Vietnamese State leader hosts Armenian NA President

The Vietnamese State leader hailed the achievements Armenia has recorded in the cause of greater national development, continuously improving living conditions for its people whilst enhancing their position within the international arena.

He also emphasized the important contributions made by the Armenian NA in performing its legislative role and ensuring the legal framework for their continued development.

Both sides have stepped up efforts to maintain and develop their traditional friendship and all-around ties, President Cuong said, while reiterating that the nation always treasures its relationship with their Armenian partners.

Briefing the guest on Vietnamese socio-economic development, the President said that under the Party's leadership and after nearly 40 years of reform, Vietnam has transformed itself from a country devastated by war with very low per capita income to now being ranked 35th in the world's top 35 economies and among the world's top 20 economies in terms of international trade. To achieve these results, in addition to Vietnamese efforts, there has also been support and help from international friends, including Armenia, he said.

He applauded the results of talks held between the two countries’ top legislators, voicing hope that the two legislative bodies will continue working closely in a bid to create a legal framework which facilitates efforts to promote bilateral co-operation. This in turn will serve to meet the common interests of both countries whilst contributing to the causes of peace, stability, co-operation, and development occurring in the region and around the world.

Along with political relations being the mainstay of bilateral ties, economic, trade, and investment co-operation have witnessed positive development steps in recent years, with two-way trade reaching more than US$400 million in the first months of the year, the host said.

He therefore asked both sides to intensify exchanges and visits at all levels and channels in an effort to consolidate political trust; bolster economic, trade, investment, and tourism co-operation; boost people-to-people and culture exchanges; enhance ties between localities; expand co-operation in new areas; and continue to work together to offer mutual support at international organizations and at multilateral forums, especially the UN and the International Organization of La Francophonie.

President Cuong said he believes that the ongoing visit will serve as an important milestone which will further contribute to advancing bilateral relations between the two nations, as well as their respective legislatures in the time ahead.

The host leader therefore used the occasion to ask NA President Simonyan to convey his invitation to Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan to visit the nation at an appropriate time.

For his part, NA President Simonyan affirmed that the Armenian side always regards the country an important partner in the region, stating that the visit presents an opportunity to continue discussions with the Vietnamese side to examine ways in which to further deepen all-around ties.

He expressed his positive impressions of the dynamic economic development recorded by Vietnam, saying that the two countries have always supported each other at international forums.

The Armenian NA President added his hopes that the two countries will establish new co-operation mechanisms, particularly in trade and investment, as both sides are members of various international trade organizations.