Vietnam - Nepal: Friendship continues to grow and be sustainable

Over the past half century, the friendship has always been nurtured, consolidated and developed positively in many fields, from politics , diplomacy to economy and culture. In particular, people-to-people exchange activities have contributed significantly to promoting friendship. Entering a new era, with a solid foundation of 50 years of friendship, the Vietnam - Nepal relationship promises to continue to develop more strongly, substantially, effectively and sustainably, contributing to peace, stability and development of each country as well as of the region and the world.

The friendship between Vietnam and Nepal is built on the foundation of cultural and historical similarities and solidarity and mutual support during difficult times. Since the years of the Vietnamese people's resistance war against the US, the Nepalese people have shown deep solidarity and strong support for the just struggle for independence and national unification.

The Nepalese Parliament once passed a resolution condemning the US bombing of North Vietnam and supporting the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam to become a member of the Non-Aligned Movement. These are vivid evidences of traditional friendship and a valuable spiritual support for the development of relations between the two countries in the future.

Speaker of the Nepalese Parliament Ganesh Prasad Timilsina (right) and Dr. Tran Anh Tuan, President of the Vietnam - Nepal Friendship Association during the visit and working session of the Vietnam - Nepal Friendship Association in May 2023

After officially establishing diplomatic relations, the two countries have maintained close coordination and effective mutual support in international and regional forums. Nepal recognized Vietnam as a market economy (October 2014), supported Vietnam's candidacy for the United Nations Human Rights Council (November 2013), the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC, 2016-2018) and the position of non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (2020-2021).

In response, Vietnam also supported Nepal’s candidacy for the United Nations Human Rights Council (2018-2020). These actions not only demonstrate political trust but also contribute to enhancing the position of both countries in the international arena.

In the overall picture of bilateral relations, people-to-people diplomacy, especially the role of the Vietnam - Nepal Friendship Association and its Nepalese counterpart, the Nepal Peace and Solidarity Council (NPSC), has played an extremely important role. Exchanges, delegation exchanges and cooperation between people's organizations of the two countries have contributed significantly to enhancing mutual understanding and consolidating the social foundation for friendship and multifaceted cooperation.

The recent working trip of the Vietnam - Nepal Friendship Association delegation to Nepal from September 26 to October 4, 2024 is a typical example. The delegation had important meetings and contacts with senior leaders of Nepal such as former President Devi Bhandari, Vice President of the Communist Party of Nepal - Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) Surenda Pandey, and leaders of people's organizations, businesses and local authorities.

At the meetings, the Nepalese side expressed its joy and appreciation for the good relationship with Vietnam, especially the relationship between the CPN-UML and the Communist Party of Vietnam. You affirmed that the potential for cooperation between the two countries is huge and needs to be strongly promoted through all channels: Party, Government, National Assembly and people-to-people diplomacy.

The Nepalese leaders particularly emphasized the role of people's organizations in strengthening friendship and understanding between the two peoples, creating a solid foundation for the development of bilateral relations. Mr. Surenda Pandey, in his role as Vice President of CPN-UML, highly appreciated the achievements of the Vietnamese people under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, considering Vietnam a source of inspiration and an example of outstanding socio-economic development and poverty reduction. This assessment has created great motivation for Vietnam and Nepal to continue to foster their traditional relationship.

The delegation of the Vietnam - Nepal Friendship Association worked with the Head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Communist Party of Nepal, Unified Marxist-Leninist Rajan Bhattarai, during the working visit to Nepal in May 2023.

The visit and working session of the delegation of the Vietnam – Nepal Friendship Association also recorded special sentiments from the Vietnamese side. The Nepalese leaders shared the great loss of the Vietnamese people with the passing of the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and the difficulties caused by Typhoon Yagi. The Vietnamese delegation also sent their condolences and shared the difficulties that the Nepalese people faced during the floods. These sincere gestures further deepened the close relationship between the two peoples.

The Vietnamese Embassy in India and Nepal, under the leadership of Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Hai, has always provided valuable and continuous support to the foreign affairs activities of the Vietnam - Nepal Friendship Association and its partner NPSC. This close coordination is an important factor in ensuring the success of people-to-people exchange activities.

Although political-diplomatic relations and people-to-people exchanges have seen positive developments, economic, trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and Nepal remains quite modest, not commensurate with the potential and desires of both sides.

According to data from the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, two-way trade between 2012 and 2017 has seen impressive growth (up 400% - from 9.35 million USD to 47 million USD), but the overall scale is still small. Vietnam mainly exports to Nepal items such as pepper, plastics, bottled water and imports textiles, footwear, food, and handicrafts.

During the meetings, both sides agreed that breakthrough measures are needed to promote economic cooperation. The Nepalese side expressed its wish that Vietnamese enterprises increase their investment in Nepal, especially in areas where Nepal has potential and Vietnam has strengths such as hydropower, renewable energy, tourism, and high-tech agriculture.

