Ambassador Duong Chi Dung, Head of Vietnam’s permanent delegation to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva speaks at the meeting (Photo: VNA)AmbassadorDuong Chi Dung, Head of Vietnam’s permanent delegation to the United Nationsand other international organisations in Geneva, highlighted Vietnam’sachievements in 2016, including gross domestic product growth of 6.21 percent, receiving10 million international tourists, and attracting more than 15 billion USD inforeign direct investment.
He alsounderlined sound relations between Vietnamand Switzerlandwith the celebration of the 45th founding anniversary of diplomaticties in October 2016.
Bilateralrelations witnessed remarkable strides over the past five years, especially ineconomics, he said, citing two-way trade surpassed 1.3 billion USD in 2016.
Apart fromregular high-level delegation exchanges, both nations have recorded progress inculture, science-technology and training, he said.
Over thepast year, Vietnamese expatriates worked with Vietnamese representative officesin Switzerland to hostactivities to nurture the rapport between Vietnamand Switzerland,and other countries and international organisations, including the UN.
Vietnam’sprotection of sea and island sovereignty is drawing the attention of the Vietnamesecommunities in Switzerland and other nations, he said.
He called onoverseas Vietnamese to make more contributions to the country’s development.
TheAmbassador also confirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State considerVietnamese abroad an indispensable part of the nation and a bridge to connect Vietnam withother countries.
TheVietnamese government welcomes overseas experts and intellectuals to contributeto national development, he added.-VNA
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