Deputy FM Amanatidis’ speech at the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Greece

Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,

It is a distinct honor and pleasure to be addressing you on the occasion of the double celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Vietnamese National Day and the 40th Anniversary of the official establishment of diplomatic relations between Greece and Vietnam.

This successful event serves as an opportunity to elaborate on the most appropriate ways to further enhance our excellent bilateral relations, based on solid foundations of friendship, mutual respect and our common concern to ensure a peaceful and prosperous future to our peoples.

In this spirit, I once again welcome to Greece His Excellency the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, with whom I had the pleasure of exchanging views on the creation of conditions conducive to the enhancement of our cooperation in a wide range of the fields, such as foreign policy, sports, culture and education.

Excellencies,
Distinguished guests,

As international relations are acquiring an increasingly multipolar nature, our countries need to intensify their contacts, particularly in view of the ever-evolving realities and challenges of our era.

Coming, in particular, to our bilateral trade, I would like to note that, although it has steadily increased in the previous period, amounting to 150 million Euros in 2014, there is still ample scope to expand and diversify it.

As an old EU member-state, Greece attaches great importance to the enhancement of cooperation with Vietnam, taking into consideration your country’s active participation in both the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) dialogue and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), promoting regional cooperation and security. We are convinced that the implementation of the recent Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will prove mutually beneficial and will impart new impetus to further cooperation between EU and Vietnam.

Excellencies,
Distinguished Guests,

I am confident, particularly after today’s meetings, that Greece-Vietnam relations will very soon enter in a new period of continued progress in all possible areas. For our part, we stand ready to intensify our bilateral cooperation.

Thank you.