State President hosts Saudi Arabia, Israel, Azerbaijan ambassadors

VOV.VN - State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc received outgoing ambassadors of Saudi Arabia, Israel and Azerbaijan who came to bid farewell to the President, in Hanoi on June 23.

At a reception for Saudi Arabia Ambassador Saud AlSuwelim, State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc suggested that the two sides actively increase the exchange of visits at all levels, facilitate market access for key products of each side, and improve the efficiency of cooperation mechanisms, including in the fields of tourism, culture, education - training, and labour.

The President wished that the Ambassador would continue to popularize Vietnamese culture and tourism potential in Saudi Arabia, contributing to promoting the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Ambassador Saud AlSuwelim briefed his host on a support package Saudi Arabia is currently implementing for developing countries, including Vietnam, with an infrastructure construction project undertaken in Yen Bai province.

A lot of Saudi Arabian companies want to do business in Vietnam and they expect work will be done as soon as COVID-19 is completely controlled, he said.

As the two countries support each other in the international arena, the Ambassador wished that Vietnam would support Saudi Arabia’s bid to host World Expo 2030.

While hosting outgoing Israeli Ambassador Nadav Eshcar, President noted during the ambassador’s working term, the multifaceted cooperation relationship between Vietnam and Israel has yielded important gains. Notably, he said two-way trade turnover in 2021 reach US$1.88 billion, an increase of nearly 80% compared to 2017. In addition, Israeli technology is widely used in many agricultural, medical and information technology projects in Vietnam.

He suggested that Vietnam and Israel organize practical activities in 2023 to mark 30 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. The two sides should accelerate negotiations of a Vietnam - Israel free trade agreement and a labour cooperation agreement, while enhancing effective cooperation in science - technology.

Vietnam welcomes Israeli businesses to increase investment and cooperate with their Vietnamese counterparts in the areas of their strength such as innovative startups, high-tech agriculture, information technology, and water resource management, he told the Israeli diplomat.

For his part, Ambassador Nadav Eshcar affirmed that political relations between the two countries are increasingly tightened that supports economic-trade and investment cooperation.

The Ambassador happily announced that FTA negotiations are entering the final stage, and said that along with economic and investment cooperation, the two countries have also increased defence and agriculture cooperation.

He hoped more and more Vietnamese students and researchers would come to study and work in Israel.

Meeting with Azerbaijan Ambassador Anar Lachin oglu Imanov, President Phuc affirmed Vietnam always attaches importance to the traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Azerbaijan, which has been nurtured and cultivated by generations of leaders and peoples of the two countries.

He acknowledged the diplomat’s contributions to the Vietnam – Azerbaijan relations during the past nine years, noting the two sides established the Parliamentary Friendship Group, the Intergovernmental Committee, and the Vietnam - Azerbaijan Friendship Association, plus mobilizing funding to build classrooms for poor students in Ha Giang province.

The President suggested that the two sides maintain and enhance the exchange of views on each other’s foreign policies as well as issues of mutual concern, while coordinating effectively in the international arena. In addition, he said the two countries should take measures to promote economic and trade cooperation after the pandemic.

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