Ambassador of Pakistan to Viet Nam Samina Mehtab. (Photo: WVR/Hong Nguyen)

A journey of five decades

November 8th marks the 50th anniversary of Viet Nam – Pakistan bilateral relations. Could you share some milestones of this relationship? What are some activities to commemorate the special day of the bilateral relations?

Pakistan-Vietnam bilateral relationship has strengthened progressively over past 50 years. During these 50 years, both sides have taken several noteworthy steps to fortify the relationship. President Pervez Musharraf visited Vietnam in May,2001 and reciprocal visit by Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong in March 2004 are definitely significant milestones.

Furthermore, signing of agreements establishing bilateral cooperation mechanisms to shape up a consolidated relationship in early 2000s is also noteworthy. Bilateral Joint Ministerial Commission and Joint Trade Commission were established in April 2002 through bilateral agreements. Bilateral Political Consultations Mechanism was established in March 2004. In 2015, all three meetings i-e 3rd session of Joint Trade Commission (JTC), Inaugural session of Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) and 3rd session of Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) were held, symbolizing the desire of both countries to enhance relations in all spheres.

Formation of a Parliamentary Friendship group in Vietnamese parliament in November last year is also highlight of the flourishing relationship. This year, registration of Pakistan’s plant origin products in Vietnam is a major breakthrough for bilateral trade.

To commemorate this momentous occasion, we have conducted activities throughout the year. We started our Golden Jubilee celebrations with wreath laying at the Mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, in the month of January 2022. As part of Embassy’s efforts to connect the academic and intelligentsia on both sides, we connected various think-tanks on both sides and an MoU has been signed, in the month of February 2022, between Vietnam Institute for Indian and Southwest Asian Studies (VIISAS) and Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE).

A webinar on bilateral tourism was also organized in June, with participation from Pakistan Tourism Development cooperation, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and departments of tourism from Ho Chi Minh and Da Nang. The Embassy, in collaboration with Industrial University of Fine Arts organized a contemporary art Exhibition in June this year.

Ambassador of Pakistan to Vietnam Samina Mehtab during her talks with The World & Vietnam Report. (Photo: WVR/Hong Nguyen)

Exploring the true potential

The bilateral trade turnover has rapidly grown over the years, reaching 794 million USD in 2021 and aiming to meet the goal of 1 billion USD (2022), Nevertheless, those numbers remain relatively modest in comparison to the potentials of the relationship. What is your suggestion on actions to maintain and improve on economic cooperation, especially when both Viet Nam and Pakistan are promoting post-pandemic economy recovery?

As the Ambassador of Pakistan to Vietnam, I would like to affirm that Pakistan and Vietnam are important trade and economic partners and have immense potential to take bilateral trade volume to new heights. It is true that the bilateral trade volume is below its true potential.

However, the hallmark of our bilateral trade is that its complementary in nature and there is a rising trend, especially in the recent past. Vietnam’s exports to Pakistan especially of yarn and steel products, has shown remarkable increase. Likewise, Pakistan’s export of corn (maize) to Vietnam has reached a substantial value. All these are really promising signs in my opinion and will definitely help reaching the target of 1 billion USD in the bilateral trade.

On Pakistan side, we have recently gotten the export of our Plant Origin Products registered with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. We have also submitted another dossier for various fresh fruits and vegetables from Pakistan to be exported to Vietnam.

In case of the Animal origin products, especially the processed and deboned meat from Pakistan, we have submitted our registration dossier to Animal Health Department of Vietnam.

Lastly, we have also submitted the registration dossier for export of fisheries to Vietnam. I hope the registration process goes smoothly for all these products. It would tremendously contribute to the consumer welfare of the Vietnamese nation and good quality products would be available to them at a competitive price.

For Vietnam’s exports to Pakistan, our business delegations regularly visit Vietnam to establish better B2B and both Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) and Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE) are playing an important role in it. More and more buyers from Pakistan are interested to buy from Vietnam and conduct long-term & reliable business deals. We are encouraging Pakistani buyers to source quality products from Vietnam for their export processing.

We have been trying to promote the exchange of goods between Pakistan and Vietnam despite the challenges faced due to Covid19 pandemic. We request support of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and VIETRADE to establish better B2B contacts between both countries.

I also urge VCCI and VIETRADE to form a business delegation to visit Pakistan to revitalize the exchange of business delegations and send an encouraging message to the business communities in both countries.

Pakistan is known for its rich history – religious heritage, unique cultural values with beautiful landscapes. Nevertheless, the presence of Pakistan and Pakistanis on Vietnamese media remains relatively modest. Could you share some ideas on promoting the images of Pakistan to Vietnamese people?

Pakistan, undoubtedly, is a tourist heaven by virtue of its breathtaking sceneries, cultural diversity, and archaeological remnants of ancient times. However, Vietnamese people are yet to discover it.

To project this soft power of Pakistan in Vietnam, the Embassy has been making concerted efforts. Documentaries about Pakistan are time to time run by Vietnam Television. On social media, the Embassy actively highlights the tourism potential of Pakistan. We also avidly participated in the International Travel Expo held in Ho Chi Minh city in September this year. Besides that, I have been in close contact with departments of tourism and tour operators to step up the bilateral tourism. To further promote the image of Pakistan, we are planning to arrange a visit of tour operators from Vietnam to Pakistan.

I believe that initiatives like this that provide opportunity for people from both countries to interact and explore each other’s culture and history will be pivotal in promoting image of both countries.

Ambassador of Pakistan to Viet Nam Samina Mehtab exchanged with guest during the "Maya" contemporary art exhibition at the University of Industrial Fine Arts in Hanoi on June 2022. (Source: Quochoi)

Recently, as an active, responsible member of the international community, Viet Nam has continued to participate in important multilateral institutions and mechanisms, including those with Pakistan’s presence such as United Nations Human Rights Council. In your opinion, what could both countries do to further promote cooperation in such international institutions and mechanisms?

Pakistan and Vietnam have traditionally extended unflinching support to each other on international fora. When viewed from an international horizon, both are peace-loving countries with a very balanced foreign policy approach. To further this cooperation in international institutions, both countries should carry on with the same policy. The mutual support should not only be extended for the voting on memberships but different resolutions that are put forward for the benefit of people all around the globe.

Climate change is emerging as the biggest threat for mankind in today’s era. Pakistan and Vietnam both rank very high on the list of countries affected by climate change. Pakistan and Vietnam both have been hit by floods recently. It would be for the benefit of the two people that both the countries stand behind each other’s initiatives to fight climate change by pooling in global resources.

It has been more than a year since you officially became the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Pakistan in Vietnam. What is your impression of the country and people of Vietnam?

During my one year and half stay in Vietnam, I have visited several provinces of Vietnam and met people from different regions. I have to say that so far, my experience has been amazing. I have always found the people of Vietnam very welcoming and cooperative. Divine has blessed Vietnam with spell-binding sceneries, and it is indeed a treat for eyes to explore your beautiful country. Vietnam’s colorful cultural diversity and sumptuous cuisines are undoubtedly matchless.

I have also found the people of Vietnam very diligent and hardworking, which has culminated into the commendable economic progress of the country in recent times. As far as my work experience is concerned, I have found the departments and officials of Vietnam very efficient and forthcoming. They have always welcomed my proposals and solved my problems on priority basis. It is an absolute pleasure and honor to work as Pakistan’s Ambassador to Vietnam and I look forward to enhanced collaboration in times to come.