Day: May 22, 2023

Jakarta (ANTARA) – President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed bilateral cooperation in the economy and defense during their meeting in Hiroshima, Japan, on Sunday.Jokowi asked Macron to support Indonesia’s accession to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the completion of the Indonesia-EU Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Indonesia-EU CEPA) by 2024. “I hope France will support Indonesia to be accepted as an FATF member because Indonesia is the only G20 member state that has not yet become an FATF member,” the president was quoted in a statement on Sunday. The two leaders also discussed French investment in Indonesia’s strategic sectors during the meeting. Jokowi commended the participation of French companies in Indonesia’s downstreaming projects, the 500 million euro assistance for Indonesia through the French Development Agency (AFD), and the establishment of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) in Indonesia. He highlighted the need to follow up on the cooperation between the state-run coal mining company PT Bukit Asam and Hydrogene de France (HDF) to develop hydrogen-based technology. Jokowi also emphasized the importance of continuing the collaboration between CIRAD and Yayasan Biru Indonesia on sustainable development. “Indonesia also welcomes investment to develop the new capital Nusantara in infrastructure, green energy, and ecotourism. We have prepared incentives and investment facilities,” he stated. Jokowi also lauded the planned joint venture between the state-owned company PT Len Industri and the French company Thales. “Let us continue pushing for the transfer of technology, transfer of knowledge, and joint production. I also invite the French private sector to participate in the implementation of the AOIP (ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific) concrete cooperation,” Jokowi said. He also invited France to participate in the ASEAN-Indo Pacific Forum in Jakarta next September. Coordinating Minister of Maritime and Investment Affairs Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan and Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi accompanied the president during his meeting with Macron.

Source: Antara News Agency

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has launched the second phase of its “Cross-border Tuberculosis control along the Vietnam and Cambodia border” project in partnership with Vietnam’s National Tuberculosis Control Programme and National Lung Hospital and Cambodia’s National Centre for Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control.

With financial aid from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the project aims to improve access to TB diagnosis and treatment for migrants in the border areas between the two countries and strengthen cross-border partnership and collaboration between health authorities in the provinces of An Giang and Tay Ninh in Vietnam and Svay Rieng and Takeo in Cambodia.

The IOM kicked off the programme in Ho Chi Minh City on May 19.

Cross-border migrants often have difficulty in accessing healthcare services due to a lack of health insurance, language barriers, limited understanding of the local healthcare system, and discrimination, according to IOM Vietnam.

This could cause delays in seeking TB diagnosis and treatment, and treatment interruption, resulting in poor treatment outcomes and drug resistant TB.

In the 2022 WHO Global TB Report, Vietnam remained one of 30 highest burden countries for the disease, and Cambodia is on a watchlist though it has been phased out of the list.

In 2020 IOM, in partnership with Vietnam’s National Tuberculosis Control Programme and Cambodia’s National Centre for Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control, conducted operational research to better understand the barriers to accessing and utilising TB diagnosis and treatment faced by cross-border migrants in the four border provinces.

It provided a platform for public health officials in the two countries to develop practical interventions for collaborative TB control in border areas.

It also highlighted the current limited collaboration and partnerships.

“Ensuring migrant health requires holistic efforts between countries involved in their migration process,” IOM chief of mission, Park Mihyung, said.

“It is very important that we develop and adapt a migrant-sensitive referral system for cross-border migrants with TB and facilitate the establishment of local TB and HIV/AIDS taskforces in An Giang, Tay Ninh, Svay Rieng, and Takeo provinces.

“That way, we can make sure that the treatment of TB for cross-border migrants remains uninterrupted through all health networks across borders.

“I also welcome cooperation from other, non-health sectors like immigration and border security to make sure that we all understand the importance of healthy migrants for healthy economies.”

IOM is also working closely with the Migration Health Working Group, an inter-ministerial working group established by the Ministry of Health, to address important migrant health issues and co-ordinate with relevant stakeholders to foster migrant-friendly health interventions and policies./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam treasures its traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told Dmitry Medvedev, Chairman of the ruling United Russia Party (URP) and Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia during a reception in Hanoi on May 22.

PM Chinh said Medvedev’s visit from May 21-23 provides an opportunity for both sides to discuss cooperation between the two Parties and countries, thus raising mutual understanding and agreeing on measures to further improve the effectiveness of bilateral coordination for the benefit of the two peoples and the development of both nations.