The Vietnam - Nepal Friendship Association and NPSC have been working hard to play an active role as a bridge between businesses of the two countries. The visit of the NPSC delegation to Vietnam in December 2023 and May 2024, with the participation of Nepalese businesses, is a testament to the desire to promote economic cooperation in a substantive manner. The meetings between businesses of the two sides have opened up many specific cooperation prospects in areas such as stationery, footwear, sportswear, and seafood.

However, to realize these potentials, many barriers need to be removed. One of the difficulties raised by Nepal is the visa issue for Nepalese citizens to enter Vietnam (long processing time, short visa validity). Solving this problem will create more favorable conditions for trade and tourism exchanges.

In addition, opening a direct flight route between Vietnam and Nepal is an important proposal, which has been repeatedly emphasized by both sides. The direct flight route not only shortens the geographical distance, facilitating Buddhists and people of the two countries to visit each other's countries (especially spiritual tourism to Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, and famous landscapes of Vietnam), but also is a great boost for trade, investment and tourism cooperation.

Culture, education and tourism are areas of cooperation with great potential and have achieved encouraging results. Similarities in culture and human values ​​are a favorable foundation for the two countries to enhance exchanges.

Tourism is a bright spot. Nepal with its majestic Himalayas, especially Mount Everest and the sacred Lumbini temple, is an attractive destination for Vietnamese tourists. Conversely, Vietnam with its world heritage sites, beautiful beaches and rich culinary culture also attracts the attention of Nepalese tourists. Opening direct flights and simplifying visa procedures will be key factors to fully exploit the tourism potential of the two countries.

In the field of education, there is a significant demand from Vietnamese educational institutions wishing to recruit Nepali English teachers. This is an important channel not only to improve the quality of English teaching in Vietnam but also to enhance cultural exchange and mutual understanding between the young generations of the two countries. The Vietnam - Nepal Friendship Association is actively working to connect supply and demand, and at the same time discuss working and living conditions to ensure the rights of Nepali teachers.

Cultural and culinary exchange activities between the two countries also need to be organized more frequently so that people of the two countries have the opportunity to interact and understand each other's cultures more deeply.

In recent years, through people-to-people exchange and diplomacy activities, the Vietnam - Nepal Friendship Association has sent reports and recommendations to competent agencies of the Party and Government to consider measures to promote friendly relations between the people of the two countries as well as economic cooperation activities, promoting investment, trade and tourism.

The year 2025 marks an extremely important milestone: the 50th anniversary of the official establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Nepal. This is an opportunity for the two countries to look back on the past cooperation journey, and at the same time set new goals and directions for developing diplomatic relations, friendship and cooperation in the future.

Over the past 50 years, the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Nepal have been continuously consolidated and developed. With a solid foundation of traditional friendship, mutual understanding, political determination and tireless efforts of both sides, especially the active role of people's diplomatic organizations such as the Vietnam - Nepal Friendship Association and the Nepal Peace and Solidarity Council, we have reason to believe that the bilateral relationship will continue to have new developments, increasingly in-depth, substantive, effective and sustainable.

Towards the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025, Vietnam and Nepal are facing great opportunities to enhance cooperation in all fields. Realizing the potential and overcoming challenges requires the joint efforts of all levels, sectors, organizations and especially the business community and people of the two countries.

In Vietnam, the Vietnam-Nepal Friendship Association and many organizations and individuals are ready to contribute to organizing activities to increase understanding and friendship between the two peoples and two countries through meaningful exchange activities.

With unity and determination, the Vietnam - Nepal friendship will certainly continue to reap even greater achievements, for the benefit of the people of the two countries, for peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world.

In 2025, the Vietnam - Nepal Friendship Association and NPSC have agreed on the importance of this event and jointly developed an action plan to report to the leaders of the two countries to direct the organization of commemorative activities in a solemn, meaningful and practical manner in both Vietnam and Nepal. The planned activities include:

- Organize international seminars on bilateral relations, evaluate achievements and propose directions for cooperation.

- Organize cultural, artistic and culinary exchange activities in each country.

- Exchange delegations at all levels, especially high-level delegations, to enhance political trust and cooperation orientation.

- Organize business forums and trade fairs to promote economic connectivity.

The successful organization of the series of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary is not only an occasion to review the tradition of friendship but also an opportunity to create new breakthroughs, elevating bilateral relations to a more substantial, effective and sustainable stage of development.

Dr. Tran Anh Tuan (Chairman of Vietnam - Nepal Friendship Association)

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/viet-nam-nepal-tinh-huu-nghi-tiep-tuc-phat-trien-va-ben-vung-2400881.html