50th Anniversary of Viet Nam – Pakistan Diplomatic Relations (08 Nov 1972- 08 Nov 2022)
AMBASSADOR’S MESSAGE
This year the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Diplomatic Relations, an important milestone in the relationship between the two countries. Viet Nam and Pakistan officially established diplomatic tie on November 8, 1972.
Viet Nam embarked on Doi Moi (Innovation) in 1986 with the goal of creating a socialist-oriented market economy, and so far has achieved remarkable results in its economic developments, social progress and international relations. With an average annual GDP growth of about 7% over the past 36 years, today, Viet Nam ranks among the Top 40 economies with the largest GDP in the world, and the Top 16 most successful emerging economies. Viet Nam is a convergence of tens of thousands of investors from 140 countries and territories with a total investment of nearly 430 billion USD. In 2021, the total trade turnover reached a record level, about 670 billion USD, an increase of nearly 23%. Viet Nam has joined 15 FTAs, including new generation FTAs, such as CPTPP, EVFTA, RCEP, etc. with high standards and open market incentives, helping Viet Nam to easily access the markets of 60 countries and territories.
From the beginning of 2022 until now, Viet Nam has well controlled the epidemic, stabilized socio-political conditions, the economy is recovering quickly, GDP in the first 6 months of 2022 increased by 6.42%, inflation was controlled at around 2,8 % compared to the same period 2021, major balances in food and energy… People’s living standards have been improved; social security has been actively implemented.
Viet Nam belongs to the group of countries with a high level of HDI on human development. Viet Nam has completed ahead of time many of the MDG-2015 Millennium Development Goals and is making efforts to implement the United Nations SDG-2030 Sustainable Development Goals; implementing COP26 commitments on reducing emissions.
Viet Nam has established diplomatic relations with 190 countries, increasingly strengthened close relations with neighboring countries; established long-term stable relationships with 30 strategic and comprehensive partners. We have successfully completed the tasks of APEC Year 2017, North Korea-US Summit Host Country 2019, ASEAN Chair 2020, Non-Permanent Member, and United Nations Security Council 2020-2021, member of United Nations Human Rights Council 2023 -2025…
During five decades Viet Nam and Pakistan have enjoyed excellent friendship and cooperation in many fields such as political, trade and investment ties, technology, culture, and people and people exchange…, Regarding political relations, the two countries exchanged many VVIP, high-level delegations, notably the fresh meeting between the Foreign Ministers of the two countries when attending the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in Cambodia on the 4th of August this year the meeting between Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Vice President H.E Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh at Independence Palace Astana, Kazakhstan during the 6th CICA Summit 13th October 2022…. Viet Nam and Pakistan also actively support each other in international forums and United Nations bodies such as such as the United Nations Security Council, the United Nations Human Rights Council, UNESCO, IPU, WTO, etc.…. The agreements and common perceptions between our senior leaders have created an important premise for the multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.
In terms of economics and trade, notably, the trade volume between Pakistan and Viet Nam has increased from 54 million USD in 2005 to more than 700 million USD in 2017 and reached more than US$ 794 million in 2021, an increase of 54.41% compared to 2020.
However, it is still very low as compared to the huge potentials of both sides with many other complementary advantages, such as agriculture products, pharmacy, manufacturing industries, garments and textiles, seafood, Halal foods… and many others.
Currently, Viet Nam Embassy in Islamabad and Pakistani Embassy in Ha Noi have been organizing a number of events to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Diplomatic Relations, including 3rd Bilateral Political Consultative (BPC) and Intergovernmental Committee (JEC) and 5th Joint Trade Subcommittee (JTC) sessions.
During the past 50 years, the relationship between the two countries has made positive developments, but the Viet Nam and Pakistan’ relations in general are still very modest compared to its potential and strengths as well as the needs of both sides. The total size of population of the two is approximately 330 million and this huge amount of consumers together with commonalities, complementary advantages of our economies, numerous potentials need to be tapped in to reach the optimized level in economic transactions and cooperation for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Pakistani citizens. It is very necessary also, and first of the first to some extent, to promote and strengthen cultural exchanges, people-to-people exchanges, boosting cooperation in other fields such as education and training, culture – tourism. Those sectors all together will raise the mutual awareness and understanding then in return push up the economic, trade, investment and political ties of our countries.
Viet Nam and Pakistan have signed a remarkable number of MoUs and Agreements in many fields and they are very significant foundations for further enhancement of the relationship. And it is the time for us to implement, to bring into play and realize substantively all the huge potentials for the sake of our peoples and countries.
Viet Nam consistently implements the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development; diversifies and multilateralism foreign relations; respects the basic principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, equality, cooperation for mutual benefits; carries out the active comprehensive international integration with the platform of Viet Nam is a friend, a reliable partner and an active and responsible member of the international community.
On each pace of our journey, in obtaining important achievements, we always receive the support from international community and friends including Pakistan. Viet Nam will join hands with Pakistan for further comprehensive cooperation, developments and prosperity of our peoples, and on the basic principles of the United Nations Charter and International Laws to contribute to the joined efforts of international community for peace, addressing traditional and non-traditional security challenges, fostering international integration and connectivity toward the global sustainable developments.
I always remind myself that I am here with the assignments from our State, Party, Government, and Vietnamese people to boost up the relations comprehensively and in all fields with Pakistan. To those goals, we should spare no effort to elevate people to people contact, strengthen mutual understandings between our peoples; the cultural, educational, tourism, educational, religious exchange and interactions also are the keys at the economic and political nexus and the development of comprehensive bilateral cooperation relations.
I look forward to closely working with all of Pakistani relevant authorities, people, business and all other circles for the bright future of Viet Nam and Pakistan. When we go together, we will go farer, further and reach faster, closer to the destination of prosperity, progress and development.
