Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign AffairsPham Binh Minh has said foreign diplomats and heads of internationalorganisations contributed to Vietnam’s socio-economic development in 2018.
Meeting with the diplomatic corps in Hanoi on January 23, the Deputy PM thankedthem for their contributions to promoting friendship and cooperation betweenVietnam and countries as well as international organisations around the world.
He highlighted the country’s achievements in the year, saying that despiteformidable challenges, Vietnam fulfilled 12 socio-economic criteria set for theyear, with GDP reaching 7.08 percent -the highest level recorded since 2008.
Regarding external affairs, he said that the 61 high-level visits in 2018 madethe friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and foreign countries developinto a more extensive manner.
In 2019, Vietnam will consistently promote its efforts to integrate into the globaleconomy, he stressed, underlining that the country will strongly engage ineconomic linkages and implement the signed free trade agreements to bring more opportunitieson economic cooperation, trade and investment between Vietnam and othercountries.
Chairmanof the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung said Hanoi comprehensivelydeployed its foreign work in 2018 and reaped remarkable results, contributingto promoting the socio-economic development of the capital city and the countryin general.
He thanked the diplomats and heads of international organisations and representativesforeign enterprises from countries for their contributions to the friendshipand effective cooperation with Hanoi in recent times.
Chung affirmed that in the coming time, Hanoi will continue pursuing its goalto build Hanoi into a green, civilised and modern city, while promotingadministrative reform, improving investment and business environment, raisingcompetitiveness and optimising resources for development, he stressed.
For his part, Venezuelan Ambassador to Vietnam Jorge Rondon Uzcategui, who is headof the diplomatic corps, shared his joy with Vietnam’s strong and stablegrowth, saying that Vietnam is an open country in bilateral cooperation andalways supports justice, he stressed.
“We recognise Vietnam’s efforts and are determined to make more contributionsto Vietnam’s development in the coming time”, he said.-VNA
VNA
