Vanuatu hails Vietnam’s role and position globally
VOV.VN - Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Nguyen Tat Thanh, who is concurrently in change of Vietnam’s foreign affairs in five South Pacific Island States, presented the credentials to President of Vanuatu Nikenike Vurobaravu in capital Port Vila on March 28.
The same day, Ambassador Thanh paid courtesy visits to five Vanuatu ministers in charge of foreign affairs, tourism and trade, agriculture, health, and infrastructure and public utilities.
The Vanuatu side highly appreciated Vietnam’s role and position both regionally and globally, and requested that the two Foreign Ministries review the implementation of the 2014 MoU on technical cooperation and development, to bring into full play their strengths, develop relations between the two governments, and increase people-to-people exchanges.
In addition to cooperation in agro - forestry - fishery, trade - investment, tourism, and human resource development, the Vanuatu side wished to deploy cooperation with Vietnam in new fields, especially in climate change response and health.
Vanuatu considers Vietnam a neighbour in the Pacific, said Foreign Minister Jotham Napat, suggesting that the two countries consider visa exemption for each other’s citizens to foster trade, investment and tourism cooperation.
At the same time, Napat also expressed his wish to visit Vietnam soon to inaugurate the office of Consulate General of Vanuatu in Ho Chi Minh City.
Meanwhile, Agriculture Minister Nako Natuman wanted Vietnam to share its wet rice cultivation experience to help Vanuatu ensure food security. He also proposed a tripartite cooperation model between Vanuatu, Vietnam and a development partner, to maximize the strengths of each party in areas of mutual benefit.
Ambassador Thanh for his part extended the Vietnamese leaders’ sympathy to the leaders and people of Vanuatu over the heavy consequences caused by two subsequent powerful storms that damaged up to 20% of Vanuatu’s GDP.
He shared Vanuatu’s concerns about climate change, and emphasized that Vietnam is one of 18 major countries supporting Vanuatu’s draft Resolution on climate justice at the United Nations General Assembly.
The Ambassador thanked the Government and people of Vanuatu for supporting the Vietnamese community in this island state to live stably, serving as a bridge between the two countries.