Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh hosts diplomatic corps

• PM presents U23 team’s ball, shirt for auction to raise funds for the poor
• PM underlines Vietnam’s achievements in 2017
• PM Phuc greets Indian President on ASEAN-India summit sidelines

Participants at the reception.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, Minister of Foreign Affairs chaired the reception. Attending the celebration were also Mr. Hoang Trung Hai, Secretary of the Hanoi Municipal Party Committee; Mr. Nguyen Duc Chung, Chairman of the Hanoi Municipal People’s Committee as well as ambassadors and representatives of foreign embassies in Hanoi.

Speaking at the reception, Deputy Minister Pham Binh Minh stated that In 2017, along with the robust development of the entire Asia-Pacific region, Vietnam registered many records in socio-economic development.

Deputy Minister Pham Binh Minh delivering the opening speech.

Growth was 6.81%; FDI disbursement was 17.5 billion USD, a record figure. Export exceeded 213 billion USD, an increase of 21.1% against 2016, lifting Vietnam from the 50th rank to the 26th after ten year of its membership to WTO. This year, Vietnam also welcomed 13 million foreign tourists.

“These figures speak for themselves and show the vast potentials and prospects of the Vietnamese economy and the solid confidence in its future. More importantly, our growth fundamentals have become more sustainable as both our business environment and competitiveness have been substantially improved. The fight against corruption also witnessed many positive results.”, he  said.

Additionally, Deputy Minister Pham Binh Minh shared that 2017 had been considered one of the most successful years for Vietnamese diplomacy with the highlight being the hosting of APEC Year 2017.

As ASEAN celebrated its 50th anniversary, Vietnam has also played an active role in the common efforts to build a united and strong ASEAN. This has helped maintain peace, cooperation and development for the benefit of the international and regional community.

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung speaking at the reception.

Vietnam have exchanged 53 high-level delegations with friends and partners all over the world. This was a record, exhibiting both the breadth and depth of Vietnam’s foreign relations. Mr. Minh said Vietnam will continue to pursue a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, and active international integration.

He hoped for further support and cooperation from the diplomats and international organisations so that Vietnam can carry out planned tasks such as its candidature to a non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council in the 2020-2021 term and the chairmanship of ASEAN in 2020.

Venezuelan Ambassador and Head of the diplomatic corps Jorge Rondon Uzcategui El Houcine Fardani highly appreciating achievements of Vietnam in 2017.

On behalf of the capital city's administration, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung highlighted the achievements that the city attained in the past year, part of which were thanks to the assistance and cooperation of the diplomatic missions, international organisations and foreign enterprises.

He said in this year and beyond, the capital will continue to transform the economic growth model, create a breakthrough in private investment as well as attract foreign investment.

Venezuelan Ambassador and Head of the diplomatic corps Jorge Rondon Uzcategui El Houcine Fardani praised Vietnam for weathering natural calamities and the instability of the global economy last year to achieve impressive GDP growth of 6.81 percent, and a large increase in export and foreign investment. He hoped that Vietnam could realise all set targets and sustain a prosperous life for all Vietnamese people.