Tel Aviv (VNA) – Former Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Yossi Beilin has recalled how a chance meeting with Vietnam in 1993 sparked a diplomatic relationship that has grown into expanded partnerships in the fields of technology, electrical vehicles, smart agriculture, and cyber security, among others.
Beilin recently shared with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)’s resident reporter in Tel Aviv his complete surprise upon learning that a Vietnamese delegation was waiting to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on setting up formal diplomatic relations on July 12, 1993. He said at that time the ties with Vietnam were not among Israel’s top priorities as Israel thought the Southeast Asian country was not interested in it. But then, out of the blue, the delegation came, ready to sign the pact, he added.
According to Beilin, who kept a close watch on the war in Vietnam during 1960s and 1970s, this development occurred against the backdrop of positive changes in the Middle East peace process following the Madrid Conference in 1991. Vietnam's proactive step was seen as an unexpected but highly positive turning point that helped Israel gradually break its isolation within the international community.
From Israel’s perspective, establishing diplomatic ties with Vietnam carried clear strategic, economic, and security significance as part of the efforts to expand the number of countries that had previously boycotted Israel but had changed their policies by that time.
Over three decades, the bilateral relations, he said, have developed robustly, particularly in the areas of trade and technology. Bilateral trade has grown from just tens of millions of USD to several billion USD nowadays, including numerous technological products, electric vehicles, and mechanical equipment shipped from Vietnam to Israel. In the meantime, Israeli companies have also intensified investment and technology transfer in smart agriculture and cybersecurity sectors to Vietnam.
Besides, Vietnam has become an attractive tourist destination for Israeli people, with dozens of thousands of Israeli visitors travelling to Vietnam and the figure expected to increase in the coming time.
A notable milestone, he underscored, was the signing of the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA) on July 25, 2023, opening wide doors for bilateral flows of goods and investment.
Looking back on the past journey, he expressed his belief that both sides made the right choice for the benefit of both peoples.
Beilin is an Israeli politician prominent for his role in Israel’s peace processes and internal political reforms. He served as a member of the Knesset from 1988 to 2008 and held numerous important positions, including Deputy Foreign Minister (1992-1995), Minister of Economy and Planning (1995), Minister of Justice (1999-2001), and Minister of Religious Affairs (2000-2001).
In July, the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel hosted a range of activities commemorating 32 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations, celebrating a journey of vibrant cooperation from economy and trade to tourism and high technology./.
