President Vo Van Thuong receives Ambassadors of New Zealand and Peru

NDO - On the afternoon of January 10, at the Presidential Palace, during the meeting with New Zealand Ambassador, Ms. Tredene Dobson and Peruvian Ambassador, Mr. Augusto Morelli, who came to bid farewell at the end of their term, President Vo Van Thuong congratulated the two Ambassadors on successfully completing their term in Vietnam and hoped that regardless of their positions, the Ambassadors would continue to show affection for Vietnam and pay attention to promoting increasingly closer relations and cooperation with Vietnam.

President Vo Van Thuong receives New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Tredene Dobson. (Photo: Thong Nhat – VNA)

Receiving New Zealand Ambassador Tredene Dobson, President Vo Van Thuong highly appreciated the Ambassador's positive and effective contributions to deepening the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and New Zealand. Thanking President Vo Van Thuong for taking the time to receive him, recalling his special term in Vietnam in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, the New Zealand Ambassador stated that in difficult times, New Zealand treasures Vietnam as a sincere friend, supporting each other to overcome the pandemic and recover the economy. The two countries resumed high-level dialogue immediately after reopening and the New Zealand Prime Minister chose Vietnam as the first country to visit after the pandemic (November 2022); then National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue visited New Zealand (December 2022). The Ambassador said that after the pandemic, he had the opportunity to visit localities in all three regions of Vietnam and was deeply impressed by the hospitality of the Vietnamese people. The New Zealand Government is looking forward to multi-faceted cooperation with Vietnam, thereby practically moving towards the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-New Zealand diplomatic relations in 2025.

President Vo Van Thuong was pleased to see that the two countries have resumed many high-level contacts immediately after the pandemic and promoted multifaceted cooperation to restore the economy and society. Although economic, trade and investment cooperation is modest, the two countries are striving to soon reach a turnover of 2 billion USD. Cooperation in the fields of defense, security, education and training has also achieved good results.

New Zealand's programs supporting Vietnam have achieved positive results. The two countries have shared and supported each other in international and multilateral forums. The positive results in bilateral cooperation in recent times are a positive foundation for promoting cooperation activities, towards the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2025. Along with his contributions to promoting multifaceted cooperation during his tenure, President Vo Van Thuong highly appreciated the Ambassador's many activities promoting people-to-people exchanges. The President hopes that in the future, no matter what position he holds, the Ambassador will always show affection and promote the Vietnam-New Zealand cooperation relationship. * Receiving Peruvian Ambassador Augusto Morelli, the President congratulated the Ambassador on his excellent completion of his term in Vietnam, making positive and effective contributions to promoting the good relations between Vietnam and Peru.

President Vo Van Thuong received Peruvian Ambassador Augusto Morelli to bid farewell. (Photo: Thong Nhat – VNA)

Ambassador Augusto Morelli sincerely thanked the President for taking the time to meet him, and expressed his joy at having a successful term in Vietnam, learning and studying many of Vietnam's development experiences. Vietnam is Peru's number one partner in ASEAN and appreciates many Vietnamese investors investing in Peru. The Ambassador sent the Peruvian President's regards to President Vo Van Thuong and said that 2024 will be the third time Peru will host APEC. Peru hopes that Vietnam will support and cooperate with Peru to successfully organize this event, and looks forward to welcoming the President to visit Peru and attend the APEC Summit. The Ambassador expressed his gratitude to the President and the Vietnamese authorities for helping the Ambassador fulfill his duties during his term and respectfully presented the President with a Peruvian ceramic gift, decorated by a Vietnamese artist. Respectfully receiving the meaningful gift, combining Vietnamese and Peruvian culture, from the Ambassador, President Vo Van Thuong thanked Ambassador Augusto Morelli for his good feelings and love for the culture, country and people of Vietnam.

The President was pleased to see that the two countries have achieved positive cooperation results in many areas. Peru is an important partner of Vietnam in the Latin American region and has sincerely shared visions and supported each other at regional and international forums. Peru has supported Vietnamese enterprises to invest in Peru, including telecommunications enterprises, and hopes that the two countries will aim to increase bilateral trade turnover.

Recalling his trip to attend APEC in the United States in November 2023, the President said he had met and discussed with Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarr. The two leaders agreed that the authorities of the two countries need to promote the organization of many practical and meaningful activities towards the 30th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Peru diplomatic relations in 2024. Thanking the President of Peru for inviting him to attend the APEC Summit 2024, the President said that Vietnam will actively coordinate and support Peru in successfully assuming the role of host country. Vietnam thanked Peru for supporting Vietnam in hosting the APEC Summit in 2027. The President wished the Ambassador success in his new position and always strive to promote the good relationship between Vietnam and Peru.

SONG LINH