The Ambassador highly appreciated UCCI's significant contributions to the economic-trade relations between the two countries over the past time, and thanked UCCI, as well as Mr. Gennadiy Chyzhykov, for supporting the ambassador in completing his mission.

Ambassador Nguyen Anh Tuan was pleased with Ukraine's desire to develop relations with the ASEAN region in general, and Vietnam in particular, through the initiative of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the establishment of the ASEAN Committee and ASEAN Centre in Ukraine, and proposed to become an observer of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA), join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), and establish a relationship between the Council of Ukrainian exporters and investors and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC).

At the meeting, Ambassador Nguyen Anh Tuan expressed his hope that with the traditional friendship background between the two countries for many years, UCCI will, together with its partners, especially with the Vietnamese Embassy in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Embassy in Vietnam and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), find solutions to further promote bilateral cooperation, firstly promote the organization of the 15th meeting of the Ukraine-Vietnam Intergovernmental Committee on Economic-Trade and Science-Technical Cooperation, research to organize a forum to share Vietnam's experience in reform and open-door success, share experiences among businesses, and promote the negotiation of a Free Trade Agreement between the two countries.

Mr. Chyzhykov thanked the Ambassador for creating favorable conditions and supporting UCCI in connecting with Vietnamese partners. In recent times, Ukraine has realized the great potential of the Asian region in general and Vietnam in particular in enhancing trade exchanges, therefore UCCI will promote cooperation with stakeholders and partners to promote Ukraine's goods and a more active presence in the Vietnamese market.

UCCI President said that Ukraine has strengths in many areas that Vietnam is in need of, such as new technology, energy, nuclear, mineral exploitation and processing, red sludge treatment, clean water treatment, and fertile land improvement, while Vietnam has experiences in reforming, innovating, facilitating investment environment, attracting FDI as well as holding an important role in ASEAN. These are favorable factors that need to be exploited and promoted by both sides.

Appreciating the idea of holding a workshop to share experiences on reform, and hoping to soon organize this seminar, Mr. Chyzhykov commits to continue to be a reliable partner of Vietnam, ready to cooperate for the development and integration of the two countries.

On this occasion, the UCCI President awarded Ambassador Nguyen Anh Tuan a Certificate of Merit for his positive contribution to the development of economic relations between Ukraine and Vietnam, especially for his positive contribution and favorable condition facilitation for enterprises of the two countries to seek opportunities and participate in investment and business in the other country, take the initiative of organizing a forum on Ukraine-Vietnam relations after the meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee in 2017, Vietnam Day at Lviv 2018, Tourism Promotion Forum 2019 and Online seminar on prospects of Vietnam-Ukraine economic relations 2020.

President Chyzhykov expressed his wish to welcome the Ambassador to again visit Ukraine and UCCI in a future day./.

BTA