New Delhi (VNA) – Vietnamese Ambassador to India,Nepal and Bhutan Pham Sanh Chau presented his credentials to the King ofBhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, in the country’s Thimphu capital cityon January 4.

At the following meeting with the king, Chausaid he is delighted to assume the task of an ambassador to Bhutan – theworld’s happiest country.

He pledged to exert every effort to promote thetwo countries’ cooperation in a substantive and effective manner.

King Wangchuck congratulated the diplomat on hisappointment as Ambassador of Vietnam to Bhutan, considering this an importantmilestone since bilateral diplomatic ties were set up in 2012.

He spoke highly of the Southeast Asian nation’sachievements in socio-economic development, poverty elimination, and especiallyupholding traditions. He also briefed the ambassador on his country’s effortsto preserve national identities and traditional values, along with itsdevelopment successes since he came to the throne over 12 years ago.

The same day, Ambassador Chau paid courtesycalls to Prime Minister Lyonchhen Lotay Tshering, Foreign Minister Tandi Dorji,Director of the Tourism Council Chimmey Pem, Auditor General Tshering Kezang,along with leaders of some other ministries and sectors of Bhutan.

At the events, the Bhutanese officials expressedtheir delight at the progress in bilateral connections since the diplomaticrelationship was founded.

With cultural, religious and developmentsimilarities, the two sides can exchange development experience and make use ofeach other’s economic advantages, they said.

They also suggested English teachers be sentfrom Bhutan to support high schools in Vietnam, and the two sides shareexperience in sustainable tourism development and hydropower utilisation.

For his part, Chau asked Bhutan to support thebilateral political consultation mechanism at the department director level andwaive visas for Vietnamese citizens holding diplomatic and official passports.He urged more cultural and people-to-people exchanges, stronger cooperation intourism and auditing, and coordination at international and regional forums.

The ambassador also called for Bhutan’s supportfor Vietnam’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations SecurityCouncil for 2020-2021.

He also took this occasion to invite Bhutaneseleaders to attend the celebration of Vesak, or the Buddha’s birthday, inVietnam this May.

Vietnam and Bhutan boast sound friendship withtheir leaders’ regular exchange of congratulatory messages on the occasion ofbig festivals. 

Vietnam mainly exports tractors and woodfurniture to Bhutan. Meanwhile, the AA Corporation of Vietnam and the AdrukAcompany of Bhutan have jointly invested in a wood furniture manufacturingproject in the latter country since 2011. 

More than 1,430 Vietnamese tourists visitedBhutan in 2018, according to the Tourism Council of Bhutan.

Bhutan is selective is establishing relationswith other countries. So far, it has only set up diplomatic ties with 53nations. –VNA