Vietnam-Ireland further deepen friendship and multifaceted cooperation

Minister Bui Thanh Son hopes that the Irish President will support the two sides in promoting delegation exchanges and contacts at high and all levels; and have a voice in urging the Irish Parliament to soon ratify the EVIPA.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son met with Irish President Michael D. Higgins. (Photo: Phong Ha/VNA)

At the invitation of Irish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defence Michael Martin, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son is on an official visit to Ireland. On February 28, within the framework of the visit, Minister Bui Thanh Son had a meeting with Irish President Michael D. Higgins. 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 will contribute to further deepening the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Ireland. The Irish President conveyed his regards to President Vo Van Thuong, recalling his good impressions of the state visit to Vietnam in 2016 and the 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 great importance to Vietnam's position and role in the 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 friendly relations and multi-faceted 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. The Minister also hopes that the Irish President will support both sides in promoting delegation exchanges and contacts at high and all levels; and have a voice to urge the Irish Parliament to soon ratify the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA); Promote cooperation in education and training between the two countries, first of all, increase scholarships for Vietnamese students, encourage links between universities of the two countries, expand cultural and artistic exchanges, connect and promote cooperation between localities...

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son takes a photo with representatives of associations and groups in the Vietnamese community in Ireland. (Photo: Phong Ha/VNA)

On this occasion, Minister Bui Thanh Son asked the President of Ireland to continue supporting Vietnam as a priority partner in the development cooperation policy in the coming time, supporting Vietnam in human resource development, digital transformation, and high-tech agriculture. Expressing his impression of Vietnam's history of fighting for national independence and unification and delighting at the increasingly strong and extensive development of the Vietnam-Ireland bilateral cooperation relationship, President Higgins acknowledged the proposal of the Vietnamese side and agreed to further promote bilateral cooperation and connectivity in all fields, especially in economics, people-to-people exchange, education and training... President Michael D. Higgins assessed that the Vietnamese community in Ireland has made 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. 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 cordial meeting with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Ireland./.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

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