Category: Politics

Hanoi: Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Industry and Trade will deploy a number of measures to enable it to always stay ahead of trends, helping the city maintain its role as the economic locomotive and take the lead in innovation in the country, according to the department.

The department targets 6.5% growth of its index of industrial production (IIP), 11% growth in retail sales of goods and services, and export turnover of businesses passing through the city’s border gates to increase by 10%.

According to a report at a meeting held late last week in HCM City to review industrial production and trade in 2023 and set tasks for this year, the sector recorded a strong recovery last year, with the index of industrial production up by 4.3%, higher than the national average. The city’s total retail sales of goods and consumer services in 2023 increased by 10.8%, and total tourism revenue rose by 22% over 2022.

International visitors to the city surged by 44.3% and the number of newly established businesses incr
eased by 10%.

Tourism revenue rose 25% from 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out to 160 trillion VND (6.56 billion USD), the highest in five years.

Bui Ta Hoang Vu, the department’s director, said businesses would continue to face difficulties this year, such as lower demand in the country’s key export markets, stricter access to bank loans, raising input costs, unstable global supply chain, high logistics costs and others.

In order to realise the goals set out for 2024, the department will focus on developing the high-tech industrial sector, supporting industries, and the four key industrial sectors comprehensively, he said.

It would pay greater attention to promoting key industrial products and those with potential in 2021-2025 to foster development, and encourage and instruct enterprises to enhance digital transformation and green production.

It will step up export promotion to help firms expand markets, especially to countries with which Vietnam has free trade agreements.

The department would
also seek to boost the development of e-commerce to meet consumption trends, and develop the logistics sector into a key service sector.

Other plans included strengthening links between producers, distributors and retailers, bolstering connections between businesses and banks to make it easy for enterprises to access bank loans, and setting up a commodity exchange and large-scale supply and distribution chains with the participation of leading retailers and logistics firms, farms and enterprises, he said.

Nguyen Van Dung, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, appreciated efforts made by the department and businesses last year.

Expecting businesses to continue to face difficulties this year, he asked the department to understand the operational situation of enterprises so as to propose measures and to focus resources to help solve their difficulties (if any) in a timely manner.

He urged the department to implement efficiently the investment stimulus policy for the industrial sector and support
ing industries and continue to foster trade cooperation with other cities and provinces to help firms expand consumption markets, ensure balance between goods supply and demand, and stable prices.

The city’s industry and trade sector needs to improve its forecasting capacity to raise its management efficiency and better support the business community, he said./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Circular economy is becoming an inevitable trend and taking place strongly in many countries around the world, including Vietnam, as the transition from the traditional linear economy to a circular economy is considered an effective solution, helping to maintain economic growth and development as well as minimising negative impacts on the environment.

Businesses operating in the fast-moving consumer goods industry (FMCG), including foodstuff and drink producers with such names as Nestlé and Coca Cola, are pioneering in this regard.

According to Nguyen Quang Vinh, Vice President of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and President of the Vietnam Business Council for Sustainable Development, 90% of Vietnamese FMCG companies have shifted to a circular economy model. However, 82% of them have adopted the model at a preliminary or average level.

The circular economy model helps production and processing businesses become more responsible and efficient through the development of resources,
infrastructure, and new technologies while improving their competitiveness, increasing benefits from recycling activities and reduce costs related to waste discharge and resource exploitation, he said.

The adoption of the circular economy model also brings positive impacts to society in terms of management, enhancing the quality of the living environment and changing community awareness.

Vinh also pointed out that Vietnam has not issued a special policy or a national target programme on circular economy. Thus, fine-tuning institutions for the effective use of resources and environmental protection, especially for the circular economy, is very important and urgent.

Binu Jacob, General Director of Nestlé Vietnam, said that with the vision of becoming a global company with local connections and a pioneer in sustainable development, it has been making continuous efforts to carry out solutions and initiatives in all aspects, including environment, society and governance, contributing to the country’s socio-econ
omic development.

