Looking back at the most impressive things in Pakistan-Vietnam relations on the eve of the New Year

As a good tradition of Vietnamese and Pakistani people, every time the old year is about to pass and the new year is coming, we look back at the past year, see what was most impressive to outline feasible plans for the new year.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives Ambassador Samina Mehtab. (Embassy of Vietnam in Pakistan)

One of the most impressive events in the bilateral relationship in 2023 began with the Vietnamese Government generously providing $100,000 in support to people affected by floods in Pakistan. You may remember that at the end of 2022, Pakistan suffered a catastrophic flood that submerged one-third of the country and severely affected 33 million people. This thoughtful gesture from Vietnam demonstrated the friendship between the people of the two countries, continuing the fine tradition of helping each other in times of difficulty between our two countries.

Another highlight of the year was my meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. During that meeting, the Prime Minister and I discussed strengthening bilateral relations in all areas, including high-level exchanges, trade and investment, tourism promotion, defense cooperation and people-to-people exchanges. It was a very meaningful interaction, helping both countries have an overview of bilateral relations to chart a practical, appropriate and forward-looking direction.

Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet, authorized by the Prime Minister, symbolically presented the gift of 100,000 USD from the Government and People of Vietnam to the Government and People of Pakistan to Ambassador Samina Mehtab on January 9, 2023. (Photo: Quang Hoa)

It can be said that the most important highlight of the bilateral relationship is economic and trade cooperation. Thanks to the efforts of the Embassy as well as the relevant parties on both sides, the bilateral trade between Pakistan and Vietnam has reached 904 million USD. I firmly believe that this figure will surpass 1 billion USD in the near future.

To achieve such impressive results, especially in the context of global difficulties, the active exchange, communication and meetings between business delegations of the two countries are very important factors. I am very pleased to know that a Vietnamese business delegation participated in the “ASEAN-Pakistan Business Opportunities Conference” organized by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan in Lahore and Karachi, Pakistan in August 2023.

Previously, in April 2023, the Embassy of Pakistan in Hanoi also coordinated with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) to organize the Workshop “TEXPO Pakistan 2023 and Trade and Investment Opportunities between Pakistan and Vietnam”. Subsequently, a Vietnamese business delegation attended TEXPO 2023 in Karachi, Pakistan and the two sides continued to discuss ideas to enhance bilateral trade, especially in the fields of footwear and textiles.

From Pakistan, in June 2023, a delegation from the State Investment Board of Pakistan visited Vietnam. The delegation had meetings and worked with leaders of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, VCCI, and visited Thang Long II Industrial Park... At the meetings, the two sides discussed strategies to further promote economic and trade cooperation.

Pakistani Ambassador to Vietnam Samina Mehtab, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang and delegates and guests at the Workshop on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Pakistan diplomatic relations, August 2022. (Photo: Minh Quan)

In December 2023, I visited Ho Chi Minh City - the largest economic center of Vietnam. During the meeting with City Chairman Phan Van Mai, we exchanged ideas to enhance economic cooperation, tourism links and people-to-people exchanges between the two sides. In addition to activities in Ho Chi Minh City, over the past year, I have also participated in many events, organized seminars and fairs in provinces and cities of Vietnam such as Hanoi, Lao Cai, etc. to promote stronger and more effective cooperation in potential areas such as information technology, professional training, defense cooperation, etc.

The Embassy coordinated with the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication of Pakistan to organize the Workshop on “Information Technology Cooperation between Pakistan and Vietnam” in December 2023. The workshop was attended and discussed by representatives of many relevant agencies of Pakistan and Vietnam, including Vietnamese Ambassador to Pakistan Nguyen Tien Phong...

Over the past year, six young Vietnamese diplomats attended the ASEAN Diplomats Short Course 2023 in Pakistan and six Vietnamese bank officials attended a course organized by the State Bank of Pakistan. From Pakistan, an eight-member delegation from the Pakistan School of Public Policy visited Vietnam in July 2023 to study Vietnam's industrial sector and public policy. During the visit, the delegation had a meeting to exchange information with leaders of the National Academy of Public Administration, Thang Long Industrial Park II, Daikin Company, Garment 10 Corporation, Thuong Dinh Shoe Company and Hai Phong Economic Zone Management Board, etc.

Pakistan has spectacular remains of the Gandhara civilization scattered across the country. (Source: Embassy of Pakistan in Vietnam)

In the defense sector, two Pakistani military officers participated in the United Nations Logistics Officer Course co-organized by the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department and the Canadian Military Training and Cooperation Department in November 2023 in Hanoi. In the sports sector, a delegation of 7 Pakistani athletes participated in the 7th World Vovinam Championship in Ho Chi Minh City, in which Maqdas Ijaz from the Pakistani Vovinam team won a bronze medal in the women's 51 kg category.

I would also like to share about the rich Buddhist heritage of Pakistan with the spectacular sites of the Gandhara civilization scattered across the country. In July 2023, the Government of Pakistan organized an international conference on “Cultural Diplomacy: Reviving the Gandhara Civilization and Buddhist Heritage in Pakistan” in Islamabad. Venerable Thich Duc Thien attended the conference with a delegation and visited the famous Buddhist sites of the Gandhara civilization in Pakistan.

Looking back at the most impressive events of the past year, I firmly believe that the friendly relationship between the two countries will continue to have new developments, bringing practical benefits to the people of the two countries in the new year 2024 and the following years.

Like New Year, Eid in Pakistan is also an occasion for family reunions, meaningful and colorful gatherings. (Source: the Dawn)

As Tet is approaching, preparations for Tet are bustling in every corner of Hanoi. This impressive atmosphere reminds me of Eid in Pakistan.

In my country too, cleaning, decorating and decorating are an important part of the preparation for Eid. Like New Year, Eid in Pakistan is also an occasion for family reunion with meaningful and colorful parties and gatherings.

On Eid, Pakistanis also give gifts and cash to their relatives called Eidi, similar to the way Vietnamese people give "lucky money" on Tet. Pakistanis cook and enjoy special Eid dishes such as sheer khurma and Kheer, similar to the Vietnamese enjoying banh chung and banh tet…

Finally, I wish you and your family a happy Tet holiday and a New Year filled with happiness, health and success!

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nhin-lai-nhung-dieu-an-tuong-nhat-trong-quan-he-pakistan-viet-nam-truoc-them-nam-moi-259195.html