50 years of Vietnam - Nepal relations: Impressions from high-level visits

During her official visit to Nepal on August 24 and 25, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan met with President Ram Chandra Poudel and Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli of the host country.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan met with Nepalese President Ram Chandra Poudel.

According to VNA correspondent in South Asia, during the meetings, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan thanked the Nepalese Government for its warm and thoughtful reception for herself and the delegation and conveyed the regards of Vietnamese leaders to the President and Prime Minister of Nepal.

Expressing her joy at visiting Nepal on the important occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan emphasized that this is an opportunity for the two countries to look back on the historical journey of relations and outline cooperation directions in the coming years. The Vice President affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to the traditional friendship with Nepal; thanked Nepal for always supporting Vietnam in the past struggle for independence and national unification and in the current national construction and development.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan congratulated the country and people of Nepal, under the leadership of the President and Prime Minister, on their important achievements in economic and social development, improving people's lives, and contributing to multilateral mechanisms, especially actively participating in the United Nations peacekeeping force. The Vice President expressed her belief that Nepal will soon achieve the goal of becoming a middle-income country by 2030.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan met with Nepalese President Ram Chandra Poudel.

President Ram Chandra Poudel and Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli sent congratulations on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day; highlighted the friendship that the Nepalese leaders and people have for Vietnam, expressed admiration for the ideology and vision of President Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam's glorious history of national liberation struggle as well as Vietnam's "miraculous" innovation and development process after nearly 40 years of implementing Doi Moi. The President and Prime Minister emphasized that Nepal considers Vietnam a successful model in socio-economic development and international integration, and wishes to learn from Vietnam's model of socialist-oriented market economy development.

Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli recalled the good memories of his official visit to Vietnam in June 2019, during which he visited the workplace of President Ho Chi Minh, visited and spoke at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics; shared that Nepal pursues the ideology of socialism and has included in the Constitution the goal of realizing socialist values; emphasized that this is an important ideological foundation for Vietnam and Nepal to strengthen friendship, political trust and cooperation, and support each other both bilaterally and at regional and international forums.

The President and Prime Minister of Nepal highly appreciated the significance of the Vice President's visit; agreed to set out major orientations for the bilateral relationship in the coming time, promoting stronger cooperation in politics, economics, trade, investment, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchange. President Ram Chandra Poudel and Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli emphasized that Vietnam and Nepal share common values ​​in culture and religion, with a large community of Buddhists and those with religious beliefs in Buddhism, Nepal annually welcomes many pilgrimages, sightseeing and spiritual tourism groups to Nepal, especially the Buddhist holy land of Lumbini. This is a solid foundation for the two countries to further promote cooperation in culture, tourism and exchange; suggested that airlines of the two countries soon study direct flights between Vietnam and Nepal.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan met with Nepalese Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan agreed that on the basis of the relationship built over the past 50 years, the two sides need to actively review and implement existing cooperation mechanisms and frameworks, promote the signing of new documents and agreements to create a framework for cooperation in the fields of economics, trade, investment, culture, sports, tourism, and people-to-people exchange. The Vice President suggested that the two sides strengthen political trust through maintaining delegation exchanges and contacts at high and all levels; enhance trade, investment, and tourism promotion activities; encourage businesses of the two countries to invest and do business in areas where both sides have strengths; At the same time, expand cooperation to potential areas such as defense - security, science - technology, innovation, digital transformation, energy transformation, green growth to better respond to current traditional and non-traditional security challenges, contributing to maintaining a secure and stable environment in each country to focus on development.

The two leaders agreed to continue to closely coordinate and support each other at regional and international forums, especially at the United Nations (UN), the Non-Aligned Movement, South-South cooperation and the Group of 77 (G77); contributing to joining hands with the international community to uphold the UN Charter and the fundamental principles of international law, ensuring peace, security, stability, and respect for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations. The two sides also agreed to support each other in their candidacies at multilateral forums, and coordinate more closely in participating in global joint efforts to respond to climate change and in participating in UN peacekeeping forces.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan presents gifts to the Vietnamese Association in Nepal.

On the afternoon of August 24, within the framework of her visit and work in Nepal, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan had a friendly meeting with the Vietnamese community in Nepal. This was the first meeting between a high-ranking Vietnamese leader and the Vietnamese community in Nepal since the two countries established diplomatic relations (1975 - 2025) to listen to the thoughts and aspirations of the people.

