Day: March 12, 2024

Hanoi: Vietnam always attaches importance to developing good cooperation relations with Slovenia – an important partner of Vietnam in Central and Eastern Europe, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang told Slovenian State Secretary for Foreign and European Affairs Sanja Stiglic.

During a political consultation which took place in the framework of the Vietnamese official’s visit to the European country March 9-11, Hang valued Slovenia as it takes Vietnam as a priority partner in its policy of enhancing and expanding relations with countries in the Southeast Asian region.

Hang called on the Slovenian side to complete procedures to ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), thus facilitating equitable and win-win investment cooperation between the two sides. She also urged Slovenia to push the European Commission (EC) to lift the “yellow card” against Vietnam’s seafood exports to assist the country in developing a sustainable fisheries sector.

The officials discussed measures to promote t
raditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, in the framework of a visit to the European country from March 9-11.

They agreed on the necessity to increase all-level delegation exchanges, cooperation in state, government, and parliamentary channels, and people-to-people exchanges, and between the two foreign ministries.

They also agreed to further step up trade and investment cooperation by fully and effectively implementing the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA); improve the effectiveness of the Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic Cooperation mechanism; create favourable conditions for each other’s goods to enter each other’s markets; and encourage Slovenian enterprises to increase investment in Vietnam, especially in areas where Slovenia has strengths such as maritime transport, logistics, renewable energy, and pharmaceuticals.

Expressing her impression of Vietnam’s recent socio-economic development and international integration achievements in recent years, Stig
lic spoke highly of its increasingly important role and position in the region and the world.

Slovakia always treasures and wishes to enhance relations with Vietnam – its leading important partner in Southeast Asia, she stressed, adding that more and more Slovenian businesses are interested in business cooperation with Vietnam.

She hailed Vietnam’s strong commitments at COP26 in 2021 regarding climate change adaptation, affirming that Slovenia is willing to share experience and collaborate with Vietnam in this field.

The officials agreed to promote bilateral cooperation in potential areas such as education; training; green, digital and circular economy; maritime transport; logistics; tourism; and labour.

They exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, affirming commitment to maintaining close coordination and mutual support in multilateral forums.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the two sides emphasised support for Vietnam’s and ASEAN’s stance on ensuring security, safety, and
freedom of navigation and overflight in the sea, settling disputes through peaceful measures, and adhering to international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

Hang took the occasion to suggest the Slovenian government continue to create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in the European nation to live stably and integrate well into the local society, thus serving as a bridge connecting cooperation between the two countries.

During her stay, Deputy FM Hang had meetings with Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajo and President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia Tibor Simonka, and a working session with Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation Igor Papic. She also attended a ceremony to celebrate the 30th founding anniversary of the Vietnam – Slovenia diplomatic ties./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Da Nang: A delegation of China’s Shandong province led by its Vice Governor Song Junji paid a visit to the central city of Da Nang on March 12, which was expected to contribute to enhancing cooperation between the two localities in the time ahead.

Vice Chairman of the Da Nang city People’s Committee Tran Chi Cuong briefed the guests on the city’s socio-economic situation, saying it has been identified as the growth nucleus of Vietnam’s central key economic region.

According to the official, Da Nang has established cooperative ties with 48 localities of 22 countries and territories worldwide, noting it has maintained friendship and official cooperation with a number of Chinese localities, including Shandong.

In 2017, the Chinese Consulate General in Da Nang was put into operation, serving as a bridge between the city and Chinese localities and partners, he said.

Cuong emphasised that Da Nang wishes for more intensive and closer relations with Chinese localities, especially in the areas where the sides have
strengths and share similarities like tourism and navigation.

For his part, Song said Shandong boasts strengths in both agriculture and industry, and suggested the two sides promote Party diplomacy and exchange experience in Party building, thus contributing to boosting the relations between Vietnam and China in the new era.

The official held that Shandong and Da Nang share similarities in economy, culture, tourism, trade and high-tech, saying he hopes that the visit will help forge their bilateral collaboration in the coming time.

Apart from the good political ties, economic cooperation and trade between Da Nang and Chinese localities are growing, he continued.

China is running 93 projects in the Vietnamese central locality with a total investment capital of 118 million USD, mainly in catering services, electronics import consultation, and silicon product manufacturing.

Last year, Da Nang exported 47 million USD worth of goods to China, and imported 205 million USD.

In the year, China was the second bi
ggest source of tourists to Da Nang, with 179,000 arrivals./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

– Vice State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan had bilateral meetings with Swiss President Viola Amherd and Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silina, and received New York City Mayor Eric Adams, on the occasion of her attendance at the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in New York on March 11 (local time).

