Category: Politics

Hanoi: The National Assembly (NA) will continue upholding the spirit of proactiveness and development facilitation in law building activities with a long-term vision, said Politburo member and NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the threshold of the Lunar New Year 2024.

Reporter: The year 2023 marks the mid-term point of the 15th National Assembly. What are the outstanding results of the NA’s activities last year?

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue: It can be seen that the NA completed a heavy workload in 2023, the heaviest since the beginning of the tenure.

The workload included the successful organisation of five NA meetings, including two regular and three extraordinary sittings, together with 16 regular sessions of the NA Standing Committee, not mentioning full-time NA deputies’ conferences and NA Standing Committee sessions held between the fifth and the sixth meetings of the 15th NA to study and explain the contents submitted to the NA for approval at two regular
NA sittings. Thus, the number of meetings in 2023 alone is equal to the total held in a half of the NA tenure.

From the fifth meeting, with the initiative of arranging two phases in each session, the NA shows its flexibility, adaptation and response to reality’s requirements in the current period.

The year 2023 also saw many ‘first things’, for examples, the successful organisation of the first Dien Hong Awards – the national press award on the National Assembly (NA) and People’s Councils; preparation for the award ceremony of the second Dien Hong Awards slated to take place in January 2024; the first national-scale conference on the implementation of laws and resolutions issued by the 15th NA to thoroughly grasp the viewpoint and direction of Party Central Committee on “closely linking law making with law enforcement”; the first Labourers’ Forum; and the first “Children’s National Assembly” hypothetical session. Some of those events have been selected as outstanding events of the NA in 2023.

So, it can be
seen that the workload is very heavy, with many difficult and complex problems which required the NA, the NA Standing Committee and every NA deputies to work hard. Despite the hard work and high pressure, I think that the most valuable thing is that every NA deputy is happy to contribute to the common work. The Government, the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuracy, the Fatherland Front, ministries, central agencies and local administrations were all engaged in the work and made great efforts.

I want to emphasise that NA deputies who represent the will and aspirations of the people are the centre of legislative activities. Through the terms, the NA deputies’ performance has seen positive changes associated with reforms in the organisation and operations of the NA.

At meetings, NA deputies have shown a sense of responsibility, enthusiasm, and delivered profound and multi-dimensional opinions in many fields. In particular, the number of deputies registering to speak in discussions and question
-and-answer sessions was very large, especially at the 6th sittings. The spirit of innovation in the parliament has contributed to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of the NA’s work; and showing their efforts to derliver on commitments that they made to voters.

Regarding law building work, the NA continues to uphold the spirit of proactiveness and development facilitation in lawbuilding with a long-term vision. The goal of the law-making work in the 15th NA term is to complete synchronous development institutions and create a legal framework to successfully implement socio-economic development tasks in the 2021-2025 period.

Right from the beginning of the term, the Politburo issued Conclusion No. 19-KL/TW (in 2021) on the orientation of the law-building programme in the 15th NA term. This is the first time in the NA’s legislative history there has been a conclusion issued by the Politburo to guide legislative tasks for the entire term.

As of the 6th meeting, the NA and relevant agencies had comple
ted 114 out of 137 legislative research tasks of the entire term, reaching 83.21% of the plan.

This is clear evidence of drastic changes in law-making thinking from management to facilitating national sustainable development, demonstrating the high sense of responsibility, proactiveness and activeness of the Party delegation of the NA in urgently institutionalising the policies and guidelines set by the 13th National Party Congress, and soon translate the Resolution of the 13th Party Congress into reality.

The above-mentioned results prove that we have, and are tackling the problems of passiveness and reliance on others, like when you cook rice, you boil the water and wait for someone else to bring you rice. In stead, we must prepare carefully for anything that we want to do. This is valuable experience withdrawn from the 78-year history of the NA.

Looking back at 2023, thematic supervision activities continued to be a “bright spot”. We not only conduct supervision in a “post-inspection” style but also foc
us on monitoring the issues that are being implemented, so that the NA can join the Government in removing obstacles and difficulties in the implementation process. In 2023, for the first time, the NA conducted mid-term supervision and passed a resolution on thematic supervision of “the implementation of NA resolutions on the national target programmes on building new rural areas for 2021-2025, sustainable poverty reduction for 2021-2025, and socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for 2021-2030.’

The NA assigned the Government to urgently draft a resolution on a number of specific mechanisms and policies to remove difficulties and obstacles and speed up the implementation of national target programmes to submit to the NA for consideration and approval at the nearest meeting following shortened procedures; with one of the mechanisms being the pilot decentralisation to allow district-level authorities to decide the list, structure, and allocation of state budget capital.

Such time
ly actions are attributable to early preparation. Right from the beginning of the term, supervision was identified as a central and key task. Performing the supervision function well will bring positive impacts on the NA’s functions of building law and making decision on important issues of the country. NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue: At the sixth session, the NA decided to postpone the approval of two bills, namely the Land Law (revised) and the Law on Credit Institutions (revised).

After studying 12 million opinions from people about the draft revised Land Law, due to the special importance and complexity of this bill and the large number of different viewpoints on the draft revised Law on Credit Institutions, the NA debated, made prudent consideration regarding many aspects, and decided to vote on the drafts at the nearest possible session.

The NA adopted a resolution on the application of top-up corporate income tax under the Global Anti-Base Erosion rules and permitted the establishment of an investment su
pport fund financed by the collection of the global minimum tax and other legal sources to aid businesses.

The resolution took effect on January 1, 2024. It is an urgent need to enforce the regulations on the global minimum tax starting 2024 in accordance with the guidance of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) so as to concurrently acquire the right to impose top-up corporate income tax and create a favourable investment environment for continuing to strongly attract foreign investment.

Aside from meeting urgent demand of reality, it also demonstrated the NA’s consistent principle of resolutely implementing the issues that are already clear, proved to be true in reality, and on which there is high consensus while continuing to consider and sum up real practices when it comes to the issues that remain unclear or on which there are many different opinions, and carrying out those issues on a trial basis when authorities give permission; making timely adjustments and amendments to
policies that have already been implemented but later proved to be inappropriate.

As 2024 is a crucial year holding special importance, the NA required continuing to prioritise promoting economic growth, maintain macro-economic stability, control inflation, and ensure major balances of the economy. The resolution on the socio-economic development plan for 2024, adopted at the sixth session, also targets a gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 6 – 6.5%.

As I have mentioned, the NA is upholding the consistent spirit of of proactiveness and development facilitation in lawbuilding with a long-term vision. Regarding urgen issues requiring timely settlement, within its jurisdiction, the NA will issue resolutions. In 2022, it issued resolutions approving investment policies on six nationally important transport projects with very large sums of investment capital. These six projects are all key and urgent ones critical to national defence and security, having strong influence on enhancing regional connectivit
y, and boosting socio-economic development of the country, regions, and localities housing the projects.

The resolution on piloting some specific policies on road investment and construction, approved at the NA’s sixth session, continues to follow that spirit. This mechanism is expected to help 21 other key transport projects of the country to considerably shorten their implementation time and accelerate progress.

Recently, the Government and the NA Standing Committee carried out a general review of legal documents in all fields and across the country. Basing on that, the NA issued a resolution requesting the Government to quickly examine and report the outcomes to the NA at the seventh session, take measures to immediately deal with contradictory and overlapping contents and effectively address the avoidance of and lack of sense of responsibility among part of civl servants and public employees; quickly research and propose amendments to the Law on Promulgation of Legal Documents.

The results of the g
eneral review and systematisation of the legal system are important to administrative reform. Basing on this, we will continue implementing a general review of administrative procedures in 2024.

In addition, we are accelerating the construction and development of socio-economic infrastructure, especially nationally important projects and facilities; promoting comprehensive cultural-social and social security development, and early building a national target programme on the revitalisation and development of culture and the development of Vietnamese people to submit to the NA for consideration; and comprehensively implementing wage policy reforms from July 1, 2024.

The NA, together with the political system, will continue to perfect and build a lean, efficient, and effective state apparatus; effectively addressing the attitude of passing the buck and avoiding responsibility for fear for committing faults of a part of civil servants while tightening administrative discipline and discipline among civil servant
s and in public work; and further stepping up the prevention and control of corruption, negative phenomena, wastefulness, and group interests.

All those tasks are aimed at unlocking every potential and resource and creating new momentum for the country’s fast and sustainable development. Reporter: Could you share more information about the work of parliamentary diplomacy and new requirements in the current context, especially in terms of promoting the ‘soft power’ of parliamentary diplomacy to serve the country’s economic development and international integration in the new period?

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue: Among the country’s common achievements in external affairs, the NA’s external activities have not only taken place vibrantly but also been promoted in terms of quality. We have strongly brought into play the characteristic of external affairs of both the State and people. It could be stated that 2023 was an outstandingly successful year of parliamentary diplomacy.

More than 10 delegations of other c
ountries’ parliaments paid official visits to Vietnam while leaders of the Vietnamese NA also visited other countries to attend multilateral forums. Many international agreements were signed/renewed between the Vietnamese NA and other countries’ parliaments.

In bilateral external activities, attention was paid to enhancing ties with neighbouring countries, intensifying relations with strategic partners, substantively promoting relations with cooperative partners and traditional friends, and strengthening trust with other partners.

The NA’s external activities have turned parliamentary diplomacy into an important political channel for foreign relations and a source of strength for promoting cooperation with other countries in a result-oriented manner, thereby raising the country’s international stature.

In terms of multilateral parliamentary diplomacy, the NA engaged in an active and proactive manner with the readiness to contribute to the building and shaping of common rules, and to initiate and lead new
initiatives at international and regional inter-parliamentary forums like the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).

A recent example was the success of the ninth Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians, themed ‘The Role of Young People in Promoting the Realisation of Sustainable Development Goals via Digital Transformation and Innovations’. The event adopted a joint statement, the first of its kind so far through the nine editions of the IPU conference.

The first Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Parliamentary Summit took place in Laos in early December 2023, during which the chairpersons of the three countries’ NAs adopted a joint statement. The establishment of this mechanism was an important milestone in the history of the three NAs’ cooperation, marking the elevation of cooperation among the three legislative bodies to the highest level.

The summit marked the completion of the ‘three peaks of a triangle’ of the Cambodia – Laos – Vietnam high-level cooperation, name
ly the top leaders of the three Parties, the Prime Ministers of the three countries, and now the chairpersons of the three NAs, creating a ‘tripod’ – policies and guidelines of the Parties, the institutionalisation and building of legal framework along with supervision by the NAs, and enforcement by the Governments – so that Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam can further enhance cooperation.

Our top duty is to continue maintaining and consolidating a peaceful and stable environment for national development towards the two centenary goals (by 2030 and 2045). To fulfill that duty, it is necessary to unceasingly reform, stay creative, and be flexible in the external affairs mindset and implementation methodology, with new ways of thinking and working. The new mindset should adopt a global, multilateral, and inter-sectoral approach on the basis of firmly maintaining independence, self-reliance, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. We need to continue promoting the style of diplomacy that is deeply imbued with the ch
aracteristics of ‘Vietnamese bamboo’ with ‘strong roots, sturdy stems, and flexible branches’ as directed by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

In that spirit, the Vietnamese NA will continue nurturing ties with the legislative bodies of other countries as well as sound relations with parliamentary friendship alliances and prestigious parliamentarians, considering this as our ‘political capital’ in the relations with other countries’ legislative bodies.

At the same time, the NA will continue bringing into play the strength of legislative diplomacy as the representative of the people, step up ‘soft’ connectivity and exchanges in terms of culture, society, education, youth, and tourism, and popularise Vietnam’s images to the region and the world.

The NA’s external affairs will also continue to link with the implementation of many recently established cooperation frameworks such as the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) at COP26 and the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) initiative of the Japa
nese Government.

We will continue promoting economic diplomacy, which is a focal task and an important driver of development, in the spirit of ‘putting people, localities, and businesses at the centre of service’.

Building professional, comprehensive, and modern diplomacy is an urgent and also strategic requirement for external affairs, and an inevitable trend in the world’s diplomacy. The NA will continue giving high priority to the diplomatic sector when considering and stipulating issues within its jurisdiction.

In addition, the NA will continue proactively implementing the policy of elevating multilateral external relations, especially within the frameworks of ASEAN – AIPA and the United Nations – IPU and stay ready to play the initiating and leadership role in the issues Vietnam has strength and experience like poverty elimination, food security, water resource security, gender equality, and health.

In 2023, Vietnam’s population reached 100 million – an important and impressive milestone during its
development process. The country has undergone nearly 40 years of refom. Per capita income in Vietnam has reached the middle level and is increasing fast. People’s right to mastery has been exercised via the law-governed socialist state that is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people.

A new spring is arriving, I wish compatriots, voters nationwide, and the overseas Vietnamese community good health, happiness, and success in the New Year. By continuing to bring into play the strength of the great national solidarity, the proactiveness of the entire political system, along with support, efforts and dedication by people and the business community, we will definitely surmount difficulties and challenges, seize opportunities, and soon achieve the national development targets set in the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Kampala: Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan had meetings with President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni, Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres, and First Vice President of Iran Mohammad Mokhber in Kampala on January 20.

The events took place on the sidelines of the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in the capital city of Uganda.

At their meeting, the Ugandan and Vietnamese leaders discussed concrete directions for developing the two countries’ cooperation in all fields in a result-oriented manner.

In terms of politics – diplomacy, they affirmed the importance of increasing delegation exchanges to enhance mutual understanding and political trust and create momentum for economic ties. They agreed to maintain close coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, especially the UN and NAM, as well as important organisations in the two regions such as the African Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Xuan called on Uganda to support ASEAN’s common stance on the peac
eful settlement of disputes in the East Sea with respect for international law.

Regarding economic cooperation, the two sides agreed to actively implement the outcomes of President Museveni’s visit to Vietnam, increase the exchange of business delegations, work together to hold investment and trade promotion events, and improve agricultural cooperation effectiveness.

Museveni highly valued Vietnam’s information technology capacity, asking the Southeast Asian nation to assist his country in digital transformation and training of high-quality manpower in technology, automation, and artificial intelligence.

Meanwhile, Xuan asked Uganda to create conditions for major telecoms businesses of Vietnam like Viettel to seek investment opportunities.

The two leaders agreed to step up the negotiations on and signing of important bilateral cooperation documents, including an agreement on investment facilitation and protection and another on double-taxation avoidance, thereby completing the legal framework for fosterin
g bilateral economic cooperation.

As part of the Vietnamese Vice President’s activities in Uganda, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation

Talking to the UN Secretary-General, Xuan highly valued Guterres’s significant contributions to global peace, security, and development amid numerous challenges. She underlined Vietnam’s consistent and strong support for multilateralism and the global governance system with the UN at the centre, along with the country’s support for the Secretary-General’s efforts and initiatives for peace, reconciliation, and enhancement of strategic trust among countries.

She stated that Vietnam are determined to actively and responsibly contribute to the UN’s common works, including the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 and the target of net zero emissions by 2050.

During this process, Vietnam hopes to continue receiving the UN’s effective cooperat
ion and assistance, particularly in terms of access to finance and technology and human resources training, the Vice President noted, calling on the Secretary-General to create favourable conditions for developing countries to bring into play their role and voice in the settlement of global issues.

For his part, Guterres considered Vietnam as a model of a war-torn country now emerging as a pillar in the promotion of global peace.

He stressed that the UN is ready to develop multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam, and hopes the country will continue making effective contributions to major processes of the UN in the coming time, including the Summit of the Future 2024, to work towards a world of peace, sustainable development, and better equality.

Both leaders also shared common opinions about the role of multilateralism, the demand for reforming international financial institutions, and the enhancement of the ASEAN – UN cooperation for peace and stability in Southeast Asia, including the East Sea.

At another
meeting, Vice President Xuan and First Vice President of Iran Mokhber applauded the progress in their countries’ relations and agreed on the need to foster the coordination of stances at multilateral forums for the sake of peace, stability, and sustainable development in their respective regions and the world.

Xuan noted Vietnam always treasures the friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Iran, one of its important partners in the Middle East, and that the two sides should keep close coordination to implement the agreements reached during the official visit to Iran by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue in August 2023.

She asked relevant ministries and sectors of the two countries to continue reviewing and updating cooperation mechanisms, and soon organise the 10th meeting of the Vietnam – Iran Inter-governmental Committee to remove bottlenecks and facilitate economic, investment, and trade links.

Mokhber said his country always views Vietnam as an important partner in Southeast Asia. He agreed
with Xuan about the promotion of economic and trade ties on par with the countries’ potential, and the expansion of partnerships in other fields of common interest like science – technology, education – training, people-to-people exchanges, and locality-to-locality connections.

The First Vice President also voiced his hope for a visit to Vietnam in the near future to help intensify bilateral relations.

On this occasion, the two sides touched upon some international and regional issues of shared concern, including the Middle East situation and the East Sea issue./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Berlin: Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh has highlighted the growing relationship between Vietnam and Germany during an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the state visit to the Southeast Asian nation by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his spouse from January 23-24.

The strategic partnership between Vietnam and Germany has developed substantively across multiple fields in recent times, especially after Prime Minister Olaf Scholz’s official visit to Vietnam in November 2022, Ambassador Minh said.

Political trust has been enhanced through meetings at all levels, he said.

2023 alone saw more than 40 working trips to Germany undertaken by deputy ministers, and deputy heads of people’s committees of Vietnamese localities.

Meanwhile, many heads of German states and business leaders paid visits to Vietnam in 2022 and 2023. Most recently, the Minister-Presidents of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) and Thuringia visited Vietnam, with a record number of up to 50-70 businesses taki
ng part in each.

Frameworks implementing economic diplomacy have been strengthened and expanded. Despite economic difficulties, Germany agreed to grant 61 million EUR in non-refundable aid to Vietnam for the 2024-2025 period. The two sides held the second session of the Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation. Many Vietnamese businesses resumed promotion activities and attended trade fairs in Germany. Both sides worked to ease difficulties to promote the implementation of Germany’s ‘lighthouse’ projects in Vietnam.

Germany is Vietnam’s largest trading partner in the European Union (EU), while Vietnam is Germany’s largest trading partner in Southeast Asia.

Bilateral trade hit more than 11 billion USD last year (according to data unveiled by Vietnam) and 17.12 billion USD as of November 2023 (according to the Federal Statistical Office of Germany – Destatis).

As of the end of 2023, there had been 464 valid projects invested by Germany in Vietnam with a total registered capital of 2.74 billion USD. Vietnam
invested 283.3 million USD in 37 projects in Germany.

Minh highlighted that important gains have been recorded in bilateral cooperation in other fields such as green development, energy transition and climate change response. Germany has continued to provide support for Vietnam to implement its commitments within the framework of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), and businesses of the two countries have proactively seized cooperation opportunities in this field.

Besides, many important resulted have been recorded in cultural diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges, through a series of activities held in both countries’ localities, helping to popularise cultures and promote mutual understanding.

It’s noteworthy that the Federation of Vietnamese Associations in Germany was established at a congress held in Berlin late last year. The federation is expected to connect and unite all individuals, organisations and associations of Vietnamese people, acting as a bridge to further promote the friendsh
ip between the two peoples.

Ambassador Minh said the coming visit to Vietnam by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is of great significance as it is his first overseas trip in 2024 and is also the first exchange of high-level delegations between the two countries in 2024 – a pivotal year towards the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic ties in 2025.

Notably, he visited Vietnam in October 2016 in his capacity as Vice Chancellor of Germany, and in March 2008 when he was Foreign Minister of Germany. Visiting Vietnam this time, he will have the chance to inspect German invested lighthouse projects signed during his 2008 visit.

During his stay in Vietnam, President Steinmeier is scheduled to meet with senior Vietnamese leaders to discuss measures to further promote Vietnam – Germany cooperation in multiple fields as well as to exchange views on regional and international issues of shared concern.

High on the agenda will be economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and Germany. President Steinmeier wil
l be accompanied by a group of large German businesses operating in various industries.

According to Ambassador Minh, Vietnam has become a leading attractive destination for German businesses. Renewable energy, green transition and sustainable development, manufacturing industry, services, logistics, and education are priority areas of cooperation of both sides. A seminar is expected to take place between businesses accompanying the President and German businesses plus German business organisations operating in Vietnam.

An area of both sides’ interest is cooperation in vocational training and bringing Vietnamese skilled workers to work in Germany amidst serious labour shortages in the European country. A Letter of Intent on labour cooperation is expected to be signed on the occasion, Minh said./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Berlin: The Vietnamese community in Germany are delighted at the coming state visit to Vietnam by President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, said Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thinh, head of the research group at TU Dortmund University and Standing Vice Chairman of the federation of Vietnamese people associations in the European nation.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of a state visit on January 23 – 24, Thinh considered the trip as an important milestone in bilateral relations, a demonstration of continuous successes of Vietnam’s ‘bamboo diplomacy’ and stature in the international arena, and also an affirmation by the German Government that Vietnam is a strategic partner with a new standing.

He noted that the Vietnamese and Vietnamese-origin community in Germany hope the enterprises accompanying President Steinmeier during the visit will sign many cooperation deals on diplomacy, politics, science – technology, economy, culture, and tourism with the Vietnamese side.

The community are glad about the visit as they
also consider this a good sign for them to implement more activities to contribute to the homeland.

Thinh expressed his hope that the two countries’ cooperation potential will be better tapped into to develop their strategic cooperation more intensively and extensively, thereby contributing to both sides’ prosperous development.

Mentioning scientific and technological cooperation, he said Vietnam is an important partner of many German ministries and sectors. Over the past years, the European country has carried out many programmes to assist Vietnam in many areas such as the International Climate Initiative, the Export Initiative Environmental Protection, climate protection, and the implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change, and the realisation of the net-zero emissions target by 2050.

Germany is strong at scientific research serving green growth, green technology development, climate protection, and climate change adaptation, which are also the fields Vietnam have had many cooperation project
s on with and received financial aid from Germany.

The two sides have also worked together in machinery engineering, health care, Industry 4.0 technology, innovation, startup, human resources training, and exchange of high-quality manpower, Thinh said, noting that these fields boast huge potential needing to be further capitalised on via bilateral connections at all levels, from central to local ones.

With regard to the innovation network he currently chairs, Thinh said the network, established in September 2019, has held frequent activities to connect Vietnamese and Vietnamese-origin intellectuals, experts, scientists, undergraduates, and post-graduates in Germany with those in the homeland and the world. It has also organised workshops to help promote the competitiveness and stature of Vietnamese intellectuals in Germany, and built projects on technology transfer, scientific – technological cooperation, and sci-tech application in the Southeast Asian country.

In the coming time, it will boost support for
the Vietnam National Innovation Centre in terms of innovation and modern technology development, he added./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Berlin: Former German Ambassador to Vietnam Rolf Schulze has said that the coming state visit to Vietnam by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his spouse is a testament to the close bilateral relations and friendship between the two countries.

In an interview to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the visit, Schulze, who is now President of the Germany-Vietnam Association, said the visit takes place just more than a year after the successful trip to Vietnam by Prime Minister Olaf Scholz.

Germany considers Vietnam one of its important partners in Asia. Both countries attach importance to a rules-based international order in a multipolar world governed by the principles of the United Nations Charter. For both countries, respect for territorial integrity and peaceful settlement of conflicts are of great importance, the former ambassador said.

Regarding achievements in Germany’s foreign policy towards Vietnam over the years, Schulze expressed his impression of bilateral initiatives, describing the estab
lishment of their strategic partnership in 2011 as the most prominence in the bilateral ties. This has served as a “roadmap” for the cooperation process between the two countries.

Another major achievement is the establishment of the Vietnamese-German University (VGU) in 2008, which has opened up “new horizons” for academic exchange between the two countries. Besides, students graduating from the Germany International School in Ho Chi Minh City (IGS) can go through universities in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and many other countries around the world.

In addition, he highlighted the “German House” (Deutsches House) in Ho Chi Minh City – a modern, energy-saving building. It is also the headquarters of the German Consulate General, becoming a leading destination for German companies when seeking investment business opportunities in Vietnam.

He added that another important foundation in the relations between the two countries is the cooperation in implementing the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change and
the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda.

Germany supports Vietnam’s green growth strategy, and it has contributed to the political declaration establishing the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) to open up financial resources to assist Vietnam’s just and sustainable energy transition.

Last but not least, he said, the economic relationship between the two countries is a successful story. Schulze affirmed that in the European Union (EU), Germany has been so far the most important partner of Vietnam, and Vietnam is Germany’s largest trading partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

According to the former diplomat, at the bilateral level, vocational training will bring many opportunities for the two countries’ cooperation in the future. At the international level, both countries need to further strengthen cooperation in United Nations organisations./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Since he took office on March 2, 2023, State President Vo Van Thuong has delicately, impressively and sincerely spread the spirit of solidarity and international cooperation throughout his domestic and foreign activities.

Solidarity – a permanent feature of Vietnamese revolution

Great national solidarity is a precious tradition, and an important and permanent strategy of the Party, as well as a great source of strength and a decisive factor in the cause of the construction and defence of the Motherland. This has been clarified in the Resolution of the eighth session of the 13th Party Central Committee on continuing promoting the tradition and the great national solidarity and building a prosperous and happy nation.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, a theorist with a profound vision of the great national solidarity, wrote in his article entitled ‘Promoting the tradition of great national solidarity in building our prosperous, civilised and happy nation’ the line: ‘Solidarity is an extremely v
aluable tradition of our nation, a source of strength for our nation to forever endure and develop, a permanent guideline, and a strategic policy of vital significance to the revolution of Vietnam.”

Following this, President Thuong has repeatedly underlined that the priceless asset and the enormous strength for Vietnamese people to overcome all difficulties and hardships stem from the spirit of patriotism, the strength of great national solidarity, strong will and courage, determination, self-reliance, and an ardent desire for independence, freedom, peace, and happiness. These noble values have been nurtured, reinforced, preserved, and promoted through the thousands of years of the history of building and defending the country of the Vietnamese people.

Solidarity for ironing out differences

The State leader has brought the story and lessons of solidarity and international cooperation to international forums with scientific arguments and specific evidence through fluctuations in the regional and world situa
tion.

He highlighted that solidarity enables all to develop and move forwards together, while division leads to no development but sets back the achievements of the region and the world.

The reality has proved that in the world, countries with solidarity have secured peace and development and, on the contrary, those that are divided have suffered instability and slow development. Where there is solidarity, there is peace, stability, cooperation and development, but where it is absent, “gunshots are still sounding and blood still shedding”, and prosperity and happiness of the people are just an unrealistic wish.

Calling for solidarity to iron out differences at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in San Francisco, the US, the State leader underlined: ‘I hope all APEC members will uphold the spirit of cooperation, responsibility, promoting multilateralism, putting aside differences to jointly solve difficulties and overcome challenges for peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world. Vietna
m is ready to join other APEC members and the Asia-Pacific business community in building a bright future for all people.’

Spreading the noble humanistic values of great national solidarity, in meetings with state leaders and international friends, President Thuong told them about the Vietnam’s history of struggle for independence, highlighting that the strength for Vietnam to overcome all hardships is the great righteousness and humanity of a nation that always loves peace and is friendly to and respectful of other nations.

Stressing that ‘many hands make work lighter’, he underlined that in the path ahead, Vietnam will consistently implement its foreign policy in the spirit of international solidarity, which is being a friend, a reliable partner, and an active and responsible member of the international community.

Homeland full of warm sunshine

In all of his six trips to eight countries last year, the first activity that the State leader conducted was always visiting the Vietnamese community and diploma
tic representative offices, in which he affirmed the community as an inseparable part of the nation and called for joint efforts in building and developing the nation. The meetings left strong feelings to overseas Vietnamese, bringing to them the warmth from the homeland and inspiring the national pride among them.

Sharing his feeling about President Thuong’s meeting with the Vietnamese community in Austria in July 2023, Ambassador Nguyen Trung Kien said that not only spreading warmth from the homeland, the State leader also sent out an important message of the great national solidarity spirit to the community, arousing their patriotism, driving them towards the Fatherland, and encouraging them to spread the good traditions of the nation.

Showing a piece of paper with a poem written in the traditional calligraphy style of Vietnam, Thich Tam Tri, head monk of Dai An Honjo in Saitama, Japan, said that it is a special gift to welcome the President to Japan in late November 2023.

From the perspective of a Doct
or of Buddhist Philosophy, the nun, who joined a meeting between the President and Vietnamese intellectuals in Japan, said that the State leader’s conversation corresponds to three concepts in Buddhist philosophy, namely filial piety, kindness, and gratefulness. She expressed her hope that Vietnamese people abroad will turn their head and mind to the homeland and maintain their solidarity and mutual support.

