Day: December 9, 2023

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on December 8 visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand as part of his ongoing visit to the Southeast Asian country.

Briefing the embassy’s staff on the outcomes of his talks and meetings with Thai parliament’s leaders, he said that the two sides agreed on many important orientations for the bilateral relations in the future.

NA Chairman Hue highlighted the growing Vietnam-Thailand relationship with bright prospects.

Currently, Thailand is Vietnam’s second biggest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), he said, noting that the two sides are striving for 25 billion USD in bilateral trade in a more balanced direction. This is also a task of the embassy and especially the Vietnamese Trade Office, he stated.

He lauded the efforts by Ambassador Phan Chi Thanh as well as the embassy’s staff in preparing for his visit.

He asked the embassy, together with other relevant agencies, to continue working hard to prepare for the elevation
of the Vietnam-Thailand ties in the future.

At the same time, the embassy should promote the similarities between the two nations to further bolster partnership between the two countries as well as cooperation in the Mekong sub-region, the NA leader said./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The strengthening of solidarity and friendship and the deepening of mutually-beneficial cooperation between China and Vietnam is in the common interests of both sides and conducive to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world, the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Wang Wenbin has said.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping and his spouse will make a State visit to Vietnam on December 12-13 at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and his spouse, and President Vo Van Thuong and his spouse.

Speaking at a regular press conference in Beijing on December 7, Wang noted that right after the 20th National Congress of the CPC, CPV General Secretary Trong made a visit to China from October 30 to November 1 at the invitation of Xi.

During the visit, leaders of the two countries had an in-depth discussion on major orientations to promote the comprehensi
ve strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and China, said the spokesperson.

This year has seen frequent high-level interactions, close exchanges between various ministries and localities, and deeper cooperation in various fields, which have brought benefits to the peoples of the two countries, he added./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Ca Mau should double efforts to maximise its potential and strength, and promote resources and the spirit of self-reliance for its local development, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at a ceremony to announce the southernmost province’s master plan for the 2021-30 period, with a vision to 2050, and its investment promotion event on December 9.

Mentioning the key policies of the Party and State in socio-economic development and international integration, the PM urged Ca Mau to focus on exploiting its brand of ‘Ca Mau Cape’, the southernmost point of the country, thereby promoting tourism development, and fully tap its advantages for developing renewable energy and seaports.

At the same time, Ca Mau should promote the application of science and technology in aquaculture and seafood processing, striving to to become a centre in this field.

Attention should be also paid to creating breakthroughs in transport infrastructure, especially road, inland waterway, aviation and sea transport, he said, while urging
the province to build runways so that large aircraft can land at Ca Mau airport.

The PM also asked local authorities to concentrate on improving the quality of human resources, investing more in education and training, intensifying the application of science and technology and promoting the creative startup ecosystem, developing appropriate mechanisms and policies, speeding up administrative reform and improving business investment environment, increasing competitiveness and promptly removing difficulties and create favourable conditions for businesses.

He requested businesses that were granted investment registration certificates and those have been given in-principle approval to urgently complete procedures and soon put their projects into operation.

Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Nguyen Tien Hai briefed on potential, strengths, opportunities, and investment projects in the province.

He said that the province’s master plan for the 2021-30 period, with a vision to 2050 approved by the Prime
Minister on November 16, 2023, is an important basis for policy-making, investment planning, and creating motivation for production, business activities, and social security in the locality.

He called on domestic and foreign investors, and international organisations to explore investment opportunities in the locality in the coming time, saying that the provincial authorities pledge to do their best to support and accompany businesses and investors.

Ca Mau has recorded important achievements in socio-economic development in recent years. Its GRDP in 2023 is estimated to reach more than 45.4 trillion VND (over 1.87 billion USD), up 7.83% year-on-year, exceeding the set plan. GRDP per capita is estimated at nearly 70 million VND, while the province’s social investment capital is valued at 24 trillion VND./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung has visted the US Naval Academy (USNA) in Annapolis city of Maryland state at the invitation of US Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro.

In his working session with the Vietnamese diplomat, Del Toro affirmed the US’s strong commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region, in which Vietnam plays an important role

Ambassador Dung expressed his joy with the growing Vietnam – US relationship, especially collaboration in overcoming post-war consequences, saying that this has contributed to peace and stability in the region.

Following their working session, they visited the USNA’s facilities and laid a wreath in tribute to late US Senator John McCain.

Ambassador Dung also had a meeting with Mayor of Annapolis Gavin Buckley during which the diplomat proposed maintaining exchanges between the Annapolis authority and the Vietnamese embassy to seek opportunities for cooperation, including cooperation between Annapolis and localities of Vietnam.

Mayor
briefed the guest on the history and culture of Annapolis as well as its strengths and future development orientation, including tourism, biomedical technology, and efforts to respond to impacts of climate change, sea level rise and urbanisation.

The Vietnamese diplomat said problems that Annapolis is dealing with are similar to many historical cities in Vietnam, suggesting the municipal authority maintain exchange with the Vietnamese Embassy to the US to seek opportunities for cooperation, including exchange and cooperation between Annapolis and localities of Vietnam.

On the occasion, Ambassador Dung visited the Annapolis International Club and talked with the club’s 200 members who are American veterans, government employees and businessmen. The diplomat introduced Vietnam’s important socio-economic achievements, and its potential and foreign policy. He also highlighted the fruitful development of the bilateral relations after 28 years of the normalisation.

Located to the north of Washington DC, Maryland
is home to 350 biotechnology companies, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), thr Human Genome Sciences (HGS), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Deputy Minister of Public Security Sen. Lieut. Gen. Luong Tam Quang had a working session with Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, Police-General Surachate Hakparn in Bangkok on December 8.

Sen. Lieut. Gen. Quang, who is accompanying National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue in an official visit to Thailand, expressed his pleasure with the fruitful cooperation between Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security and the Royal Thai Police in criminal prevention and combat, contributing to ensuring national security and social order and safety of each country.

For his part, Pol Gen. Surachate said he is delighted at the effective collaboration between the two sides in many areas. He underlined that the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security’s delegation visit provides a chance for the two sides to strengthen mutual understanding and build trust, contributing to realising high-level agreements between the two countries.

Surachate highly valued the Vietnamese Public Security Ministry’s active coord
ination in recent times, including the support in arresting and handing over a number of criminals escaping to Vietnam.

The two sides noted that the memorandum of understanding signed between the two police agencies in 2016 has guided competent forces of the two countries to set up their partnership in particular areas, contributing to promoting cooperation in fighting transnational organised crimes.

The two officials discussed a wide range of issues regarding security, and pointed to challenges on anti-terrorism. They agreed to increase the exchange of information through Interpol cooperation mechanisms, and work together to combat human trafficking, illegal immigration and residence.

They also stressed the need to promote collaboration in training.

The leaders of the Public Security Ministry of Vietnam and the Thai Royal Police pledged to continue implementing the commitment to not allowing any individual or organisation to use the territory of one country to harm the other.

They will also foster infor
mation exchange and coordination in verifying, investigating, arresting hiden transnational criminals in line with the law of each country and international practices.

At the same time, they will consider sending liaison officers to work in each other’s country.

The same day, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Quang had a meeting with Deputy General Secretary of the National Security Council of Thailand Voranut Khongmuang.

Quang highlighted the sound cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand in general and the two police forces in particular, with regular meetings of joint working groups in political-security cooperation to discuss issues of shared concerns.

Voranut affirmed that Thailand always stands side by side and cooperate with Vietnam in criminal prevention and combat. Thailand never lets any individual, organisation or country to use its territory to harm its neighbouring countries, he said.

Thailand will coordinate closely with the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security to implement cooperation programmes and plan
s in the coming time to contribute to promoting the socio-economic development of the two countries, as well as the Southeast Asia region, he stressed.

At the meeting, the two sides agreed on a number of measures to enhance cooperation in exchanging information, arresting, and handing over wanted criminals from one country to the other country in line with each country’s law and international practices, while speeding up negotiations for an extradition agreement between the two countries.

They also agreed to work together in organising the 12th meeting of the Joint Working Group on Political-Security Cooperation in Vietnam, which is slated for July 2024./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Belarusian Prime Minister Roman Golovchenko left Hanoi on December 9 afternooon, concluding his four-day official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh.

During his stay, Golovchenko paid coutersy visits to Vietnamese Party Geneal Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Vo Van Thuong, held talks with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and witnessed the signing ceremony of cooperation documents between the two countries.

During the meetings and talks, Vietnamese leaders congratulated Belarus on its successes in maintaining political stability and ensuring social security, national development as well as its growing position in the region. They expressed their thanks for the support of the Belarusian government and people for Vietnam through periods.

Leaders of the two countries highlighted positive developments in the bilateral relations, showing their belief that the visit will create new momentum to further promote the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperati
on between Vietnam and Belarus in the coming time. They discussed a number of directions and measures to lift the Vietnam – Belarus traditional friendship to a new height, and intensify comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

On the occasion, the two sides signed a number of bilateral cooperation documents, including an agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons, an agreement on visa exemption for ordinary passport holders, a memorandum of understanding on cooperation and information sharing in the field of nuclear safety and radiation protection, and a cooperation deal on the official dissemination of Vietnam’s national standards in Belarus.

Golovchenko laid wreaths in tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum, and to heroic martyrs at the Monument to Heroic Martyrs in Hanoi.

The two prime ministers visited the Hanoi Flag Tower, an iconic relic in the capital city, and enjoyed Vietnamese coffee at noon on December 8 following their talks.

The Belarusian PM also visited the V
an Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature) in Hanoi, met with Hanoi’s officials, and toured northern Hung Yen and Quang Ninh provinces, among other activities./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The upcoming State visit to Vietnam by General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping from December 12 to 13 will contribute to deepening the bilateral cooperation framework for a long-term future of relationship between the two countries, said Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu.

In an interview granted to the press, Deputy FM Vu highlighted the development of the Vietnam – China relations, saying that Vietnam and China have many similarities as they share a border and are Communist party-led socialist countries. The two countries have traditional friendly relationship, so they value the relations with each other and determine the bilateral relations as the priority direction in each country’s foreign relations.

Since the two nations established a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership 15 years ago, the relationship between the two Parties and States has developed substantively, firmly and comprehensively across spheres, Vu
said.

Political relations have developed strongly, he said, adding that all-level meetings between leaders of the Party, State, Government, National Assembly and fatherland front agencies of the two countries have been regularly conducted.

Many visits of senior Vietnamese and Chinese leaders marked important milestones in the relationship between the two countries, including the historic visit to China by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong in October last year.

Economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two sides has been further intensified. China has been Vietnam’s largest trading partner for 20 consecutive years, and Vietnam currently is China’s biggest trading partner in ASEAN, and 4th largest trading partner in the world after the US, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.

The two-way trade increased nine times to nearly 180 billion USD in 2022 from 20 billion USD in 2008. China’s investment in Vietnam rose more than 10 times to 25 bill
ion USD over the last 15 years. In 2023, China ranks fourth among countries and territories investing in Vietnam.

People-to-people exchanges and cooperation between localities of Vietnam and China have recorded many practical results. So far, nearly 60 provinces and cities of Vietnam have set up friendly and cooperative ties with Chinese localities. Socio-political organisations, and localities of both sides have established and periodically organised many cooperation mechanisms and programmes. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, China continuously led in the number of tourists to Vietnam for many years.

The two sides have gained many achievements in building a shared land border of peace, friendship and cooperation, contributing to the socio-economic development of localities along the border, he said.

The two countries have maintained negotiations and intensified collaboration to, together with parties involved, control disagreements and differences in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convent
ion on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), thus contributing to ensuring peace and stability in the East Sea and the region.

Regarding expectations on the Vietnam visit by CPC General Secretary and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Deputy FM Vu said that this is the first visit by the top leader of the Chinese Party and State to Vietnam since the 20th CPC National Congress, and one year after the China visit by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

This visit, which coincides with the 15th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and China, is expected to be a new milestone in the two countries’ relations, he stated.

Deputy FM Vu underlined three major expectations of both sides in this visit.

Firstly, it is the expectation for a “new positioning” and “new level” of bilateral relations.

On the foundation of important achievements that the two sides have gained over the past 15 years, leaders of the two Parties and countries are expected to further deepen the bilate
ral cooperation framework for a long-term future of ties between the two countries in a sustainable and substantial and effective direction, contributing to peace, stability and cooperation in the region and the world.

Secondly, substantial cooperation outcomes are also expected, said Deputy FM Vu. He held that leaders of the two Parties and countries will define major orientations and focus as well as specific measures to foster their collaboration in all fields, meeting the interest of both sides.

There will be likely a large number of documents signed in many fields, creating an important basis for agencies, localities, people and businesses to cooperate more effectively in the coming time.

Thirdly, it is the expectation about the spillover effect of the visit to all levels, sectors, and people of all walks of life. This visit, along with the visit of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong last year, is hoped to continue to create strong motivations and momentum for sectors, localities and peoples to contin
ue to maintain and develop their existing relationships, thereby building a solid and good social foundation for the development of bilateral relations./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency