(VOV) -A ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of Vietnam-Malta diplomatic ties took place in the Maltese capital of La Valletta on August 28. Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy and Malta Nguyen Hoang Long noted Malta was one of the first Western European countries to recognise and establish diplomatic relations with Vietnam. Diplomatic relations were established on January 14, 1974 at a time when the Southeast Asian nation was deeply engrossed in its struggle against foreign invaders for national independence and freedom, Long said. Maltese President Marie Luoise Coleiro Preca in turn highlighted the rich and bountiful bilateral relations, which he said, have been nurtured and developed by generations of both nations’ leaders and peoples over the past four decades. She suggested that the two sides elevate the relationship to new heights by strengthening cooperation in such fields as culture, economics, investment, education, and tourism. Earlier on August 7, the Maltese President hosted a banquet for a Vietnamese delegation at his home. Malta is a gateway for Vietnam to access the European Union and North African markets, which have great potential for maritime, logistics and financial services cooperation, he said at the banquet. The 40th anniversary celebration was co-organized by the Vietnam Embassy in Italy and Malta in collaboration with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Economics, and Tourism of Malta. It included music, dance performances and a fashion show.
Posted on: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 06:30:29 +0000
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