Celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Republic of Malta

Mr. Nguyen Van Dung, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee delivered a congratulatory speech. (Photo: Xuan Khu/VNA)

On the evening of December 13, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Malta in Vietnam solemnly held a ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Republic of Malta (1974-2024) and the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of Malta (December 13, 1974-December 13, 2024).

Mr. Christopher Cutajar, Permanent Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Europe and Trade of Malta; Mr. John Busuttil, Ambassador of the Republic of Malta to China and concurrently to Vietnam; Mr. Nguyen Hoang Long, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade; Mr. Nguyen Van Dung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City; Mr. Hoang Trung Nam, Honorary Consul of Malta in Vietnam attended the ceremony.

Speaking on behalf of the City's leaders at the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Van Dung said that despite being geographically far apart, Vietnam and Malta have always maintained an effective cooperative relationship in many fields, from trade, education to cultural exchange.

Over the past 50 years, the Vietnam-Malta relationship has achieved many remarkable achievements. In the coming time and beyond the next 50 years, with political trust, mutual understanding and complementary strengths, the Vietnam-Ho Chi Minh City-Malta relationship will be ready to welcome new breakthroughs.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Dung, Malta, with its strategic location in the heart of the Mediterranean and as a bridge between Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, has great potential for cooperation with Ho Chi Minh City as the economic, cultural and innovation center of Vietnam. However, compared to the potential, there are still many opportunities and room for both sides to exploit and develop together.

The City leader expressed his belief that the visit of the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Malta to Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, as well as the opening of the new office of the Honorary Consul of Malta in Vietnam, will open up new opportunities for bilateral relations to go further.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Dung, the event “Malta Week in Vietnam” from December 11-15 and the photo exhibition “Malta Experience” held in Ho Chi Minh City not only celebrates the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Republic of Malta, but also enriches the cultural life of the people of the City, demonstrating the spirit of openness, cooperation and solidarity between the two countries.

Mr. Christopher Cutajar, Permanent Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Europe and Trade of Malta, spoke at the ceremony. (Photo: Xuan Khu/VNA)

Mr. Christopher Cutajar, Permanent Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Europe and Trade of Malta, said that the relationship between Malta and Vietnam, despite the distance, has grown through the changing stages of the world in terms of politics, society and technology. However, the core principles on which the two countries built their relationship remain unchanged with commonalities and common interests for the two countries to promote cooperation in many areas for the benefit of the people of both countries.

Appreciating the dynamic development of Vietnam's economy, Mr. Christopher Cutajar expressed his confidence in the strong development of bilateral relations, including economic relations. Malta looks forward to a future of close cooperation with Vietnam, taking advantage of unique strengths and shared values, together creating a more dynamic and sustainable relationship, greater prosperity and shared success.

In his welcoming speech, Mr. John Busuttil, Ambassador of the Republic of Malta to China and concurrently to Vietnam, expressed his joy at the positive development of the relationship between Malta and Vietnam, based on cultural similarities and good friendship between the people of the two countries; he believed that in the coming time, the bilateral relationship between Malta and Vietnam will continue to develop positively with increasingly close ties between the people of the two countries, especially the youth of the two countries.

Mr. Huynh Trung Nam, Honorary Consul of Malta in Vietnam, said that on the basis of the good traditional friendship that has been nurtured over the past 50 years, Vietnam and Malta have built a strong, strategic and increasingly extensive cooperative relationship. Vietnam, an important member of ASEAN, and Malta, a prosperous center of the EU, are creating a strong inter-regional relationship that not only benefits both sides but also contributes positively to global peace and prosperity./.

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/ky-niem-50-nam-thiet-lap-quan-he-ngoai-giao-viet-nam-va-cong-hoa-malta-post1002003.vnp