HÀ NỘI – Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng exchanged Tết (Lunar New Year) greetings with diplomats from nine ASEAN member nations at a reception in Hà Nội on Monday.

The diplomats from Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, Brunei and Myanmar, extended New Year greetings to the Party, State and people of Việt Nam.
They expressed their happiness at taking office in Việt Nam and having the honour of meeting the Party leader as the Tết festival draws near.
They affirmed that they would contribute to fostering ties of friendship and co-operation between their countries and Việt Nam, as well as other ASEAN members for sustainable development of the ASEAN Community and for peace, stability and development in the region and the world. 
Thanking the diplomats for their New Year wishes, Trọng noted that 2017 was a year full of important events including the 50th founding anniversary of ASEAN and the second year of the ASEAN Economic Community. 
Since Việt Nam joined the bloc, it has constantly worked hard to contribute to ASEAN’s growth, he said, adding the Party and State attached great importance to developing multi-faceted ties with the ASEAN community. 
The Party leader also expressed hope that ASEAN members will support Việt Nam in hosting the APEC 2017 summit, enhancing the bloc’s prestige and position in the international arena. 
He extended New Year wishes to leaders and people of all ASEAN countries.

PM hosts New Year banquet

Also on Monday, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc hosted a banquet for foreign diplomatic corps in Hà Nội on the occasion of Tết.

He said 2016 was the first year Việt Nam was implementing its 2016-2020 Socio-economic Development Plan. The country has overcome a lot of difficulties, particularly severe natural disasters, in reaching its development goals and maintaining political stability, he said.

Việt Nam’s GDP growth of 6.21 per cent was more than double the world average of 3 per cent. Inflation was kept at below 5 per cent and about 1.6 million jobs were created, Phúc said.

His cabinet was determined to build an honest, constructive, action-minded government to serve citizens and businesses, Phúc said

Việt Nam has persisted with legal and institutional reforms, tightened discipline and created a favourable business environment that has won increasing trust and support of business community, he said.

Việt Nam welcomed more than 10 million foreign visitors last year, a tourism record, and hosted the leaders of many countries and international organisations, the PM noted.

Phúc thanked governments and people worldwide, as well as partners, international organisations and donors for their support for Việt Nam in the past.

He said the World Economic Forum that concluded last week in Switzerland, saw widespread optimism over the world’s economic recovery and great opportunities arising from the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

However, there was also anxiety over rising protectionism, international terrorism, environmental pollution and climate change.

This requires big and small countries alike to join hands to maintain peace and stability, and step up co-operation and  international integration on the basis of the UN Charter and international laws, Phúc said.

Representing the diplomatic corps, Venezuelan Ambassador Jorge Rondon Uzcategui said that the past year had witnessed remarkable achievements by Việt Nam, particularly in economy and foreign diplomacy,

He congratulated the Vietnamese people on these achievements and expressed his belief that the Vietnamese Government will attain its goals in 2017.

He said the diplomatic corps wished to continue co-operating with Việt Nam to uphold the fruitful outcomes of bilateral and multilateral diplomacy.

They extend their best Lunar New Year wishes to the leaders of the Vietnamese Party, State and people, he added.

UN Rep presents credentials

Earlier on Monday, PM Phúc held a reception for Kamal Malhotra, the new UN Resident Co-ordinator and UNDP Resident Representative to Việt Nam as the latter presented his letter of credentials.

Phúc welcomed Malhotra’s arrival in Việt Nam and wished him a successful tenure in the country.

He said Việt Nam attaches great importance to its co-operation with the United Nations.

“Việt Nam will continue to be a proactive, responsible member of the UN and the international community, and will contribute to joint efforts for peace, security, and development in the region as well as the world,” the PM said.

He said it was an important time for co-operation between Việt Nam and the UN, as 2017 marks the 40^th year of the nation’s UN membership.

Việt Nam hopes that the UN maintains its role in securing peace and international security and supporting member nations in implementing co-operation programmes, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change, Phúc said.

Malhotra said he was honoured to take office in Việt Nam.

He said the UN highly appreciates Việt Nam’s role and position in the UN as well as the international community.

He praised the country’s active participation in and contribution to UN’s peacekeeping operations, the UN Human Rights Council and the UN Economic and Social Council.

Malhotra said he will actively co-ordinate between Vietnamese and UN agencies to boost bilateral relations and successfully implement co-operation programmes to serve the country’s development and its realisation of socio-economic and sustainable development goals.

Meeting with JCCI

In his meeting with Akio Mimura, chairman of Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), the Prime Minister welcomed the JCCI official’s visit in the context of very good relations enjoyed by Việt Nam and Japan.

The PM said he was happy to see Japanese corporations like Itochu, Marubeni and IHI running successful businesses in Việt Nam.

He said the Vietnamese Government is always willing to listen to opinions and proposals of Japanese businesses and will try to create the most favourable conditions for them to invest and do more business in Việt Nam.

Việt Nam wants to uphold its good political relations with Japan and hopes that Japan will rise up to become the largest investor in the country, the PM said.

He said Việt Nam also welcomes foreign investors, including those from Japan, to become strategic investors in the equitisation of its State-owned enterprises.

Mimura said the JCCI’s delegation this time consisted of 70 representatives from leading Japanese businesses, which shows their great interest in Việt Nam.

He also expressed his delight at the sound development of bilateral relations in various fields. He said businesses of both countries will continue to boost co-operation, particularly in infrastructure development, agriculture and industry.

Japanese businesses regard Việt Nam as an attractive market in terms of investment opportunities and trade, Mumura said, adding that they also hoped for further improvements in the nation’s business and investment environment. – VNS