Category: Politics

Hong Kong: Vietnamese Consul General in Hong Kong and Macau (China) Pham Binh Dam has suggested the authority of the Macau Special Administrative Region take measures to resume and expand two-way tourism, including relaxing visa policies for Vietnamese visitors.

The diplomat made the proposal when making a farewell visit to Chief Executive of the Macau Special Administrative Region Ho lat Seng on March 12.

Dam thanked the host for his attention and facilitation provided to Vietnamese people working and living in Macau, calling on the Macau side to expand the reception of Vietnamese labourers, effectively coordinate in handling labour issues, and remove visa restrictions for Vietnamese workers and tourists.

With cultural similarities and transportation connections, the two sides have great potential to further promote tourism cooperation, he said.

Along with the fruitful development of the Vietnam-China relations, the cooperative ties between Vietnam and Macau have also seen significant progress, he said,
expressing his belief that with the determination and readiness to act from both sides, the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Macau will continue to make new strides in the future.

For his part, Ho highly evaluated the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Macau across all fields, especially in labour and investment, stressing that Vietnamese workers are highly skilled, hardworking, adaptable, and quick learners of foreign languages, and have made positive contributions to the local economy.

He showed his impression of Vietnam’s rapid economic growth, especially its spectacular recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, which attracts the attention of many Macau businesses and investors.

Ho also appreciated the Vietnamese diplomat’s efforts to promote the Vietnam – Macau relationship in various areas, expressing his hope that in his new position, Dam will continue contributing to stepping up the relations.

The host said he supports Dam’s proposals, promising to simplify visa procedures, imple
ment online visa applications, and introduce visa-on-arrival for Vietnamese citizens as soon as possible. He also welcomed more Vietnamese labourers to Macau for work.

The Macau official added he welcomes Vietnamese officials and businesspeople to explore opportunities for cooperation and investment in the special administrative region.

On the occasion, the Vietnamese consul general paid a courtesy call to Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China in Macau Liu Xianfa, met with the Executive Board of the association of Vietnamese in Macau, and had a working session with representatives of the University of Macau./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong chaired a meeting of the sub-committee on personnel affairs of the 14th National Party Congress in Hanoi on March 13.

Members of the sub-committee, including Politburo members: President Vo Van Thuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, Permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat and Chairwoman of the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission Truong Thi Mai, and Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission Tran Cam Tu, attended the meeting.

Stressing the importance of personnel preparations for the coming congress, General Secretary Trong, who is also head of the sub-committee, said together with making arrangements for all-level congresses, the Party is also preparing for the 14th National Congress, scheduled to take place in the first quarter of 2026.

At its 8th session in October 2023, the Party Central Committee decided to esta
blish five sub-committees to prepare for the 14th National Congress, namely the ones on documents, socio-economic affairs, the Party’s statutes, personnel affairs, and organisation.

The two most important parts of each congress are discussing and deciding the political lines and tasks of the Party (also called adopting documents), and electing leadership bodies of the Party (or working on personnel affairs). These two contents are closely connected with each other and must be well prepared. In particular, making personnel preparations for the congress holds critical importance as it is the decisive factor of the congress’s success and the successful implementation of the congress’s resolutions, he noted.

The Party chief emphasised that the Party Central Committee is the supreme leadership body during the interval between two national Party congresses, and serves as the centre of solidarity and unanimity of the entire Party and people. It consists of strategic-level officials who are the quintessence of the
Party. They must be truly steadfast while possessing sufficient mettle, virtues, wisdom, and high prestige to resolve strategic-level issues as well as complicated situations related to national construction, development and defence and the regime’s survival in a timely, righteous, and effective manner.

Therefore, the sub-committee’s members must thoroughly grasp the role of this extremely important issue in not only the organisation of a Party congress but also the Party’s destiny, the regime’s survival, and national development, the Party leader stressed.

The General Secretary demanded the Politburo and the Party Central Committee make good preparations to submit personnel plans to the 14th National Congress for consideration and decision.

