Islamabad : Tazeen Akhtar with Cameraman Raja Ghulam Farid
The great nation of Vietnam is celebrating their 80th Anniversary of the National Day (02 September) with traditional enthusiasm and strong resolve to safegaurd their independence, work hard for the development of their motherland and make it the best place to live for their next generations where they can live in peace with prosperity. Vietnam and Pakistan enjoy very cordial and close relations, while the bilateral cooperation is increasing at all levels.
This year the National Day of Vietnam has come with a leap forward in mutual ties where high level interactions and visit have been seen in previous few weeks. The most important contact was at the 8th Future Investment Initiative (FII) Summit in Saudi Arabia in October 2024, when Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met there and agreed to raise bilateral trade to over 1 billion USD in the coming year.
On 11 July 2025, Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar met with Bui Thanh Son DPM/FM of Vietnam on the sidelines of the 32nd #ARF in Kuala Lumpur.They discussed bilateral relations, with a focus on boosting trade and investment and enhancing people-to-people ties. DPM/FM Dar accepted the invitation to visit Vietnam soon, at mutually convenient dates. Both sides agreed to initiate negotiations on Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) within 2025 and emphasized enhancing institutional and business linkages for sustained trade growth.
Pakistan Vietnam DPMs Meet and Discuss Cooperation – Dar Accepts Invitation to Visit Soon
Federal Minister Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan visited Vietnam (July 9–12, 2025)—marking the first high-level Pakistani ministerial visit in 15 years. The 5th Meeting of Joint Trade Committee (JTC) was convened today in Hanoi, reactivating this institutional forum after a hiatus of eight years.The Committee reviewed the current state of bilateral trade and outlined future cooperation in key areas including trade facilitation, market access, textile and fisheries, Halal certification, civil aviation, healthcare, and banking channels.
Mr. Jam Kamal Khan and Mr. Nguyễn Hồng Diên, Minister of Industry and Trade built consensus on strengthen economic cooperation and explore new avenues for trade and investment between the two countries. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral trade relations and discussed key areas including trade diversification, market access, investment promotion, and collaboration in industrial development.
Certainly, the credit goes to the governments of both countries and their embassies for refreshing the bilateral engagements and moving forward to a partnership. In that context “Pakistan in the World” media group conducted an interview with the Vietnamese Ambassador to Pakistan H.E.Mr. Pham Anh Tuan on the Occasion of the National Day.
Here the interview is being published for the information and knowledge of the readers of both countries and Pakistani business community that can explore Vietnam as an attractive destination for investments and joint ventures.
Question 1: What is the significance of September 2nd, Vietnam’s National Day, to the Vietnamese nation?
A: Vietnam’s National Day on September 2, 1945 stands as a historic milestone of profound significance, not only for the Vietnamese people but also for the wider world.
On that day, President Ho Chi Minh solemnly proclaimed the Declaration of Independence at Ba Dinh Square, founding the Democratic Republic of Vietnam – the first workers’ and peasants’ state in Southeast Asia, which is today’s Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
It marked the triumph of an indomitable struggle for independence and sovereignty, opening a new era of independence, freedom, and national sovereignty rooted in socialism.
For Vietnam, September 2 has since become more than a commemoration of independence. It is a sacred symbol of the people’s aspiration for freedom, the strength of unity, and the enduring will of a nation that overcame immense sacrifices for its survival.
It is also a day of remembrance, when the country pays tribute to the generations who devoted their lives to the cause of independence, while calling upon today’s generation to shoulder the responsibility of building a prosperous and happy Vietnam.
For the world, the victory of the August Revolution and the establishment of a new Vietnam resonated far beyond its borders.
It became an inspiring beacon for national liberation movements across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, affirming universal values of self-determination, equality, and the shared human longing for peace and progress. September 2, 1945 thus remains a day of both national pride and global significance.
Question 2: What are Vietnam’s most outstanding achievements over the past 80 years?
A: Over the past eight decades since gaining independence, our country has witnessed miraculous progress, recognized internationally.
