Pakistan keen to further strengthen state, economic ties with Vietnam

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Capital Administration and Development Division Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry Tuesday said Pakistan was keen to further strengthen state and economic relations with Vietnam for the benefit of the people of the two countries.

Speaking at a reception hosted by the Vietnamese ambassador here to celebrate 72nd National Day of Vietnam, the minister said both Pakistan and Vietnam have legal framework to boost bilateral relations.

He said Pakistan considered Vietnam as an important country and endeavored to have very strong relations between the two countries. He said the recent economic boom of Vietnam provided important lesson to the emerging economies of the world.

The minister said that the high level exchanges of visits between the two countries had provided an opportunity to them to further strengthen their relations in various fields.

He said both Pakistan and Vietnam also offer tremendous investment opportunities in a number of areas.

The ambassador of Vietnam to Islamabad Nguyen Xuan Luu while speaking on the occasion said that Vietnam's economic success and impressive gains in the social sectors have brought healthy change in the lives of Vietnamese people.

He said the two-way trade between Pakistan and Vietnam in last year was over $500 million, adding that the two countries have inked various agreements which gave them a framework for boosting their relations.

He said as an ambassador he got every support from the government and business community of Pakistan for expanding bilateral and business relations between the two countries.

Later the chief guest Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry along with the ambassador cut the cake to mark the 72nd anniversary of Vietnam.

The reception was attended, among others by the diplomats, politicians and members of the business community. The participants were seen engaged in  an exchange of views on the latest US policy towards South Asia and its possible implications for the region.

Pakistan and Vietnam enjoy good relations and the former has been exporting cotton, leather and pharmaceutical products to Vietnam. There is a great potential between the two countries to give further fillip to their trade relations.