At the meeting, Ms. Vo Thi Kim Cuong - President of the Vietnamese Association in Nepal, said that the community has about 250 people living scattered throughout Nepal. Over the years, the community has always promoted the tradition of solidarity, diligence, and creativity; integrated well with the local society and always nurtured and promoted the spirit of patriotism, national pride, preserving cultural traditions, and looking back to the roots; actively supported each other in life, and maintained the good image of Vietnamese people in the eyes of international friends. However, people in Nepal still face many challenges; in particular, due to the rugged terrain, traveling and gathering to organize Vietnamese language classes are still difficult, affecting the maintenance and teaching of Vietnamese to the younger generation. On behalf of the community, Ms. Kim Cuong expressed her hope that the Party, State or Embassy will have a plan to support the Vietnamese community in Nepal to maintain Vietnamese for children.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan presented gifts and took souvenir photos with the Vietnamese community in Nepal.

Expressing her joy and emotion when meeting the Vietnamese community in Nepal, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan shared the difficulties of the people; at the same time congratulated and commended the Vietnamese groups and communities in Nepal for their efforts in life.

The Vice President also informed the Vietnamese people about the socio-economic situation in the country, the results of cooperation between Vietnam and Nepal, and hoped that they would contribute to promoting the cooperative relationship between the two countries. The Vice President also emphasized the important role of the Vietnamese Association in Nepal in uniting the community, and believed that the Vietnamese people would always unite, preserve their identity, abide by the law and leave a good image in the eyes of the Government and people of Nepal.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan cuts the cake to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vietnam - Nepal diplomatic relations.

Also on the afternoon of August 24, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan attended the ceremony and cut the cake to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Nepal diplomatic relations in the capital Kathmandu. The event was jointly organized by the Vietnam-Nepal Friendship Association and the Nepal Peace and Solidarity Council.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to India, Nepal and Bhutan Nguyen Thanh Hai outlined the development of relations as well as the achievements the two countries have made over the past 50 years in the fields of politics, economic-trade cooperation, tourism, people-to-people exchange and future orientations of the two countries... Based on the 50-year relationship, Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Hai expressed his belief that the two countries will develop sustainable, effective and in-depth cooperation.

According to Nepal’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology, Mr. Prithvi Subba Gurung, “Vietnam is a shining example of perseverance, sacrifice and development achievements that Nepal needs to learn from. Our two peoples are always connected by the common values ​​of peace, compassion and cooperation, especially in the context of a turbulent world. I believe that the Vietnam-Nepal friendship will grow stronger and stronger, together creating a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable future.”

On this important occasion of the two countries, Mr. Tran Anh Tuan, Chairman of the Vietnam - Nepal Friendship Association, made proposals to the Nepal Peace and Solidarity Council to promote the role of the two organizations as a bridge of friendship, turning potential into development reality. In addition, Mr. Tran Anh Tuan also expressed his wish that the relevant agencies of the two countries coordinate with the Vietnam - Nepal Friendship Association and the Nepal Peace and Solidarity Council to organize a series of meaningful activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2025, such as: International conference to evaluate the 50th anniversary of relations, Nepali Cultural Day in Vietnam, Vietnamese Cultural Day in Nepal, etc.

The Vietnam - Nepal Friendship Association and the Nepal Peace and Solidarity Council presented books on achievements in bilateral relations over the past 50 years.

For his part, Chairman of the Nepal Peace and Solidarity Council, Mr. Rabindra Adhikari, said that Nepal admires the great achievements that Vietnam has made in socio-economic development and international integration and considers this a valuable source of inspiration for developing countries. He also affirmed that Nepal wishes to expand cooperation with Vietnam in many fields such as trade, tourism, agriculture, information technology, education and cultural exchange, and called on Vietnamese investors to explore opportunities in Nepal. On this occasion, he expressed his hope that the relationship between the two countries will continue to develop more strongly in the next half century, contributing to peace, prosperity and common development of both peoples.

Source: https://vpctn.gov.vn/tin-tuc-su-kien/hoat-dong-cua-pho-chu-tich-nuoc/50-nam-quan-he-viet-nam-nepal-dau-an-tu-chuyen-tham-cap-cao.html