The King of Bhutan - Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (third, right), Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau (second, right) and staff members of the Vietnamese Embassy pose for a photo (Photo: VNA) New Delhi (VNA) – Vietnamese Ambassador to India, Nepal and Bhutan Pham Sanh Chau presented his credentials to the King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, in the country’s Thimphu capital city on January 4.
At the following meeting with the king, Chau said he is delighted to assume the task of an ambassador to Bhutan – the world’s happiest country.
He pledged to exert every effort to promote the two countries’ cooperation in a substantive and effective manner.
King Wangchuck congratulated the diplomat on his appointment as Ambassador of Vietnam to Bhutan, considering this an important milestone since bilateral diplomatic ties were set up in 2012.
He spoke highly of the Southeast Asian nation’s achievements in socio-economic development, poverty elimination, and especially upholding traditions. He also briefed the ambassador on his country’s efforts to preserve national identities and traditional values, along with its development successes since he came to the throne over 12 years ago.
The same day, Ambassador Chau paid courtesy calls to Prime Minister Lyonchhen Lotay Tshering, Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji, Director of the Tourism Council Chimmey Pem, Auditor General Tshering Kezang, along with leaders of some other ministries and sectors of Bhutan.
At the events, the Bhutanese officials expressed their delight at the progress in bilateral connections since the diplomatic relationship was founded.
With cultural, religious and development similarities, the two sides can exchange development experience and make use of each other’s economic advantages, they said.
They also suggested English teachers be sent from Bhutan to support high schools in Vietnam, and the two sides share experience in sustainable tourism development and hydropower utilisation.
For his part, Chau asked Bhutan to support the bilateral political consultation mechanism at the department director level and waive visas for Vietnamese citizens holding diplomatic and official passports. He urged more cultural and people-to-people exchanges, stronger cooperation in tourism and auditing, and coordination at international and regional forums.
The ambassador also called for Bhutan’s support for Vietnam’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021.
He also took this occasion to invite Bhutanese leaders to attend the celebration of Vesak, or the Buddha’s birthday, in Vietnam this May.
Vietnam and Bhutan boast sound friendship with their leaders’ regular exchange of congratulatory messages on the occasion of big festivals.
Vietnam mainly exports tractors and wood furniture to Bhutan. Meanwhile, the AA Corporation of Vietnam and the AdrukA company of Bhutan have jointly invested in a wood furniture manufacturing project in the latter country since 2011.
More than 1,430 Vietnamese tourists visited Bhutan in 2018, according to the Tourism Council of Bhutan.
Bhutan is selective is establishing relations with other countries. So far, it has only set up diplomatic ties with 53 nations. –VNA
VNA
