The meeting between Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Thi Bich Thao and State Secretary of the Croatian Ministry of Tourism and Sports Tonči Glavina (Photo: VNA) Talkingto State Secretary Frano Matušić, Thao thanked the Croatian Government andpeople for their COVID-19 vaccine donation to Vietnam.
The ambassador proposed the two countries resume all-level mutual visits and enhancecooperation at international forums and organisations so as to capitalise on theadvantages created by the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to increasebilateral trade. She also called on Croatia to support and ratify the EU -Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) early while completing thelegal framework for bilateral trade and investment.
Both sidesshared the view that there remains much room for cooperation between Vietnam andCroatia.
The SoutheastAsian nation boasts numerous advantages in terms of agricultural and fisheryproducts, apparel, leather - footwear, electronic devices, tourism, and laboursupply that can meet the European country’s demand. Meanwhile, the CroatianGovernment’s support for the EU’s recognition of Vietnam’s “COVID-19 vaccinepassport” will facilitate exchange, mutual understanding, and cooperationbetween their businesses and peoples.
For hispart, Matušić highly valued the potential for economic and trade partnerships,expressing his hope that his country’s seaports will be a gateway forVietnamese goods to enter the Central European market.
He affirmedthat Croatia attaches importance to promoting the traditional friendship withVietnam, and asked the two foreign ministries to carry out a politicalconsultation soon to discuss measures for increasing people-to-people exchange,especially between young people of the countries.
Croatiais set to become a member of the Schengen Area in late 2022 and the Eurozone inearly 2023, which will create favourable conditions for the countries’ businessesand people to enhance collaboration, Matušić added.
At themeeting with State Secretary Tonči Glavina, Thao said she hopes the two sides willassist each other’s tourism promotion and facilitate exchange and cooperationbetween their businesses and people.
She alsosuggested stronger cooperation and sharing of experience in tourism, a strongsector of both countries.
Glavinavoiced his hope that Vietnam will support and take part in activities organisedby Croatia when this country serves as a member of the World TourismOrganisation (UNWTO)’s Executive Council for 2021 - 2025 and the Chair of the UNWTOCommittee on Tourism and Sustainability for 2021 - 2023.
He notedCroatia is ready to share its experience in safe and sustainable tourismreopening with Vietnam, adding that it served about 4,000 Vietnamese touristsin 2019 and wishes to welcome more in order to reinforce bilateral friendshipand cooperation./.
VNA
