Vietnam-Colombia relations increasingly becoming more substantial

On the evening of July 22, local time, the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and Colombia, in coordination with the Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, solemnly held a ceremony to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Republic of Colombia.

According to VNA correspondent in Latin America, the ceremony was attended by Party Central Committee member, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Vietnamese National Assembly Vu Hai Ha, Party Central Committee member, Secretary of Binh Duong Provincial Party Committee Nguyen Van Loi, Colombian Deputy Foreign Minister Jorge Rojas Rodrigez, Deputy Minister of Culture Jorge Ignacio Zorro Sanchez, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism Arturo Bravo and representatives of relevant Colombian ministries and agencies.

The ceremony was held at the Diplomatic Academy of Colombia in Bogota. On behalf of the Colombian Government, Deputy Foreign Minister Jorge Rojas Rodrigez expressed his deepest condolences to the Government and people of Vietnam upon hearing of the passing of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, and highly appreciated the great contributions of the General Secretary to the socio-economic development of Vietnam. Delegates and guests observed a minute of silence to remember General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela and Colombia Vu Trung My sent his thanks to the Colombian Government for expressing condolences to the Party, Government and People of Vietnam on the passing of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Guests observed a minute of silence for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. (Photo: Phi Hung/VNA)

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Vu Trung My emphasized that, despite the geographical distance, the relationship between Vietnam and Colombia was initiated early in the process of President Ho Chi Minh traveling around the world to find a way to save the country. In 1912, he stopped at Martinique Island in the Caribbean and several South American countries. This was the foundation for Uncle Ho to sow the first seeds of solidarity, friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Latin American countries, including Colombia.

This relationship continued in the 60s and 70s of the last century when Latin American people, including the Colombian people, organized movements to protest the Vietnam War, as well as always expressed enthusiastic support for the just struggle for independence and freedom of the Vietnamese people, thereby contributing to the formation of a people's front around the world supporting Vietnam.

This relationship was later interpreted in language through the reportage “Vietnam por dentro” by the great Colombian writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez after his visit to Vietnam in 1979, a time when Vietnam was in the process of overcoming the severe consequences of two wars for independence.

The reportage by writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez, also the author of the classic novel “One Hundred Years of Solitude,” has been a great source of encouragement for the Vietnamese people during difficult times.

According to Ambassador Vu Trung My, based on those symbolic foundations, over 45 years of development, the relationship between the two countries has been increasingly strengthened and substantiated in many areas, especially in trade and economic cooperation.

Bilateral trade turnover is expected to reach 790 million USD in 2023, doubling within 5 years from 2018, making Colombia Vietnam's 5th largest trading partner in Latin America.

Delegates take a group photo at the ceremony. (Photo: Phi Hung/VNA)

For his part, Deputy Foreign Minister Jorge Rojas Rodrigez expressed his joy at the positive development in bilateral relations over the past years, especially in the context that the two sides have been coordinating and maintaining mutual support at international organizations, multilateral forums and inter-regional cooperation mechanisms such as the United Nations, the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC), and cooperation between ASEAN and the Pacific Alliance.

The positive growth in two-way trade turnover is clear evidence that bilateral trade relations are being increasingly consolidated and strengthened.

Expressing admiration for the past struggle for national liberation and reunification as well as the achievements of the renovation process initiated and led by the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Colombian Deputy Foreign Minister emphasized that the two countries need to continue to promote cooperation in all fields to match the existing good political relationship.

Within the framework of the celebration, the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and Colombia previously coordinated with the Diplomatic Academy of Colombia to organize a seminar on Vietnam-Colombia diplomatic relations, attracting the participation of many international relations researchers and students, and organized a photo exhibition to introduce the beauty of the country, culture and people of Vietnam./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/quan-he-viet-nam-colombia-ngay-cang-di-vao-thuc-chat-post966403.vnp