From a nation impoverished and devastated by war, Vietnam has made a remarkable transformation. From being isolated and embargoed, Vietnam has established diplomatic relations with 194 countries and developed strategic and comprehensive partnerships with 38 nations-including all permanent members of the UN Security Council and major powers.
Today, Vietnam is an active member of over 70 regional and international organizations, with deep and substantive political, defense, and security relations.
From a poor, backward economy, Vietnam has become one of the world’s 34 largest economies,with the economic scale increasing nearly 100 times since the pre-Renovation era (before 1986), and per capita income rising from under 100 USD to over 4,300 USD.
Participation in multi-layered international economic cooperation, especially 17 free trade agreements (FTAs), has linked Vietnam with over 60 key economies and integrated the country deeply into global production and supply chains, placing Vietnam among the top 20 countries with the largest trade scale.
Vietnam is also among the top 15 developing countries attracting the most foreign direct investment (FDI), with registered capital of 38.2 billion USD and implemented capital reaching 25.4 billion USD in 2024, up 9.4%-the highest in many years.
International tourist arrivals reached an estimated 17.6 million, up 39.5% from 2023. The economic structure has shifted positively, with the digital and green economies playing increasingly important roles. All major sectors have grown, with industry recovering robustly as a key driver of growth.
In culture, society, education and training, science and technology, and healthcare,Vietnam has also made remarkable progress, shaping national, cultural, family, and human values. Nearly 99% of Vietnamese adults are literate, the number of university and college students has increased nearly 20 times, and secondary education has been universalized since 2014.
The country’s scientific and technological capacity has been enhanced. Social welfare and policies for ethnic groups, religions, people with meritorious service, and overseas Vietnamese have been implemented synchronously with positive results. Public health is well cared for, with access to advanced medical techniques.
Some updated figures to illustrate Vietnam’s achievements:
In 2024,the poverty rate dropped to 1.93%. According to the United Nations, Vietnam’s happiness index in 2024 rose 11 places to 54th out of 143 countries; the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) index ranked 54th out of 166. In education, nearly 99% of adults are literate; secondary education has been universalized since 2014.
In healthcare, the quality of medical examination and treatment has steadily improved, with health insurance coverage reaching 94.1%. Science and technology applications have been strengthened; the startup and innovation ecosystem has been formed and developed.
Human resource quality has improved,with an increasing proportion of employed workers. Policies for ethnic groups, religions, and beliefs have been prioritized; child care, youth education, the role of the elderly, gender equality, women’s advancement, and information and communication have all been enhanced.
Viet Nam is now sparing no effort with the steadfastly aspiration to develop and become a prosperous society, and an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and to reach the status of a high-income country by 2045, which will also mark the cenerary of our nation’s founding.
Question 3: How do you assess the current state of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Pakistan?
A: As you know, diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Pakistan were established on November 8, 1972, and over more than half a century, our friendship has been continually strengthened and developed across many fields-from politics and diplomacy to economics, trade, education, and people-to-people exchanges.
High-level leaders of both countries have exchanged visits and reached important common understandings to promote multifaceted cooperation. Thanks to joint efforts, economic and trade relations between Vietnam and Pakistan have achieved very encouraging results.
Both countries are working together to strengthen key mechanisms fundamental to developing relations in all areas, such as the Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC), the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC), and the Joint Trade Committee (JTC).
In 2024, two-way trade reached approximately 850 million USD, up over 20% from 2023, with great potential for further development in various sectors-from industrial, agricultural, chemical, and pharmaceutical products to high-tech cooperation in electronics and information technology.
During the meeting at the 8th Future Investment Initiative (FII) Summit in Saudi Arabia in October 2024, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif agreed to raise bilateral trade to over 1 billion USD in the coming year and even aim for several billion USD in the long term.
Pakistan–Vietnam Joint Trade Committee Reactivated after a Hiatus of Eight Years
Measures to promote cooperation include negotiating and signing a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) or Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries. To achieve this, it is necessary to increase working-level visits, exchange delegations-especially business delegations-organize trade fairs, and move towards opening direct flights to boost trade and tourism.
In addition to economic cooperation, people-to-people relations between the two countries have also left many positive impressions, such as recent exchanges on Buddhist studies, photo exhibitions on Pakistan in Vietnam, and Vietnamese fashion shows in Pakistan.