The Party Central Committee, the Politburo, the Secretariat, and the entire political system must show the highest sense of responsibility, strong determination, and great efforts while working in a truly impartial, objective, and scientific manner and putting interest
s of the nation, the Party, and the people above all, he requested.

At the meeting, the leader also gave instructions for personnel affairs of the 14th National Party Congress./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

HCM City: Ho Chi Minh City is ready to create the best possible conditions for Swedish enterprises to explore investment and business opportunities in the city, especially in digital transformation, green and sustainable development.

The statement was made on March 13 by Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Vo Van Hoan while hosting Håkan Jevrell, State Secretary to the Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade of Sweden, who is in the city to attend a Sweden – Vietnam business roundtable meeting on innovation and sustainable development.

Hoan said that the largest economic hub of Vietnam is also willing to cooperate with Swedish businesses in promoting bilateral trade and collaboration in the field of innovation.

Emphasising the importance of transitioning to green and renewable energies in production, Hoan expressed his wish that Sweden will further strengthen coordination in organising exchange programmes and meetings between Swedish and Vietnamese businesses, inc
luding those from Ho Chi Minh City, to promote collaboration in human resources development. He added that the two sides’ enterprises need to consider cooperation in the production of products and goods that meet Swedish and EU standards as a shared responsibility, bringing benefits to them and contributing to fostering bilateral economic and trade ties.

Håkan Jevrell affirmed that Sweden has experience, technology and resources, and is ready to cooperate with Ho Chi Minh City and share development experiences in areas that the city is prioritising such as digital transformation, green growth, and sustainable development.

He also showed his desire to tap the potential for cooperation between Swedish firms and HCM City in the fields of innovation, small- and medium-sized enterprise development, digital transformation infrastructure and data management, and in increasing energy use efficiency, smart electricity transmission as well as water management, and waste and wastewater treatment.

Sweden is willing to
share experience with Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City on solutions to increase the use of green energy in production so that products can meet export standards to Europe, and make the most of benefits of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) for trade and economic growth.

On the same day, Hoan and Håkan Jevrell co-chaired the Sweden – Vietnam business roundtable meeting on innovation and sustainable development./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Exactly 70 years ago, on March 13, 1954, the Vietnamese revolutionary army launched the first attack against the French colonialists’ heavily fortified base of Dien Bien Phu, starting a 56-day historic campaign whose victory directly led to the signing of the Geneva Accords on ending the war and restoring peace in Indochina.

In the autumn – winter of 1953, French colonialists and US interventionists built the Navarre Plan that focused on turning Dien Bien Phu into the strongest military base in Indochina so as to seize control over the entire Northwest of Vietnam and the Upper Laos and destroy the majority of Vietnam’s regular troops, paving the way for controlling the Vietnamese territory and pacifying South Indochina.

French generals at that time heaped praise on this heavily fortified base, which was dubbed a ‘hedgehog’ with entrenched concrete fortifications built across the four directions. In Muong Thanh Valley, France arranged 16,200 troops in 21 battalions divided into northern, central, and
southern zones that comprised 49 entrenched fortifications supporting one another. At the airfields of Muong Thanh and Hong Cum, nearly 100 flight departures and arrivals occurred each day, capable of transporting about 200 – 300 tonnes of cargo and parachuting 100 – 150 soldiers.

Considering Dien Bien Phu as a trap for crushing the regular troops of Viet Minh (League for the Independence of Vietnam), general Rene Cogny boasted that the French colonialists had fire strong enough to wipe out an enemy four to six times larger than them.

Prior to the battle, US Vice President Richard Nixon, who later become President of the US, came to inspect the building of this military base to ensure that the US investment in Indochina was used effectively, and he expressed his satisfaction.

Realising the plot and ruses of French colonialists, in early December 1953, the Politburo of the Worker’s Party of Vietnam (now the Communist Party of Vietnam) decided to launch the Dien Bien Phu Campaign and adopted the combatant st
rategy of ‘fast attack, fast victory’. However, after considering the balance of power between the two sides, General Vo Nguyen Giap made the most difficult decision of his career: Halting the attack and shifting the strategy from ‘fast attack, fast victory’ to ‘steady attack, steady advance’.

