Party General Secretary and President Tô Lâm (centre) and ambassadors present their credentials. — VNA/VNS Photo Lâm Khánh

HÀ NỘI — Party General Secretary and President Tô Lâm on Tuesday morning received ambassadors from Sri Lanka, Austria and 14 concurrent ambassadors who came to present their credentials for their duties in Việt Nam.

Receiving Sri Lankan Ambassador Poshitha Perera, the General Secretary and President congratulated Poshitha Perera on his appointment as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Sri Lanka to Việt Nam.

The leader believes that with his experience as a professional diplomat and understanding of the region, the ambassador will make many practical contributions to promoting the development of Việt Nam – Sri Lanka relations.

Party General Secretary and President Lâm also congratulated Sri Lanka on gradually overcoming difficulties, stabilising, improving economic growth, developing the country and making important contributions to regional and world stability.

He emphasised that the ambassador's term was also the time to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relations foundation, which is a favourable opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations.

Agreeing with the ambassador's assessment of the direction for developing bilateral relations, the General Secretary and President said it was necessary to promote political trust and encourage delegation exchanges at high and all levels.

Regarding economic relations, Party General Secretary and President Lâm affirmed that Việt Nam was committed to supporting Sri Lanka in agricultural, tourism, trade and business development and agreed to open direct flights to facilitate people-to-people exchanges.

Việt Nam is ready to be a bridge for Sri Lanka to expand ASEAN cooperation and supports Sri Lanka in multilateral forums, especially at the United Nations.

Ambassador Poshitha Perera expressed his delight at the positive developments in bilateral relations, affirming that this was the foundation for further breakthroughs in the cooperation between the two countries in recent times.

Reviewing the traditional relationship between the two countries, the ambassador said that late President Hồ Chí Minh visited Sri Lanka three times, adding that his people hold the image of him in their hearts.

Confirming that the two countries’ relationship is developing well, especially in education and agriculture, Ambassador Poshitha Perera expressed his joy at witnessing Việt Nam's agricultural achievements and wished to focus on promoting agricultural cooperation.

More development

Receiving Austrian Ambassador Philippo Agathonnos, Party General Secretary and President Tô Lâm congratulated the ambassador on his term in Việt Nam, believing that, with his experience and dynamism, he would contribute to further promote the development of relations between the two countries.

President Lâm said that Việt Nam always attached importance to the traditional friendship and cooperation with Austria.

He was pleased to see that after more than half a century of establishment, the Việt Nam-Austria friendship had made remarkable progress in politics – diplomacy, economy and people-to-people exchanges.

In the political field, the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially at high levels, had created an important driving force to promote cooperation between the two countries.

He highly appreciated the cooperation projects between the two countries that had been effectively implemented in recent years, contributing positively to Việt Nam's socio-economic development.

Along with that, cooperation in culture, education, science, technology and tourism has also flourished.

To continue promoting multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, Party General Secretary and President Lâm asked the Ambassador to promote the exchange of delegations at all levels, to enhance political trust, and at the same time, closely and effectively use the benefits of the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), to encourage and create conditions for Austrian companies to increase investment and technology transfer to Việt Nam.

The two sides will urge the Austrian Parliament to soon complete the procedures for ratifying the EU-Việt Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to facilitate equal and mutually beneficial investment relations between the two sides.

Thanking the Vietnamese leader for taking the time to receive him, Ambassador Philippo Agathonnos expressed his deepest condolences to the Government and people of Việt Nam for the heavy losses caused by Typhoon Yagi.

The ambassador said that after more than half a century of establishing diplomatic relations, the two countries’ cooperation had increasingly deepened.

He highly appreciated the cooperation between the EU and Việt Nam, emphasising that this was a good condition to promote multifaceted cooperation between the two countries in the coming time.

The ambassador said that Austria also had strengths in cyber security, search and rescue and wished to work with Việt Nam.

Letters of credence

On the same morning, the Party General Secretary and President received credentials of 14 concurrent ambassadors from Costa Rica, Malta, Sudan, Zambia, Mauritius, Uganda, Ghana, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Rwanda, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Botswana and Bhutan.

Speaking at the reception, on behalf of the Vietnamese Party, State and people, the leader warmly welcomed the ambassadors appointed to take up their duties in Việt Nam.

The Party General Secretary and President affirmed that during Việt Nam’s nearly 80-year development journey, the support and companionship of international friends, including the countries that the ambassadors represent, was indispensable.

He confirmed that Việt Nam always remembered and was deeply grateful for the valuable assistance that the people of the world had given it. — VNS