Attending the event were representatives from the Uzbekistani Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Industry and Trade of Vietnam, the report said.

Le Van Nghia, who was selected by both governments as the honorary consul in February 2009, said that the office will work with various government agencies to organise cultural exchanges, conferences and fairs on tourism and agriculture in Uzbekistan’s capital city of Tashkent. It will also liaise with Vietnamese agencies and different economic sectors to send students and officials to Uzbekistan to study.

Vietnam and Uzbekistan established diplomatic ties on 17 January 1992. The two countries set up an inter-governmental committee on economic, commercial, scientific and technological cooperation.

Uzbekistani is keen to import tropical farm produce like tea, coffee and rubber, foodstuffs, handicrafts and electronics from Vietnam to satisfy domestic demands. It is able to supply Vietnam with cotton, nonferrous metals, fertilizer and machines.

Two-way trade between the two countries reached US$4.8 million in 2006, US$6.6 million in 2007 and US$8.3 million in 2008.

In 2008, Vietnam earned almost US$2.5 million from exports to Uzbekistan and imported goods worth US$5.8 million.