Category: Politics

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

– The Party and State always place people at the centre of development, and caring for and improving people’s health is one of the important tasks and top priorities of Vietnam’s development policy, President Vo Van Thuong has affirmed.

He made the remarks while addressing a programme held in Hanoi on February 26 to honour health workers and present awards of the sixth writing contest named ‘Unsung Sacrifice’ on the occasion of the 69th anniversary of the Vietnamese Doctors’ Day (February 27, 1955 – 2024). Read full story

– Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son on February 26 met with leaders of the United Nations (UN) and heads of delegations to the 55th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, while attending the session.

At the meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Son affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to and supports the central role of the UN
in the global governance system and in solving common challenges. He called on the UN to continue to support Vietnam in developing the country and contributing to building a peaceful, stable, and resilient Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) community. Read full story

– The official visit to Ireland on February 28-29 by Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son will mark a new stage of development in bilateral relationship, developing it in a more intensive, effective and sustainable direction, especially in the fields of politics, diplomacy, economics, trade, investment, climate change response, green growth, education and training, and people-to-people exchanges

The statement was made by Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK and Ireland Nguyen Hoang Long in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the threshold of the trip. Read full story

– Japan’s Vice Minister of Defence for International Affairs Serizawa Kiyoshi visited the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations in Hanoi on February 27, du
ring which the two sides sought cooperation opportunities in UN peacekeeping in the time ahead.

Kiyoshi was in Hanoi to co-chair the 10th Vietnam-Japan Defence Policy Dialogue at the deputy ministerial level, which took place later the same day. Read full story

– In recent years, the Vietnamese health sector’s position has been increasingly affirmed thanks to outstanding advances in research, development and application of technology in many fields. In addition to achievements in laparoscopic surgery and organ transplantation, Vietnam is also holding a rising important position in the list of vaccine producers worldwide, according to experts.

Vietnam has continuously implemented and perfected the national immunisation system to prevent dangerous epidemics. Statistics of the Ministry of Health show that there are currently about 30 infectious diseases that can be prevented with vaccines. Read full story

– Vietnam’s recent achievements in organ transplant have made the country one of the bright spots in Sou
theast Asia and Asia in this field.

On February 9, or the last day of the Year of the Cat, doctors of the Central Lung Hospital performed a double lung transplant on a 21-year-old patient. This is the most difficult among the organ transplant techniques. Read full story

– Banks are expecting an improvement in credit growth from the second quarter of 2024, especially now that loan interest rates have decreased, exports gradually recovered, and domestic consumption increased.

The State Bank of Vietnam said that as of January 31, deposit and loan interest rates had been cut down by 0.15% and 0.25% per year, respectively, compared to the end of 2023. Read full story

– An official of the Ministry of Health has called digital transformation in health care an irreversible trend.

Associate Professor, Dr. Phan Le Thu Hang, Deputy Director of the Department of Financial Planning, held that the Fourth Industrial Revolution and smart medical solutions will help Vietnam concertedly improve its health coverage, servic
e quality, and medical costs, dubbed the three vertices of a triangle, which remains a hard nut to crack for every health system. Read full story

– Vietnam has invested over 3.7 billion USD in 110 projects in the Lao and Cambodian provinces located in the three countries’ Development Triangle so far, statistics show.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) revealed the data at the 13th conference on trade, investment, and tourism promotion for the Cambodia – Laos – Vietnam (CLV) Development Triangle held in Attapeu province of Laos on February 27./. Read full story

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Geneva: Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son had separate meetings in Geneva on February 27 with United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Trk, Minister of the People’s Power for Foreign Affairs of Venezuela Yvan Gil Pinto, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs Pam Damoff on the sidelines of the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

Meeting Volker Trk, Son briefed him on Vietnam’s achievements in socioeconomic development and poverty reduction, and in ensuring the enjoyment of human rights for people during the national renewal and development process over the past nearly 40 years.

He affirmed that Vietnam values and implements many specific measures to protect human rights, and shared information on the completion of the national report under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR)’s fourth cycle.

He proposed the High Commissioner’s Office continue to maintain close coordination in and support for the implementation of Vietnam’s initiat
ives, including a resolution on human rights and climate change to be submitted to the UNHRC in June.

Volker Trk congratulated Vietnam on a successful first year as a member of the UNHRC in the 2023-2025 term, and thanked the country for making meaningful commitments on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He appreciated Vietnam’s active coordination with and support for the High Commissioner’s Office and wished to continue strengthening cooperation between the two sides.

At his meeting with Yvan Gil Pinto, the Vietnamese minister expressed his hope that the two ministries will coordinate closely to promote exchange activities, especially that of high-level delegations in 2024 when the two countries celebrate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic ties. Son proposed Venezuela create favourable conditions for Vietnamese goods such as rice, garment and textiles, footwear, and electronics, and expand collaboration to potential areas such as f
ood security.

The Venezuelan minister affirmed his country values its comprehensive partnership with Vietnam – its most important partner in Southeast Asia. He shared the importance of promoting delegation exchange activities at all levels, strengthening MOUs in economic, trade and investment collaboration, and telecommunications and agricultural cooperation projects. The official asserted that Venezuela is always willing to support Vietnam at multilateral forums.

Meeting Pam Damoff, Son emphasised the need for the two countries to lift their economic and trade ties to a new height, and make the most of their cooperation potential, particularly within the framework of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Pam Damoff asserted that Canada attaches special importance to its comprehensive partnership with Vietnam, and is willing to support the country in such areas as peacekeeping and human right protection. She agreed with Son’s proposal of boosting bilateral coope
ration in economics, trade, investment, education – training, green transition, and renewable energy as well as maintaining close coordination at international and regional mechanisms, including the UNHRC.

She also appreciated the contributions by the Vietnamese community to cultural diversity in Canada, and pledged to create more favourable conditions for Vietnamese students to access the educational environment in her country./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

London: The official visit to Ireland on February 28-29 by Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son will mark a new stage of development in bilateral relationship, developing it in a more intensive, effective and sustainable direction, especially in the fields of politics, diplomacy, economics, trade, investment, climate change response, green growth, education and training, and people-to-people exchanges

The statement was made by Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK and Ireland Nguyen Hoang Long in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the threshold of the trip.

Long emphasised that the visit, to be made at the invitation of Irish Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and Foreign Minister Micheál Martin, is of great significance in promoting Vietnam-Ireland relations, as this is the first by a Vietnamese Foreign Minister to Ireland after 20 years since the one by Minister Nguyen Dy Nien.

During his stay, Son is scheduled to hold talks with Irish Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Defence Minister Micheá
l Martin, and pay courtesy visits to President Michael D. Higgins and Ceann Comhairle of Dáil Éireann (speaker of the lower house) Seán Ó Fearghaíl.

The two sides will discuss many important issues in bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues, including the East Sea issue.

The diplomat said that the visit will contribute to promoting political trust and the exchange of high-level delegations between the two countries, especially preparations for the upcoming state visit to Ireland by President Vo Van Thuong.

The two sides will discuss measures to intensify cooperation at multilateral forums and close coordination in solving regional and global issues.

Regarding the bilateral relations, Ambassador Long said that the two countries have reaped positive results in economic, trade and investment collaboration. Two-way trade reached 3.5 billion USD last year, of which 340 million USD came from Vietnam’s exports. Currently, Ireland ranks 61st out of the 141 countries and territories pourin
g capital into the Southeast Asian nation, with a combined registered capital of 44.3 million USD in 41 projects.

According to the diplomat, education and training has an important position and is a bright spot in bilateral cooperation. The two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in higher education and another on collaboration in information technology and communications training in November 2016. Since 2009, the Irish Government has offered Vietnam full scholarships under the Irish Development Experience Sharing Programme (IDEAS).

The two sides are also working to bring into full play advantages in cooperation in health, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, sustainable development, and information technology, he said.

In the ‘Global Ireland: Delivering in the Asia-Pacific region to 2025’ strategy, introduced in January 2020, Ireland considered Vietnam one of its important partners in the Asia-Pacific region in general and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in part
icular. Vietnam is currently the only country in the region that Ireland has included in its international development cooperation programme called Irish Aid to promote collaboration between the two countries in such areas as climate action, gender equality, settlement of bomb and mine consequences, education, and people-to-people exchanges./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the Government’s law-building session for February in Hanoi on February 27, during which participants will give ideas on five bills, five law-building proposals and a law, and ordinance building programme.

The five bills to be opined over at the meeting are the draft Law on People’s Air Defense; draft Law on Management and Use of Weapons, Explosives and Supporting Tools (revised); draft Law on Cultural Heritage (revised); draft law on the amendments and supplementations to a number of articles of the Law on Standards and Technical Regulations; and draft law on the amendments and supplementations to a number of articles of the Pharmacy Law.

Meanwhile, the Government will consider the proposals of building five laws, namely the Diplomatic Ranks Law, Aviation Law (revised); Railway Law (revised); Law on Geology and Minerals; and Law on Digital Technology Industry.

Participants will also discuss a proposal on the law and ordinance building programme for 2025 and an
amended version for 2024.

Opening the meeting, on the occasion of the 69th anniversary of the Vietnamese Doctors Day (February 27, 1955-2024), PM Chinh extended greetings and expressed respect to all doctors, health officials and workers across the country.

The Government leader underlined that the law-building workload in February are high as the Government is scheduled to submit to the National Assembly (NA) a law and ordinance building programme for 2025 and an amended version for 2024, and finish bills to be discussed at the seventh session of the 15th NA.

He said that all the contents to be debated at the meeting are important, difficult, and complicated with great influence to the building of a harmonious, completed, and modern legal system, and unlocking resources for development.

The PM asked ministers and heads of ministry-level agencies and Government agencies to seek effective approaches to the issues to ensure good progress and quality of the work.

Along with the building of the laws, it is n
ecessary to promptly design and issue decrees guiding the implementation of the laws, thus quickly bringing them to life./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Geneva: Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has called on countries to support Vietnam’s bid for re-election as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2026-2028 tenure.

Leading a Vietnamese delegation to the UNHRC’s 55th session in Geneva on Feburary 26, Minister Son said human rights could only be best ensured in a peaceful, stable environment where international law is maintained and respected, and where the State places its people at the centre of all policies, ensuring comprehensive and sustainable development.

He underscored the need for the UNHRC to prioritise fulfilling basic human rights needs, including access to economic, social, and cultural rights, the right to development, and ensuring the protection of vulnerable groups.

The UNHRC should pay attention to promoting the implementation of Vietnam’s proposed Resolution 52/19, especially urging countries to promote mutual respect, understanding, tolerance, inclusiveness, unity, and appreciation of differences, di
alogue, and cooperation, he added.

The minister also reaffirmed Vietnam’s priorities if re-elected, including protecting vulnerable groups, promoting gender equality, embracing digital transformation, and upholding human rights.

At the 56th session of the UNHRC in June, Vietnam will propose an annual resolution on ensuring human rights in the face of climate change, he said.

According to him, Vietnam has submitted its national report under the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism for the fourth cycle, with nearly 90% of the recommendations received in 2019 being fulfilled./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: A delegation from the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations attended the 7th meeting of the Youth Wing of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia from February 23-26, which aimed to foster dialogue on promoting youth engagement in socio-political activities.

Hosted by the ruling Mongolian People’s Party (MPP), the meeting brought together 47 delegates from 18 political parties across 12 Asian countries, along with nearly 100 young Mongolian representatives. It built on the success of the previous ICAPP Youth Wing Meeting and the 7th ICAPP Women’s Wing Meeting held in Mongolia last August.

Discussions centred on the opportunities and challenges faced by young people in engaging with national parliaments and political activities. Delegates shared practical solutions and experiences to encourage youth participation in social and political life, including support for training, access to finance and healthcar
e, job creation, and entrepreneurship opportunities. They also highlighted the importance of youth leadership in sci-tech, innovation and creativity.

The event concluded with the Ulaanbaatar Declaration, reaffirming the commitment of participating parties to promote youth involvement in politics and social development. The declaration, with the slogan “We Say YES to Youth in Parliament,” aims to increase youth representation in national parliaments.

On the sidelines of the event, the Vietnamese delegation held meetings with ICAPP Co-Chairman Chung Eui-yong and ICAPP Secretary-General Kwon Hee-seog to explore ways to promote cooperation between the CPV and ICAPP.

They also held working sessions with representatives of the ruling MPP and the Mongolian Democratic Party to discuss further strengthen bilateral relations on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Vietnam-Mongolia diplomatic ties this year.

Leaders from the ICAPP, Mongolian political parties, and other participants commended Vietnam’s recent
achievements in socio-economic development and foreign policy. They acknowledged the CPV’s positive contributions to the overall success of the ICAPP and expressed a common desire to further strengthen friendly exchanges and practical cooperation with Vietnam in the future./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on February 26 sent a letter of congratulations to President of the Cambodian Senate Samdech Vibol Sena Pheakdei Say Chhum on the successful organisation of the Senate Election for the fifth term.

The election was held in the form of non-universal suffrage at 33 polling stations in eight regional constituencies nationwide on February 25. Its official results are set to be announced on April 2./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency