Vietnamese Ambassador to Ukraine Nguyen Hong Thach recent paid a working visit to the Ukraine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (UCCI), with both sides using the meeting to exchange views on a range of measures that can help to promote economic, trade, and investment co-operation between both sides moving forward.

Ambassador Nguyen Hong Thach and Gennandiy Chyzhykov, UCCI President
(Source: VNA)

During the meeting, Ambassador Thach highlighted Ukraine as one of the country’s traditional friendship partners, as well as noting the historic levels of close co-operation between the two nations, adding that there remains ample room for bilateral co-operation moving forward.

Despite these positives, economic and trading relations in recent years have failed to reach their full potential, the Vietnamese diplomat said, suggesting that the two sides should examine ways in which to deal with pending issues as a means of further bolstering economic and trade relations.

Furthermore, businesses from the two countries need to discuss the possibility of opening a chain of Vietnamese culinary restaurants in Ukraine, along with high-tech agricultural joint ventures, while also taking advantage of Ukraine's fertile land and the abundance of Vietnamese human resources, Ambassador Thach emphasized.

In response, Gennadiy Chyzhykov, president of the UCCI, said that the Eastern European nation’s current policy is to foster greater relations with East Asia, in which ASEAN is a key focus, with Vietnam being viewed as an important partner for Ukraine due to the nation’s strong voice within the regional bloc.    

The two sides therefore agreed to organise online conferences and seminars as a means of enhancing business connectivity, and closely co-ordinate in holding the 15th virtual session of the Vietnam-Ukraine Intergovernmental-Committee for Economic, Trade, Science and Technology Cooperation, with the event set to take place early next year.