Meeting with her host leaders as part of her official visit to Nepal on August 23-25, the Vice President emphasised that the visit, taking place on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, is an opportunity for both countries to look back on the historical journey of their ties while outlining directions for future cooperation. She expressed appreciation to Nepal for its support to Vietnam in the past struggle for independence and national reunification in the past, as well as in the current cause of national construction and development.

Praising Nepal’s important achievements in socio-economic development and its active contributions to multilateral mechanisms, particularly its engagement in United Nations peacekeeping operations, the Vice President expressed her belief that Nepal would soon achieve its goal of becoming a middle-income country by 2030.

Vice President Xuan also stressed the need for both sides to build upon the foundation of 50 years of relations to review and effectively implement existing cooperation frameworks, while promoting the signing of new agreements to expand cooperation in economy, trade, investment, culture, sports, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

She proposed that the two countries continue to consolidate political trust through maintaining high-level exchanges and visits; enhance trade, investment, and tourism promotion; encourage businesses from both sides to cooperate in their areas of strength, and expand cooperation into new fields such as defence-security, science-technology, innovation, digital transformation, and green energy to better respond to global challenges.

At the meetings, both President Ram Chandra Poudel and Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli extended their congratulations on the occasion of Vietnam’s 80th National Day. They highlighted the deep friendship between the two countries, expressing admiration for the ideology and vision of President Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam’s glorious history of national liberation, as well as the country’s significant development achievements after nearly 40 years of renovation.

The President and Prime Minister emphasised that Nepal regards Vietnam as a successful model in socio-economic development and international integration, and it desires to learn from Vietnam’s socialist-oriented market economy model.

Prime Minister Oli recalled fond memories of his official visit to Vietnam in June 2019, during which he visited President Ho Chi Minh’s workplace and delivered a talk at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics. He shared that Nepal pursues the ideology of socialism and has enshrined in its Constitution the goal of advancing socialist values, stressing that this is an important ideological foundation for Vietnam and Nepal to strengthen their friendship, political trust, cooperation, and mutual support both bilaterally and at regional and international forums.

The President and Prime Minister of Nepal highly valued the significance of Vice President Xuan’s visit, and agreed to outline major orientations for bilateral relations in the coming time, fostering stronger cooperation in politics, economy, trade, investment, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

They underlined that Vietnam and Nepal share common cultural and religious values, with large Buddhist communities and a deep spiritual connection to Buddhism. Every year, Nepal welcomes many delegations for pilgrimages, sightseeing, and spiritual tourism, particularly to the sacred Buddhist site of Lumbini.

This provides a solid foundation for the two countries to further enhance cooperation in culture, tourism, and exchanges, they said, proposing that airlines of the two countries soon study the possibility of establishing a direct flight route between Vietnam and Nepal.

Both sides agreed to continue close coordination and mutual support at regional and international forums, especially at the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, South-South cooperation, and the G77; as well as to strengthen collaboration in climate change response and participation in UN peacekeeping operations, thereby contributing to peace, stability, and common development of the region and the world at large.

Vietnam, Nepal seek to deepen ties across multiple fields

Vietnamese Vice State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan held talks with Nepalese Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav in Kathmandu on August 24, during which they shared their countries’ development goals and mapped out major directions to enhance bilateral cooperation.