July 15, 2025 | 00:42 GMT +7

  • Click to copy
Thursday- 15:45, 03/10/2024

General Secretary and President To Lam holds talks with President of Ireland

(VAN) President Michael D. Higgins highly praised Vietnam's foreign policy and affirmed his respect for Vietnam’s strategic position and role in the Asia-Pacific region.
General Secretary and President To Lam holds talks with Irish President Michael D. Higgins. Photo: VNA.

General Secretary and President To Lam holds talks with Irish President Michael D. Higgins. Photo: VNA.

On the morning of October 2 (local time), following an official and solemn welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace, General Secretary and President To Lam, along with Irish President Michael D. Higgins, co-chaired talks between the high-level delegations of both nations.

During the discussions, President Higgins warmly welcomed General Secretary and President To Lam on his first official visit to Ireland. He commended Vietnam’s foreign policy and its guiding principles, stressing the importance of Vietnam’s role and influence in the Asia-Pacific. President Higgins also emphasized the strong commonalities between the two nations in their struggles for national independence, noting that there are no areas or topics where the two sides cannot engage in dialogue or cooperation.

President Higgins reflected on his visit to Vietnam in 2016 with fond memories and expressed admiration for Vietnam’s socio-economic progress, international integration, and its dedication to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in recent years. He also expressed his sympathy for the damage Vietnam sustained from Typhoon Yagi.

General Secretary and President To Lam extended his gratitude to President Higgins for the warm and respectful reception given to the Vietnamese delegation. He reaffirmed that Vietnam values its friendly relations and multifaceted cooperation with Ireland, and he acknowledged the Irish government’s prioritization of Vietnam in its development cooperation policy under the "Global Ireland" strategy, aimed at strengthening engagement in the Asia-Pacific region by 2025.

To further strengthen political trust and mutual understanding, both leaders agreed to promote the exchange of delegations at all levels, particularly high-level ones, and to actively implement existing cooperation mechanisms.

On this occasion, General Secretary and President To Lam was pleased to announce that the Vietnamese Government has decided to establish a Vietnamese Embassy in Ireland, with the necessary procedures already underway. Both leaders expressed their belief that this decision will mark a new chapter in the development of bilateral relations, serving the common interests of the peoples of both countries.

In terms of economic, trade, and investment cooperation, the two leaders affirmed that this is a key pillar of their partnership, showing positive growth, with two-way trade reaching USD 3.5 billion in 2024. They emphasized the need to make full use of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), enhance trade and investment connectivity, and support business communities from both nations. The leaders set a goal of increasing bilateral trade to USD 5 billion by 2026, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

President Higgins emphasized that Vietnam is Ireland’s leading trade partner in the region and noted that there is significant potential for further cooperation. He acknowledged Vietnam’s request to accelerate the ratification of the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to create more opportunities for collaboration and investment between Vietnamese and Irish businesses. He also expressed hope that Vietnam would continue to create favorable conditions for the export of high-quality agricultural products and food from Ireland.

Both leaders welcomed the establishment of a Strategic Partnership on Higher Education between Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training and Ireland’s Ministry of Education, Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science. They also recognized the significance of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Vietnam National University, Hanoi, and leading Irish universities. The leaders agreed that education is a priority area of cooperation, contributing to improving the quality of training, developing a skilled workforce, and promoting scientific research and innovation in Vietnam.

To enhance mutual understanding and strengthen ties between the two nations, the leaders agreed to promote people-to-people exchanges, cultural and artistic cooperation, tourism, and partnerships between localities.

Both sides agreed to create favorable conditions for the Vietnamese communities living and working in each other's countries, encouraging them to contribute to socio-economic development and serve as bridges for strengthening the friendly relations between Vietnam and Ireland.

During the talks, the two sides also held in-depth discussions on regional security issues of mutual concern, such as the situations in Ukraine and the Middle East. They called on all parties involved to protect civilians, engage in dialogue, and resolve conflicts through peaceful means, based on international law and the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter. Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in multilateral forums, including ASEAN-EU and the United Nations, in addressing global challenges such as climate change, food security, and ensuring stable supply chains.

The two leaders reaffirmed their support for ASEAN’s position on the East Sea issue, emphasizing the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, cooperation, and development in the region. They called for the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

General Secretary and President To Lam expressed his hope that Ireland would continue providing development assistance to Vietnam in priority areas such as green growth, climate change response, environmental protection, information technology, digital transformation, and sustainable development.

Author: Tung Dinh

Translated by Quynh Chi

Ta Kou – A biodiversity haven in need of protection

Ta Kou – A biodiversity haven in need of protection

(VAN) Ta Kou Nature Reserve poses a rich and varied ecosystem of plant and animal life, highlighting its significant importance for conservation efforts and research.

Nha Trang Bay lost nearly 200 hectares coral reefs impacting marine tourism

Nha Trang Bay lost nearly 200 hectares coral reefs impacting marine tourism

(VAN) According to a newly published study by the Vietnam-Russia Tropical Center, Nha Trang Bay has lost approximately 191 hectares of coral reefs over the past 20 years, equivalent to 12% of the surveyed area.

Vietnam encourages private sector's involvement in agrifood systems transformation

Vietnam encourages private sector's involvement in agrifood systems transformation

(VAN) The dialogue among stakeholders contributed many valuable recommendations to the policy refinement process, paving the way for deeper private sector engagement in the value chain.

Risks of avian influenza spread into Europe via trade

Risks of avian influenza spread into Europe via trade

(VAN) The seasonal migration of wild birds and the importation of certain US products could be potential routes for introducing the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) genotype.

NPAP: Connecting over 200 organizations, 160 plastic pollution reduction projects

NPAP: Connecting over 200 organizations, 160 plastic pollution reduction projects

(VAN) The Viet Nam National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) officially launched the NPAP Policy Technical Group.

Enriched from the forest: Community forestry builds green economy

Enriched from the forest: Community forestry builds green economy

(VAN) Community forest economy not only protects natural resources but also creates sustainable livelihoods and contributes to combating global climate change.

Cu Lao Cham: A model of marine conservation and sustainable livelihood

Cu Lao Cham: A model of marine conservation and sustainable livelihood

The Cu Lao Cham MPA not only conserves biodiversity but also supports sustainable livelihoods and raises community awareness about protecting marine resources and environment.

Read more