Category: Politics

Beijing: Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Chairman of the Vietnam Sub-Committee in the Vietnam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, had a meeting with Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Director of the Office of the CPC Central Committee’s Commission for Foreign Affairs, Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, and Chairman of the China Sub-Committee in the Vietnam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, in Beijing on April 8.

The meeting took place during National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s ongoing visit to China.

Both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on their bilateral relationship, global and regional issues of shared concern, and agreed to effectively implement the joint statement on further deepening and elevating the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, and building a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance in line with s
ix major directions agreed upon by high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and countries.

They also agreed to effectively carry out high-level exchanges and meetings across various sectors, and further uphold the role of the Bilateral Cooperation Steering Committee in monitoring the progress of realising high-level common perceptions.

The meeting highlighted cooperation in national defence and security, with a focus on strengthening strategic connectivity through railway and road infrastructure projects. The two sides vowed to expedite the opening, upgrading, and recognition of border gates and discussed piloting the construction of smart border gates to facilitate Vietnamese goods transit by rail through China to the third countries via the Asia-Europe railway.

They will increase locality-to-locality and people-to-people exchanges to solidify social foundation, and maintain coordination on global and regional issues of mutual concern. At the same time, the two countries will work closely together on borde
r management and protection in accordance with the three legal documents on land border and control of differences at sea in line with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Beijing: National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue had a meeting with General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on April 8 as part of his ongoing official visit to China.

Xi was the first Chinese leader to host the Vietnamese NA leader in the visit, showing the importance that China attaches to bilateral relations as well as to the Vietnamese delegation’s visit.

Hue extended the best regards from Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and key leaders of Vietnam to the Chinese leader, and congratulated China on the great and historical achievements that the Party, State and people of China have gained so far, especially after the 18th CPC National Congress. He expressed his belief that China will successfully complete the goals set by the 20th CPC National Congress, contributing to peace, cooperation and development in the world.

For his part, Xi affirmed that China supports Vietnam’s development, stability and success in soc
ialism building in accordance with the country’s situation. He underlined that the agreement reached by two countries’ top leaders in building a Community of a Shared Future has a strategic meaning, opening up a new period for bilateral cooperation based on six major directions of higher political trust, more substantial defence-security cooperation, deeper practical collaboration, stronger social foundation, closer multilateral coordination, better controlled and resolved differences, thus positively contributing to peace and development in the region and the world.

The two sides shared the delight at the positive development trend of the Vietnam-China relations, underlining that the two Parties and State have many similarities in ideological foundation and goals of building socialism, both striving for the interests and happiness of the people.

NA Chairman Hue emphasised that developing relations with China is a strategic choice and a top priority in Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance
, for peace, cooperation and development, multilateralism and diversification of foreign relations. He affirmed that Vietnam consistently implements the “One China” policy.

Xi pledged that China attaches great importance to relations with Vietnam, hopes and is willing to promote the relations between the two Parties and countries in a deeper and more substantial manner.

The Vietnamese NA Chairman suggested that the two sides strengthen political trust and increase high-level meetings, while promoting exchange and collaboration through the Party, Government, parliament and front channels as well as in important fields such as diplomacy, public security and defence.

He proposed that the two sides enhance their strategic connectivity, create new momentum for bilateral cooperation, focusing on boosting trade, expanding goods import, especially Vietnamese farm produce, strengthening connectivity between Vietnam and major development strategies of China as well as links in railways, highways, sea and air, and pr
omoting cooperation in finance, monetary, and digital transformation.

Chairman Hue also proposed that the two sides increase people-to-people exchanges, promoting the role of legislators of the two sides in communications work to create social consensus, thus strengthening cooperation between the two sides in all areas and joining hands with the two Parties and States to properly deal with issues at sea in the spirit of better controlling and settling differences.

Hailing Vietnam’s proposals, Xi affirmed that China is ready to work with Vietnam in maintaining strategic exchanges, increasing meetings at high and all levels as well as exchanges and cooperation through the Party channel, sharing experience and theory in Party building and country governance, fostering practical cooperation, accelerating strategic connections, especially in the fields of railways and smart border gates, and strengthening cooperation in the fields of digital economy, green energy, essential minerals and emerging industries. Chin
a welcomes Vietnam’s efforts in connecting with China’s major inter-regional development strategies.

Stressing that the partnership between the two legislatures plays an important and irreplaceable role in the relations between the two Parties and countries, the Chinese leader welcomes the National People’s Congress of China and the NA of Vietnam to sign a new cooperation agreement to enhance the level and efficiency of their cooperation, and actively implement cooperation across all fields and at all levels.

Xi said the two sides should actively contribute to promoting practical cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, especially between the youth, thus consolidating the foundation of friendship between the two peoples, and share experiences on building the rule-of-law socialist State under the Party’s leadership as well as perfecting the socialist legal system./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Beijing: Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) of China Zhao Leji presided over a welcome ceremony for and held talks with Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue in Beijing, China, on April 8.