The Party committees of military units convened meetings to provide detailed information about the new fighting strategy and encourage the entire troops to weather challenges to fulfill the new tasks.

With all-out wisdom, efforts, and determination of reserving all for the battlefield and for the victory, in the following nearly two months, the Vietnamese army continued applying the diversionary tactics while widening and lengthening the paths through the mountains and forests of Dien Bien Phu. Soldiers built stronger fortifications, dug deeper trenches, and moved closer to the French base. More food, weapons, and other supplies from the rear were delivered to the front to prepare for a long battle.

During the Dien B
ien Phu Campaign, tens of thousands of people engaged in transporting supplies to the front or building the road for moving the artillery serving the battle.

People of Thanh Hoa province alone sent 9,000 tonnes of rice to the frontline. Meanwhile, people of Lai Chau province contributed 2,666 tonnes of rice, 226 tonnes of meat, 210 tonnes of vegetables, 16,972 personnel, 517,210 workdays, 348 pack horses, 58 boats, along with 25,070 timber trees for making roads. From 1951 to 1954, people of Inter-region 5 donated more than 1.32 million tonnes of unhusked rice and a large sum of money.

In his letter sent to soldiers on March 11, 1954, then President Ho Chi Minh said the duty was very difficult but also very glorious. He expressed his firm belief that the soldiers would bring into play the previous victory to overcome every difficulty and hardship to fulfill the coming glorious duty.

Exactly at 5pm on March 13, 1953, the Vietnamese troops opened fire on the Him Lam fortification, starting the Dien Bien Phu
Campaign. They annihilated this fortification and later the Doc Lap fortification and forced the Ban Keo fortification to surrender, thus destroying the northern gateway of the Dien Bien Phu base. More than 2,000 French soldiers were killed or taken prisoners, 25 aircraft destroyed, a regiment eradicated, and the Muong Thanh airfield threatened. In April 1954, the revolutionary army concurrently attacked fortifications, tightened the siege, and seized the control of Muong Thanh airfield, forcing the enemy into the passive status and extreme anxiety.

From May 1 to 7, 1954, the Vietnamese troops seized control over the fortifications in the east and waged a general offensive to decimate the entire military base of Dien Bien Phu.

At 5:30pm on May 7, 1954, the ‘Determined to fight, determined to win’ flag of the Vietnamese army was raised on the top of the command tunnel of French general De Castries. By the midnight on the same day, all the French troops were captured.

During the 56 days of undaunted, brave,
and creative fighting, the Vietnamese army and people created the Dien Bien Phu Victory that ‘resounded across the five continents and shook the globe’. The entire so-called ‘invincible’ military base of Dien Bien Phu was completely eradicated by the Vietnamese army and people.

President Ho Chi Minh affirmed that the Dien Bien Phu Victory was a brilliant golden milestone in history that directly led to the signing of the Geneva Accords on ending the war and restoring peace in Indochina. It also created the foundation and conditions for the Vietnamese people to secure victory in the resistance war against the US, liberate the South, and reunify the country in 1975.

Seventy years have passed, but the Dien Bien Phu Victory remains a source of pride of the Vietnamese people due to its great significance.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has affirmed that the Dien Bien Phu Victory held substantially historic significance. It was a triumph of patriotism, the undaunted spirit, and the strength of the great national
solidarity of Vietnam under the smart and clear-sighted leadership of the Party. It was also a demonstration of the maturity of the Vietnam People’s Army./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

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

New York: 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.

She proposed the two sides continue to exchange delegations at all levels, especially high-level ones, to promote bilateral and multilateral cooperation, thanked the Swiss Government for providing official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam’s renovation since 1992, and said she hopes that the two sides will continue to promote development cooperation, innovation, and coordination to contribute to the common efforts of the international com
munity for sustainable development.

Appreciating Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements in recent years, Viola Amherd affirmed that Switzerland always values its friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam. She said that the two countries still have a lot of room and potential for economic, trade and investment collaboration.

The President shared Xuan’s views on the significance and importance of gender equality and women’s empowerment in the changing world context, and agreed that the two sides need to proactively coordinate in and contribute to the common efforts of the UN and the international community in this field, especially promoting the role of women in maintaining peace and security and participating in the UN peacekeeping forces.

The two leaders also discussed international and regional issues of mutual concern, including the situation in Europe. On this occasion, Xuan conveyed the invitation of President Vo Van Thuong to the Swiss President to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time.

Meet
ing PM Evika Silina, Xuan confirmed that Vietnam treasures and hopes to develop its friendship and multifaceted collaboration with Latvia.

She thanked Latvia for being one of the first countries to provide COVID-19 vaccines to Vietnam, and also one of the first European Union (EU) member countries to ratify the EU – Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

The Vice President proposed Latvia raise its voice to support the European Commission (EC)’s early removal of its “yellow card” warning against Vietnamese seafood exports, and coordinate with Vietnam and the international community to promote the settlement of international conflicts and disputes, including the East Sea one, by peaceful means on the basis of international law.

The Latvian PM stressed the need for the two countries to boost cooperation in potential fields such as information and communications, science – technology, labour, and pharmaceuticals.

She affirmed that the Latvian Government will continue prioritising its education and
training collaboration with Vietnam.

Exchanging opinions of several international and regional issues of mutual concern, the two sides agreed to maintain cooperation and mutual support at multilateral forums, including the UN.

Receiving Mayor Eric Adams, Xuan said that the Vietnam – US relation is entering a new stage of development with many opportunities for exchange and cooperation at the national and local levels. She recommended that New York authorities continue to support US and New York people and enterprises to do business in Vietnam, as well as creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses and people living in the city.

She encouraged New York to work with Ho Chi Minh City to establish mechanisms to effectively implement cooperation agreements, and share with the largest economic hub of Vietnam its experience in developing international financial centres.

Agreeing with the Vietnamese leader’s proposals, Eric Adams affirmed to bring into full play New York’s strengths to intensify coop
eration with Vietnamese partners./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Sao Paulo: 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.

From March 5 to 7, the Vietnamese delegation met with Secretary General of the Peruvian Communist Party (PCP) Luis Alberto Villanueva Carbajal and Secretary General of the General Confederation of Peruvian Workers (CGTP) Gerónimo López Sevillano
, while holding a working session with the Federation of Construction Workers of Peru (FTCCP).

Hosting the guests from Vietnam, the Peruvian Party leader expressed his admiration for the Southeast Asian nation’s economic, political, and social achievements under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), and lauded contributions by the VGCL to such development.

At the meeting with the CGTP Secretary General, both sides exchanged experiences in labour union activities in representing and protecting workers as well as measures to step up cooperation between the sides.

With 2.8 million members, the CGTP, affiliated with the Communist Party of Peru, is one of the four labour organisations recognised by the government.

From March 7 to 9, Khang paid a courtesy call to Secretary General of the Communist Party of Uruguay Juan Castillo, held talks with Marcelo Abdala, the president of the Uruguayan trade union federation PIT-CNT, and worked with Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Security of Uruguay
Mario Arizti.

Castillo told Khang his desire to further strengthen collaboration with the CPV and to learn from Vietnam’s valuable experiences in the building and development of the nation for the sake of the people. He noted that, together with the Montevideo authorities, the Uruguayan party is working on the establishment of a Vietnamese cultural space, featuring an image of late President Ho Chi Minh, in a prominent location in the capital.

The talks with the PIT-CNT president saw the sides informing each other on their respective operations and mutual concerns. They also emphasised the important leadership of the communist party in labour union activities.

PIT-CNT is Uruguay’s sole labour union, wielding significant influence in the country by having around 25% of the workforce as its members.

Meanwhile, Khang and the Uruguayan deputy minister discussed legal regulations and state management related to labour and workers’ unions in each country, especially regarding the tackling of labour disputes and
strikes./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency