Kathmandu — Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba held a courtesy meeting today with Vice President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Vo Thi Anh Xuan, who arrived in Kathmandu on a three-day official visit at the friendly invitation of Nepal’s Vice President, Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav.
During the meeting, the two sides discussed various dimensions of Nepal–Vietnam relations, bilateral interests, and matters of mutual concern. Minister Deuba congratulated Vietnam on its recent rapid economic growth, stating that other countries could also learn from Vietnam’s development experience.
Highlighting the cultural ties between the two nations, Minister Deuba stressed that Buddhism serves as a strong bond connecting the peoples of Nepal and Vietnam. She noted the increasing number of Vietnamese visitors to Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha, and emphasized the potential for cooperation in promoting cultural tourism.
Minister Deuba further pointed out the remarkable growth in tourist exchanges between Nepal and Vietnam in recent years and called for enhanced collaboration in the tourism sector. She also urged Vietnam to consider direct flights to Nepal’s Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa and Pokhara International Airport.
Minister Deuba briefed the Vice President about Nepal’s preparations to graduate from the status of Least Developed Country (LDC) after 2026, requesting Vietnam’s support in the post-graduation phase. She also sought Vietnam’s backing for Nepal’s candidacy for membership in the Human Rights Council (2027–2029) and the Economic and Social Council (2029–2031). In response, Vice President Xuan assured Vietnam’s support for Nepal.
Both sides reaffirmed that Nepal and Vietnam have consistently supported each other at bilateral and multilateral levels and stressed the need to continue cooperation on global agendas such as South–South cooperation and climate change.
As members of the G77 and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), Nepal and Vietnam reiterated their commitment to working together to safeguard the interests of developing countries.
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