Ambassador Le Hoai Trung, Vietnamese Permanent Representative to the UN and his Bhutan counterpart Latu Wangchuck signed a joint communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Bhutan.

Both countries agreed to exchange diplomatic representatives at ambassadorial level based on the 1962 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

After the signing ceremony, the related documents will be submitted to the UN, and copies will be distributed to all UN members.

In his speech, Bhutan ambassador Wangchuck praised Vietnam’s tremendous achievements in the past cause of national liberation and the current process of national construction and development.

Mr Wangchuck said the Bhutan Government will do its best to consolidate and develop fine relations with Vietnam in all fields, adding that the newly established diplomatic ties mark a new step of development in line with the two nations’ wish for a mutually beneficially relationship.

The Kingdom of Bhutan is a small country in Asia with an area of 46,000 km2 and a population of more than 2 million of which 75 percent follow Buddhism. Its National Day is December 12.

Bhutan’s political system has developed from an absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy headed by King Jigme Khesar Namyet Wangchuck. The Bhutan Government is headed by Prime Minister Jigme Y.Thinlen

The new political system comprises an upper and lower house, the latter based on political party affiliations.

In 2007, Bhutan’s GDP reached US$3.359 billion with per capita income of US$5,200. However, due to the mountainous terrain, its economy is primarily based on hydro-electric power development, tourism, agriculture and afforestation.