To mark the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Turkey on October 29, Việt Nam News presents an article written by Ambassador of Turkey to Việt Nam, Haldun Tekneci.

Today, we at home and around the world are celebrating the 97th anniversary of our Republic with joy and pride. The nation pays tribute to the Republic’s founder and the First President Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

Our Republic is resilient against all challenges and pursues her journey to further development. This drive is based on rule of law, good governance and private enterprise. Our young population is one of our greatest assets for sustainable growth. Moreover, Turkey is blessed with many geographical advantages thanks to its strategic location, connecting Europe and Asia.

Over the past nine decades, Turkey has achieved higher standards in education, science, technology, tourism, transportation, industry and health sectors. That is to say, the Turkish nation has many reasons to look to the future with confidence.

An aerial view of Rumeli Fortress in Istanbul. Photo courtesy of the embassy

As we approach the centennial of our Republic, Turkey gets more closely connected to different parts of the world. This is best illustrated by our growing diplomatic presence in different geographies, including Southeast Asia. We are confident that by 2023, our Republic’s centenary, Turkey will have made further strides at home and substantially increased its contributions to international peace, development and prosperity.

The country has set itself a number of objectives in the perspective of 2023. Among them are becoming one of the world’s top 10 economies, achieving a GDP of US$2 trillion, reaching an annual trade volume of $1 trillion, and receiving 50 million tourists a year.

This year also marks the 42nd anniversary of the establishment of Turkey's diplomatic ties with Việt Nam. Việt Nam is on a path to further modernisation through comprehensive and peaceful development and I hold the view that the two countries can work together to learn and benefit from their best practices to overcome the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic.  Availing of this opportunity, I wholeheartedly congratulate the Vietnamese Government and health workers for their successful and comprehensive fight against COVID-19 so far.

We are pleased that the bonds of friendship linking Turkey and Việt Nam are improving on a positive agenda. In addition to official channels of communications, people-to-people contacts keep growing and diversifying.

In order to strengthen common ground and cater to incremental demand in exchanges, it is important for Việt Nam and Turkey to raise public awareness of each other by fostering their fertile collaboration in tourism, trade and investment flows, mutual economic endeavours and cultural promotion.

To achieve such objectives, an essential step is facilitating respective visa regime procedures. Vietnamese citizens can enter Turkey with fast e-visa. Furthermore, the daily flights operated by Turkish Airlines from Istanbul to Hà Nội and HCM City provide a fast and efficient way of transportation. We look forward the resumption of these flights that are currently on hold due to COVID-19.

Turkey attaches particular importance to connecting with other global actors. In this token, Southeast Asia is a focal point for Turkey. The “Asia Anew” policy that Turkey pursues will encompass and highlight Turkey's openings towards Southeast Asia and ASEAN.

As 2020 ASEAN Chair country and UNSC 2020-21 non-permanent member, Việt Nam occupies a pivotal position within the Asia Anew initiative. Apart from important achievements and co-operation demonstrated at regional and international forums, Turkey-Việt Nam potential has not yet been fully tapped.   

Geography and history have endowed both countries with valuable assets. As an influential member and 2020 ASEAN Chair, Việt Nam could play a major role in realisation of Turkey’s quest for elevating her ties with ASEAN to new levels. Turkey, in return, could assist Việt Nam in expanding its access to Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

The Turkish-Vietnamese partnership is expected to yield more results in a not-so-distant future. Bonds of amity and co-operation between our two countries will grow even stronger in time and the Turkish Embassy will continue to work closely with Vietnamese authorities and institutions with the aim of fully activating this potential for the mutual benefit of both countries. 

On this occasion, we greet the readers of Việt Nam News with our earnest sentiments, while wishing well to the friendly people of Việt Nam and their eminent leaders. VNS

Göbeklitepe Archeological Site, located in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey, was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2018. Photo courtesy of the embassy