High-level visit contributes to further cement Nepal-Vietnam ties

Kathmandu, Aug 23: The Vice President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Vo Thi Anh Xuan, is in Nepal for a three-day official visit at the friendly invitation of Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav.

The visit coincides completion of 50 years of diplomatic ties between Nepal and Vietnam.     

Nepal's Non-Residential Ambassador to Vietnam, Dhan Bahadur Oli, hopes that such high-level visits would further contribute to taking bilateral relations to a new high.     

Nepal and Vietnam established formal diplomatic relations in 1975.     

Since then, the two countries have continuously worked in diverse areas and have advanced the mutual goodwill.     

Such types of visits would contribute to strengthening our formal ties not only at the government level but also in trade, business and people to people ties.     

Ambassador Oli said that we need to take initiatives to open up new avenues for our mutual cooperation on trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchanges between Nepal and Vietnam from this high-level visit.     

Vietnamese Vice President Xuan is scheduled to pay separate courtesy calls on President Ramchandra Paudel, Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli during the visit.     

The visiting leader is scheduled to visit the Patan Durbar Square and Swyambhunath, the two sites listed as the world heritage.     

On the completion of the 50th anniversary of Nepal-Vietnam diplomatic ties, the two countries have organized several programmes this year.     

Nepal is going to organize a special event in Hanoi in Vietnam in this October, Ambassador Oli said.     

The high-level visit from Nepal is also likely to attend the event in Hanoi, it is stated.     

According to Ambassador Oli, preparations are ongoing for separate agreements between Nepal and Vietnam including visa exemption for government and diplomatic passport holders from the two countries and investment too.     

Oli added that agriculture, tourism, agro-processing, herbal productions, coffee plantation and some other areas have immense potential for cooperation as well the joint investment.     

Likewise, cooperation in cultural areas between the two countries is equally crucial as Buddhism is a strong link in expanding relations between the two countries. The two countries can also work together in the field of cultural tourism promotion as many Vietnamese citizens visit Lumbini and chartered flights from Gautam Buddha International Airport could be started.     

Earlier today at a meeting with the Vietnamese Vice President Xuan, Foreign Minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba also requested for support from Vietnam to create an environment conducive for direct flights to Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa and Pokhara International Airport in Pokhara.     

During the meeting, the two leaders also discussed Nepal and Vietnam cooperating and supporting each other at bilateral and multilateral forums, the need to move forward with cooperation on the global agenda such as South-South cooperation and climate change in the coming days.(RSS)