State President Luong Cuong held talks with King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan on the morning of August 19, following a solemn state welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi.

In an atmosphere of openness, sincerity, trust, and mutual understanding, President Luong Cuong warmly welcomed the King on his first official visit to Vietnam. He underlined the special significance of the first-ever visit to Vietnam by a Bhutanese head of state since the two countries established diplomatic ties in January 2012, coinciding with the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day, marking a new chapter in bilateral ties.

The Vietnamese State leader congratulated Bhutan on its sustainable development achievements under the King’s wise leadership, and hailed the country’s unique development model based on Gross National Happiness, which balances people, nature, culture, and well-being, placing human beings at the center of development while preserving cultural identity and protecting the environment.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck expressed his sincere gratitude for the warm and respectful welcome extended by the Party, State, and people of Vietnam to himself, the Queen, and his delegation.

The King said he was delighted to make his first visit to Vietnam, a country whose people are admired in Bhutan for their respect for President Ho Chi Minh and their remarkable achievements over the past 80 years in national independence and development. He voiced his confidence that Vietnam will successfully achieve its sustainable development goals, while expressing interest in studying Vietnam’s governance model and economic development experience.

The King affirmed Bhutan’s appreciation of Vietnam’s role and position in the Asia-Pacific region and expressed his wish to enhance cooperation in areas of mutual strength and potential, for the benefit of the two peoples and for peace, stability, cooperation, and prosperity in the region and the world.

Host and guest agreed that Vietnam–Bhutan relations are nurtured by warm friendship, shared spiritual values, and a common vision of sustainable development. On that basis, both sides concurred on strengthening mutual trust and understanding, promoting regular exchanges of high-level and all-level visits, and expediting the signing of cooperation agreements to provide a favorable framework for concrete projects and activities.

Recognizing the huge potential for economic, trade, and investment cooperation, the two leaders consented to encourage government agencies, ministries, and businesses to expand co-operation, facilitate greater market access for each other’s strong products, diversify supply chains, and strive to multiply bilateral trade in the coming years.

They also underscored the importance of enhancing cooperation in agriculture, science and technology, innovation, education, training, culture, and the arts; encouraging airlines of both countries to explore the early opening of direct flights to promote cultural, religious, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges; sharing experience in preserving national cultural heritage; and expanding co-operation in emerging areas geared toward sustainable development to improve the material and spiritual well-being of their peoples.

In the context of complex global and regional developments, the leaders welcomed the fact that the two countries share many common views at international forums, particularly on sustainable development, climate change response, nature conservation, and peacekeeping. They emphasized continued coordination and mutual support at international and regional organizations, especially the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, and on issues of shared concern.

President Luong Cuong welcomed Bhutan’s wish to broaden substantive cooperation and affirmed Vietnam’s readiness to facilitate stronger connections with Southeast Asian countries and ASEAN.

Following the talks, President Luong Cuong and King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck witnessed the signing of two cooperation documents, consisting of a framework cooperation agreement between the two governments and an agreement on aviation cooperation.

Bhutan King’s Vietnam visit to step up bilateral ties

The upcoming state visit to Vietnam by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and the Queen of Bhutan at the invitation of State President Luong Cuong and his spouse is expected to further deepen bilateral ties and promote cooperation in potential areas.

Bhutan, Vietnam look towards stronger bilateral ties

VOV.VN - Vietnam and Bhutan should augment co-operation and deepen mutual understanding towards further promoting bilateral ties, said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet at a reception held on September 19 for Ambassador of Bhutan to Thailand and Vietnam Kinzang Dorji on the occasion of the diplomat's visit to Vietnam to present his credentials.