FM’s Ireland visit to help deepen bilateral relations
VOV.VN - The official visit to Ireland on February 28-29 by Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son will mark a new stage of development in bilateral relationship, developing it in a more intensive, effective and sustainable manner, especially in of politics, diplomacy, economics, trade, investment, climate change response, green growth, education and training, and people-to-people exchanges.
The statement was made by Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK and Ireland Nguyen Hoang Long in a recent media interview given ahead of the trip.
Ambassador Long stated that the visit, which is being made at the invitation of Irish Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and Foreign Minister Micheál Martin, is of great significance for strengthening joint ties, as this is the first made by a Vietnamese Foreign Minister to Ireland after 20 years since the trip by Minister Nguyen Dy Nien.
During his stay, FM is set to hold talks with Irish Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and Defence Minister Micheál Martin, and pay courtesy visits to President Michael D. Higgins and Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann (speaker of the lower house) Seán Ó Fearghaíl.
The two sides will discuss many important issues in bilateral relations, as well as regional and international issues, including the East Sea issue.
The diplomat said that the visit will further contribute to promoting political trust and the exchange of high-level delegations between the two countries, especially preparations for the forthcoming state visit to Ireland by President Vo Van Thuong.
The two sides will discuss measures aimed at ramping up co-operation at multilateral forums and close ties in settling regional and global issues.
With regard to bilateral relations, Ambassador Long said that the two sides have recorded positive results in economics, trade, and investment collaboration. Last year’s two-way trade hit US$3.5 billion, of which US$340 million came from Vietnamese exports.
At present, Ireland ranks 61st out of the 141 countries and territories pouring capital into the Vietnamese market, with a combined registered capital of US$44.3 million in 41 projects.
According to the diplomat, education and training has an important position and is a bright spot in bilateral co-operation.
Both nations signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on collaboration in higher education and another on collaboration in information technology and communications training in November, 2016.
Since 2009, the Irish Government has offered Vietnam full scholarships under the Irish Development Experience Sharing Programme (IDEAS).
The two sides are also working to bring into full play various advantages in co-operation in health, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, sustainable development, and information technology, he said.
In the “Global Ireland: Delivering in the Asia-Pacific region to 2025” strategy, introduced in January, 2020, Ireland viewed the nation as one of its important partners in the Asia-Pacific region in general and ASEAN in particular.
Vietnam is currently the only country in the region that Ireland has included in its international development co-operation programme called Irish Aid to boost collaboration between the two nations in areas such as climate action, gender equality, settlement of bomb and mine consequences, education, and people-to-people exchanges.
