Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam is one of thefew countries that have successfully fulfilled the dual goals of fighting theCOVID-19 pandemic and ensuring the smooth operation of the economy, MoroccanAmbassador to Vietnam Jamale Chouaibi has said.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency(VNA), the ambassador attributed the results to the early and effective implementationof pandemic prevention and control measures, as well as the awareness-buildingwork in the country.

All partners of Vietnam have applauded the Government’snew strategy on safe and flexible adaptation to and effective control of thepandemic to stimulate the national economic recovery and ease pandemic impacts,Chouaibi said.

The ambassador also lauded Vietnam’s COVID-19vaccination rollout thanks to the vaccine diplomacy strategy, noting that thecountry has received enough vaccines to distribute to all of its cities andprovinces within a short period of time.

Regarding the 60th anniversary of theVietnam-Morocco diplomatic ties in March 2021, he said the celebration offereda chance to honour the friendship between people of the two countries, reviewtheir bilateral cooperation, and seek the best solutions to enhance and expandthe partnership.

The ambassador noted that in the political sphere, the two countries share anumber of basic principles in external relations, especially the respect for sovereigntyand territorial integrity, no intervention in each other’s internal affairs, thepromotion of peace, stability and development, and commitments to addressingdisputes via dialogue, conciliation and negotiation.

He also highlighted the expanding bilateraltrade ties, saying Vietnam is the second most important partner of Morocco inthe Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Morocco’s appointment of an honorary consul inHo Chi Minh City on December 7, 2021 has contributed to creating more trade andbusiness opportunities between the two countries.

He emphasised the exchange of visits by government andlegislative leaders, notably the visit to Morocco by NA Chairwoman Nguyen ThiKim Ngan in March 2019, and the visit to Vietnam by President of the MoroccanHouse of Representatives Habib El Malki in December 2017.

The online talks between NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hueand President of the Moroccan House of Representatives Habib El Malki on July7, 2021 have demonstrated the two sides’ wish to promote the bilateral ties, the ambassador said.

He viewed the establishment of the Vietnam-Moroccofriendship association last December as a step forward in the promotion of thebilateral cooperation and mutual understanding.

The diplomat noted that the Vietnam-Moroccocooperation focuses on politics, economy and culture, and both countries have shown their political will toconsolidate and expand the partnership, as reflected through the increasingnumber of agreements and memoranda of understanding.

As the two countries share many similarities, there is good potential to foster bilateral coordination inthe time ahead, the ambassador said, pledging that Morocco will help Vietnamesefirms to safely access local markets.

Morocco and Vietnam should jointly carry outtripartite or quadrilateral investment projects in African countries,especially in agriculture, with the participation of international donors, he suggested./.