An international workshop highlighting the Vietnam – Pakistan diplomatic ties, pillars of and elements influencing the bilateral ties took place in Hanoi on November 8.
Hanoi (VNA) – An international workshop highlighting the Vietnam – Pakistan diplomatic ties, pillars of and elements influencing the bilateral ties took place in Hanoi on November 8.
Jointly held by the Institute for Indian and Southwest Asian Studies (VIISAS) under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) and the Pakistani Embassy in Vietnam, the event provides a forum for domestic and foreign scholars to propose orientations to promote cooperation between the two countries.
Vice General Director of the VIISAS Dr. Pham Cao Cuong said the Vietnam-Pakistan relations have continuously developed across fields since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1972.
Their high-ranking leaders exchanged visits and reached important common perceptions to promote multifaceted cooperation.
The economic and trade relations have produced remarkable results, with the two-way trade surging by nearly 32% to 644 million USD in 2016, and hitting 794 million USD last year – the highest-ever level, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Over the recent years, many Vietnamese businesses have begun to implement large investment projects in Pakistan, bringing about initial but practical results, Cuong said.
The two countries discussed measures to promote cooperation in agro-forestry-aquaculture, transportation, electrical equipment production, automobile assembly, tourism, construction, and information technology.
Pakistani Ambassador to Vietnam Samina Mehtab said the two sides will enhance the exchange of all-level visits, work closely to maintain and promote effectively bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and promote negotiations towards signing cooperation agreements in culture, sports, tourism, aviation and maritime transport, thus creating a legal corridor to expand their cooperation in related fields.
She underlined the necessity for the two sides to strengthen high-level meetings and cooperation between their ministries and sectors, as well as expand economic connection, towards soon lifting the two-way trade to 1 billion USD.
The diplomat also suggested the two sides boost cooperation at multilateral forums and coordination in the fight against transnational crimes, and soon sign agreements on mutual legal assistance.
Le Trung Hieu, deputy director of Asia Pacific-Africa Department of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), emphasised the need to strengthen relations between the Communist Party of Vietnam and major parties of Pakistan, organise annual people-to-people friendship festivals, and implement high-level cooperation agreements between the two countries./.
Vietnam and Pakistan held their second political consultation in Islamabad capital of the Muslim country on April 13, during which they lauded their close collaboration and were unanimous to support each other at regional and international forums.
Major General Ngo Minh Tien, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army has asked Pakistan’s new military attaché to work to enhance the effectiveness of bilateral defence cooperation.
Vietnam’s Olympic football team is viewed as a tough competitor for the Pakistani squad, which is returning after its three-year ban from international football, noted Pakistani media.
The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence stands ready to welcome Pakistani military officers to Vietnam to study the Vietnamese language, a high-ranking officer said on May 22.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Pakistan Nguyen Tien Phong has presented a letter of credentials from State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc to Pakistani President Arif Alvi.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly departed from Hanoi on August 10 morning for a four-day state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), which is made at an invitation of RoK President Lee Jae Myung.
As part of the ASEAN Day celebrations, the Vietnamese embassy will also host the ASEAN Family Day 2025 in Ottawa to foster solidarity and community spirit among ASEAN members in Canada.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
Participants at the workshop (Photo: VNA) 