Recently, the Vietnamese Embassy in Islamabad and the Pakistani Embassy in Hanoi signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly promote bilateral relations in all fields, including enhancing delegation exchanges-especially at high levels-coordinating the implementation of signed agreements.
We are launching new cooperation programs, boosting cultural exchanges, translating famous literary and poetic works of both countries, and strengthening media cooperation so that the peoples of both countries can better understand each other, bringing bilateral relations to greater depth, practicality, and effectiveness.
Overall, Vietnam-Pakistan relations are currently on a positive, profound, and effective development trajectory, with close coordination among leaders, business communities, and the peoples of both countries.
Both sides are working towards elevating their relationship and expanding diverse and sustainable cooperation in the future. I believe that with a solid foundation of friendship, great economic potential, and a spirit of goodwill, the relationship between Vietnam and Pakistan will go even further.
I, together with the Vietnamese Embassy in Pakistan, will do our utmost and look forward to close cooperation with all relevant agencies, businesses, and the people of Pakistan for the bright future of Vietnam-Pakistan relations.
Question 4: What key milestones have shaped Vietnam-Pakistan relations over the years?
A: Vietnam-Pakistan relations have been marked by several important milestones over the past 53 years. The most significant is the establishment of diplomatic relations on November 8, 1972, when Pakistan became the first Islamic republic in Asia to recognize Vietnam.
High-level visits have played a vital role in fostering cooperation, such as President Pervez Musharraf’s visit to Vietnam in May 2001 and Vietnamese State President Tran Duc Luong’s visit to Pakistan in March 2004, which significantly strengthened bilateral ties.
Over the past five decades, Vietnam-Pakistan relations have transitioned from modest diplomatic beginnings into a multidimensional partnership with increasing strategic value. The steady rise in bilateral trade – growing from less than USD 10 million in the late 1990s to nearly USD 900 million by the early 2020s-demonstrates both countries’ recognition of economic complementarity, particularly in textiles, agriculture, and emerging technology sectors.
Beyond commerce, cooperation has diversified into education, banking, digital transformation, and professional training, reflecting mutual interest in capacity-building and modernization.
Humanitarian support during natural disasters has reinforced a sense of solidarity, while new momentum in cultural diplomacy – such as collaboration on Buddhist heritage, tourism promotion, and media linkages – signals an effort to leverage soft power for long-term connectivity.
The trajectory of the relationship suggests that Vietnam and Pakistan are not only consolidating bilateral ties but also positioning themselves to coordinate more effectively within broader regional frameworks, including ASEAN – South Asia linkages and initiatives for sustainable development. In this sense, the partnership has shifted from transactional exchanges toward a more strategic, future-oriented engagement.
Question 5: Vietnam has witnessed remarkable economic growth in recent decades. How do you perceive opportunities for expanding trade and investment between Vietnam and Pakistan?
A : Vietnam is proud of its impressive economic achievements in recent years. In 2024, Vietnam’s GDP growth reached 7.09%, surpassing its target of 6-6.5%. The economy’s size reached 476.3 billion USD, with a per capita GDP of 4,700 USD, reflecting an increase of 377 USD from 2023.
Bilateral trade has seen encouraging growth, rising from 514 million USD in 2021 to 850 million USD in 2024. Notably, in the first half of 2025, trade volume reached 402 million USD, a 28% increase over the same period last year.
There is vast potential given the combined population and market size of approximately 300 million people. Vietnam offers strengths in information technology, textiles, and fisheries, while Pakistan excels in agriculture and raw textiles. Both countries can leverage complementary advantages and benefit from multiple trade agreements with the EU, US, UK, and Australia.
We aim to increase bilateral trade to 1 billion USD in 2025 and aspire to reach 10 billion USD in the future.
Question 6: What efforts are being made to facilitate business exchanges, trade fairs, or joint ventures between the two countries?
A: Institutionally, efforts are underway to perfect the Preferential Trade Agreement to provide a favorable legal framework for bilateral trade.
