, with its first products expected to hit the road late next year. In addition to trade and investment ties, the two countries have also cooperated effectively in the fields of defense and people-to-people diplomacy.

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