Category: Politics

Hanoi: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on April 20 asked ministries, sectors, agencies, localities, and businesses to make forecasts on the situation and prepare response plans to ensure sufficient power supply for production and daily activities under any circumstances.

At a working session with relevant ministries, sectors, and agencies on the production and supply of electricity, especially in peak times of 2024 and following years, PM Chinh pointed to the need to focus on five major issues, including of production, distribution, and price.

He underlined the need to make sure that all regions receive adequate power supply, especially in the hot season in the north from May to July, and to effectively operate and exploit the highest capacity of all power plants, while reviewing all electricity sources that can be mobilised, speeding up major projects and preparing for the worst situation.

Coal-fired power plants must make the maximum use of domestic raw materials, while coal enterprises must operate at th
eir maximum capacity, he requested.

He asked hydroelectric plants to operate reasonably, effectively, and save water to ensure irrigation and electricity generation at the same time.

Meanwhile, businesses that provide raw materials and fuel for the electricity generation must prepare adequate gas, oil, and coal.

The Government leader asked ministries and sectors to draft legal documents facilitating power trading activities and submit them to the Government for consideration at an early date.

The PM asked for the urgent completion of the 500kV Pho Noi – Quang Trach project in June 2024 to bring electricity from the central and southern regions to the north, along with the completion of imported power transmission lines to supplement electricity.

Particularly, the Government leader emphasised the need to use power efficiently and economically.

He reminded power plants to cut costs to reduce power prices.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in the first quarter of 2024, the country produced
69.34 billion kWh, up 11.77% year on year, with an average daily electricity output reaching 762 million kWh, a rise of 10.4% over the same period last year.

It said that in order to ensure power supply for the whole 2024, especially the dry season, the ministry and the Vietnam Electricity (EVN) and relevant agencies have rolled out various measures, including the approval of a power supply plan in peak season from April to July.

Alongside, it has kept a close eye on the supply of coal and gas for electricity production, and sped up the progress of the 500kV Quang Trach – Pho Noi power transmission project to ensure that it will become operational in June.

With all the solutions, the ministry pledged that the power supply for 2024 will be basically ensured./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Public Security Lt. Gen. Le Van Tuyen had a working session with Minister of the Interior of Cuba Lt. Gen. Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas in Havana, as part of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang’s official friendly visit to the Caribbean country.

Tuyen affirmed that the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security (MoPS) is always ready to share experience and consult with the Cuban Ministry of the Interior about national construction and defence policies.

The MoPS will continue to stand side by side, share and stay ready to offer the highest support to the Cuban Ministry of the Interior, he said.

The two sides discussed a wide range of cooperation contents from ensuring national security, fighting crimes, building legal documents, health care, fire prevention and fighting, rescue operations, to logistical, technical support and capacity building training.

Recognising the growing challenges of global and regional security in 2024 and beyond, with various types of crimes, especiall
y transnational, cyber, drug and human trafficking crimes, they highlighted the need to expand and strengthen cooperation between the two ministries for the benefit and national security of each country.

The officers vowed to further step up collaboration in the fields of security and police, fight organised, trans-national, cyber, terrorism, human trafficking, commercial and tourism-related crimes, emerging types of crimes and non-traditional security threats, and in technical and professional areas.

The host and guest concurred to jointly study and launch projects, scientific research works, adopt new technologies and produce specialised equipment, and offer training to improve the capacity of officers and soldiers.

In the field of health care, the two ministries will continue bolstering collaboration in cancer treatment, cerebral vascular intervention, organ transplantation, training and transferring technologies related to stem cells, gene, treatment methods using antibodies and vaccines./.

Source: V
ietnam News Agency

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on April 16 said that Vietnam always values and wishes to strengthen multifaceted cooperation with Hungary, a traditional partner and the only comprehensive partner of Vietnam in the Central Eastern European region when receiving First Officer of the Hungarian National Assembly Márta Mátrai in Hanoi.

Speaking at the reception, Hue appreciated the fifth legislative conference on the role of the parliament in supreme supervision of bilateral cooperation agreements between Vietnam and Hungary held earlier the same day in Hanoi, during which, NA Vice Chairman Tran Quang Phuong and Márta Mátrai reached consensus on many important issues, particularly those on cooperation between the two countries’ legislatures.

