Vietnamese Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong in an Indonesian diplomat's eyes
VOV.VN - Ibnu Hadi, former Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam, says he highly appreciates personal qualities of Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong who he admires.
Hadi recalled that he was assigned to help arrange Trong’s working visit to Indonesia in 2017 during his 2016-2020 term in Hanoi.
“I had the chance to meet him before the visit, and I was really impressed with the Vietnamese leader. He was very humble and friendly. He patiently and attentively listened to what I said,” recalled the diplomat.
This was the first visit of the head of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the first visit of a senior Vietnamese leader to Indonesia since the two countries established a strategic partnership framework in June 2013.
Hadi, who accompanied the Vietnamese leader during the visit, said Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong discussed specific and substantive issues to bring into full play the potential for cooperation between the two countries.
The official visit was an important milestone as it helped not only strengthen political trust but also open a period of more comprehensive and effective cooperation between Vietnam and Indonesia, he said.
Hearing about the news of the Vietnamese Party leader passing away, Hadi extended his deep condolences to the Party, State, government and people of Vietnam.
“When the visit took place, the two sides set a two-way trade turnover target of US$10 billion. Now, they are about to complete the US$15 billion target. Indeed, trade and investment ties are growing rapidly despite being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“At that time, there was only one direct flight of Vietnam Airlines from Ho Chi Minh City to Jakarta, but now there are many airlines operating direct flights between the two capitals of Hanoi and Jakarta, so the number Indonesian tourists to Vietnam is increasing. There have been many positive changes in bilateral relations since the visit of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong,” said the diplomat.
According to the diplomat, Vietnam is currently a large economy in the region, and its increasing role is closely associated with the outstanding contributions of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.
