Hanoi (VNA) - General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam received in Hanoi on October 3 the ambassadors of Palestine, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Brazil and France, who presented their credentials and officially began their terms of office in Vietnam.
Welcoming the ambassadors, the top leader highlighted their important role in effectively implementing agreements and commitments between Vietnam and their respective countries, helping further deepen bilateral ties in a faster and more substantive manner for the mutual benefit of each country.
He expressed his confidence that the ambassadors will successfully fulfil their missions and affirmed that Vietnamese ministries, sectors and localities stand ready to coordinate with and facilitate their work.
Through the ambassadors, he conveyed his greetings and appreciation to the leaders of their respective countries for their attention to and efforts to promote relations with Vietnam. He urged the diplomats to proactively propose specific projects, develop clear action plans and strengthen coordination with Vietnamese ministries, sectors and localities, with a view to delivering tangible benefits to the people, serving each country’s development goals and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity in the region and the world.
He briefed the ambassadors on Vietnam’s development orientations in the new period, stressing the need to fully leverage the strengths and potential of Vietnam and countries, while meeting each side’s development needs.
Vietnam is advancing a new growth model, with science and technology, innovation and digital transformation serving as key drivers, towards achieving its development targets, including double-digit economic growth, he noted.
The Party General Secretary and President said that Vietnam recorded positive results in the first nine months of 2026, with economic growth approaching 10%.
In external relations, Vietnam consistently pursues a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, and diversification and multilateralisation of external relations. The country is also proactively promoting deep, substantive and effective international integration, creating a favourable environment for national development and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
The ambassadors expressed their impression at Vietnam’s achievements and development, highlighting the country’s potential and prospects and expressing confidence that Vietnam would achieve its development goals.
They pledged to make every effort and work closely with Vietnamese authorities to further advance bilateral relations in a deeper and more substantive manner, while strengthening cooperation in such areas as economy, investment, science and technology, education and training, culture, and people-to-people exchanges, accompanying Vietnam in its new era of development.
Receiving Palestinian Ambassador Shadi Abu Zarqa, Party General Secretary and President To Lam congratulated him on his appointment and conveyed greetings and an invitation to visit Vietnam to President of the State of Palestine Mahmoud Abbas.
Sharing the difficulties facing Palestine and its people, the host reaffirmed Vietnam’s consistent support for the Palestinian people’s legitimate struggle.
He expressed his hope that during his tenure, the ambassador would contribute actively to strengthening the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Palestine, particularly through people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in culture and education.
Ambassador Shadi Abu Zarqa congratulated Vietnam on its significant socio-economic achievements, expressing appreciation for Vietnam’s valuable support for the Palestinian people, which he said serves as a great source of encouragement for their cause.
At his meeting with Czech Ambassador Lukas Kaucky, the General Secretary and President affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to its traditional friendship with the Czech Republic, one of Vietnam’s leading partners in Central and Eastern Europe and its first Strategic Partner in the region.
He suggested both sides closely coordinating in implementing high-level agreements and deepening the new cooperation framework, while expanding trade and exploring new areas of collaboration, with the goal of raising bilateral trade to 5 billion USD.
He noted that the Czech Republic can serve as a gateway for Vietnam to strengthen ties with Central and Eastern Europe, while Vietnam is ready to act as a bridge for the Czech Republic to expand cooperation with ASEAN. He also expressed appreciation for the Czech Government’s support for the Vietnamese community in the country and called for continued coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums in the interests of regional and global peace, stability and prosperity.
Ambassador Kaucky described his appointment as an honour, highlighting the long-standing bonds between the two countries. He underlined the important role of the Vietnamese community and generations of Vietnamese people who studied in the Czech Republic, as well as Czech citizens living and working in Vietnam, as bridges between the two peoples.
He affirmed that Vietnam is among the Czech Republic’s key partners in the region and pledged to make every effort to further strengthen the Vietnam-Czech Republic Strategic Partnership, while promoting comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam, the Czech Republic and the European Union.
