President: Vietnam always wants to develop friendly relations with other countries.

On the afternoon of October 3, at the Presidential Palace, President Luong Cuong received the Ambassadors of Finland and Canada as well as four concurrent Ambassadors who came to present their credentials to assume their duties in Vietnam.

Welcoming Finnish Ambassador Pekka Voutilainen to take up his duties in Vietnam, the President expressed his belief that with his experience and role as a bridge during his tenure, the Ambassador will prepare well for the upcoming high-level visits and contacts between the two countries' leaders; promote the upgrading of bilateral relations to a new height for the benefit of the two peoples and contribute to peace and development in the two regions and the world.

Emphasizing that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries after more than 50 years of establishing diplomatic relations have achieved many good results, but compared to the potential and strengths of each country, they are still modest. The President suggested that during his term, Ambassador Pekka Voutilainen will further promote cooperation in areas of mutual interest and strength and demand, such as science and technology, digital transformation, and circular economy.

On this occasion, the President also sincerely thanked the Finnish Government for creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to live, study and work in Finland and suggested that in the coming time, the Finnish Government will continue to help support the Vietnamese community to live, study and contribute to the host country and be a link to strengthen the friendly relations between the two countries.

President Luong Cuong receives credentials from Ambassador of the Republic of Finland to Vietnam Pekka Voutilainen. (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

Expressing his honor to take up his duties in Vietnam, Ambassador Pekka Voutilainen congratulated Vietnam on its achievements; affirmed that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries are increasingly developing in various fields, especially in the fields of politics, diplomacy, economics and human resource development.

On that basis, the Ambassador affirmed that he will make every effort during his term to further deepen the relationship between the two countries, especially promoting cooperation in areas that are the strengths of each country and the needs of both sides. The Ambassador hopes that in the coming time, the two countries will continue to promote cooperation in areas such as clean energy, information technology, and artificial intelligence to promote cooperation between the two countries; at the same time, he hopes that the two sides will organize high-level visits, thereby promoting the relationship between the two countries to develop more deeply and effectively.

Receiving Canadian Ambassador James Nickel, the President congratulated and believed that the Ambassador would have a successful term and be a bridge to develop the relationship between the two countries to new heights for the benefit of the two peoples.

The President affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to and wishes to further deepen the Comprehensive Partnership with Canada on the basis of mutual benefit, in a specific, substantive, positive and effective direction, contributing to maintaining peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

Expressing his delight at taking up his new post in Vietnam, Ambassador James Nickel said Canada always considers Vietnam an important partner in the region. On behalf of the Canadian government and people, the Ambassador expressed his condolences for the loss of life and property that Vietnam suffered in the recent storms.

Ambassador James Nickel said Canadians were delighted to hear, appreciate, and share the President's recent speech at the United Nations about honoring the value of peace, making strong changes to create a sustainable future, and promoting multilateralism.

Affirming that Canada shares with Vietnam the importance of maintaining peace, friendship and development cooperation, the Ambassador hopes that the two sides will promote security and defense cooperation, peace initiatives; as well as promote economic, trade, investment, science and technology cooperation, digital transformation, etc.

The President highly appreciated and agreed with the Ambassador's sharing on the direction of cooperation in the coming time; suggested that the two sides should increase meetings and exchanges, especially high-level meetings, between ministries, localities and enterprises to promote cooperation in areas where both sides have strengths for the benefit of the people of the two countries.

The President thanked the Canadian Government for creating favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community to live, study and work in Canada in the past and pledged to continue helping them make positive contributions to the host country and be an effective link between Vietnam and Canada.

Affirming that the potential for cooperation, especially in economics, trade and investment between the two countries, is still great; based on the needs and strengths of each country, the President hopes that during his term, the Ambassador will connect and promote bilateral trade turnover commensurate with the potential and advantages of each country; promote and strengthen cooperation in science and technology, national defense and security, education and training, digital transformation and artificial intelligence.

President Luong Cuong received Canadian Ambassador James Nickel who presented his credentials and assumed his new position in Vietnam. (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

Noting that Canada is currently the only country in the G7 that has not established a strategic partnership with Vietnam, the President suggested that the two sides continue to expand the Comprehensive Partnership framework, deepening bilateral relations and aiming to elevate the relationship in the coming time.

In the context of the current complicated developments in the world, based on political trust, the President suggested that the two sides cooperate and support each other in regional and international forums on the basis of respecting multilateralism and international law; and suggested that Canada, with its position and role, continue to speak out in support of Vietnam and ASEAN's viewpoints on the East Sea issue on the basis of respecting international law and the 1982 UNCLOS.

The President affirmed that Vietnam is ready to act as a bridge for Canada to cooperate and invest in the Southeast Asian market; and hopes that during his term, the Ambassador will coordinate with agencies to cooperate closely both bilaterally and multilaterally for the benefit of the people of the two countries, the two regions and the world.

On this occasion, through Ambassador James Nickel, the President sent his regards and respectfully invited Governor General of Canada Mary May Simon to arrange an early visit to Vietnam; sent his warm greetings to Prime Minister Mark Carney; and highly appreciated the meeting with the Prime Minister at APEC 2024.

On the same afternoon, the President received the credentials of four part-time Ambassadors from Jamaica, Tunisia, Slovenia and Tajikistan.

President Luong Cuong received Slovenian Ambassador to Vietnam Bostjan Malovrh who came to present his credentials. (Photo: Lam Khanh/VNA)

Speaking at the reception, on behalf of the State and people of Vietnam, the President warmly welcomed the Ambassadors appointed to take up their duties in Vietnam. At the same time, through the Ambassadors, the President sent his regards and best wishes to the leaders of the Ambassadors' countries.

The President said that looking back on the 80-year journey of fighting for independence, national unification, building and defending the Fatherland, especially after nearly 40 years of renovation, Vietnam has achieved many great and historic achievements. From a poor country, severely devastated by war and embargoed, Vietnam has risen strongly, becoming one of the 32 largest economies and the top 20 trading countries in the world.

Currently, Vietnam has established diplomatic relations with 194 countries, including comprehensive partnerships and comprehensive strategic partnerships with 38 countries, including 5/5 permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, 18/20 G20 countries and all ASEAN countries.

The President affirmed that with its strategic location in the center of ASEAN, straddling the vital maritime trade route connecting the Pacific Ocean with the Indian Ocean, and especially with its peaceful and stable environment, Vietnam has become an attractive destination for international investors, an important link in the regional and global production chain.

Pointing out that Vietnam has always been consistent in its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, development, diversification and multilateralization of relations, being a friend, a reliable partner and an active and responsible member of the international community, the President affirmed that Vietnam always values and wishes to develop good friendly relations with countries in Europe, Central Asia, Africa and the Caribbean region.

Pleased to see that, overcoming geographical distance and fluctuations in the world situation, the relations between Vietnam and Slovenia, Tunisia, Tajikistan and Jamaica have been constantly promoted and achieved positive progress, the President hoped that in the coming time, the Ambassadors will closely coordinate with Vietnam to continue promoting high-level delegation exchanges and all-level delegation exchanges; increase information exchange and sharing to seek cooperation opportunities and create new driving forces in developing relations; promote economic cooperation in potential areas and strengths of each country, especially key areas that can complement each other.

The President expressed his belief that the Ambassadors will successfully fulfill their duties during their term of office, serving as a “bridge” of friendship and cooperation, further nurturing and developing relations with Vietnam.

The President affirmed that, for its part, Vietnam is always ready to listen to the opinions and suggestions of the Ambassadors and create all favorable conditions for them to fulfill their tasks well./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/chu-tich-nuoc-viet-nam-luon-mong-muon-phat-trien-quan-he-huu-nghi-voi-cac-nuoc-post1067891.vnp