Minister of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development Ngirabelas Tmetuchl said that President of the Republic of Palau, Surangel Whipps Jr. was very impressed by Vietnam's economic development and that two sides have much potential to cooperate.

Vietnamese Ambassador (third, left) shook hands with Minister of Human Resources, Culture, Tourism and Development, Ngirabelas Tmetuchl (fourth, left) (Photo: VNA).

The meeting was expected to open up many opportunities for the two countries to enhance their relations, Tmetuchl said. The working session also saw the participation of Minister of Public Infrastructure and Industries Charles Obichang and a number of parliamentarians from Palau.

To strengthen economic and trade ties, Tmetuchl proposed that priorities should be given to encouraging and supporting businesses of the two countries to promote bilateral economic and trade activities, conduct market research, and seek investment opportunities.

He said Palau wanted to open a direct air route between the two nations to facilitate tourism development. Regarding human resource development, Tmetuchl noted that the majority of guest workers in Palau come from the Philippines, Bangladesh, and China, and Palau wanted to receive Vietnamese workers, especially in the fields of construction, infrastructure, and fishing.

The Palauan leader said that Palau wanted to open a direct air route between the two countries to facilitate the development of tourism.

Regarding human resource development, Ngirabelas Tmetuchl noted that the majority of workers invited to Palau came from the Philippines, Bangladesh, and China, and that Palau wanted to receive Vietnamese workers, particularly in the fields of construction, infrastructure and fisheries.

For his part, Vietnam Ambassador to Japan Vu Hong Nam said the two countries need to further discuss and exchange measures to develop a comprehensive cooperation agreement or memorandum of understanding, in order to strengthen links in the areas of policy, trade and human resources.

Since the bilateral diplomatic relationship was set up on August 18, 2008, Vietnam and Palau have enjoyed strides in their ties. The two countries have carried out cooperation activities in multiple spheres, especially maritime environment, climate change, agriculture, seafood farming, and tourism.

The city of Koror, capital city of Palau (Photo: usualtraveler.com). Palauis a group of islands in the Micronesia area of Oceania, to the southeast of the Philippines. Other neighbors are Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. The islands have a total land area of 191 square miles (495 square kilometers). The weather is hot and humid, with annual rainfall of around 150 inches (3,800 millimeters). The flora and fauna are tropical, but Palau is best known for its 70-mile-long (113-kilometer-long) barrier reef which encloses spectacular coral reefs and a lagoon of approximately 560 square miles (1,450 square kilometers), a divers' paradise. After three decades as part of the UN Trust Territory of the Pacific under US administration, this westernmost cluster of the Caroline Islands opted for independence in 1978 rather than join the Federated States of Micronesia. A Compact of Free Association with the US was approved in 1986, but not ratified until 1993. Palau officially became independent on 1 Oct 1994, cited from the U.S. Department of the Interior. Palau comprises several cultures and languages. Southwest Islanders, as these Carolinians are called, speak Nuclear Micronesian languages. The capital and major population center is Koror, the small set of islands to the south of the main island of Babelthuap. In 2004 the capital will be relocated to Melekeok on Babelthuap. Today most live on Koror and also speak Palauan and English. Palauans recognize a series of expanding identities, from the village of one's father, one's mother, one's village, or one's island, to the Palauan nation as a whole.

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