Both sides informed each other about the situation of each Party, country and activities of each legislative body. They delved deeper into discussions on specific measures to concretise the achievements and high-level common perceptions reached during Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to China in November 2022 and Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping’s visit to Vietnam in December 2023. They also discussed measures to further enhance and deepen cooperation between the two legislatures in the coming time.

Zhao welcomed the first official visit to China by Chairman Hue in his new capacity.

They expressed their satisfaction with the positive progress in the bilateral relations between the two Parties and two countries in recent
times, including the exchanges and cooperatio between the two legislatures.

NA Chairman Hue stressed that the Vietnamese Party and State particularly value the development of stable, healthy, sustainable and long-term relations with China, considering it a strategic choice and top priority in Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralism and diversification of ties.

China always considers Vietnam a priority in its neighbourly diplomacy policy, and consistently supports Vietnam in successfully implementing its industrialisation, modernisation and enhancing its international role, Zhao said.

The two sides vowed to effectively implement the joint statement on further deepening and elevating the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, and building a Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. They agreed to maintain exchanges and contacts at all levels, and boost cooperation via the Party, Government, parliament
and front channels.

Hue suggested that China facilitate the early establishment of Vietnam’s trade promotion offices in Chengdu (Sichuan), Haikou (Hainan), and Nanjing (Jiangsu), continue to expand imports of Vietnamese goods and agricultural products, expedite negotiations and signing of a framework agreement on rice trade, effectively build smart border gates, improve customs clearance efficiency, and facilitate Vietnamese goods transit to third country via the Asia-Europe railway route.

He wished that both sides would jointly build a new investment image of large, reputable and technologically advanced Chinese enterprises in Vietnam. He also emphasised the need for cooperation in resolving outstanding issues in certain cooperation projects, accelerating the progress of China’s non-refundable aid to Vietnam, and exploring collaboration on the construction of standard-gauge railway projects, including the Hanoi-Lao Cai, Hanoi-Quang Ninh, and Hanoi-Lang Son sections.

Zhao, for his part, spoke highly of and
agreed with Hue’s recommendations to develop the ties between the two Parties and States, affirming that China stands ready to join hands with Vietnam to deepen practical cooperation, expand trade and investment collaboration, enhance strategic connectivity for development and carry out high-quality development.

He went on to say that strategic connectivity will be bolstered through the “Belt and Road” and “Two Corridors, One Belt” initiatives, with focus on developing infrastructure, roads, railways and smart border gates.

He stressed that the two sides need to enhance cooperation to ensure supply and production chains and branch out digital economy, green economy, new energy, key minerals and 5G technology.

China welcomes Vietnam’s opening of its representative agencies and trade promotion offices in its localities, he said, suggesting competent ministries and sectors of both sides work together to satisfactorily handle existing problems in cooperation projects with goodwill and constructive manner, he n
oted.

Besides, he held that both sides must continue popularising the sound Vietnam – China friendship.

Touching on the cooperation between the two legislative bodies, Hue recommended they enhance delegation exchanges at all levels, share experience in parliamentary activities, perfect the Parties’ leadership method, build the socialist rule-of-law States, complete mechanisms and policies for socio-economic development, and strengthen the supervisory role of the legislative bodies in urging ministries, sectors and localities to carry out the signed documents and agreements.

He said that the roles of the Vietnamese NA deputies, members of the Chinese National People’s Congress as well as members of the Vietnam – China Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group should be promoted in popularising the bilateral friendship, consolidating consensus in the people, and building a sound social foundation for the bilateral relations.

Sharing Hue’s views, Zhao expressed his delight over the robust cooperation between the tw
o legislative bodies, and agreed to set up a cooperation committee and shape up a cooperative mechanism at the highest level, aiming at demonstrating the cooperation level between the two legislatures.

He wished that both sides will capitalise on the mechanism to enhance experience exchange in legislation work, supervision and state management to better serve the building of socialism in each country, making contributions to the Vietnam – China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership in the coming time.

The two leaders also exchanged views on issues at sea in an open and frank manner, and concurred to continue realising the common perceptions reached by the leaders of the two Parties and States as well as properly control disagreements to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea.

Hue suggested both sides actively promote negotiation mechanisms at sea, implement agreements on the search and rescue work and set up hotlines to handle incidents arising from fishing activities towards soon signing a
new fishery cooperation agreement in the Gulf of Tonkin, and work with ASEAN countries to accelerate negotiations for a practical, efficient and effective Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The two leaders were unanimous about maintaining coordination and cooperation between agencies of the two legislative bodies at regional and international forums.

Right after the talks, Hue and Zhao signed a new cooperation agreement between the Vietnamese NA and the National People’s Congress of China. They also witnessed the signing of another agreement between the two legislatures’ offices./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The Ministry of National Defence held a ceremony in Hanoi on April 8 to hand over the President’s and the Defence Minister’s decisions to send three officers to the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions in the Central African Republic, South Sudan and Abyei.