For her part, the Hungarian guest said Hungary considers Vietnam a priority partner in its policy of strengthening and expanding relations with Southeast Asian countries, especially in the fields of diplomacy, economy, and parliamentary cooperation. Hungary
is a bridge between EU member countries and Vietnam, she said, adding her country is ready to share experience with Vietnam in agriculture, science, and digitalisation.

Noting that Hungary will take on the role of rotating President of the European Council in the second half of 2024, she affirmed Hungary will help hasten other EU member countries to ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and urge the European Commission to soon remove the ‘yellow card’ imposed on Vietnam regarding illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and other problems in the EU-Vietnam trade ties.

Hue said that the two countries have good cooperative relations in many fields and that there is still ample room for cooperation, particularly in science and technology, innovation, education, and sports.

The host and the guest agreed that the two sides need to strengthen cooperation and connections at central, local, and business levels. Their friendship parliamentarians’ groups should establish an alumni ne
twork and propose initiatives to further develop the two countries’ relations.

Hue agreed on the theme of the next legislative conference, which will be held alternately in Hungary in 2025. On this occasion, he thanked Hungary for providing scholarships to Vietnamese students and hoped that it will continue to create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to stabilise their lives and make positive contributions to the host country’s socio-economic development and Vietnam-Hungary friendship.

The same day, Márta Mátrai met with Chairman of the NA’s Economic Committee Vu Hong Thanh, who is also Chairman of the Vietnam – Hungary Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group.

Thanh said it is necessary to promote cooperation mechanisms between the two countries, especially the Vietnam – Hungary Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation to facilitate bilateral economic, trade, and investment ties.

He hoped that Hungarian businesses will increase investment in areas that Vietnam has demand for and Hungary has str
engths such as water resources exploitation, environmental protection, pharmaceuticals, livestock, food processing, renewable energy, manufacturing and processing industries, and infrastructure development.

He wished that Hungary will support and create favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to further access its market. Meanwhile, Vietnam is ready to act as a gateway for Hungarian products to enter the ASEAN market, he added./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

A ceremony to repatriate two sets of remains believed to be of US soldier listed as missing in action (MIA) from the war in Vietnam was held at the Da Nang International Airport in the central city of Da Nang on April 16.

The ceremony, the 164th of its kind, saw the attendance of Deputy Defence Minister Hoang Xuan Chien, Assistant Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu, representatives from the ministries of defence, foreign affairs and public security and the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons (VNOSMP). On the US side were US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper, US Defence Attaché to Vietnam Thomas Bouchillon and representatives of the US MIA Office in Hanoi.

The remains were found as the result of the 154th joint field activity which lasted from February to April 2024. Vietnamese forensic specialists examined the remains and determined that they might belong to US MIAs from the war in Vietnam.

The joint efforts of the two governments to search and account for US MIAs since the late 1980s have to date
identify over 720 US MIAs.

On this occasion, Deputy Defence Minister Chien hosted a reception for US Ambassador Knapper, during which he highly appreciated the US’ help for Vietnam to overcome the consequences of war, including raising the budget for the dioxin detoxification project at Bien Hoa airport to 300 million USD; supporting people with disabilities in localities affected by Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin; conducting mine clearance; and cooperating in searching for Vietnamese soldiers who died or went missing during the war.

He proposed that the two sides coordinate to early sign a memorandum of understanding on overcoming the consequences of war in Vietnam.

Ambassador Knapper affirmed that the US Government is committed at the highest level to supporting Vietnam in overcoming the consequences of war, especially in completely cleaning up dioxin contamination at Bien Hoa airport and transferring DNA examination technology for identifying Vietnamese martyrs’ remains.

He also expressed a wish to work clos
ely with Vietnam to hold activities to mark the 30th anniversary of the normalisation of relations and establishment of diplomatic relationship between the US and Vietnam (1995-2025), the 50th year since the end of the war in Vietnam (1975-2025) and 80 years since the first contact between Viet Minh and the US

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam is confident in its candidacy for re-election to the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) for the 2026 – 2028 tenure, the Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), and other international organisations in Geneva, Ambassador Mai Phan Dung said while talking about the country’s contributions to the HRC’s 55th session.

The 55th session took place from February 26 to April 4, making it the longest session of the HRC so far. It considered over 80 reports and discussed a wide range of areas related to human rights, from climate change, the right to food, gender equality to such issues as impacts of the conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine, and other regions in the world on the enjoyment of human rights.

Concluding the session, the HRC adopted 32 resolutions and two decisions, approved 14 states’ national reports under the HRC’s fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism, and appointed personnel for 14 special procedures of the HRC in vario
us areas, said Dung.

He told the Vietnam News Agency that the delegation of Vietnam, an HRC member in the 2023 – 2025 tenure, led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, actively participated in the session’s discussions and making of decisions.

Speaking at the session’s high-level segment, Minister Son highlighted Vietnam’s efforts and achievements in economic, cultural, and social development that have helped ensure social security and people’s full enjoyment of human rights. He also shared the country’s viewpoint on and approach to issues of the international community’s common concern. He stressed the requirement for maintaining and respecting peace, stability and international law; promoting mutual respect and understanding, tolerance, inclusiveness and unanimity; respecting differences, dialogue and cooperation; putting people at the centre of every policy; and ensuring inclusive and sustainable development.

The minister re-affirmed the priorities of Vietnam as an HRC member and also called for
other states’ support for Vietnam’s re-election to the HRC in the 2026 – 2028 tenure, according to Dung.

The ambassador noted that during the session, apart from its national speeches, Vietnam also actively joined in the drafting and delivered addresses on different topics on behalf of four groups of states.

The country represented the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Timor Leste to give a speech at the dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food. It represented the Core Group of the resolution on climate change and human rights (including Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Vietnam) at the dialogue on the report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on measures for mitigating climate change impacts on the enjoyment of the right to food. On behalf of 22 states in different regions, Vietnam delivered a speech at a general debate on the protection of people’s essential infrastructure in armed conflicts. As a representative of 63 states, it gave an address at another general
debate on accelerating the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals to boost gender equality.

All those issues were priorities of Vietnam and also high on the international community’s concern and priority, Dung went on, adding that the support and co-sponsorship of the speeches by many states reflected their high evaluation of Vietnam’s role, voice, and capacity of promoting dialogue on human rights-related issues at the HRC.

He affirmed that with the country’s role and stature, its active and responsible engagement in the HRC during the 2023 – 2025 tenure, and the international community’s high evaluation of its participation in multilateral forums, most recently its election to the Executive Board of the Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) for the 2025 – 2027 tenure, there are grounds to be confident on other states’ support for Vietnam’s candidacy for re-election to the HRC in the 2026 – 2028 tenure./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh paid homage to General Vo Nguyen Giap and met with families of soldiers fighting in the Dien Bien Phu Campaign and policy beneficiaries in Muong Phang commune of Dien Bien Phu city, the northwestern province of Dien Bien, on April 16.

The activity was part of events held in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the historic Dien Bien Phu Victory (May 7, 1954 – 2024).

At the Dien Bien Phu Campaign Headquarters relic site, PM Chinh and other officials offered incense in commemoration of General Vo Nguyen Giap, Commander-in-chief of the Vietnam People’s Army and also direct commander of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign, and the soldiers who laid down their lives for the victory.

The delegation also visited an exhibition hall on the life and military career of General Giap and the Muong Phang historical relic site – the base of the Campaign Headquarters for 105 days, from January 31 to May 15, 1954. At this place, Giap and others of the Campaign Command made decisive instructions and
orders, culminating in the order for launching a general offensive across the battlefield on May 7, 1954, leading to the victory that ‘resounded across the five continents and shook the globe’.

PM expresses gratitude to contributors to Dien Bien Phu Victory hinh anh 2

PM Pham Minh Chinh presents gifts to families of Dien Bien soldiers and policy beneficial families from Muong Phang and Pa Khoang communes on April 16. (Photo: VNA)

Meeting with 20 families of Dien Bien soldiers and policy beneficial families from Muong Phang and Pa Khoang communes, PM Chinh thanked people of the two communes and nearby localities for protecting and taking care of the Campaign Headquarters relic, which he said reflected the close-knit ties between the military and civilians in Vietnam.

He asked authorities of Dien Bien province and Dien Bien Phu city to continue promoting socio-economic development in Muong Phang. He also requested that they preserve and bring into play the values of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign Headquarters r
elic site to help educate people on patriotism and former generations’ undaunted spirit in national defence, develop historical tourism, and uphold cultural identities of local ethnic groups.

On this occasion, the Government leader also presented 100 million VND (over 3,900 USD) to the education promotion fund of Muong Phang commune to support disadvantaged students./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang had a meeting with First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel in Havana on April 15.

The Vietnamese official congratulated Cuba on its significant achievements obtained amid numerous difficulties and challenges. He affirmed Vietnam’s consistent solidarity with and support for Cuba as well as objection to the embargo against the Caribbean nation.

He informed his host about the outcomes of his talks and working sessions with Cuban Government leaders and made some suggestions for pushing ahead with the comprehensive, substantive, and effective cooperation between the two countries.

The Deputy PM stressed the need to devise mechanisms and measures for tackling difficulties, further promoting bilateral economic, trade and investment ties, and fruitfully implementing joint projects, especially in agriculture, thus helping strengthen the countries’ friendship and all-round partnerships.

Welcoming Quang on the firs
t official visit to Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel stated that the Cuba – Vietnam relations are special and have continually been reinforced on the basis of mutual trust, with their strategic importance affirmed in the current context.

He congratulated Vietnam on its recent political – diplomatic and socioeconomic attainments while appreciating the Vietnamese Party, Government, and people’s assistance for his country through the stable rice supply and technical support in terms of rice and fisheries production.

The host leader praised joint ventures and investment projects with Vietnamese enterprises, which have effectively contributed to Cuba’s economic stability and development.

Cuba always pays attention to and provides optimal conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to do business and invest in such fields as trading, consumer goods production, renewable energy, construction material, and industrial park infrastructure, he stated.

Miguel Diaz-Canel expressed his hope that more Vietnamese firms will cooperate w
ith Cuba in agriculture, food processing, energy, automobile industry, bio-pharmaceutical production and health services to tap into each country’s advantages and herald a new period of cooperation for common development.

At the meeting, Quang also conveyed Vietnamese leaders’ invitation to Miguel Diaz-Canel to pay a visit to Vietnam.

Cuban leaders appreciate Vietnam’s support, call for more investment hinh anh 2

The meeting between Deputy PM Tran Luu Quang and Cuban PM Manuel Marrero Cruz in Havana on April 15 (Photo: VNA)

Meeting with Cuban PM Manuel Marrero Cruz the same day, the visiting Deputy PM noted that leaders of the Vietnamese Party and State always keep a close watch on Cuba’s situation and share the Caribbean country’s successes as well as difficulties and challenges on the path of national development and protection.

Vietnam, within its capacity, will continue standing side by side with and assisting Cuba, he remarked, stressing its consistent solidarity with and support for the latter, alo
ng with objection to the embargoes against the country.

The Cuban PM applauded the Southeast Asian nation’s role as the biggest Asian-Pacific investor in Cuba and the second biggest in the Mariel Special Development Zone.

He asked the two Governments to keep enhancing coordination in implementing high-level agreements and the outcomes of the 41st session of the Inter-Governmental Committee.

Calling on Vietnam to encourage its enterprises to increase investment and business activities in Cuba, he affirmed that the Cuban Government will work out mechanisms and measures for facilitating activities of Vietnamese firms, thereby benefiting enterprises and people of both countries and contributing to local socio-economic development.

At the meeting with Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Deputy PM Quang said Vietnam believes that with its traditional heroism and dauntlessness, Cuba will manage to weather difficulties and challenges and harvest greater achievements.

The Cuban Foreign Min
ister appreciated the attention and support from Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, other leaders, the Government, and people of Vietnam for his country in food and fisheries production and at international forums as well.

As part of the official visit, Deputy PM Quang laid floral tributes to President Ho Chi Minh at a park named after the late Vietnamese leader in Havana, as well as to Cuban hero Jose Marti at his monument.

He also visited Vietnamese projects at the Mariel Special Development Zone and had a meeting with Vietnamese enterprises and people in Cuba.

Quang is set to visit the Vo Thi Thang Primary School and the Fidel Castro Ruz Centre, where the late Cuban leader’s legacy is preserved./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency