Luxembourg treasures its relationship with Vietnam, Grand Duke of Luxembourg Henri said when he was presented with Vietnamese State President Truong Tan Sang’s credentials by Vietnam’s Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg Vuong Thua Phong on June 3.

The Grand Duke expressed his delight at the notable progress Vietnam has made in socio-economic development and foreign affair policies during its “Doi moi” (reform) period.

He said he hoped for closer ties and greater multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries, stressing that more opportunities were made available for bilateral cooperation in economics, trade and investment.

Luxembourg backs Vietnam in further expanding its collaboration with the European Union (EU) and will urge the EU’s early ratification of the Vietnam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) and early conclusion of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, Henri noted.

He asked Phong to convey his greetings to President Truong Tan Sang and other State leaders.

Vietnam and Luxembourg have inked the Indicative Cooperation Programme for 2011-2015, in which the Luxembourg government pledged to provide 42 million EUR in non-refundable aid for rural development, healthcare, tourism training, finance and banking in Vietnam.

In addition, the two nations have worked together with the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on healthcare and family planning.-VNA