The officers were deployed to replace their predecessors at the missions. Among them, one will serve as a military observer at the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), another as a military observer at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), and the only female as a logistics staff officer at the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).

Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien, who is also head of the ministry’s steering committee for the participation in the UN peacekeeping operations, asked the three officers to quickly grasp the situation in their respective areas, properly perform their ass
igned tasks, and improve their situation analysis and forecasting capacity.

They were also required to strictly follow the Party, State and army’s foreign policy, regulations of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and the UN as well as laws of the host countries.

Chien requested the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations to coordinate with relevant agencies to continue personnel preparations for future deployment.

To date, Vietnam has sent 799 officers, in both the forms of individual and unit, to UN peacekeeping operations at the three missions and the UN headquarters. They consist of 792 military officers and seven policemen./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Beijing: National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue visited the Vietnamese Embassy and met representatives of the Vietnamese community in China right after he arrived in Beijing for an official visit to the country on April 7 afternoon.

At the meeting, Ambassador Pham Sao Mai informed the top legislator about the embassy’s operations and affairs relating to the Vietnamese community in China.

Representatives of the Vietnamese community affirmed that they always stay united, support each other, and look towards the homeland.

In his remarks, Hue said this is his first official visit to China in his capacity as NA Chairman at the invitation of Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) of China Zhao Leji, adding it is also the first visit to the neighbouring country by a top Vietnamese legislator in five years.

Stressing the significance of the trip to maintaining high-level contacts and strategic exchanges between the two Parties and States, Hue said: ‘All of us share the
responsibility for implementing and concretising common perceptions reached by the highest leaders of the two Parties and countries.’

He also emphasised the task of consolidating, enhancing and tightening the bilateral legislative ties, and carrying forward the role of legislative cooperation in materialising strategic collaboration orientations between the two countries.

The leader said during the visit, he is scheduled to hold talks and meetings with key Party and State leaders of China, and representatives of some Chinese localities.

This is a chance for the two sides to have in-depth discussions at the strategic level on major matters regarding the bilateral ties, as well as the regional and international issues of shared concern, he added.

The NA Chairman also briefed the overseas Vietnamese on the legislature’s operations, and lauded contributions by the embassy and the community to the Vietnam-China relationship.

He asked the embassy to further effectively implement existing cooperation mechanisms
, propose new, suitable ones, and pay attention to studying China’s experience in Party building, corruption combat and corporate governance.

The embassy and Vietnamese consulates general in China were also requested to pay more heed to affairs relating to the Vietnamese community, citizen protection and associations there.

The leader welcomed the proposal of Vietnamese students in China on the establishment of an innovation network to attract the participation of Vietnamese students in the country to contribute to development in their homeland.

The Party and State always consider the Vietnamese community abroad, including those in China, an indispensable part of the great national solidarity bloc, a driving force, and a source of strength for national development, he affirmed, urging them to uphold their solidarity and mutual support, actively integrate into the host country, and contribute more to the homeland as well as the traditional friendship and the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership b
etween the two countries./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Bangkok: A delegation from the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand led by Charge d’Affaires Bui Thi Hue visited the Lao Embassy in the country on April 6 to extend congratulations on Laos’ traditional New Year festival, Bunpimay.

Delivering her best New Year wishes to the Lao people, Hue said that under the sound leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, the Lao people have had a more prosperous and happy life with stable and sustainable economic development.

“Vietnam is always ready to help Laos fulfil its responsibilities as the ASEAN Chair in 2024 and hopes that Laos will successfully organise activities this year,” she noted.

She also wished for the increasing development of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the Parties, States and people of the two nations.

Lao Ambassador to Thailand Khamphan Anlavan thanked Hue for her good wishes and said that the regular exchanges between the staffs of the two embassies will enhance mutual understanding between the
two sides.

On the occasion, their staff members joined friendly table tennis, badminton, and petanque matches on the campus of the Lao Embassy./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang on April 6 signed a decision approving a plan on the implementation of the Vietnam-Laos agreement on mutual judicial assistance in civil matters.

Decision No. 285/QD-TTg aims to effectively materialise the agreement, facilitate the handling of civil cases involving foreign elements by competent agencies, and raise the efficiency of cooperation in the field between the two countries.

It stressed the need to ensure close coordination among competent Vietnamese agencies, and between them and their Lao counterparts.

Under the document, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Supreme People’s Court were given with specific tasks to accelerate the implementation work.

Notably, the Ministry of Justice will coordinate with the others to review the implementation of the agreement triennially in line with the document.

The funding for the implementation of the plan comes from the state budget in accordance with the 2016 Law on International Trea
ties, the State Budget Law and other sources (if any).

The agreement was signed by Vietnamese Minister of Justice Le Thanh Long and his Lao counterpart Phayvy Siboualypha under the witness of the two Prime Ministers in Vientiane, Laos, on January 11, 2023, within the framework of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to the neighbouring country on January 11-12./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency