President hosts reception for Romanian Ambassador
VGP - President Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception for Romanian Ambassador Cristina Romila in Ha Noi on January 4, on the occasion of the two countries' celebration of the 73rd anniversary of diplomatic relations (1950-2023).
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (right) hosts a reception for Romanian Ambassador Cristina Romila at the Presidential Palace, Ha Noi, January 4, 2023. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)
Appreciating Romania's support for Viet Nam in its previous struggle for independence and current development, the President noted that Romania has helped train thousands of Vietnamese students and postgraduates and aided Viet Nam with 300,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine.
Nguyen highlighted that the two sides have maintained contacts at all levels, especially between their senior leaders, demonstrating increasing political trust between the two countries.
Specifically, the President had a phone conversation with the President of Romania in July 2021, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met the President of Romania on the sidelines of the ASEAN-EU Summit in December 2022.
President Nguyen hailed Romania for actively supporting and promoting the signing of the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and its soon ratification of the EVIPA.
Bilateral trade was estimated to be approximately US$450 million in 2022, an annual increase of more than 15 percent compared to 2021. However, this figure is still not commensurate with the nations' cooperation potential. Hence, the President wished it to grow ten times in the time to come.
Labor cooperation has reaped encouraging results, with about 5,000 Vietnamese workers currently working in Romania in mechanical engineering, construction, welding, shipbuilding, tourism, hotel, and high-tech agriculture.
Besides, the President suggested the two sides coordinate to expand labor cooperation to fields that Romania and the EU have demand.
President Nguyen Nguyen also wished Ambassador Cristina Romila would contribute further to boosting the bilateral ties, particularly regarding delegation exchanges and high-level interactions, pledging support from competent Vietnamese agencies for her work.
The Ambassador stated that Romania consisently attached importance to and wished to deepen its collaboration with Viet Nam and supported the Southeast Asian nation at international forums.
She hoped the two sides would strengthen cooperation across fields, especially trade, labor, and education./.
