Bilateral meetings of Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan in New York (USA)

On the occasion of attending the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in New York (USA), on March 11, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan held bilateral meetings with Swiss President Viola Amheard, Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina, and received the Mayor of New York City, Eric Adams.

Promoting comprehensive bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Switzerland.

In a warm and open atmosphere, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan warmly congratulated Ms. Viola Amheard on becoming President of Switzerland, and also the first woman to hold the position of Minister of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport of Switzerland.

Highly appreciating the positive progress in Vietnam-Switzerland relations after more than 50 years of establishing diplomatic relations, especially in the fields of economics, trade, investment, culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan suggested that both sides continue to actively exchange delegations at all levels, especially at the high level, to comprehensively promote bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Các cuộc gặp gỡ song phương của Phó Chủ tịch nước Võ Thị Ánh Xuân tại New York (Mỹ)

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan expressed her hope that Vietnam and Switzerland would continue to strengthen cooperation in development and innovation, and coordinate their contributions to the international community's common efforts for sustainable development. (Photo: VNA)

The Vice President expressed his sincere gratitude to the Swiss Government for providing significant official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam since 1992 during the reform process, and hoped that the two sides would continue to promote cooperation in development and innovation, coordinating contributions to the common efforts of the international community for sustainable development.

For her part, Swiss President Viola Amherd highly appreciated Vietnam's socio-economic achievements in recent years and affirmed that Switzerland always values its friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam, while also believing that the two countries still have much room and potential for economic, trade, and investment cooperation.

The Swiss President shared the views of Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan on the significance and importance of gender equality and women's empowerment in the context of the current volatile international environment. Both sides agreed that proactive coordination and contributions to the common efforts of the United Nations and the international community in this area are necessary, especially in promoting the role of women in maintaining peace and security and participating in UN peacekeeping forces.

The two leaders also exchanged views on a number of international and regional issues of mutual interest, including the situation in Europe. On this occasion, the Vice President respectfully conveyed President Vo Van Thuong's invitation to the Swiss President to visit Vietnam at a suitable time.

Expanding friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation with Latvia.

During her meeting with Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan emphasized that Vietnam always values and wishes to further develop friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation with Latvia.

The Vice President expressed his sincere gratitude to Latvia for being one of the first countries to support Vietnam with COVID-19 vaccines during the critical period of the pandemic, and also for being one of the first European Union (EU) member states to ratify the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

The Vice President requested Latvia to voice its support for the European Commission (EC) to lift the "yellow card" imposed on Vietnamese seafood exports as soon as possible. (Photo: VNA)

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan respectfully conveyed the invitation from Vietnamese leaders to the Prime Minister of Latvia to visit Vietnam soon to strengthen political cooperation and exchange policies and measures to exploit the advantages and potential of each country in economics, trade, and investment, especially to effectively utilize the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

The Vice President requested Latvia to voice its support for the European Commission (EC) to promptly lift the "yellow card" imposed on Vietnamese seafood exports, and to cooperate with Vietnam and the international community in promoting the peaceful resolution of international conflicts and disputes based on international law, including the South China Sea issue.

Expressing her delight at the positive progress in bilateral relations after more than 30 years of establishing diplomatic relations (from 1992 to the present), Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina also shared the proposals and assessments of Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan on strengthening multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Latvia, especially in economics and trade.

The Latvian Prime Minister suggested that the two countries should continue to promote cooperation in other promising areas such as information and communication technology, science and technology, labor, and pharmaceuticals.

Ms. Evika Silina stated that many Vietnamese students studying at Latvian educational institutions achieve good academic results; she emphasized that the Latvian government will continue to prioritize cooperation in education and training with Vietnam.

The two leaders also exchanged views on a number of international and regional issues of mutual interest, including the situation in Europe; both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation and support each other in multilateral forums, including the United Nations, as well as continue to promote the bridging role of cooperation between the two countries and ASEAN and the EU.

New York hopes to strengthen its cooperative relationship with Vietnam.

During the meeting with Mr. Eric Adams, Mayor of New York City, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan expressed her pleasure to visit New York City and thanked the city for its support and facilitation of the activities of the high-level Vietnamese delegation attending the conference in New York.

The Vice President highly appreciated New York's role as the largest urban center in the United States, with its rich history and immense influence on the economy, culture, and knowledge at both national and international levels. It has witnessed several historical milestones in Vietnam-US relations and today serves as an important hub for Vietnamese businesses and citizens to promote business activities and exchanges with the United States.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan affirmed that Vietnam values cooperation with the United States. Photo: VNA.

Sharing the positive steps taken by the two countries in implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership since its establishment in September 2023, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan affirmed that Vietnam values cooperation with the United States; the Vietnam-US relationship is entering a new phase of development with many opportunities for exchange and cooperation at the national, local, business, and people-to-people levels.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan requested that New York City continue to pay attention to and support American and New York citizens and businesses investing and doing business in Vietnam, as well as pay attention to, support, and create favorable conditions for Vietnamese businesses and the Vietnamese community in New York to grow stronger, contributing to the development of the city and the Vietnam-US relationship.

Encouraging New York and Ho Chi Minh City to establish mechanisms for the effective implementation of the cooperation agreement between the two cities, including strengthening exchanges and connections between people and businesses on both sides, the Vice President requested New York to share its experience and support Ho Chi Minh City in developing an international financial center.

The Vice President affirmed that Vietnamese ministries and agencies are ready to support cooperation activities between New York and Vietnamese localities in areas of mutual interest.

On behalf of the city government and its people, Mayor Eric Adams expressed his pleasure and honor in welcoming Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan to New York for this important United Nations conference.

Recalling his impressions of his visit to Vietnam nearly 25 years ago, as well as the many Vietnamese leaders he has welcomed to New York, the Mayor affirmed that New York wishes to continue promoting good cooperative relations with Vietnam, especially in implementing the Memorandum of Cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and New York City signed in September 2023. The New York Mayor looks forward to visiting Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City again soon.

Mr. Eric Adams expressed his agreement with the Vice President's remarks and affirmed that he would leverage New York's strengths to enhance relations with partners in Vietnam.

Expressing pride in being one of the top 10 cities in the United States with the largest Vietnamese communities, the Mayor welcomed the increased presence of Vietnamese businesses, students, and the Vietnamese community in New York.

Mayor Eric Adams affirmed that New York will work closely with Ho Chi Minh City to implement cooperation in the coming period, expressing interest in promoting cultural exchange, tourism, cuisine, student exchanges, and connecting businesses from both sides in high-tech and innovation fields.

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