VUFO Recognizes Greek Ambassador's Contribution in Boosting Vietnam - Greece Relations

According to VUFO, Ambassador Georgios Stilianopoulos has coordinated with Vietnamese agencies to successfully organize visits and exchanges at all levels and in all sectors, namely the official visit to Vietnam by President Katerina Sakellaropoulou (May 2022), the visit by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias (August 2022), and the official visit to Greece by Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan (November 2021).

In terms of the economy, the Ambassador promotes the export of high-quality Greek agricultural products to Vietnam, such as saffron and fruits. Greece has ratified the Vietnam - EU Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) and the Vietnam - EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), and supports the early ratification of the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Regarding sports, the Greek Embassy has donated 50,000 euros to the Vietnam National Olympic Committee to contribute to the development of the Vietnamese sports sector. In terms of health, during the Covid-19 period, Ambassador Georgios Stilianopoulos donated 250,000 doses of the Greek AstraZeneca vaccine to the Vietnamese people (November 2021).

In addition, Ambassador Georgios Stilianopoulos has promoted the signing of memorandums of understanding in many fields: labor, education - training, maritime, such as: Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation on migration and labor mobility between the Ministry of Migration and Asylum of the Republic of Greece and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of Vietnam; Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between Hanoi University of Home Affairs (HUHA) and two Greek higher education institutions, Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) and Athens Business School (BCA)... These documents are the basis for promoting cooperation and enhancing people-to-people exchange between the two countries.
At the ceremony to award the “For Peace and Friendship among Nations” medal to Ambassador Georgios Stilianopoulos, Phan Anh Son, President of VUFO, highly appreciated the Ambassador’s contributions to the bilateral relations. During his tenure, the Ambassador paid much attention to and supported cooperation activities in many fields such as politics, education, trade, and people-to-people exchange between Vietnam and Greece in particular and Vietnam and the European Union in general. President Phan Anh Son hopes that regardless of his position, Ambassador Georgios Stilianopoulos will contribute to further developing the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Greece.

Expressing his honor to receive VUFO's most noble award, the Greek Ambassador said that memories of Vietnam with its diverse natural landscapes; unique historical and cultural traditions; and friendly and hospitable people would stay in his heart. Vietnam and Greece have much room to develop cooperation in many fields such as tourism, agriculture, maritime, labor. The Ambassador expressed his hope that Vietnam will strengthen relations with the EU and expected Greece to be the gateway for Vietnamese goods to enter the region's market.