Achievements and prospects in Vietnam - Pakistan relations

Delegates attended the 50th Annivesary of establishing Vietnam - Pakistan diplomatic relations (2022) - Photo: dangcongsan.vn

1. Process of building and developing the Vietnam - Pakistan relations

On November 8, 1972, Vietnam and Pakistan officially established diplomatic relations. Pakistan was the first Asian Islamic Republic to establish diplomatic relations with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam). This event opened a new page marking the development of friendship and cooperation between the two countries. Then, in 1973, Pakistan opened an embassy in Hanoi and in 1978 Vietnam opened an embassy in Islamabad. However, due to economic difficulties, Pakistan closed its embassy in 1980 and Vietnam closed its embassy in 1984.

Although the two countries’ relations are still limited, especially in terms of economic and trade cooperation, fundamentally the bilateral relations have developed on the basis of mutual trust, assistance, and understanding. In 2000, Pakistan reopened its embassy in Hanoi, followed by Vietnam reopening its embassy in Islamabad and the Commercial Office in Karachi in 2005. The ties between the two countries have increasingly strengthened, with frequent exchanges of delegations, visits by senior leaders, ministries, sectors, and localities. Cooperation between the two countries is carried out in various fields such as politics, diplomacy, economy, culture, tourism, science-technology, and national defense-security.

Over the years, the relationship between the two countries have been continuously strengthened and developed. Both countries have signed several agreements and cooperative deals in various fields like economy, trade, investment, agriculture, information, and communication, creating a legal basis and favorable conditions for the development of cooperative relationship development. Examples include: Trade Agreement (May 3, 2001); Agreement on the avoidance of double taxation (March 1, 2004); Agreement on cooperation in the field of science and technology (March 25, 2004); Agreement on visa exemption for holders of diplomatic and official passports (January 31, 2007); Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation and consultation between the two foreign ministries; Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the State Bank of Vietnam and the Central Bank of Pakistan, and so on.

2. Some of the achieved results

Firstly, in the field of politics and diplomacy

Vietnam and Pakistan are two peace-loving countries with a balanced approach to foreign policy. Vietnam has always been consistent with its foreign policy of promoting deep, stable, and sustainable relations with traditionally friendly countries.

With the “East Asia Vision Policy”, Vietnam takes an important position in Pakistan’s foreign policy in terms of development, strategic, and security goals in East Asia. Vietnam has made practical contributions to preserving and creating an environment of peace, security, and prosperity in ASEAN as well as with ASEAN’s strategic partners including Pakistan. Therefore, Pakistan is always prioritizes developing friendly and cooperative relations with Vietnam and considers Vietnam one of the countries to expand relations with ASEAN countries.

After the visit to Vietnam by Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf (May 2001), the two countries promoted their friendly and cooperative relations. In April 2002, the two countries signed an agreement to establish a Joint Ministerial-Level Committee and a Joint Trade Committee to be set up through bilateral agreements. Then, Deputy Minister of Trade Do Nhu Dinh led a Vietnamese trade delegation to visit Pakistan (October 2003). The two countries held the first meeting of the Vietnam - Pakistan Joint Committee in Hanoi (July 2003). Several visits by leaders of both countries followed, notably the visit to Pakistan by Vietnamese President Tran Duc Luong and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation in March 2004. This visit significantly elevated the Vietnam - Pakistan relationship to new heights.

In October 2011, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Le Duong Quang led a trade delegation to Pakistan for the second meeting of the Joint Committee. During a meeting with the Pakistani Ambassador (June 2014), Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung emphasized that the two sides need to further exploit the potential and advantages of cooperation and development for the mutual practical and common benefit to both countries; to continue to give priority to economic, trade, and investment cooperation, to further develop cooperation in these fields, commensurate with the good political and diplomatic relations between the two sides; further expand cooperation in the fields of health, culture, education, and defense - security.

Vietnam and Pakistan have repeatedly conducted strategic dialogues between the two foreign ministries. In August 2015, at a meeting with Pakistani Deputy Foreign Minister Amjad Hussain B.Sial, Deputy Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh highly appreciated the results both sides had achieved in political consultations, particularly in proposing new initiatives to promote cooperative relations in various fields and reaching mutual understandings on shared international and regional concerns. The Deputy Foreign Minister affirmed that Pakistan wishes the two countries to continue cooperating, coordinating closely, supporting each other at regional and international forums, and making joint efforts to contribute to peacekeeping stability, cooperation, and development in the Asia region.

Implementing the agreement between the two foreign ministries, at the first Political Consultation Meeting in Hanoi (August 2015), the two sides affirmed the importance of traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation; The relationship between the two countries continue to develop with potential, mutual needs, and strengths that can complement and support each other. From there, they put forward specific measures to promote bilateral relations in the fields of politics, defense - security, economy - trade, agriculture - fishery, culture - sport - tourism; strengthening the bridging role of the two Foreign Ministries, creating a solid basis for other cooperative relations; strengthening the exchange of business delegations, making the most of investment and business opportunities.

At the High-Level Forum for International Cooperation “Belt and Road” held in Beijing, China (May 2017), President Tran Dai Quang suggested that the two sides continue to promote the effectiveness of the bilateral cooperation mechanisms, promote negotiations, sign cooperation agreements in the fields of culture, sports, tourism, aviation, and shipping to create a favorable legal corridor for cooperation in the related fields. The President also suggested that the two countries expand cooperation in multilateral forums, coordinate in the combating transnational crimes, and sign mutual legal assistance agreements soon. Also at this forum, Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif affirmed: Pakistan considers Vietnam an important partner in the region; The two countries have many potentials cooperation opportunities and need to further strengthen cooperation in the fields of economy - trade, investment, and so on.

The relationship between the National Assemblies of the two countries is increasingly cooperative, actively exchanging, sharing, and enhancing mutual understanding. In November 2021, the Vietnam-Pakistan Friendship Parliamentary Group was established, a development of great significance, deepening relations and enhancing understanding and trust between the National Assemblies and the people of the two countries.

People-to-people diplomacy acts as a bridge to help connect and introduce investors of the two countries to expand cooperation, contributing to promoting the socio-economic development of localities and contributing to bilateral relations.

Secondly, in the field of economy and trade

Cooperation in the field of economy and trade is an important element in the relations between the two countries; The Vietnam - Pakistan Intergovernmental Committee was established, promoting business relations between the Trade Promotion Agency of Pakistan (TDAP) and the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE), the Vietnam Federation of Trade and Industry (VCCI) and VIETRADE; organizing for import-export businesses of both sides to exchange and raise questions directly.

Based on agreements signed and the implementation of the “Look East” trade policy, economic and trade relations between the two countries have made positive progress. Specifically, the two-way trade turnover increased rapidly from USD 242 million (in 2010)(1) to USD 331 million (2014) and USD 644 million (2016), an average increase of nearly 32%. In 2021, despite being affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, the turnover still reached USD 794 million(2) and in 2022 reached USD 904 million(3). Pakistan always considers Vietnam a strategic partner with abundant potential to take bilateral trade to a new height, with the goal of reaching USD 1 billion in 2023.

Pakistan is one of Vietnam’s three major trading partners in South Asia (along with India and Bangladesh) and an important export market for Vietnam. The main export items of Vietnam to Pakistan include tea, various kinds of fiber, textile products, seafood, pepper, rubber, tobacco raw materials, machinery, equipment, tools, spare parts, chemical products, etc. Notably, in the period 2012-2022, Pakistan has been Vietnam’s largest tea import market and this is commodity also achieves the highest value in the trade relations between the two countries, with an average value of over USD 40 million /year, accounting for over 20% of Vietnam’s total tea export. Pakistan’s main exports to Vietnam include pharmaceuticals items, cotton, fabrics, textile materials, footwear, modern medicines, chemicals, animal food, and so on.

Thirdly, in the field of culture and tourism

Pakistan is a country with a long history and a unique culture, considered a tourist “paradise” with many famous landmarks, landscapes, and Buddhist monuments. Vietnam and Pakistan have organized many activities to promote the exchange of academics, experts, and various cultural, arts, audiovisual, and literary activities; including the organization of the “Pakistan Contemporary Art Exhibition”.

Pakistan has taken the initiative to broadcast popular TV series and documentaries about Pakistan on VTV. The two countries connected, negotiated, and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Vietnam Television (VTV) and Pakistan Television (PTV).

Tourism cooperation has genuinely been a concern of the governments of the two countries since 2014, many cooperative activities and tourism promotions have been effectively implemented, attracting the participation of tourism associations and businesses from both countries. At the meeting with Pakistani Ambassador - Zaigham Uddin Azam in June 2014, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung emphasized that it was necessary to better exploit the potential and advantages to serve the cooperation and common development of the two countries; o further expand cooperative activities related to tourism; to promote and soon open direct flights between Vietnam and Pakistan, thereby promoting trade, investment and tourism activities between the two sides.

Vietnam is an attractive destination for international tourists in general and Pakistani tourists in particular. Tourism promotional activities and international tourism fairs organized and actively participated in by associations and businesses of the two countries to promote and introduce tourism products, attractions, and the country, people, and their traditional beauties.

The visit paid by the Pakistani Ambassador to Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City in 2022 has connected and opened up opportunities for cooperation in tourism development between the two countries. The two sides have agreed on a number of collaborative steps: The Embassy of Pakistan in Vietnam will promote and spread the program “Welcome to Ho Chi Minh City 2022” to the Pakistani community in Vietnam and in Pakistan; cooperate in organizing Vietnam - Pakistan online tourism seminars by the end of 2022; The City Tourism Department invites the Embassy of Pakistan to participate in promoting the image, culture, and tourism at the International Travel Expo Ho Chi Minh City - ITE HCMC 2022. This is a good opportunity to organize the promotion and introduction of Pakistani tourism in Vietnam.

Fourthly, in the field of information technology

Cooperation in the field of information technology between the two countries began in 2009 at a meeting between Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem and Pakistani Foreign Minister Masood Khalid. In recent years, cooperation in the field of information technology between the two countries has received high-level leadership, high consensus and has made progress. Specifically: at the meeting between Deputy Foreign Minister Ho Xuan Son and Pakistani Deputy Finance Minister Tariq Bajwa, the two sides affirmed to “promote cooperation in the fields of information technology and mobile phones”. Currently, the two countries have identified a number of key areas in information technology cooperation, serving the interests of both sides.

During the visit and working session by the Pakistani Ambassador to Da Nang (February 2022), the two sides set out cooperation directions in trade and promoting the expansion of the field of information technology. Also, during the visit and working session with Cao Bang province (August 2022), the Pakistani Ambassador emphasized that Pakistan is ready to support human resource training for Cao Bang province, especially in the field of information technology. This is an important driving force for the development of cooperation in the field of information technology between the two countries in the coming time.

Fifthly, in the field of national defense and security

During the working visit to Vietnam by General Taric Madit, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan (August 2009), Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong emphasized that the two countries need to strengthen cooperation in the field of delegation exchange, training, and experience sharing in rescue and relief operations. During the visit and work in Vietnam of the leaders of the National School of Public Policy (BNU) Pakistan (December 2017), Senior Lieutenant General To Lam, Minister of Public Security suggested the two sides speed up the negotiation and signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on crime prevention and combat between the Ministry of Public Security of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Ministry of Interior of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Currently, the two countries are cooperating to address non-traditional security challenges; counter terrorism operations; consultations, information exchange, coordinating and helping each other at international and regional forums; strengthening the exchange of delegations between law enforcement agencies, especially the exchange of experience in special case combat, investigation and pursuit of criminals, especially transnational crimes, drugs, terrorism and criminals using advanced technology, international economic crime, etc., through the cooperation channel of Interpol. The Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and the Ministry of Home Affairs of Pakistan have prepared a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in crime prevention and control; Extradition Agreement and Agreement on Transfer of Convicted Persons; coordination to ensure security and safety for citizens of one country living, studying, and working in the other country and vice versa.

Along with bilateral cooperation, Vietnam and Pakistan have promoted multilateral cooperation, actively support each other in international forums on regional and international issues of mutual concern; and supporting each other to stand for office in UN agencies such as the Human Rights Council, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the Security Council and the UNESCO Executive Council.

Pakistan supports Vietnam in becoming a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and joining the World Trade Organization and its relations with ASEAN in resolving issues related to peace and stability in the region.

Vietnam has also supported Pakistan’s re-election to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2008 - 2011 term; and promotes closer cooperation with ASEAN within the framework of the policy “East Asia Vision”. Vietnam and Pakistan jointly affirmed that peace and stability are prerequisites for cooperation and development. In that spirit, Pakistan has supported the efforts of the two sides to maintain peace, stability, security, and maritime safety in the East Sea. The two countries have closely coordinated and supported each other, contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability, cooperation, and development in Asia.

