Celebrating 50 years of diplomatic relations with foreign countries
Promote trade promotion, investment, tourism, strengthen friendship
Article, photo: KHANH NAM
2023 marks a special milestone, the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and countries: Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Singapore, Canada, the UK and Japan. Welcoming these diplomatic events, the People’s Committee of Can Tho city developed an organizational plan, along with specific preparation and implementation steps from the beginning of the year.
Department of External Relations in Can Tho City cooperated with CPA, The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations of Can Tho city met to discuss the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the UK in Can Tho City at Consulate General of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Ho Chi Minh City.
On December 30, 2022, Chairman of Can Tho city People’s Committee Mr. Tran Viet Truong signed Plan No. 248/KH-UBND of the People’s Committee of Can Tho city on organizing activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and some countries in 2023. The plan aims to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Singapore, Canada, the UK and Japan, as well as strengthening cooperation and friendship with foreign partners in the city.
The purpose of the Plan is to tighten and deepen the cooperation and friendship between Can Tho City and foreign partners, contributing to bringing the city’s external activities into depth and efficiency. To take advantage of strengthening cooperation, inviting and promoting investment with foreign partners in the fields of economy, education, culture, agriculture and promoting the image and position of Can Tho city. Commemorative activities in the city are organized in a form suitable to practical needs and conditions, friendly cooperation with each partner, ensuring both formal and economical and effective. Department of External Relations in Can Tho City is assigned to be the focal point, urging and guiding agencies to implement plans to ensure strictness, compliance with regulations, meeting the requirements and plans set out; monitor and summarize the implementation of the plan.
Recently, Department of External Relations in Can Tho City cooperated with CPA, The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations of Can Tho city to meet and work directly with the consulate general to discuss the implementation of activities to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations with countries: England, France, Italy, Netherlands, Canada, Japan, Australia, Singapore in Can Tho City. The business trip was recognized as successful, appreciated by partners.
Mrs. Emily Hamblin, Consulate General of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Ho Chi Minh City, said: “This is the first southern locality to proactively propose foreign activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations with the Consulate General of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Ho Chi Minh City, which shows that Can Tho City attaches great importance to its relationship with the United Kingdom. 2023 is an important year for the two countries with a series of milestones: 50 years of Vietnam-UK diplomatic relations, 13 years of strategic partnership, 2 years of implementation of the Vietnam-UK Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA). The UK’s three main themes for celebrations are trade, sustainable development and education. The proposed activities of Can Tho city are fully consistent with these contents. I support the organization of commemorative activities in Can Tho City and will actively coordinate to bring about practical effects. Hopefully, in the coming time, this relationship will be increasingly strengthened and develop well”.
During the recent visit and work in Can Tho City of the delegation of Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Vietnam, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Vietnam Mr. Kees van Baar, said that Can Tho City and the Mekong Delta region is one of the key activities of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Vietnam. Over the past time, the cooperation activities of the Netherlands with Can Tho City and the Mekong Delta region through seminars, conferences, cooperation programs, funding, have brought good results. Vietnam has always been the preferred destination for Dutch investors. He said that through information from the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Ho Chi Minh City about the meeting with representatives of Can Tho City to discuss plans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Netherlands in Can Tho City, he is very supportive of the organization of activities that the two sides launched.
According to Mrs. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diep, Director of Department of External Relations of Can Tho City, at the meetings, consuls-general and representatives of consulates-general of other countries highly appreciated the initiative and positivity of Can Tho City in planning and preparing to organize events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations; at the same time, she said that the activities are carefully prepared, in accordance with the priorities and strengths of each country and this good relationship will be increasingly strengthened and developed. Mrs. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Diep added that, in the working sessions, basically, the parties agreed on activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations proposed by Can Tho City. Commemorative activities focused mainly on environmental protection, enhancing cultural, culinary and educational exchanges, promoting trade activities between Can Tho City and partner countries. Some consulates general and representatives of the consulate general also proactively propose more activities to make the holiday more practical and effective. The proposed activities are based on the strengths and priorities of that country for the Mekong Delta region in general and Can Tho city in particular, such as sustainable transport activities, favourable solutions, trade and education activities…
Hopefully, from diplomatic events, it will be an opportunity for Can Tho city to contribute to tightening the friendship between Vietnam and other countries in general, between localities of other countries and Can Tho city in particular. The events are also an environment for businesses of other countries to have the opportunity to exchange and promote quality products, contributing to promoting trade, investment and tourism, strengthening friendship and mutual understanding.
Translated by Gia Nguyen
