Vietnam - Bhutan: Spreading the message of happiness, nature, and culture

On the morning of August 20, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Tri, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment, received King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck at the Melia Hotel in Ha Noi, as part of the Bhutanese Royal Couple’s State Visit to Viet Nam. Mr. Van Ngoc Thinh, CEO of WWF-Viet Nam, also attended the meeting.

At the meeting, Vietnam and Bhutan discussed issues related to nature conservation, sustainable development, and the preservation of cultural and spiritual values. In particular, both sides highly appreciated the Finance for Tiger Conservation Conference held in Paro, Bhutan, in April 2024 - a global initiative aimed at mobilizing sustainable financial resources for tiger and ecosystem conservation.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s remarkable development in recent years, particularly in industrialization and GDP growth, and expressed confidence that Vietnam will continue to rise as a prosperous nation with an increasingly important role regionally and globally.

Regarding the preservation of historical, cultural, and Buddhist spiritual values, the King shared that these are core elements of Bhutan’s approach to economic development. He also highlighted the importance of international cooperation in protecting natural resources, citing the collaboration between Bhutan and India in safeguarding habitats for rare wildlife species such as tigers and rhinoceroses.

Listening to the King of Bhutan’s remarks, Deputy Minister Nguyen Quoc Tri expressed his admiration for Bhutan, not only for its beautiful landscapes and rich spiritual life but also for leadership that prioritizes people and the environment at the heart of development.

“Bhutan is not just a country with a high happiness index; it is a nation of happy people, with enduring cultural and natural heritage. Bhutan offers many lessons for us to learn,” he affirmed.

Deputy Minister Tri emphasized that forest protection and conservation play a pivotal role in Vietnam’s strategy for nature preservation and climate change response. He expressed the hope that during a future visit, the King and Queen of Bhutan would have the opportunity to visit one of Vietnam’s primary forests or representative national parks to experience firsthand the beauty and value of the country’s natural environment.