Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins notes Latvia-Vietnam co-operation in education and culture

On 26 May, at the conclusion of the ASEM Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Hanoi, Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins met with Pham Gia Khiem, Foreign Minister of Vietnam, the host country.

During their discussion the ministers reviewed Latvian-Vietnamese co-operation both on bilateral basis and within the framework of international organisations, the outcomes of the ASEM meeting and the forthcoming meeting of the European Union and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Cambodia from 27 to 29 March.

Foreign Minister Maris Riekstins observed that  the accreditation, on 3 March this year, of Latvia's first non-resident Ambassador to Vietnam, Ingrida Levrence, residing in China, was a significant step for the strengthening of bilateral co-operation. Both sides discussed also possibilities for the appointment of a Honorary Consul of Latvia in Vietnam, in order to promote closer contacts between various sectors. The Foreign Minister of Latvia noted the co-operation between Latvia and Vietnam in the field of culture, mentioning as a positive example the screening of the Latvian feature film Rīgas sargi (Defenders of Riga) at the Asia Europe Film Festival in Hanoi last week. "I am glad that the film has earned good reviews in Vietnam," indicated the Foreign Minister.

As part of the meeting, Foreign Minister Riekstins also emphasised that Latvia's universities were open for co-operation with Vietnam and the Asian region, referring to the successful contacts established to date between the education misters of both countries.

The diplomatic relations between Latvia and Vietnam were established on 12 December 1992.

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