Seychelles- Vietnam |29 August 2013

President Michel invites President Sang to Seychelles

President James Michel has invited Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang, members of his government and the private sector to visit Seychelles in the near future to further consolidate what the two countries have achieved in Hanoi.

Mr Michel sent out this formal request during last night’s state banquet in his honour and hosted by President Sang at the International Convention Centre in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The two presidents toasted to the “close ties” between Seychelles and Vietnam.

“We are pleased and honoured to be in Hanoi  ̶  the city of the Soaring Dragon. We are touched by the warmth and hospitality of the Vietnamese people and your beautiful country,” said President Michel who reminded those present that he formed part of the delegation when former President France Albert Rene visited Vietnam in 1980.

He described this visit as important as it came just one year after Seychelles and Vietnam officially had established diplomatic relations.
“It not only represented Seychelles’ keenness to illustrate its solidarity with Vietnam, but our desire to strengthen our friendship  ̶  one that from the very beginning has and continues to be based on common values, mutual respect and shared goals,” said President Michel, who noted that over the 33 years Seychelles and Vietnam have changed significantly socio-economically.

Mr Michel quoted Vietnam’s great revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh who once remarked that “remember, the storm is a good opportunity for the pine and the cypress to show their strength and their stability”, adding that his words are as pertinent today as they were then. They highlight the fact that together we can withstand that may come our way.

“Through this visit we stand together as countries that are forward thinking and forward moving. It heralds a more dynamic phase of collaboration. One that will bring our people even closer and build on the foundations we forged in the past,” noted President Michel, who added that besides the memoranda of understanding, the two countries are also holding discussions in regards to collaboration relating to the agricultural and fisheries sectors.

“For a small island developing state, food security remains a key priority. Like Seychelles, Vietnam identifies the importance of promoting sustainable farming techniques, especially in the face of climate change.

“Both of our countries are particularly susceptible to climate change. Together, we can find innovative ways in tackling problems associated with it in our quest for sustainable development. We are also two nations that have placed our oceanic spaces at the core of the debate about sustainable development. The ‘blue economy’ is a key part of our future, and those of our children,” said President Michel.

Mr Michel added that Seychelles and Vietnam provide a successful example of what south-south cooperation can be and again quoted Ho Chi Minh who once said “to reap a return in ten years, plant trees. To reap a return in hundred, cultivate the people.

The President noted that Seychelles’ and Vietnam’s shared vision is one based on connecting our peoples, our respective economies with each other and with the world, keeping in mind our respective specificities.

“We look forward to seeing the various developments that follow after these signings and discussions.  We also look forward to seeing more frequent high-level exchanges following this visit,” said the President, who took the opportunity to wish Vietnam happy National Day celebrations next week.
Vietnam celebrates its National Day next week.

For his part, Vietnamese President Sang described President Michel’s visit to Vietnam as an historical milestone to usher in potentials to further promote and expand the traditional friendship and cooperation for mutual development between Seychelles and Vietnam.

“Vietnam and Seychelles, though geographically far apart, share similarities in history, desire and will to fight for independence, freedom and justice, which kept our peoples bonded since the days of struggling for national independence. It is the empathy, sharing and mutual assistance during hardship together with cooperation and complementary support for mutual development that has given impetus for our two peoples. Those are invaluable assets that we need to uphold, nurture and develop,” said President Sang.

He added that “as good friends of the people of Seychelles, the Vietnamese people always watch closely and note with satisfaction that thanks to their intelligence and unceasing efforts, the people of Seychelles have been recording important achievements in the cause of national building and development, making Seychelles a favourite destination of tourists and practically contributing to the furtherance of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.”

President Sang noted that after nearly 30 years of comprehensive reforms, Vietnam is entering a new stage of development and enhancing industrialisation and modernisation to become a fundamentally modern and industrial country by 2020.

In terms of foreign policy, Vietnam continues to pursue the foreign policies of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of international relations, active and proactive international integration.

“With that, the state and people of Vietnam attach great importance to and desire to further enhance the friendship and multifaceted cooperation with African countries, including Seychelles, the friends who always stand with us in all paths of development, continued President Sang who noted that the cooperation between Vietnam and Seychelles has seen encouraging steps forwards and has expanded to areas of investment, tourism, agriculture and trade thanks to the cultivation of both sides.

“The achievements that two countries obtained in the cause of national building and development will lay good precedent and foundation for us to further expand and make our cooperation more effective as well as cultivate our traditional friendship.

“Our productive meeting today (Wednesday) will result in important orientations to enhance the multifaceted cooperation between our two countries in the coming time. With that, relevant ministries and agencies of our two countries will take effective measures to translate all the orientations that we agreed upon into specific and substantial results in the interests of our two peoples,” noted President Sang.

Text and photos G. G.