Medvedev, for his part, described Vietnam as one of the important partners of Russia in Asia-Pacific, especially in Southeast Asia.

He affirmed that Russia wishes to further develop bilateral cooperation with Vietnam in areas of their strength and need, in order to meet the expectation of both peoples and development requirements of each nation.

The URP always supports the development of comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam, while maintaining and strengthening traditional cooperation areas, expanding collaboration in economy and trade, investment, culture, tourism, locality-to-locality and people-to-people exchanges, among others.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the recent achievements in bilateral cooperation, including the successful organisation of the 24th session of the Vietnam-Russia Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic, Trade and Scientific-Technological Cooperation, during which they reached consensus on measures to further improve the effectiveness of bilateral coordination, particularly in economy, trade and investment. They shared the view that amid difficulties and challenges faced by the global economy, it is necessary to adopt measures to strengthen the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation, in the spirit of harmonising interests and sharing risks. They also vowed to deepen joint work in such areas as energy, oil and gas, science-technology, education and training.

On the occasion, PM Chinh thanked leaders and authorities of Russia for offering support to Vietnamese citizens in the country over the past years. He wished that Medvedev and his party would continue contributing their voice and supporting the improvement of legal foundations for the Vietnamese community to keep living, studying, and doing business in Russia for a long term./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

President Vo Van Thuong has welcomed ongoing Vietnam visit by Chairman of the United Russia Party (URP) and Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia Dmitry Medvedev, saying that it affords both sides a chance to discuss orientations to Vietnam-Russia ties, including cooperation between the two Parties and States.

During a reception in Hanoi on May 22 for Medvedev, President Thuong affirmed that Vietnam consistently follows the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of ties. Vietnam always remembers the support that the former Soviet Union offered to Vietnam in its national construction and defence, values the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership and wishes to further develop bilateral traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership for the benefit of both countries and prosperity of both peoples.

He thanked Russia for continuing to provide annual scholarships for Vietnamese students to study in Russian educational institutions, and believed that the fourth session of the Vietnam-Russia Joint Committee on Education, Science and Technology, scheduled to be held later this year, will open up new cooperation opportunities in this field.

Medvedev affirmed that Russia attaches importance to the comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam.

Leaders of Russia, including the URP, pay attention to developing ties with Vietnam as one of the top priorities, he said, adding that Vietnam is an important partner of Russia in the region.

Both host and guest hailed the significant achievements in bilateral cooperation over the past years, especially in economy, trade, science, education-training, and locality-to-locality cooperation.

They vowed to continue facilitating people-to-people exchanges, especially among the young generation, and uphold the role of friendship associations between the two countries to enhance understanding and preserve the fine values of long-standing friendship with a history of nearly 75 years.

President Thuong thanked and suggested leaders of Russia and the URP continue creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Russia to settle down their lives.

On the occasion, he conveyed his regards to Russian President Vladimir Putin./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

VinaCapital, Vietnam’s most diversified asset manager, and A.P. Moller Capital, a global fund manager focused on high growth markets, have set up a joint platform to grow and scale investments in transportation and logistics infrastructure in Vietnam.

With a population of close to 100 million, a consistent GDP growth rate of over 5%, and a strong and stable regulatory and investment climate, Vietnam offers clear high growth opportunities in transportation and logistics.

The partnership, which will be majority-owned by a fund managed by A.P. Moller Capital, brings together this sector expertise with the regional knowledge and expertise of VinaCapital, both leaders in their respective spheres, to build and scale a portfolio of assets that target top quartile returns in a private capital structure. Investment and other major decisions will be made jointly.

Dhruv Narain, Partner at A.P. Moller Capital, said: “We are delighted to be building an asset portfolio that does well for our investors whilst doing good for communities in high growth markets – doing this in Vietnam with a committed and reputable partner like VinaCapital is a privilege.”

Andy Ho, Chief Investment Officer at VinaCapital, said logistics is a critical part of Vietnam’s economic growth story, and VinaCapital has a successful track record in the sector over the two decades, including investments in Gemadept and Transimex, as well as warehouses and industrial parks. Partnership with A.P. Moller Capital brings together two of the most experienced players in their respective fields and creates an investment platform that has the potential to transform the logistics industry in Vietnam.

“We are excited to work with the team at A.P. Moller Capital to identify and invest in promising Vietnamese logistics companies and contribute to the sector’s growth and development”, he said./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency