Category: Politics

Hanoi: The upcoming state visit to Vietnam by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will enhance overall cooperation, including in education – a key factor of prosperity in each country, said Dr Kambiz Ghawami, President of the World University Service of Germany.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the visit on January 23 – 24, Ghawami said the two countries boast long-standing cooperation in higher education which has grown well for many decades.

Over the last 10 years, the number of Vietnamese students in Germany has risen from 2,717 in 2013 to 7,600 at present, not including thousands of other Vietnamese holding German passports. Besides, there are nearly 3,000 students at the Vietnamese – German University (VGU) in Ho Chi Minh City.

Meanwhile, the number of German students in Vietnam remains limited, less than 50 each year. Therefore, more information and incentives are needed to turn Vietnam into an attractive education destination, he pointed out.

An advantage is that the VGU has frequ
ently received German students coming from its partner universities in Vietnam as part of training cooperation programmes. Such programmes are the key to increasing German students at Vietnamese universities, giving them opportunities to learn about the Vietnamese people and culture, he noted.

Ghawami considered the VGU, founded in 2008, as an important contributor to the modernisation of Vietnamese universities, helping enhance the country’s scientific competitiveness in the world.

The scholar cited Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who joined in the signing of the declaration on the VGU establishment in 2008 as Federal Foreign Minister of Germany, as saying that the VGU is a future-oriented cooperation project helping draw younger generations’ attention to bilateral ties.

Ghawami said the VGU is like a ‘lighthouse project’. Since its inception, it has been striving to serve as a special bridge linking Vietnam and Germany, and to establish itself as a leading research university in Southeast Asia. The VGU and part
ner universities are working on common projects of national, regional, and global importance.

Stressing the importance of President Steinmeier’s visit to educational cooperation, he held that the two countries share many similarities and have reinforced ties in education for decades. They should invest more in education, which is critical to national prosperity.

Germany is famous for techniques while Vietnam for creativity. The combination of their strengths in education, research, and innovation will benefit both sides, according to Ghawami./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Beijing: The Vietnamese Embassy in China held a ceremony in Beijing on January 22 to celebrate the 74th founding anniversary of Vietnam – China diplomatic relations (January 18, 1950 – 2024).

The event was attended by Chinese Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu, representatives of Chinese ministries, sectors, agencies, localities and businesses, experts, scholars and press agencies of both nations.

In his remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Sao Mai highlighted the significance of the establishment of the diplomatic ties between the two countries, and reviewed their cooperation achievements over the past time.

The Vietnam – China friendship, which was nurtured and fostered by Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Mao Zedong as well as generations of the two countries’ leaders, has become a valuable asset of the two nations, he said, adding the two countries’ people have stood shoulder by shoulder and supported each other in their cause of national liberation and the process of national construction and developm
ent.

Amidst complicated and unprecedented developments across the globe, the Vietnam – China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership has developed in a stable manner and recorded important progress thanks to the sound direction of high-level leaders of the two Parties and States as well as concerted efforts made by sectors and people of both sides, he said.

The Vietnamese diplomat recalled the recent state visit to Vietnam by General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping, during which General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and the Chinese leader discussed and reached perceptions on continuing to deepen and elevate the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, building a Vietnam – China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance for the happiness of the two nations’ people and for peace and progress of the humankind.

Mai said that the stable Vietnam – China relations
have played an important role in the development in each country, contributing to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

The Vietnamese Party, State and people always attach much importance to consolidating and bolstering the friendship and cooperation with the Chinese Party, State and people, and consider developing the ties with China as a top priority and a strategic choice in the country’s foreign policy, he stressed.

He suggested that both sides should continue enhancing the exchange of delegations at all levels, fully and effectively carry out the perceptions reached by the two Parties and nations, enhance political trust, promote cooperation in economy, trade, investment, tourism, and properly control and handle disagreements on the basis of respect for each other’s legitimate interests and in line with international law.

Participants at the event congratulated Vietnam and China on the achievements they have attained over the past time./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, in collaboration with relevant agencies and units, on January 22 launched a training course on exercise planning process in 2024 between Vietnam and Canada.

This is the third time Vietnam and Canada have co-hosted an international intensive training course at the Vietnamese department.

The course from January 19 to February 2 aims to equip knowledge and skills about the exercise planning process for officers of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and partner countries within the framework of Canada’s Military Training and Cooperation Programme (MTCP). The aim is to improve the capacity of organising international intensive training courses and developing a contingent of lecturers on UN peacekeeping, thus contributing to strengthening friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Canada and international partners in the field of peacekeeping.

Canadian Defence Attaché in Vietnam Lieutenant Colonel Paul Payne said that the training course will introduce t
rainees to the exercise planning process based on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)’s training and exercise documents.

Colonel Pham Manh Thang, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, said this training course attracted the participation of 37 trainees from nine partner countries of Canada’s MTCP, namely Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

In 2018, Vietnam and Canada signed a Memorandum of Understanding on military training cooperation. Since then, more than 130 VPA officers have participated in training in Canada and other countries. The scope of training cooperation between Canada and Vietnam has been expanded from language training and logistics to security training courses./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Bucharest: Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis in Bucharest on January 22 as part of his official visit to the European nation.

President Iohannis welcomed PM Chinh’s visit, considering it a milestone in promoting traditional friendship and cooperation between Romania and Vietnam.

While hailing Vietnam’s role in the Asia-Pacific region, he affirmed that Romania always considers Vietnam its most important partner in Southeast Asia and wishes to further develop cooperative relations with Vietnam in all sectors.

PM Chinh, for his part, affirmed that in its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of external ties, Vietnam always attaches importance to and wants to foster its relations with traditional friends in Central and Eastern Europe, with Romania being a priority partner.

He conveyed Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s regards and President Vo Van Thuong’s invitation to visit Vietnam to President Iohan
nis.

The two leaders expressed their delight at the positive development of the bilateral relations across various fields. They agreed to continue increasing the exchange of delegations at all levels through the Party, State, Government, National Assembly, and people-to-people diplomacy channels.

President Iohannis unveiled his intent to visit Vietnam in the near future to maintain high-level dialogue between leaders of both countries.

Lauding the positive progress in bilateral economic and trade ties despite the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and regional instability, they pledged to continue rolling out existing economic cooperation mechanisms and encourage Romanian enterprises to increase investment in Vietnam, particularly in areas of Romania’s strength such as information technology, oil refining, food processing and renewable energy.

The host proposed close coordination to effectively implement the agreements reached during PM Chinh’s visit while fully tapping the potential and opportunit
ies to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the fields of education-training, labour, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

The two leaders agreed to continue supporting each other at multilateral forums and international organisations, and in joint efforts to address global challenges, thus contributing to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Discussing current hotspots around the globe, they concurred that all conflicts and disputes should be settled through peaceful means, without using or threatening to use force, and in accordance with international law.

On the occasion, PM Chinh thanked Romania for providing support for the Vietnamese community and hoped that they would be provided with more favourable conditions to settle down, integrate deeper into the host society and make positive contributions to the socio-economic development of Romania as well as the enduring friendship between the two nations./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Bucharest: Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Romanian counterpart Ion-Marcel Ciolacu held a joint press conference to announce the outcomes of their talks in Bucharest on January 22.

PM Ciolacu highlighted the goal of lifting two-way trade to 1 billion USD in the coming years, describing Romania as a bridge between Vietnam and the European Union and Vietnam as an entry point for Romania to penetrate the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Both leaders affirmed their commitment to creating more favourable conditions for their goods to access each other’s market. Romania wants to export its key products, such as agricultural goods and pharmaceuticals, to Vietnam. Additionally, Romania proposed supporting existing projects and expediting new initiatives.

PM Ciolacu expressed his desire for collaboration with Vietnam in producing African swine fever vaccines in Romania for supply to Romania and the broader European market. They also pledged to enhance partnership in energy, educatio
n-training, and other fields.

PM Chinh, for his part, said Vietnam wishes to further step up cooperation with Romania for the sake of prosperity of each country, well-being and happiness of their people.

He underscored the significance of his visit in reinforcing political trust between the two nations, generating a new momentum for the extensive, effective and practical development of bilateral traditional friendship in the coming period while expanding opportunities for collaboration in new areas, aiming towards self-resilient and sustainable development and contribute to peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

At the press conference, PM Chinh expressed thanks to Romania, the first European Union member state to make a noble gesture by providing hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 vaccine doses and medical equipment for Vietnam, helping the country overcome the pandemic soon and reopen its door for economic recovery.

He hailed Romania for playing an active role in signing the EU-Vie
tnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and being among the first EU countries to ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

According to the Vietnamese leader, both sides promised to continue facilitating the exchange of visits at all levels, especially at high level, and via all channels to strengthen political trust and mutual understanding.

They will further uphold bilateral cooperation mechanisms, particularly the Inter-Governmental Committee for Economic Cooperation and continue to fully and effectively implement the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

PM Chinh proposed Romania urge other EU member nations to soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and push for the European Commission (EC)’s removal of its “yellow card” warning against Vietnamese seafood.

They vowed to strengthen collaboration in education and research between universities in high-tech engineering, information technology, agriculture and healthcare; in culture-sports- tourism, sci-tech,
information and communication, agriculture, labour, and locality-to-locality cooperation.

The Vietnamese leader said both sides had agreed to continue close and effective coordination at the United Nations, ASEM, ASEAN, and the EU to jointly address regional and global challenges.

Regarding global and regional issues, including the East Sea issue, they agreed to support the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They also expressed their support for the practical and effective negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

In his view, their biggest barrier is geographical distance. However, this obstacle can be overcome through effective digital transformation, e-commerce, and modern transport means which help connect the two economies, enhance people-to-people exchanges and promote tourism.

On this occasion, he thanked the Romanian Government and people for creating favourable conditi
ons for the Vietnamese community living in the European nation, who serve as a bridge for friendly relations between the two countries.

Following the talks, the host and guest witnessed the signing of 19 cooperation agreements between the two countries’ ministries, agencies and localities; and 15 memoranda of understanding on cooperation between their universities./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Bucharest: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received representatives from the Romania – Vietnam Friendship Association and friendship organisations with Vietnam in Bucharest on January 21 (local time) as part of his official to the European country.

The PM expressed his joy to meet with representatives of Romanian friendship associations and friends who have made contributions to fostering solidarity, friendship and understanding between the two countries, during his official visit to Romania.

According to the PM, over the past nearly 75 years, generations of Vietnamese and Romanian people have continuously built and nurtured a good traditional friendship, based on mutual understanding and trust, as well as support for mutual development. Vietnam always remembers Romania’s sentiments and valuable support for Vietnam in the past struggle for national independence and reunification as well as in the present national construction and development.

He said his official visit aims to strengthen multifaceted cooper
ation between Vietnam and Romania, tighten traditional friendship between the two nations, promote achievements in bilateral ties over the past nearly 75 years, while creating new momentum for the bilateral relations.

During his stay in Romania, he will have talks with the Romanian Prime Minister, and meet with leaders of Romania to discuss measures to boost the Vietnam – Romania relations. He wished Romanian friends to continue to inspire all Romanians to promote relations between the two countries, contributing to the two countries’ sustainable development goals.

In recent times, Romanian friendship associations and organisations have actively coordinated with the Vietnamese Embassy and the Vietnamese community to organise many meaningful events marking major holidays of Vietnam and Romania, and important foreign affairs activities as well as cultural and art programmes, exhibitions and seminars.

At the event, the participants expressed their deep sentiments to Vietnam, and belief in the Southeast Asian
country’s strong development./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Phan Anh Son hosted a reception in Hanoi on January 22 for a delegation of officials from Uzbekistan.

Son said the solidarity, friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Uzbekistan, cultivated by their Governments and people, rest on a foundation of profound understanding, mutual respect and trust.

He wished that in the upcoming time, VUFO would continue working closely with agencies and embassy of Uzbekistan and various partners to facilitate connectivity and create conditions for further mutual understanding and bilateral cooperation in areas such as economy, trade, investment, culture, education, sports and tourism.

Notably, Son suggested that the Uzbekistani Government consider promptly opening a representative office in Hanoi, while Vietnam explores the possibility of reopening its representative office in Tashkent. Such offices, acting as crucial bridges, would play a pivotal role in promoting cooperative relations across se
ctors, including people-to-people diplomacy.

Zulaykho Makhkamova, Vice Prime Minister and Chairwoman of the State Committee of Family and Women, said the newly re-elected President of Uzbekistan has urged ministries and agencies to take measures to enhance cooperation with Vietnam across all aspects. The purpose of this visit is to further strengthen collaboration between the two countries in various fields, providing a robust foundation for the deepening of diplomatic relations and friendship between their people.

Iqboljon Ergashev, Chairman of the Committee for the Development of Silk and Wool Industry of Uzbekistan, affirmed that Vietnam and Uzbekistan hold great potential for collaboration in various sectors.

Uzbekistan is renowned for its cotton products, while Vietnam is well-known for silk, presenting an opportunity for mutual learning and cooperation, he said, adding that Uzbekistan is keen on gaining experience in silk production from Vietnam, and there are plans in place to strengthen bilateral c
ollaboration in the silk and wool industry.

He expressed hope that following the visit, the cooperation between the two countries will be further boosted./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency