President Luong Cuong holds talks with King of Bhutan

President Luong Cuong and King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Photo: VPCTN

In an atmosphere of openness, sincerity, trust and mutual understanding, the President warmly welcomed King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck to visit Vietnam, affirming that this is the first visit by a Bhutanese head of state to Vietnam since the establishment of diplomatic relations (January 2012) and taking place on the occasion of Vietnam's 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day (September 2), which has special significance, opening a new page for the relationship between the two countries.

President Luong Cuong speaks. Photo: VPCTN

President Luong Cuong congratulated Bhutan on its sustainable development achievements under the wise leadership of the King, highly appreciated Bhutan's unique development model, using the Gross National Happiness Index as a measure, in which people, nature, culture and people's happiness are promoted in a balanced and harmonious way, placing people at the center of development, valuing cultural identity, and preserving the living environment.

The King of Bhutan expressed his gratitude for the warm and respectful welcome that the Party, State and people of Vietnam have given to the King and Queen, as well as the high-ranking delegation of Bhutan. Expressing his delight at visiting Vietnam for the first time, the King said that the Bhutanese people respect President Ho Chi Minh and admire Vietnam's great achievements during the 80 years of fighting for national independence and development. The King firmly believes that Vietnam will achieve its sustainable development goals, and wishes to study and learn from Vietnam's governance model and economic development experience.

King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. Photo: VPCTN

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck affirmed that Bhutan values Vietnam's role and position in the Asia-Pacific region, and wishes to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in areas where both sides have strengths and potential for the benefit of the two peoples, peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity in the region and the world.

President Luong Cuong and King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck agreed that the friendship between Vietnam and the Kingdom of Bhutan is nurtured by warm friendship, shared spiritual values, vision, and philosophy of sustainable development. In that spirit, the two sides agreed to continuously strengthen friendship and mutual understanding, promote more frequent high-level visits, and promote the signing of cooperation agreements to create a favorable framework for implementing specific projects and activities.

Emphasizing that the potential for economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries is still very large, President Luong Cuong and King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck agreed to encourage agencies, ministries, sectors and businesses of the two countries to promote cooperation, facilitate opening for the strong goods of one country to access the other's market, towards diversifying the supply chain, striving to increase trade turnover many times in the coming time.

The two sides agreed that it is necessary to further expand cooperation in important areas such as agriculture, science and technology, innovation, education, training, culture and arts; encourage airlines of the two countries to soon consider opening direct flights to promote cultural, religious, tourism and people-to-people exchanges; share experiences in honoring the traditional cultural heritage of each country; expand cooperation in new areas towards sustainable development, in order to improve the material and spiritual life of the people.

President Luong Cuong holds talks with the King of Bhutan. Photo: VPCTN

In the context of complex changes in the world and the region, the leaders expressed their delight at the fact that the two countries share many similar views at international forums, especially on issues of sustainable development, climate change response, nature conservation and peacekeeping; emphasizing that they will continue to coordinate and support each other at international and regional organizations, especially at the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement as well as on issues of common concern.

President Luong Cuong welcomed Bhutan's expansion of relations and substantive cooperation and is ready to create conditions to enhance connectivity with Southeast Asian countries and ASEAN.

President Luong Cuong and King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on the cooperation framework between the two governments. Photo: VPCTN

After the talks, President Luong Cuong and King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan witnessed the signing of two cooperation documents, including a document on the cooperation framework between the two governments and a document on cooperation in the aviation sector.

Source: https://vpctn.gov.vn/tin-tuc-su-kien/chu-tich-nuoc-luong-cuong-hoi-dam-voi-quoc-vuong-bhutan.html