State President welcomes newly accredited foreign ambassadors

Receiving South African ambassador Vuyiswa Tulelo, President Phuc expressed his belief that, with her experience, the Ambassador will contribute to promoting the two countries’ relations, including organizing activities to mark 30 years of bilateral diplomacy in 2023.

Vietnam always attaches importance to the traditional friendship and relationship with South Africa, an important cooperation and development partner in Africa, he said.

The President proposed that the Ambassador coordinate closely with Vietnamese agencies to maintain the exchange of delegations at various levels, and mutual support at international forums.

The two countries should increase cooperation in key fields such as industry, agriculture, defense and security, education - training, tourism, culture, and climate change response, said President Phuc.

He affirmed that Vietnam supports South Africa in strengthening cooperation with ASEAN, and hoped that South Africa would promote Vietnam - Africa cooperation within the framework of the African Union.

South Africa is currently Vietnam’s largest trading partner in Africa with their two-way trade turnover reaching US$1.3 billion last year.

The South African diplomat vowed to work hard during her working term to foster bilateral cooperation in various areas, including strengthening people-to-people diplomacy and popularizing the two countries’ images.

At another reception for Mohammed Ismaeil A.Dahlwy, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Vietnam, President Phuc emphasized that Saudi Arabia is one of the leading economic, trade and investment partners of Vietnam in the Middle East. He expressed hope the Ambassador would help raise two-way trade turnover to US$10 billion.

The President suggested that the Vietnam and South Africa enhance trade promotion and create favourable conditions for each side’s key export items to access their respective markets.

Vietnam expects Saudi Arabia will soon lift its ban on importing aquaculture products, said President Phuc, adding it is ready to introduce projects with high economic efficiency and favorable incentives for Saudi businesses investing in Vietnam.

He suggested that the two sides beef up negotiations and sign cooperation documents, especially those on investment promotion, crime prevention, while improving the effectiveness of cooperation mechanisms such as the Joint Commission meetings and political consultations.

The Ambassador affirmed that the two sides have recorded good results in economic and trade ties over the years, and he would continue to build on this success, as well as in other fields.

While receiving Karl Hendrik Margareta Van Den Bossche, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Belgium to Vietnam, President Phuc affirmed Vietnam desires to strengthen cooperation with the European Union and its members, including Belgium.

To mark 50 years of diplomacy between Vietnam and Belgiuimin 2023, the President suggested that the Ambassador coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other Vietnamese agencies to hold many meaningful activities in terms of economy, culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

The President suggested that Belgium create conditions for Vietnamese agricultural products to enter its market, soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement, and lobby the European Commission to soon remove the ‘yellow card’ it has imposed on Vietnamese seafood products.

He also urged Belgium to focus cooperation on clean agriculture, renewable energy, digital-green economy, and human resource training.

Belgium is Vietnam’s sixth largest export market in Europe, with two-way trade turnover rising 54% last year to US$4.3 billion.

Ambassador Karl Hendrik Margareta Van Den Bossche said Belgium wants to increase cooperation with Vietnam in such fields as education-training, wind power generation, green agriculture and health care.