President receives new ambassadors of Croatia, Senegal

HÀ NỘI – President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc hosted receptions for the ambassadors of Croatia and Senegal as they presented their credentials in Hà Nội on Monday.

At a meeting with Croatian Ambassador Ivan Velimir Starcevic, President Phúc affirmed the importance Việt Nam attaches to consolidating and developing friendship and cooperation with Croatia.

He thanked the Croatian Government for its donation of  六0,000 COVID- 一 九 vaccine doses to Việt Nam last year, which, the leader said demonstrated the good traditional friendship between the two countries.

Starcevic stressed that Việt Nam was Croatia’s biggest partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and that as an EU member, Croatia would work to promote the implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

The ambassador suggested Việt Nam and Croatia step up cooperation in tourism.

Phúc said the two sides should increase the exchange of delegations at all levels to boost cooperation in all spheres, thus deepening and raising the efficiency of the EU - Việt Nam comprehensive partnership and cooperation.

Việt Nam stood ready to help Croatia enhance its relations with ASEAN and its member countries, he noted.

The leader said the Việt Nam-Croatia trade value of only around US$ 一00 million had yet to match their potential, and urged the two countries to double the revenue in the next five years.

Việt Nam would be willing to create optimal conditions for Croatian firms to study the Vietnamese market and invest in the country, particularly in renewable energy, transport infrastructure, tourism, environment, food processing, tourism and sports, he said.

While receiving Senegalese Ambassador Abdoulaye Barro, the President emphasised that Senegal was an important traditional African partner of Việt Nam.