Embassy’s inauguration speech by H.E. deputy Foreign minister Bui Thanh Son

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Your Excellency Ambassador Iannis Zepos, General Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, representative of the Government of the Hellenic Republic,
Ambassador of Viet Nam to Greece Binh Vu,
Distinguished guests
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my great honor to represent the Government of Viet Nam to inaugurate the Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam in the Hellenic Republic today. This happy ceremony takes place right on the occasion the Greek people celebrates their 191st anniversary of Independence Day. I would like to convey the warmest felicitations and best wishes of the Government and people of Viet Nam to the Greek Government and people.

The opening of the Embassy of Viet Nam in Athens about a year ago represents the fruitful outcome of our excellent friendly relations in the past and at present. By inaugurating its Embassy at this time, Viet Nam wishes to express its strong solidarity and support to Greece. Through this action of optimism, the Government and people of Viet Nam demonstrate their strong desire as well as their determination to work with the Greek people and Government in further promoting the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

We profoundly believe in the future of our ties as expressed by the President of Viet Nam Mr. Truong Tan Sang in his message of congratulations to the Hellenic President Mr. Karolos Papoulias on the Greece’s Independence Day, I quote,  “with the official inauguration on March 26th, 2012 of the Embassy of Viet Nam in Greece, the fine friendship and cooperation between our two countries will be further enhanced both at length and in depth in the interests of the two peoples and for peace, stability and development in the region and the world”, unquote.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Along with the opening of the Embassy of the Hellenic Republic in Ha Noi, happily also in March, exactly 5 years ago, the two Embassies have made contributions to the enhanced bilateral cooperation. Take trade for example.  In 2011,  exports from Viet Nam to Greece increased by almost 40% while it is more remarkably, 4 times higher, for the Greek exports to Vietnam as compared to the year before the presence of each Embassy in the other country’s capital. As European is my portfolio, I recognize and congratulate Amb. Binh Vu and his staff for their active and hard work. The presence of the distinguished audience this evening is just one indicator of their efforts and results.

I would like to thank you all, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, for sharing with us at this important and meaningful event and, more importantly, for your friendship and support to our Embassy and its staff.

I would take this opportunity to thank the Government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all competent agencies of the Hellenic Republic for valuable facilitation to and cooperation with Amb. Binh Vu and his staff since the Embassy’s very first days in this beautiful country of great culture and history.

In this solemn and friendly ambience, I declare the inauguration of the Embassy of Viet Nam.

Thank you very much for your kind attention./.