Welcoming Danish Ambassador Lina Gandlose Hansen, General Secretary and President Lam congratulated her on taking up her post as the two countries celebrate the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations. He conveyed his greetings to the King and Queen of Denmark and expressed appreciation for Denmark’s valuable support for Vietnam.
He called for stronger political ties and greater economic, trade and investment cooperation, as well as effective implementation of the Green Strategic Partnership.
He highlighted opportunities for expanded collaboration in energy, maritime and marine economic development, science and technology, innovation, green transition and digital transformation. Given Denmark’s strengths as a maritime power, he encouraged closer cooperation in the field and called for greater people-to-people exchanges, including the establishment of a direct air route between the two countries.
Ambassador conveyed greetings from King Frederik X and reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment as a long-standing and trusted partner of Vietnam. She said Denmark will continue supporting Vietnam in implementing the Green Strategic Partnership and achieving its net-zero emissions target, while promoting cooperation in innovation, renewable energy, infrastructure and sustainable food systems.
The ambassador pledged to contribute to making bilateral ties deeper, more substantive and effective.
At his reception for RoK Ambassador Lee Miyon, the Vietnamese leader expressed his satisfaction with the positive and comprehensive cooperation achievements the two countries have attained since establishing diplomatic relations nearly 35 years ago.
He called for continued delegation exchanges at all levels and effective implementation of bilateral commitments and agreements. He urged the two sides to strengthen practical cooperation in defence and security, create breakthroughs in economic ties, and effectively advance the new pillar of science and technology cooperation.
He also called for efforts to reach the target of 100 billion USD in bilateral trade in 2026 and work towards 150 billion USD by 2030.
He also asked the RoK to share experience and support Vietnam in successfully hosting APEC 2027, while promoting cooperation in culture, tourism, labour and local-level exchanges, and creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in the RoK. The two sides should further coordinate and support each other on regional and international issues of shared concern, he said.
Ambassador Lee expressed her honour at returning to Vietnam as ambassador at a time when bilateral ties are developing strongly. She affirmed that the RoK attaches importance and gives priority to relations with Vietnam, which she described as a key ASEAN partner across multiple fields.
She expressed her hope that Korean businesses would have opportunities to participate in major projects in Vietnam and pledged close coordination with Vietnamese authorities in preparations for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Phu Quoc in 2027.
The ambassador pledged to serve as a bridge of friendship and cooperation and contribute to making the Vietnam-Republic of Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership increasingly substantive, effective and beneficial to both peoples.
At his meeting with Malaysian Ambassador Jamal Sharifuddin Bin Johan, General Secretary and President Lam congratulated him on his appointment and congratulated Malaysia on its successful ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, which he said had made important contributions to regional cooperation, stability and development.
He affirmed that Malaysia holds an important position in Vietnam’s foreign policy and expressed his wish to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
The host noted positive developments across bilateral ties, particularly strong growth in trade and investment, active defence and security cooperation, and expanding collaboration in culture, tourism, education and people-to-people exchanges. He said substantial room remains for further cooperation.
With both countries sharing the goal of becoming high-income developed economies, the Vietnamese leader suggested increasing the exchange of delegations at levels and finalising an Action Plan for 2026-2030 soon to effectively implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
He also urged closer cooperation in the economy, defence and security, as well as greater collaboration in energy, maritime affairs, science and technology and innovation. The two sides should continue strengthening coordination, ASEAN solidarity and ASEAN centrality, while supporting each other at regional and international forums, particularly ASEAN and the United Nations.
Ambassador Jamal Sharifuddin Bin Johan highlighted the elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Party General Secretary To Lam’s visit to Malaysia in November 2024.
Noting significant potential in trade, the halal industry and fisheries, the ambassador pledged to work closely with relevant agencies of both countries to strive for the 20 billion USD bilateral trade target and contribute to further deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