Both countries are implementing practical initiatives to promote business exchanges, including frequent business delegations and active participation in each other’s trade fairs. We continue to bolster cooperation between the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and Pakistan’s Chambers such as KCCI, LCCI, and FPCCI to facilitate timely trade information exchange.
We also encourage businesses of both countries to engage actively in the Joint Business Council established between VCCI and FPCCI, which functions as a crucial bridge to promote cooperation.
Question 7: How do you assess the role of cultural diplomacy in promoting Vietnam-Pakistan relations?
A: Cultural diplomacy plays a vital role in enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between our peoples. Through cultural, educational, artistic, and tourism exchanges, the peoples of our two countries gain deeper mutual understanding, thereby building trust, empathy, and enduring friendship.
This serves as a solid foundation for strengthening cooperation in politics, economy, trade, and investment. Cultural diplomacy not only helps to promote the image of Viet Nam and Pakistan, but also enriches our bilateral ties, contributing to the further development of the traditional friendship between our two nations in a comprehensive and sustainable manner.
Since the signing of the Agreement on Cooperation in Culture, Sports and Tourism in 2004, we have a solid legal foundation for this cooperation. We have organized meaningful cultural activities such as photo exhibitions showcasing the countries’ landscapes, cultures, and peoples, film weeks, and various cultural performances that allow citizens to appreciate each other’s heritage.
A noteworthy initiative is the Memorandum of Understanding between the Pakistan Writers Association and the Vietnamese Writers Association on literary and cultural cooperation. Notably, the Urdu translation of President Ho Chi Minh’s poetry “Prison Diary” will soon be published, while Vietnamese literary figures will translate renowned Pakistani poets’ works into Vietnamese.
Vietnam Proposes Deepening Cultural Ties with Pakistan, Focus on Buddhist Heritage
Question 8: Finally, what message would you like to send to the people of Pakistan regarding Vietnam’s vision for friendship and cooperation?
A: On the auspicious occasion of the 80th National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, I extend my warmest greetings and best wishes to the people of Pakistan – a valued partner and cherished friend.
Vietnam and Pakistan share precious commonalities. Both nations boast glorious histories of struggle for independence and freedom. We have faced great challenges in building our countries, and today, both are growing strongly with resilience and aspiration.
“Over 53 years, our friendship has blossomed on a foundation of mutual respect, understanding, and trust in multi-faceted factors such as politics, economic cooperation, trading relations, cultural and people-to-people exchanges. We also share a common interest in developing our countries and integrating into the regions and the world for the benefit of our people.”
Vietnam’s vision is dedicated to building a bright future for bilateral ties. With a combined population exceeding 300 million and complementary strengths, we are confident that Vietnam and Pakistan can achieve new milestones in economic, trade, cultural, and scientific cooperation.
The Pakistani people are known for their dynamism, hospitality, and entrepreneurial spirit. We believe that through sincere collaboration, our countries will not only reach a 1 billion USD trade target but also become exemplary partners in the region.
Vietnam commits to walking alongside Pakistan on its development path, sharing experiences and jointly overcoming challenges.
As an active ASEAN member, Vietnam will serve as a vital bridge helping Pakistan access the vast Southeast Asian market. Together, let us write a new chapter in Vietnam-Pakistan friendship and cooperation for peace, stability, and prosperity in our region and the world#
The Ambassador and his staff now is more confident than before about their success to take the bilateral cooperation to a new level after the high level meetings and discussions between high officials of both countries in which basic requirments have been mutally seen and an agreement has been muatured to resolve the impediments in the way and move forward with a smooth and steady pace.
Ambassador himself had meetings with ministers and officials in Islamabad and other cities to tap the opportunities both sides offer to each other. The embassy welcomes Pakistani tourists , businessmen community to visit Vietnam and see the heart catching destinations from North to South of the country, observe the change and incentives with their own eyes and build contacts with Vietnamese companies for joint ventures. Vietnam , in short, posses huge potential and diversity of attractions for Pakistanis.
At the end of the interview , we congratulated the Ambassador and staff on their National Day and wished them the best. The embassy is celebrating the day in Islamabad on 28 Aug 2025.
