President Truong Tan Sang welcomed newly-accredited ambassadors from Chile, Turkey, Denmark, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and Sri Lanka on August 20 as they presented their credentials to the Vietnamese State leader. Receiving new Chilean Ambassador Claudio Anderes De Negri Quintana, the President highlighted the friendship between the two countries, saying Vietnam continually bears in mind Chile’s support to the country during its struggle for independence. He delighted at the strong development in the relationship, especially since the two countries signed a free trade agreement in 2013. The deal has created a foundation for the two sides to push bilateral trade turnover up by 60 percent to around 1 billion USD, President Sang said, voicing his hope that the trade ties would advance in the years to come. Echoing his host’s views, the Chilean Ambassador said apart from enhancing economic and trade ties, the two countries should increase cooperation in culture and tourism to help their people understand the respective countries’ history. The diplomat vowed to do his utmost to cultivate friendship on the basis of cooperative outcomes. At a meeting with Turkish Ambassador Akif Ayhan, President Sang affirmed Vietnam attaches importance to cooperation with Turkey and suggested the two sides enhance high-ranking delegation exchanges. Trade value rose from 1.5 to 3 billion USD in recent years, he said, noting Vietnam stands ready to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement with Turkey to raise the figure to 5-10 billion USD. Both host and guest shared viewpoints on activities to mark the 40 th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2018 as well as cultural and tourism exchanges between the two countries. The Turkish Ambassador pledged his maximum efforts to boost and diversify bilateral ties, saying he hopes Vietnam will continue supporting Turkey to become an ASEAN partner and that the two countries will soon commence negotiations on a free trade agreement to enhance their trade ties. Welcoming Danish Ambassador Charlotte Laursen, the President said he was impressed by the sentiments of the Danish Queen, Royal family members and people towards Vietnam. The leader held that since the establishment of the comprehensive partnership, Vietnam and Denmark have seen strong development in economic and trade ties. Denmark’s official development assistance (ODA) has been effective in the Southeast Asian country, he said. President Sang promised to create all possible conditions for Danish businesses to invest in Vietnam in their strong areas such as renewable energies and agriculture. Charlotte Laursen said the two countries have set up a strategic partnership in climate change, the environment, energy and green growth. The ambassador stressed Denmark’s advantages in agriculture, energy, climate change and education which, she said, are expected to boost cooperation between the two countries. In another meeting with DPRK Ambassador Kim Myong Gil, President Sang affirmed Vietnam’s special attention to relations with traditional friends, including the DPRK. He expressed his wish that during his tenure, the diplomat would coordinate with Vietnamese ministries and branches to seek cooperation opportunities in strong areas for the two sides. Kim Myong Gil congratulated Vietnam on its socio-economic achievements and noted his hope that the upcoming 12 th Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam would be a success, helping realise the country’s industrialisation and modernisation targets. The DPRK will continuously promote the traditional friendship in all areas, the ambassador pledged. While receiving Sri Lanka Ambassador Saranya Hasathi Urugodawatte Dissanayake, the State leader said Vietnam will forever remember Sri Lanka’s strong support to the country’s struggle for national liberation and reunification in the past as well as present development. He voiced his hope that the two countries would step up high-level meetings and cooperation between their ministries, branches and businesses. The guest said the reopening of embassies in the respective countries has lifted the two countries’ relations to a new height. Vietnam and Sri Lanka have reached a host of cooperative agreements in agriculture, education, security and defence, the ambassador said, vowing to do her best to speed up the development of the pacts, especially in the farming sector. The diplomat expressed her belief that with a lot of similarities, the two countries will be able to support each other in trade and services, thus contributing to elevating the bilateral ties to a new level.-VNA