3. Some solutions to develop Vietnam - Pakistan relations

Despite the achievements, of Vietnam - Pakistan over the 2002 - 2022 period, there still remains some limitations: Diplomatic relations in many respects are still modest, with few high-level visits; Several visits between the two countries’ senior leaders were canceled due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Cooperation in economy, trade, and investment has not been commensurate with the potential and strength of each country. The understanding of businesses of both countries about each other’s markets and business cultures is still limited, and logistics costs are high. In addition, there are no direct flights, so the connection between the two countries is still limited. Import taxes on some Vietnamese products to Pakistan are still high. Furthermore, Pakistan is an Islamic country, due to cultural and religious factors, there are barriers; some items such as food, tea, etc., from Vietnam that imported into Pakistan must have a certificate complying with Islamic standards (Halal) issued by the Government of Pakistan.

Based on a comprehensive assessment of the achievements and the above limitations during 2002 - 2022 period, it can be said that the cooperative relationship between the two countries have many promising prospects for stronger and deeper development. Pakistan is implementing the policy of “East Asia Vision”, wishing to strengthen relations with Southeast Asian countries. In that context, in order to bring Vietnam - Pakistan relations to new heights, meeting the requirements and interests of both sides, it is necessary to strengthen ties and promote the following activities:

Firstly, in the political-diplomatic field: it is necessary to continue exchanging high-level delegations, further strengthening political trust; promoting coordination to carry out important issues related to diplomacy, economy, and security of each country as well as regional and international situations; strengthening the signing of agreements and memorandums of understanding, creating a foundation for the two sides to expand cooperation.

Secondly, in the field of economy, trade, and investment: the potential for promoting trade between the two countries is huge, especially in the context that the two countries have formed a full legal corridor, through government-level cooperation documents. With the great demand for food, similar consumer goods, and many strong Vietnamese industries, along with the trend of East Asian integration, Pakistan will become a major trading partner of Vietnam in South Asia. Pakistan has strengths in exporting medical and surgical instruments and medicines, food, seafood, information technology, skin products, thus there is a huge opportunity to export these products to Vietnam. It’s essential to encourage and facilitate businesses from both countries to approach and survey the market, intensify trade promotion activities, fairs, exhibitions, and seek cooperation opportunities.

Thirdly, in the field of information technology cooperation: this is a promising field. The potential of the Pakistani information technology market is huge with a system of institutes, schools, research centers, modern equipment, many engineers, information technology experts, and over 500,000 IT specialists with profoundly professional knowledge. Training human resources, especially information technology, in which Pakistan has strength, is crucial. Every year, Pakistan has more than 25,000 engineers and IT graduates. Therefore, Vietnam has many opportunities to cooperate in the field of information technology with Pakistan(4).

Fourthly, in the field of tourism: it is necessary to open up more cooperation opportunities between the two countries. Tourism is a potential field that both countries have not exploited properly and need to pay more attention to. The tourism potential of Pakistan is huge. In order to increase the number of tourists, the two sides need to open direct flights from Vietnam to Pakistan soon, creating favorable conditions for connecting travel businesses, promoting investment attraction for economic and tourism development; and strengthening the promotion of tourist attractions with cultural relations between the two countries.

The Vietnam - Pakistan relationship has a long history, continuously cultivated by the leaders and people of the two countries, and has achieved many important results in various fields. The two countries have consistently supported each other in many fields, at regional and international forums. In the current volatile international context, Vietnam - Pakistan relations have played an important factor contributing to the protection and maintenance of peace in the region and the world. With the favorable development momentum, and the experience of 50 years of cooperation, the Vietnam - Pakistan friendly relations will surely continue to achieve new and greater achievements, bringing into play the strengths of the two countries for the sake of peace, stability, cooperation, and prosperity in the region and in the world n

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Received: March 4, 2023; Revised: June 2, 2023; Approved for publication: June 26, 2023.

Endnotes:

(1) Nguyen Huong: Strengthening trade relations between Vietnam and Pakistan, https://congthuong.vn/tang-cuo-ng-quan-he-thuong-ma-i-vie-t-nam-pakistan-61874 .html, February 29, 2023.

(2) Thu Loan: Many large Vietnamese enterprises pay attention to Pakistan, https://tienphong.vn/nhieu-doanh-nghiep-lon-viet-nam-chu-y-den-pakistan-post1484674.

tpo, dated February 29, 2023.

(3) Quynh Chi: Strengthening cooperation between Vietnamese and Pakistani businesses, https://vccinews.vn/news/45931/tang-cuong-hop-tac-giua-doanh-nghiep-viet-nam-va- pakistan.html, February 29, 2023.

(4) Dang Quang: Vietnam - Pakistan: Towards closer cooperation, https://baoquocte.vn/viet-nam-pakistan-huong-toi-su-hop-tac-ngay-mot-chat -che-177870.html, February 29, 2023.