Bhutan hopes to foster multi-faceted ties with Vietnam: Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Hai at the meeting with Bhutanese Prime Minister Lyonchhen Lotay Tshering. (Photo: WVR)

The Ambassador had meetings with Bhutanese Prime Minister Lyonchhen Lotay Tshering, Speaker of the National Assembly (lower house) Wangchuk Namgyel, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Tandi Dorji, and Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Loknath Sharma.

The leaders and officials of Bhutan spoke highly of Vietnam’s socio-economic development achievements and expressed their wish to promote the two countries’ cooperation more strongly.

Bhutan hopes to foster multi-faceted ties with Vietnam: Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Hai (left) presents a gift to Bhutanese Speaker of the National Assembly Wangchuk Namgyel at their meeting on June 14, 2023. (Photo: VNA)

Ambassador Hai briefed his hosts on Vietnam’s socio-economic situation and foreign relations while affirming his commitment to contributing to bilateral connections.

Prime Minister Tshering shared his Government’s strong and comprehensive reform plans, especially those on public administration, finance, education, investment attraction, and airport development, that are being discussed at the parliament.

Speaker Namgyel emphasised the role of parliamentary cooperation and people-to-people links in enhancing bilateral ties. He suggested measures for increasing exchanges and coordination between the national assemblies of Bhutan and Vietnam, including sharing legislative experience in the fields of common concern.

As Bhutan is striving to become a developed country by 2035, the host leaders called for stronger cooperation with Vietnam in various spheres, particularly investment, trade, tourism, agriculture, and forestry.

Bhutan hopes to foster multi-faceted ties with Vietnam: Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Hai at the meeting wth Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Tandi Dorji. (Photo: WVR)

Foreign Minister Dorji asked the two sides step up all-level mutual visits as well as meetings on the sidelines of multilateral conferences. Meanwhile, Minister Sharma voiced his hope for intensified partnerships in such fields as renewable energy, forestry, organic agriculture, and freshwater fish farming.

At the events, Ambassador Hai affirmed that Vietnam treasures the relations with Bhutan and hopes to help with the latter’s reform and development process.

Bhutan hopes to foster multi-faceted ties with Vietnam: Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Hai and Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Loknath Sharma. (Photo: WVR)

He also shared his hosts’ view that basing on the progress in their friendship since the diplomatic relationship was established in January 2012 and the post-pandemic increase of people-to-people exchanges, the two sides have favourable conditions to further boost all-round cooperation.

Perceiving that bilateral relations remain modest compared to both sides’ wish and potential, the diplomat also talked about some measures for fostering cooperation in the areas matching the countries’ demand and advantages.

During the working visit, Ambassador Hai also attended a seminar gathering many local enterprises from various sectors at the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry to discuss business partnership chances.