Spreading compassion

To build great national solidarity, each community, village, ethnic group, and religion must secure internal solidarity and stay united with one another as well as the Vietnamese community abroad. The solidarity between the Vietnamese people and other progressive and peace-loving people around the world is also crucial to creating a favourable environment for the national development, stated President Thuong while talking about solidarity at meetings with intellectuals inside and outside the country as well as religions and ethnic groups.

In his first year in office, President Thuo
ng visited and attended a flag hoisting ceremony on Phu Quy island in Binh Thuan and Co To island in Quang Ninh, and offered incense to heroic martyrs, revolutionaries and people who died for the nation in Con Dao.

In 2023, President Thuong honoured outstanding figures in patriotism emulation movements and the campaign to study and follow President Ho Chi Minh’s ideology, moral example and lifestyle as well as role models in various fields. He sent greeting cards to 8,735 senior citizens aged from 100 years old, showing the tradition of respecting the elderly.

The presence of the State President in places that he visited greatly inspires patriotism and national pride among officials, Party members and local residents. His words of encouragement show the attention and the warm sentiments of leaders of the Party and State to the people from all walks of life.

‘We should be connected with one another by love and compassion, joining hands together in building a community of solidarity, a society of progress an
d civilisation filled with love,’ stated President Thuong, who is the Honourable President of the Vietnam Red Cross Society, at the launching ceremony of the National Humanitarian Month in April 2023, sending out a message of great national solidarity and the tradition of ‘like a cover of leaves, the well-off will help out the poor’ and “loving others like loving yourself’.

In November 2023, President Thuong joined locals in the south-central province of Phu Yen in the Great National Solidarity Festival. In a conversation with local residents, the State leader affirmed that thanks to the great national solidarity, the Party, people and the whole army have managed to implement the ‘Doi Moi’ (Renewal) cause, overcoming difficulties and challenges to achieve great successes with historical meaning, enabling Vietnam to enjoy such fortune, strength, international standing, and prestige today like never before./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Kampala: Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan emphasised the importance of solidarity in a divided world while addressing a plenary session of the 19th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Kampala capital of Uganda on January 20.

In her speech, Xuan affirmed NAM’s leading role in upholding international law, consolidating multilateralism, promoting disarmament, reducing inequality at economic and financial institutions, considerably contributing to the settlement of global issues.

She expressed her belief that with 120 member states representing nearly 60% of the world’s population and about 20% of the global GDP, the movement will continue promoting solidarity in a divided world.

The Vice President of Vietnam suggested that to keep bringing into play the role of NAM, member countries should have a common voice to resolve global challenges and object to the actions running counter to the principles of peace and independence. They should show the solidarity with the Palestinian people and call for the remo
val of unilateral sanctions and embargoes against Cuba and other member states.

Besides, in the spirit of solidarity in diversity, Xuan asked NAM to respect the viewpoints and protect the interests of its members. She appealed to the movement to continue respecting and supporting efforts by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for the purposes of peace, security, and stability in the East Sea and Southeast Asia, and step up the settlement of disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

To maximise the cooperation potential of NAM, members should make better use of connection channels to improve their economic independence and self-reliance and enhance cooperation for development, she remarked.

Vice President Xuan said that to help realise NAM’s common values and aspirations about integration, peace, and prosperity around the globe, Vietnam has joined other regional countries in building an increasing
ly strong ASEAN Community and strengthen ASEAN’s centrality in the Asia-Pacific and other regional mechanisms.

It has exerted efforts to work with other NAM members to respond to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, humanitarian crises, and non-traditional security challenges like climate change and food insecurity, she went on, affirming Vietnam’s commitment to contributing more to the common cause of NAM and developing countries for the sake of humanity’s progress, peace, wealth, and happiness.

During the two-day 19th NAM Summit, participating leaders adopted three important documents, namely the final document reflecting the movement’s viewpoints on international and regional issues, the Kampala Declaration reaffirming NAM’s principles and values, and a statement about Palestine demonstrating the solidarity with the Palestinian people.

At the event, South Sudan was admitted to NAM, the first new member of the movement in 30 years./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency