New heights in Vietnam's foreign affairs

Taking place on the same day (October 11), the official visit to China by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong, the State visit to the Republic of India by President Truong Tan Sang and the official visit to Vietnam by German Chancellor Angela Merkel are concrete steps taken by our Party and State in proactively implementing an open, diversified, multilateral foreign policy, being a friend, a reliable and responsible partner in the international community.

Vietnam-China comprehensive and equal cooperative partnership

The official visit to the People's Republic of China by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong takes place in the context of the Vietnam-China relationship being constantly strengthened through political, economic, cultural, and sports activities... continuously organized in recent times. In the spirit of the "16 golden words" and the motto of "four goods", the visit, which lasts from today until October 15, is aimed at continuing to promote the comprehensive and equal strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations, which the two countries just solemnly celebrated 60 years ago on January 18, 2010, as well as since the normalization of relations in 1991, the extensive relationship in all fields between Vietnam and China has made great strides.

First of all, in the economic and trade fields, since 2004, China has continuously been Vietnam's leading trade partner. Bilateral trade turnover between the two countries has continuously increased rapidly and by 2010 reached more than 27 billion USD, accounting for more than 17% of Vietnam's total import-export value; China's investment in Vietnam ranks 14th out of 92 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.

As an important partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), China has signed a Free Trade Agreement with ASEAN and with a commitment to reduce tariffs significantly from 2010, many items will have import taxes from 0% to 5%.
For many years now, China has been continuously increasing the scale of preferential credit for Vietnam, focusing on a number of large economic cooperation projects such as the project to build a copper mining and smelting plant in Sin Quyen, the Ha Bac fertilizer plant, the Quang Ninh thermal power plant; the rural telecommunications project; the Hanoi - Ha Dong urban railway project...

In particular, the cooperative relationship between the Communist Party of China and the Communist Party of Vietnam has also been continuously promoted, as the two sides regularly maintain exchanges and establish cooperation mechanisms, exchange and share leadership and management experiences, and theoretical research achievements between Party agencies.

The comprehensive cooperative relationship between the two countries has been established in most fields and at all levels, from the central level to ministries, branches and localities. The people of the two countries have promoted many diverse and practical cooperative activities.

Therefore, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's visit to China will certainly make bilateral relations deeper, more comprehensive, more open, on the basis of equality, mutual respect and appreciation, for the long-term peace and prosperity of the two peoples.

Towards the Vietnam - India Friendship Year 2012

Starting today, with the aim of promoting the long-standing traditional relationship and strategic partnership between Vietnam and India, the State visit of President Truong Tan Sang to India is also expected and believed by the people of both countries to be a great success.

Promoting the tradition of friendship, Vietnam and India are constantly expanding and strengthening bilateral cooperation mechanisms. Along with political cooperation, cooperation in the fields of defense, security, finance, education and training, science and technology between Vietnam and India is being promoted.

President Truong Tan Sang.

India currently ranks 27th out of 92 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. Two-way trade turnover has been increasing steadily in recent years, reaching nearly 1.8 billion USD in the first 6 months of this year alone. The target that the two countries are aiming for is to reach a bilateral trade turnover of 5-6 billion USD by 2015, which is feasible.

Vietnam and India have agreed to designate 2012 as the “Vietnam-India Friendship Year” to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 5th anniversary of strategic partnership.

In that context, President Truong Tan Sang's State visit to India is an important event, contributing to promoting the Vietnam - India strategic partnership to a new level.

Germany - an important partner of Vietnam in the EU

Along with two important visits by our Party and State leaders to China and India, today we also welcome the official visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Located on two different continents, the Vietnam - Germany relationship has a long tradition and always holds an important position in the foreign policy of each country.

Germany is one of Vietnam’s leading partners in the EU, with turnover accounting for nearly 30% of the total Vietnam-EU trade turnover. Germany ranks 5th among EU countries with direct investment in Vietnam. In the field of development cooperation, Germany continues to consider Vietnam as one of the priority countries to receive ODA in Asia, focusing on the fields of vocational training, human resource development, infrastructure and environment.

There are currently more than 100,000 Vietnamese people living, studying and working in Germany and more than 100,000 Vietnamese people know German because they have studied and worked in Germany. These are important catalysts contributing to strengthening and expanding cooperation between the two countries.

A developed Germany, playing the leading role of Europe, and a Vietnam that is actively innovating, opening up and integrating deeply and comprehensively into the global economic, political and cultural life, are promising many opportunities to complement, cooperate and help each other for mutual development.

With such important activities, Vietnam is demonstrating a proactive and independent foreign policy style with a sincere and open attitude in consolidating and expanding relations with major partners in the world, for the ultimate goal of peace, independence and development.

According to VOV