RIYADH: The Vietnamese Embassy in Riyadh, in coordination with the nation’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is holding a series of cultural activities to mark 25 years of diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia.
The “Vietnam Days 2024” silver jubilee events, from Friday to Sunday, is being held at the Cultural Palace in the Diplomatic Quarter. Saudi Arabia and Vietnam established diplomatic ties in 1999.
In a recent interview with Arab News, Dang Xuan Dzung, Vietnam’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, said this year marks “a very important milestone in our relations.”
“The activities are taking place in both countries, the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Hanoi is also holding a series of events,” said Dzung.
“In September, we held at our mission (a) 25th anniversary ceremony during which I highlighted all the achievements that we recorded during the last 25 years,” said the envoy.
“In late October we welcomed our Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. He participated in the 8th Future Investment Initiative during his two-days Riyadh visit (Oct. 29 to 30) forming a significant milestone in bilateral relations and impetus for ties in the time ahead,” said Dzung.
He said the prime minister’s trip was aimed at boosting relations, and he had met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The nation’s leader had been in Riyadh in October for the GCC-ASEAN Summit, said the envoy.
“They had a very good chance to review the bilateral relations and see what we can do together to promote it,” Dzung told Arab News on the sidelines of a press meet ahead of the cultural activities.
“We hope that (the) exchange of delegations will be intensified in the time to come. I do believe that exchanges of delegations will be taking place very soon at various levels, including high-level visits."
Dzung added that Saudi Arabia’s aid Agency KSrelief “has been a great help to us. They helped us in supporting victims of flooding and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We very much appreciate that assistance. Also, (the) Saudi Fund for Development has been helping us to build infrastructures in some provinces of Vietnam. So, we are very grateful for the constructions of roads, clinics, and vocational training colleges, funded by the SFD.”
Dzung added: “I really think that 25 years of cordial ties give me enough reasons to believe in the bright future of our relations. I am sure that a lot of potential held by both sides have not been fully tapped, so that gives up a lot of room to desire for and to strive for.”
The series of events at the Cultural Palace in Riyadh includes a photographic exhibition highlighting the years of diplomatic ties, and a display of Vietnam’s UNESCO World Heritage sites.
In addition, there will be exhibitions on Vietnamese lacquer paintings, the process of creating Dong Ho folk art, and the nation’s cuisine.
Trade between the two nations stood at $2.7 billion in 2023, and $2.5 billion in the first 10 months of 2024.
“We also see the two countries working closely in human resources development. We are now providing more engineers, skilled workers. People-to-people contacts has been developing very fast,” he added.
Hoang Huu Anh, deputy director-general of the department of cultural diplomacy and UNESCO affairs at the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry, told Arab News the cultural events are aimed at promoting his nation and fostering friendship between the two countries.
“We have seen two visits by our prime minister (over 12 months), so we are keen to take it forward with further developing people-to-people contact through cultural diplomacy.”
