Tel Aviv (VNA) - Looking back on the 30-year journey of diplomaticrelations, Vietnam and Israel, with mutual respect and trust, have achievedprideworthy cooperation achievements in the fields of politics, economy,trade and investment, making the two nations become each other's leading partner inSoutheast Asia and the Middle East.

The statement was made by Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel LyDuc Trung in his interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s resident correspondents in TelAviv, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishmentof bilateral diplomatic ties (July 12, 1993-2023).

Trung said that over the past three decades, theVietnam-Israel relationship has experienced important development milestones. In1993, Israel opened its embassy in Hanoi, and in 2009, Vietnam inaugurated itsembassy in Tel Aviv. The moves did not only mark a dramatic change in politicalrelations, but also haold great significance in promoting bilateral cooperation inother fields.

The two sides have maintained and stepped up the exchange of all-level delegations  since 1996, and are preparing for an Israel visit by a Vietnamese high-rankingleader on the occasion of the 30th founding anniversary of the bilateraldiplomatic ties.

The two countries signed many cooperation agreements in differentfields, including the Framework Agreement on Economic, Scientific, Technical,Agricultural and Trade Cooperation (1996); the Financial Cooperation Protocol(2007), the Visa Waiver Agreement for holders of diplomatic passports (2009), theagreement on double taxation avoidance and prevention of tax evasion on incomeand property taxes, and the Air Transport Agreement (2020). They are also aimingto sign the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA) as they have just completed negotiations on this dealafter seven years.

Israel currently ranks third in the list of Vietnam's exportmarkets in West Asia and is Vietnam's fifth largest trading partner, with two-waytrade hitting 2.2 billion USD last year.

Cooperation activities in the fields of science andtechnology, smart agriculture, and people-to-people exchanges have also beenheld, contributing to consolidating and developing the bilateral friendship andcooperation, promoting mutual understanding, as well as providing learningopportunities and increasing travel frequency for their people.

In the coming time, the Vietnamese Embassy will exertefforts to organise activities in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic ties, considering it a chance to continuepopularising the positive image of Vietnam and people in the MiddleEast country.

The image of a friendly Vietnam will be the most sustainablefoundation for the bilateral political and economic relations to continue developingto new heights, Trung said.

It will also continue to accompany people, businesses andlocalities in economic diplomacy activities; and promote efforts to create newbreakthroughs in simplifying immigration procedures and travel routes betweenthe two countries to facilitate the travel of investors, businessmen,and tourists.

The diplomat considered science and technology as a priorityand one of pillars in the bilateral cooperation in the coming time, especially in areasrelated to new economic trends and in line with Vietnam’s development strategy,including sustainable development, digital transformation, green economy, andcircular economy./.