Xuan congratulated Viola Amherd on becoming the President of Switzerland, and also the first woman to hold the position as the head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport. Read full story

– Vietnam always attaches importance to developing good cooperation relations with Slovenia – an important partner of Vietnam in Central and Eastern Europe, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang told Slovenian State Secretary for Foreign and European Affairs Sanja Stiglic.

During a political consultation which took place in the framewo
rk of the Vietnamese official’s visit to the European country March 9-11, Hang valued Slovenia as it takes Vietnam as a priority partner in its policy of enhancing and expanding relations with countries in the Southeast Asian region. Read full story

– Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu held talks in Hanoi on March 11 with Komura Masahiro, Member of the House of Representatives, Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, who is in Vietnam for a visit from March 10-13.

Vu proposed the two sides maintain the exchange of high-level and all-level delegations in 2024, and Japan continue to cooperate and support Vietnam to promote industrialisation and modernisation in the new context. Read full story

– A project aiming to foster water and environment security in the Ma and Neun – Ca river basins and related coastal areas in Vietnam and Laos was launched in Hanoi on March 12.

The event was co-hosted by the Vietnamese Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s Department of Water Re
sources Management (DWRM), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Lao Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s Department of Water Resources and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Read full story

– The Ministries of Natural Resources and Environment, and Industry and Trade, and the World Wide Fund for Nature in Vietnam (WWF-Vietnam) have called on people to join hands in reducing carbon footprint, towards net zero emissions, in response to the Earth Hour campaign.

They call on Vietnamese people turn off their lights for Earth Hour from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm on March 23. Read full story

– Vietnamese agricultural products have more opportunities to hit the shelves of Japanese supermarket chain Aeon as Aeon Topvalu will attend the Vietnam International Sourcing 2024 event to be held by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) on June 6-8 in Ho Chi Minh City.

On the threshold of the event, General Director of Aeon TopValu Vietnam Shiotani Yuichiro had a wo
rking session with the MoIT’s European – American Market Department, saying he has a great expectation when joining the sourcing fair. Read full story

– President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) Nguyen Dinh Khang has engaged in discussions with representatives of labour unions from Brazil, Peru, and Uruguay, as part of his working trip to South America and attendance to the second conference of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) Presidential Council held in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

While in Brazil, Khang, who is also WFTU Vice President, held talks with leaders of the Central of Workers of Brazil (CTB) and numerous bilateral meetings to strengthen ties with WFTU member unions, especially those in the Americas such as the Cuban workers’ center (CTC), Workers’ General Confederation of Peru (CGTP), Argentine Leather Manufacturing Union (SAMC), and Transport Workers’ Union of Uruguay. Read full story

|- Vietnam’s wood and forestry sector is aiming to export 15.2 billion USD worth of it
s products this year, an increase from the 14.47 billion USD last year which was down 15.4% from 2022.

According to the Department of Forestry, the fundamental reason of the last year’s fall is that consumers reduced their spending on non-essential items such as wood and wood products to deal with rising prices caused by geopolitical crises. Read full story

– Boxer Vo Thi Kim Anh has secured a ticket to Paris 2024 Olympics, the fifth for Vietnam, after a 5-0 win over Islem Ferchichi of Tunisia in a decisive match against in the women’s 54kg category at the World Qualification Tournament held from February 29-March 12 in Busto Arzizio, Italy, according to the Vietnam Boxing Federation (VBF).

Earlier, she defeated opponents from the Dominican Republic and Hungary in the pre-quarterfinals./. Read full story

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vientiane: General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith received a delegation of Hanoi led by Dinh Tien Dung, Politburo member of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Secretary of the municipal Party Committee, in Vientiane on March 12.

Briefing his host on the outcomes of the talks between the Hanoi and Vientiane delegations, Dung said the fruitful cooperation between the two capital cities is one of the vivid demonstrations of the Vietnam – Laos special traditional friendship.

He affirmed that Hanoi will continue coordinating closely with Vientiane to effectively carry out the agreements reached by leaders of the two Parties and the two States, along with the deals between the two capitals.

The Lao leader spoke highly of the outcomes of Dung’s talks with Secretary of the Vientiane Party Committee Anouphap Tounalom, along with the two cities’ partnerships under their cooperation agreement for 2022 – 2025, especially Hanoi’s practical assistance to the L
ao side.

He voiced his belief that Hanoi and Vientiane will continue productively implementing their cooperation agreement and carry out new cooperation areas in an increasingly effective manner. He also called on Hanoi to actively share its experience in the Party and political system building as well as other fields with Lao localities.

The top leader of Laos noted that he believed the two capital cities’ friendship and cooperation will become a role model of the two countries’ locality-to-locality cooperation, thus contributing to the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.

Also on March 12, the Hanoi delegation attended the inauguration ceremony of the headquarters of the Justice Department and the Procuracy of Vientiane. The project, invested with 3 million USD, is a gift from the Party organisation, administration, and people of Hanoi to their Vientiane counterparts.

The same day, the delegation took part in the Hanoi – Vientiane tourism and trad
e promotion programme 2024./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: President Vo Van Thuong received Pakistani Ambassador Samina Mehtab in Hanoi on March 12, congratulating the outgoing diplomat on her excellent fulfillment of tasks in Vietnam.

The State leader highly valued the ambassador’s active and effective contributions to the friendship and cooperation between the two countries, especially the organisation of many meaningful activities to celebrate the 50th founding anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations in 2022.

He highly appreciated Mehtab for holding a number of effective activities to promote cooperation between ministries, sectors, localities, and businesses of the two countries, thereby helping develop the Vietnam – Pakistan friendship and cooperation and expand cooperation areas, especially economy, trade, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

Many business delegations of Pakistan have also come to Vietnam to explore investment opportunities, he noted.

Thanking the President and relevant agencies of Vietnam for their active support for h
er and her colleagues to fulfill duties, Mehtab said she was deeply impressed with the sentiments and hospitality of Vietnamese people, which, she said, is why the country’s tourism is growing so strongly.

She underlined the importance of economic and trade partnerships and voiced her delight at the vigorous growth of bilateral trade.

The ambassador expressed her hope that the two sides will soon hold high-level mutual visits to open up more opportunities for boosting trade ties. She also suggested the countries’ parliamentary friendship groups increase sharing experience to help enrich cooperation achievements.

In addition, Mehtab called on the two countries to further step up collaboration in other fields, particularly information technology and between chambers of commerce to promote coordination programmes between Vietnamese and Pakistani businesses.

President Thuong emphasised that Vietnam always treasures the cooperation with Pakistan and wishes the bilateral relations will develop more strongly in
the future.

He agreed with the ambassador’s proposal on increasing high-level delegation exchanges, asking the two sides to boost mutual visits by delegations of ministries, sectors, localities, businesses, associations, and parliamentary friendship groups, along with people-to-people interactions, so as to enhance mutual understanding and friendship.

Vietnam and Pakistan should make joint efforts to secure more fruitful partnerships in trade and investment, he added.

Through the ambassador, President Thuong sent congratulations to Asif Ali Zardari on his recent election as President of Pakistan and invited the latter to pay a visit to Vietnam.

He also expressed his hope that with her experience, understanding, and special sentiments towards Vietnam, Mehtab will further contribute to the two countries’ relations in the time to come./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son received Komura Masahiro, member of the House of Representatives and Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, in Hanoi on March 12.

Lauding the great progress of the Vietnam – Japan friendship and cooperation in various fields, Minister Son noted that Japan remains a partner of leading importance of Vietnam. It ranks first in terms of official development assistance (ODA) provision, second in labour cooperation, third in investment and tourism cooperation, and fourth among trading partners of Vietnam.

He said 2023 was a particularly successful year of the Vietnam – Japan relations as it saw the elevation of their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, which created an important basis for bilateral relations in the next 50 years, along with mutual visits by nearly 200 delegations at all levels, and more than 500 activities celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

He asked Komura and the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work close
ly with the Vietnamese side to promote the implementation of the newly established comprehensive strategic partnership and the agreements reached between the countries’ leaders; increase exchanges at all levels and between their Parties, States, and parliaments; and reactivate and step up cooperation mechanisms between ministries and sectors of the countries.

The host official called on Japan to continue assisting Vietnam to build an independent and self-reliant economy, and provide new-generation ODA for large-scaled strategic infrastructure development, climate change response, digital transformation, and healthcare projects.

Vietnam is pushing ahead with the establishment of a Government working group to accelerate investment cooperation and ODA projects between the two countries, he announced.

The Foreign Minister also asked for boosting people-to-people exchanges, a foundation for sustainable relations, through strengthened cooperation in culture, tourism, labour, and human resources training.

For hi
s part, Komura pledged close coordination with the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to successfully organise high-level mutual visits in the coming time.

Japanese businesses are highly interested in expanding investment in Vietnam, he said, proposing the Vietnamese Government continue to further improve the investment climate and roll out partnerships in new areas like digital transformation, green transition, and cooperation within the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) framework.

At the meeting, the two sides also touched upon some regional and international issues. They affirmed that Vietnam and Japan will continue supporting each other at multilateral forums and international organisations while enhancing coordination, stance sharing, and cooperation in issues of common concern./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency