HÀ NỘI – President Trần Đại Quang had separate meetings with newly-accredited ambassadors following their presentation of credentials to the Vietnamese leader yesterday.

Receiving Moroccan Ambassador Azzeddiine Farhane, he voiced his belief that the country would obtain significant achievements in national development under the leadership of King Mohammed VI and the new government.

Wishing Morocco success in organising the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 22) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, he said Việt Nam wanted to join the international community in strengthening cooperation to mitigate natural disaster risks and cope with climate change.

He hailed Morocco as one of the first African and Arabian nations to ink the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) with ASEAN.

He thanked the country for supporting Việt Nam at international forums, asking both sides to continue close coordination at international and regional forums, especially within the framework of the UN, the International Organisation of La Francophonie, and the Non-Aligned Movement.

President Quang said he hopes Morocco will advocate Việt Nam’s candidacy for the post of UNESCO Director General in the 2017-2021 tenure.

Regarding economic, trade and investment partnerships, he asked the new ambassador to enhance information exchange between the two business circles, work towards the formation of a joint business council, increase financial and banking cooperation, and step up trilateral cooperation mechanisms.

For his part, Azzeddiine Farhane said there remained huge cooperation potential for the two countries. He believed Việt Nam and Morocco could become gateways for each other to expand collaboration with Southeast Asian and African nations.

He vowed utmost efforts to develop bilateral ties while emphasising Morocco’s support to Việt Nam at international forums and organisations such as the candidacy for the post of UNESCO Director General and the non-permanent membership at the UN Security Council for the 2020-2121 tenure.

At a meeting with Japanese Ambassador Kunio Umeda, the Vietnamese leader said the two countries’ extensive strategic partnership was growing strongly, comprehensively and substantively, as seen through the high political trust and increasing cooperation in economics, security-defence, agriculture, and between localities.

He hoped with his experience, the diplomat would help bolster bilateral ties in all spheres, thereby benefiting both countries and contributing to regional peace, stability, cooperation and development.

He wanted the ambassador to pay attention to enhancing ODA provision to Việt Nam, and the implementation of action programmes of the six prioritised sectors in Việt Nam’s industrialisation strategy as part of the Việt Nam-Japan cooperation framework.

He hoped Kunio Umeda would work to beef up cooperation and mutual support in issues of common concern and at regional and international forums, and to popularise images of each country’s people, culture and arts.

The newly-accredited ambassador said the Japanese Emperor and Queen wanted to strengthen relations with Việt Nam. He added Japan was ready to coordinate with the Southeast Asian nation to successfully organise the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in 2017.

Meanwhile, President Quang underlined his country’s consistent policy of treasuring the traditional friendship with Serbia while talking to Serbian Ambassador Slobodan Marinkovic.

The two sides should conduct high-ranking delegation exchanges and direct consultations between their ministries and sectors to seek ways to reinforce bilateral relations, he said, asking Serbia to support Việt Nam’s candidacy for the post of UNESCO Director General in the 2017-2021 term.

He believed the ambassador would actively contribute to the Vietnamese-Serbian relationship and foster bilateral cooperation substantively, for the sake of the two peoples.

Marinkovic noted Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic looked forwards to the Vietnamese President’s visit in 2017 on the occasion of the 60th founding anniversary of bilateral ties. Marinkovic also promised to do his best to ensure that the countries’ relations will develop substantively and effectively.

Speaking to Tajikistani Ambassador Parviz Davlatzoda, President Quang voiced his delight at the country’s enormous attainments over the past 25 years since its independence. He urged Vietnamese and Tajikistani ministries and sectors to push ahead with implementing the agreements reached between their senior leaders.

Việt Nam is willing to cooperate with Tajikistan in hydropower and economics-trade. It wants to export its strong commodities such as agricultural and aquatic products, construction materials, garment and footwear to Tajikistan, and import cotton products and silk from this nation.

The two sides should encourage their localities and businesses to engage in direct talks and update information about each other’s policies and markets, the President said.

Davlatzoda said the Tajikistani people admired the Vietnamese people and considered the ASEAN country as an important economic and trade partner.

He conveyed President Emomali Rahmon’s invitation to visit Tajikistan to the Vietnamese leader, adding that 2017 will mark 25 years of their diplomatic ties.

At the meeting with Lithuanian Ambassador Ina Marciulionyte, the President proposed Lithuania continue backing Việt Nam and promoting the Việt Nam-EU relations, including the early signing and ratifying of the Việt Nam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Marciulionyte spoke highly of Việt Nam’s renewal policies which, she said, brought great achievements to the country in recent times.

Lithuania was keen on boosting cooperation with Việt Nam in politics, economics and diplomacy, she said, adding that with its strength of high technology, her country was ready to cooperate with Việt Nam in implementing e-government, and wanted to export dairy products and meat to Việt Nam.

Welcoming Fijian Ambassador Isikeli Mataitoga, the Vietnamese leader said the countries needed to increase delegation exchange and people-to-people exchange.

He suggested establishing cooperation and negotiation mechanisms, work towards the signing of agreements on investment encouragement and protection, double taxation avoidance, technical cooperation, agricultural development and food safety, infrastructure construction, tourism and health care.

He thanked countries, including Fiji, for their support to Việt Nam’s candidacy to the UN International Law Committee for the 2017-2020 tenure, and asked Fiji to back Việt Nam’s bid for the non-permanent membership at the UN Council Security for the 2020-21 tenure.

Mataitoga said since 2007, the Fijian government has implemented its external policy, in which Việt Nam plays an important role in Fiji’s efforts to expand cooperation on the international arena.

Fiji is willing to work with Việt Nam in all fields, especially at the UN, and supports Việt Nam’s effort for the non-permanent member at the UN Security Council as well as positions at other international organisations.

At the reception for Mauritian Ambassador Issop Patel, President Quang suggested increasing exchange of delegations and experiences in economic development between the two countries.

The sides need to soon conclude negotiations and sign cooperation documents such as agreements on double taxation avoidance, investment encouragement and protection, and aviation, creating a legal framework for bilateral collaboration.

Patel affirmed that Mauritius would support Việt Nam’s candidacy for the post of UNESCO Director General for the 2017-2021 tenure.

He pledged to do his utmost to connect Việt Nam with Africa, especially in the field of aviation, facilitating the exchange and travel of people of Mauritius and Việt Nam.

Receiving Portuguese Ambassador Francisco de Assis Morais e Cunha Vaz Patto, the President thanked Portugal for its support to Việt Nam in promoting relations with the EU, including the ratification of the Việt Nam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement.

He asked for Portugal’s continued support for the early signing and implementation of the EVFTA and recognition of Việt Nam as the economic market, helping boost economic-trade ties between the two countries.

The President wished Portuguese investors interest in the Việt Nam market, especially cooperation in maritime economy, tourism, energy and tripartite cooperation with Portuguese speaking countries.

He suggested the two sides continue close coordination at the UN, ASEAN-EU, ASEM, and asked Portugal to back Việt Nam’s effort for the non-permanent membership at the UN Security Council for 2020-21 tenure.

The Ambassador expressed his wish that the two countries would work closely in the fields of economics, and trade to match their potential and desire.

Talking with Estonian Ambassador Martin Kokk, the President suggested the two countries increase exchange and facilitate their businesses to join trade promotion activities in order to raise bilateral trade and increase investment.

He affirmed Việt Nam was ready to act as a bridge to support Estonia to increase ties with ASEAN member countries.

Kokk highly valued Việt Nam’s achievements in recent times, especially high economic growth. He said boosting economic and trade cooperation between the two countries would be the top priority during his term.

Estonia would support Việt Nam’s bid for the post of UNESCO General Director for 2017-2021 tenure. — VNS