Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son meets with the President of Ireland

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son meets with Irish President Michael D. Higgins. Photo: Phong Ha/VNA reporter from Ireland

According to a VNA correspondent in Europe, at the meeting, President Michael D. Higgins welcomed Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son's official visit to Ireland, the first visit by a Vietnamese Foreign Minister to Ireland in over 20 years, and expressed his belief that the visit would contribute to further deepening the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Ireland.

The Irish President conveyed his regards toPresident Vo Van Thuong, recalling his good impressions of his state visit to Vietnam in 2016 and meetings with senior Vietnamese leaders during the visit.

The President warmly congratulated Vietnam on its important socio -economic development achievements in recent times and affirmed that Ireland attaches importance to Vietnam's position and role in its strategy for the Asia-Pacific region.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son respectfully thanked President Higgins for taking the time to receive the delegation and conveyed to the President the warm regards of President Vo Van Thuong.

The Minister affirmed that Vietnam always wishes to strengthen the friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Ireland, and believes that through the visit, together with the Irish side, they will review and agree on major directions and measures to promote the bilateral relationship to develop more comprehensively and deeply, in accordance with the aspirations and interests of the people of the two countries.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and President Michael D. Higgins at the Irish Presidential Palace. Photo: Phong Ha/VNA reporter from Ireland

The Minister also hopes that the President of Ireland will support the two sides to promote delegation exchanges and contacts at high and all levels; have a voice urging the Irish Parliament to soon ratify the Vietnam - EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA); promote cooperation in education and training between the two countries, in the immediate future, increasing scholarships for Vietnamese students, encouraging links between universities of the two countries, expanding cultural and artistic exchanges, connecting and promoting cooperation between localities...

On this occasion, Minister Bui Thanh Son asked the President of Ireland to continue supporting Vietnam as a priority partner in development cooperation policy in the coming time, and to support Vietnam in human resource development, digital transformation, and high-tech agriculture.

Expressing his impression of Vietnam's early history of fighting for national independence and unification and his delight at the increasingly strong and extensive development of the Vietnam-Ireland bilateral cooperation relationship, President Higgins acknowledged Vietnam's proposal and agreed to further promote bilateral cooperation and connectivity in all fields, especially in economics, people-to-people exchange, education and training, etc.

President Michael D. Higgins appreciated the Vietnamese community in Ireland for making positive contributions to the host society, affirming that Ireland will create conditions for the Vietnamese community to integrate and study stably, continuing to play a bridging role in the friendly relations between the two countries.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son writes his thoughts and signs in the guestbook of the Irish President's Office. Photo: Phong Ha/VNA reporter from Ireland

The Irish President also agreed with Minister Bui Thanh Son's proposal that the two countries strengthen coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, resolve conflicts and disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with the United Nations Charter and international law, as well as in responding to global challenges such as climate change and food security to jointly contribute to the sustainable development goals of each country, peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

On the same day, Minister Bui Thanh Son had a friendly meeting with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Ireland.

Irish President Michael D. Higgins takes a photo with Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and the Vietnamese delegation. Photo: Phong Ha/VNA reporter from Ireland

Source: VNA

Source