Marking 50 Years of Friendship: Nepal-Vietnam Gear Up to Elevate Relationship

Visiting Vice President of Vietnam, Vo Thi Anh Xuan, meets President of Nepal Ram Chandra Poudel in Kathmandu.

As Nepal and Vietnam mark half a century of diplomatic ties, the two nations are opening a new chapter in their relationship with a landmark visit by Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan. Her three-day official visit, from August 23 to 25, is the highest-level engagement from Vietnam since the two countries established relations in 1975. The visit is regarded as a pivotal moment to transform a long-standing and friendly, yet relatively quiet, partnership into a more dynamic one.

Vice President Xuan arrived at the invitation of her Nepali counterpart, Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav. During delegation-level talks, the discussions highlighted shared ties and the potential for promoting religious and cultural tourism. The two leaders reaffirmed that their relationship is rooted in friendship and mutual respect and agreed to strengthen cooperation through more ministerial and official exchanges, while also exploring expanded air connectivity. Vice President Yadav further noted that Nepal could learn from Vietnam’s economic growth, identifying opportunities for collaboration in investment, trade, and digital technology.

Xuan’s high-level meetings continued with President Ramchandra Paudel, who praised Vietnam’s economic growth, describing it as one of the most dynamic economies in the world. According to the Office of the President, he expressed Nepal’s interest in expanding cooperation into new sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and hydropower as part of Nepal’s broader economic and social transformation.

In response, Vice President Xuan called for building a comprehensive framework for relations by 2030, aligning it with both nations’ long-term development goals. She also appreciated Nepal’s peace-promoting initiatives on the international stage and its strong commitment to addressing climate change.

Similar discussions were held during her meeting with former Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, which focused on strengthening government-to-government, business-to-business, and people-to-people ties. The two leaders exchanged experiences and discussed various aspects of expanding relations to further deepen bilateral cooperation. The talks also touched on enhancing diplomatic and cultural exchanges between Nepal and Vietnam.

Nepal’s former Foreign Minister, Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba, also paid a courtesy call on Vice President Xuan. During the meeting, Dr. Rana emphasized the importance of cultural relations and highlighted Buddhism as a strong link for expanding ties between the two countries and their peoples. The discussions included specific requests, such as facilitating flights to Nepal’s new international airports in Bhairahawa and Pokhara, and seeking Vietnam’s support for Nepal’s planned graduation from Least Developed Country status.

Vice President Xuan also held talks with the Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) to expand bilateral trade, foster an investment-friendly environment, promote industries and businesses, and explore avenues for cooperation. The discussions also extended to global agendas, including South-South cooperation and climate change, as the two countries continue to collaborate at both bilateral and multilateral levels.

The meeting was attended by NCC President Kamlesh Kumar Agrawal, Immediate Past President Rajendra Malla, Senior Vice President Dipak Kumar Malhotra, Women’s Chamber President Urmila Shrestha, and other officials. Vietnam’s Honorary Consul and Immediate Past President of NCC, Rajesh Kaji Shrestha, was also present.

Vice President Xuan underscored that close coordination between the private sectors of both countries is essential for expanding trade and investment. Stressing the indispensable role of business in deepening economic ties, she encouraged Chamber representatives to visit Vietnam to collaborate directly with their counterparts and explore new opportunities and potential areas of investment.

Before her departure, Vice President Xuan visited Patan Durbar Square, where she was welcomed by the Mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Chiri Babu Maharjan.

As Nepal and Vietnam celebrate 50 years of friendship, this first-ever high-level visit from Hanoi signifies more than just an anniversary. The talks in Kathmandu went beyond pleasantries, opening up possibilities to translate five decades of goodwill into tangible benefits for the people of both nations.