Recently, Nestlé Vietnam coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to promote regenerative agriculture practices, low-emission agriculture, climate change response and step up technology transfer, research and development, digital transformation and multi-party cooperation.

Last year, the company launched a project on sustainable coffee farming in line with the agro-forestry initiative in Vietnam to plant more than 2.3 million trees, contributing to reducing absorption and storage of about 480,000 tonnes of CO2 in the 2023 – 2027 period./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Vietnam and Canada concluded a vibrant year filled with a multitude of activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties (1973-2023). On the occasion of the New Year 2024, the Vietnam News Agency held an interview with Ambassador of Canada to Vietnam Shawn Steil, discussing achievements in bilateral relations and the prospects for future cooperation between the two countries.

The following is the full text of the interview.

Reporter: 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of Canada-Vietnam diplomatic relations. Over the past half a century, the two countries have recorded significant achievements in various aspects. What are your thoughts on the potential for further cooperation in the years to come?

Ambassador Shawn Steil: It is the beginning of the new year. It’s an exciting time to think ahead of what we can do more. But it’s also important to acknowledge the foundation on which we built and on which we go forward.

And as you rightly suggest, 2023 was the year we marked 50 years o
f diplomatic relations. Canada is very proud of its contributions and support to Vietnam’s remarkable development over more than 50 years. But particularly over the last 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, we’ve seen a deepening and broadening of the relationship in all aspects.

In fact, in 2017, our leaders marked the establishment of a comprehensive partnership, identifying a full range of areas where we should work further. So if we look at back from that period 2017 until now, you can see that we’ve really progressed in all areas into a really broad and comprehensive partnership, in trade, in politics, in defense and security, in science and innovation, in education and in people-to-people exchanges.

Across all of those fields, despite the pandemic that affected all countries from 2020, we’ve seen remarkable growth in the relationship. Moving forward on this foundation, I think it’s time for us to start to look at how the relationship between Canada and Vietnam, as strong as it is
bilaterally, can now be a positive force for change in the world. We are two countries that see eye to eye on many global issues. But we need to deepen our understanding of our positions on those global issues and find areas where we can actually cooperate for positive change in international relations.

Reporter: Vietnam is currently Canada’s largest trading partner in ASEAN and a top destination for Canadian products. Given the challenges in the global economy, how do you view Vietnam’s economic recovery? What measures do you think both nations should take to promote trade and investment relations?

Ambassador Shawn Steil: Yes, this is a pivotal time for global trade, and for economic development in Vietnam and around the world. So now is the time to make sure that we are not relying on the things that have been working up to now, but that we are actually looking forward to how do we can push things further.

So you are right, Canada and Vietnam’s trade has seen remarkable growth, 20 to 30% in some areas in
two way exports. We’ve seen because of the CPTPP, our multilateral free trade agreement that borders have been opened and trade has increased across the border, most of the trade is still Vietnamese exports to Canada. And we are proud that Canada is now in the top 10 purchasers of Vietnamese products globally. That’s a remarkable achievement. We would like to see more growth in Canadian exports. And as incomes are growing in Vietnam, I expect that is going to take care of itself.

We already see really good growth and high quality food products being exported from Canada to Vietnam, as Vietnamese consumers are looking for high quality, safe, nutritious foods. Canadians are supplying that food, so the growth is there. But we need to continue to push and promote exports from Canada to make sure that we’re keeping pace with the growth of the Vietnamese economy.

Investment is another area of strength. Canada is around the 14th largest investor in Vietnam, but that has remained relatively stable over time. We nee
d to see more breakthrough in the opportunities for us to build supply chains, value chains, not just trading goods, but actually participating as equal partners in supplying the globe with products, technology and other services. We need to partner more closely with each other on that, including through investment.

What Canadian companies are really looking for in investing in Vietnam is stability, transparency, and an understandable regulatory framework. So we continue to work with the Vietnamese Government to ensure that the needs of Canadian investors are sustained over time.

Reporter: How can Vietnam and Canada work together to promote sustainable development and prosperity in line with Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, which focuses on building a sustainable green future?

Ambassador Shawn Steil: This is a key question for everyone. Canada’s focus on a green and sustainable future in the Indo Pacific region is recognition that high rates of growth in this part of the world also come with risks. And thos
e risks are around ensuring that everyone benefits from economic growth and that the environment is not harmed.

So Vietnam has a challenge now with its remarkable economic growth to ensure that it is sustainable environmentally, socially through the long term. And Canada is a partner for Vietnam and supporting the transition to clean energy for example.

Few countries have the growth in energy demand that Vietnam does, estimated at 10% a year at least. So in order to meet that energy demand, we think it is strategic moment for Vietnam to invest in clean sources, and renewable sources of energy. But that requires remarkable investments, it requires a regulatory environment, and it requires technology. All of this Canada has experience with. So we are working through our development assistance and our advocacy to ensure that Vietnam has access to world class technology, expertise, and finally investment.

As Vietnam grows, less of the investment is going to come from official development assistance, and more i
s going to be coming from international loans and even concessional finance. But taking on debt has its own risks. And so we want to work with Vietnamese Government to ensure that Vietnam is comfortable with taking on the risks of loans to ensure that it can invest in a sustainable future.

Reporter: In terms of external affairs, 2023 is believed to be a highly successful year for Vietnam. We would like to hear your perspective on this. How do you assess the country’s achievements in external affairs during the year?

Ambassador Shawn Steil: What a year for Vietnam in 2023. First we have to state the obvious (that Vietnam was) the only country in the world to host presidential visits from the world’s two superpowers, the United States and China. That in itself I think is a sign of the attention that Vietnam is attracting from around the world.

I think we’ve also seen that success through economic development and investment. Investors are looking to Vietnam as a safe haven for investment in an era of turbulen
ce globally, both economically and in terms of security issues.

Vietnam is seen as a reliable partner and that is a precious asset for Vietnam, that the country has successfully exploited for its own benefit over the last year. Vietnam’s membership on the United Nations Human Rights Council is another major achievement.

But with all of this attention, comes also responsibility. And so Canada, for example, is hoping that Vietnam will not forget its other partners who are not superpowers such as Canada and look forward to a future of engaging with us on issues such as international rules and the rules-based international order.

We find that superpowers do have the tendency to sometimes ignore international law. Countries like Canada and Vietnam depend on consistent application of international law to secure our sovereignty and our prosperity and our security. So Canada sees Vietnam as a valuable partner in bolstering international law and respect for the rules internationally, and partnering on that as we mo
ve forward.

Clearly, Vietnam has integrated very fully into the international system, and is seeing the benefits of that integration for its own people. Now we want to partner with Vietnam to ensure that those benefits remain sustainable well into the future.

Reporter: As the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday is approaching, what are your thoughts and experiences as a foreigner living and working in Vietnam during this festive period? Do you and the embassy have any plans to celebrate the New Year of 2024 in Vietnam and participate in Tet festivities?

Ambassador Shawn Steil: You can see the smile that comes on my face whenever I started thinking about Tet. And I have been lucky to experience Ted already as ambassador here in Hanoi.

Personally, I love to stay in Hanoi and experience all of the dynamic atmosphere on the streets of Hanoi and not travel outside of Vietnam because I find that Tet is such a special time that I want to experience it right here in the country.

One of my highlights of the year is host
ing our Tet party for all of the embassy staff and their families. And we are blessed here at the embassy to have a family with many small children, all the way from children under the age of one to teenagers and young adults.

And so when we come together as an embassy community, our Canadian diplomats here with their families, as well as our Vietnamese colleagues, with their families, as one community to celebrate Tet, it really is the highlight of the year for me.

And I look forward to presenting Tet gifts to the children and experiencing their joy that comes with this really magical time of year.

So allow me to take this opportunity to wish to all of your viewers a very happy Tet this year. ‘Chuc Mung Nam Moi’.

Reporter: Thank you for the interview./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s upcoming visit to Romania is expected to mark a milestone in the bilateral cooperative relations, helping to enhance understanding of each other’s priorities and interests, Romanian Ambassador to Vietnam Cristina Romila has said.

Talking to the press, the ambassador held that the visit will continue to promote bilateral dialogue at the Prime Minister level, underlining that it will be a highlight of close ties between the two countries’ people, which has been the foundation for the bilateral relationship over the past 74 years.

The visit will prompt new progress in the implementation of joint projects and the building of bilateral legal cooperation frameworks, she said.

The diplomat underscored that that the fruitful cooperation between the two countries over the past five years has affirmed the deep friendship between Vietnam and Romania. The two sides joined hands in setting major challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and made joint efforts to evacua
te more than 1,000 Vietnamese citizens from conflict areas in Ukraine.

Romila noted that along with meetings between Romanian President Klaus Werner Iohannis and Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh on the sidelines of international events, the bilateral political-diplomatic relations have seen new progress.

Particularly, when Romania held the Presidency of the European Council, the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) were signed, she said, adding that Romania was one of the first EU members to ratify the IVIPA.

At the same time, people-to-people diplomacy between the two countries has been promoted after the COVID-19 pandemic, along with cultural, academic and business exchanges. Representatives from 30 Romanian universities have visited Vietnam over the past two years. The Romanian Bucharest Symphony Orchestra performed in Hanoi and Da Lat in 2022 and 2023. A number of Romanian business delegations also visited Vietnam to seek partnership opportunities,
helping to diversify bilateral economic cooperation, the diplomat noted.

Regarding major collaboration areas and priorities for the bilateral partnership in the coming time, the ambassador underlined that the 17th meeting of the Vietnam-Romania Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation last November achieved fruitful results. The two sides agreed on important cooperation mechanisms in areas of mutual interest such as trade, agriculture, sanitation, energy, labour, science, technology and culture, she said.

Romania can become a gateway for Vietnamese goods to penetrate into Europe, while Vietnam can support Romania to enter the ASEAN market, the ambassador said.

She stressed the need for the two sides to optimise the efficiency of the EVFTA to further open the doors for each other and draw more investment in areas of shared interest./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hai Phong: Indonesian President Joko Widodo left the northern port city of Hai Phong at noon on January 13, concluding his three-day state visit to Vietnam.

The leader was seen off at Cat Bi International Airport in Hai Phong by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet, Vice Chairman of the Hai Phong municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Tho, Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Ta Van Thong, and Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Denny Abdi, among others.

During his visit, President Widodo laid a wreath in tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi and fallen combatants at the Monument to Heroes and Martyrs in the capital city.

Following the official welcome ceremony, he held talks with President Vo Van Thuong, witnessed the singing of cooperation documents, met with the press and attended a banquet hosted by the Vietnamese leader.

The President had a meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and the two leaders co-chaired a high-level business dialogue. He also met with Chairman
of the National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue.

At the talks and meetings, the host leaders stressed the importance Vietnam attaches to the traditional relationship and strategic partnership between the two countries.

They highly valued achievements that Indonesia has recorded in both home and external affairs under the leadership of President Widodo over the past two tenures, and congratulated Indonesia on its successful performance of the G20 Presidency in 2022, and ASEAN and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) Chairmanship last year.

The leaders noted their hope that Indonesia will successfully organise its upcoming general election and further develop, for peace and cooperation in the region and the world.

For his part, President Widodo expressed his delight to visit Vietnam for the second time in his capacity as the President of Indonesia, and thanked Vietnam for supporting Indonesia in performing the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2023, saying Indonesia wishes to enhance its traditional friendship an
d cooperation with Vietnam – its only strategic partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Both sides rejoiced at the strong, dynamic development of the bilateral strategic partnership, saying Indonesia is Vietnam’s third largest trading partner in ASEAN, while Vietnam is Indonesia’s fourth biggest trading partner in the group. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, two-way trade still grew significantly, from 9 billion USD in 2019 to nearly 14 billion USD last year.

For future cooperation orientations, the leaders consented to foster political trust through delegation exchanges and contacts, the effective implementation of bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and the early building of the 2024-2028 action programme.

Given the significant cooperative outcomes over the past nearly 70 years, the two countries should early lift their strategic partnership to a new level, they said.

The leaders witnessed the exchange of an MoU on cooperation in information and communications technology, and another o
n cooperation in fishing.

Within the visit, the two Presidents watched a martial arts and musical programme performed by athletes, soldiers, and artists of the Vietnam People’s Army in Hanoi./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: President Vo Van Thuong hosted a banquet on January 12 evening in honour of Indonesian President Joko Widodo who is on a state visit to Vietnam.

In his speech, President Thuong said the Vietnam-Indonesia friendship was built on a solid foundation of closeness in history, culture and the spirit of self-reliance of the two peoples and the close sentiments between two great leaders – President Ho Chi Minh and President Sukarno.

He affirmed that with political and strategic trust that has stood the test of time, Vietnam and Indonesia are determined to advance their Strategic partnership to a new level at a suitable time.

The host leader said that as the two countries hold important geostrategic roles and positions in the region, the close cooperation between Vietnam and Indonesia will positively contribute to the strong development of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Community as well as peace and stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

For his part, Presid
ent Widodo said Vietnam and Indonesia have built a friendly relationship and mutual respect as well as constantly developing their multifaceted cooperation after establishing diplomatic ties nearly 69 years ago.

He expected that the two countries will continue boosting their collaboration for the development and prosperity of their people./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The visit to Vietnam from January 11-13 by Indonesian President Joko Widodo is expected to further tighten the Vietnam-Indonesia strategic partnership and deepen their bilateral cooperation.

This will be the President’s second state visit to Vietnam, after the first in 2018.

Indonesia was the first Southeast Asian nation to set up diplomatic ties with Vietnam, on December 30, 1955.

Since then, the bilateral friendship has been continuously nurtured by generations of leaders and peoples.

Since 1990, the two sides have organised various visits by State, Government and National Assembly delegations, and promoted cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

In June 2013, on the occasion of the state visit to Indonesia by then President Truong Tan Sang, the two sides issued a joint statement on the establishment of their strategic partnership, marking an important milestone in the history of the bilateral diplomatic relations.

At multilateral forums, the two countries have maintained close coordination an
d shared views on many issues of strategic importance associated with maintaining peace, stability, and security in the region.

Economic collaboration and trade is described as a bright spot in bilateral relations. Currently, Indonesia is Vietnam’s third biggest trade partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), while the latter is the former’s fourth largest.

Two-way trade increased from 8.2 billion USD in 2020 to 14.1 billion USD in 2022, and was estimated at over 12 billion USD last year. The two countries are striving for 15 billion USD in two-way trade by 2028.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Ta Van Thong said that the two countries still have huge potential to be tapped and a lot of advantages to supplement each other. In ASEAN, Indonesia is the largest market with more than 285 million consumers, while Vietnam is the third largest with 100 million people and impressive economic growth.

In addition, they have many advantages to increase two-way trade, as both are members of the
ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

According to the diplomat, during President Widodo’s trip, the two sides will exchange views on cooperation in fields of shared concern such as promoting trade and investment, and cooperating in energy transition and development of green and digital economy, electric vehicle manufacturing, and hi-tech agriculture.

As the world situation is experiencing big developments in terms of geopolitics, security, and economics, the two sides will have many issues to discuss to boost cooperation and coordination at regional and international forums.

As both Vietnam and Indonesia have made strong commitments to cutting carbon emissions, demonstrating their responsibility in contributing to the global effort to respond to climate change, they can cooperate closely in the fields of energy transition, carbon storage, development of renewable and green energies, and sustainable green economic development.

It is necessary to consider
the signing of a new agricultural cooperation agreement to carry out specific collaboration projects to increase farmers’ livelihoods, ensure food security and promote trade and economic development of each country, said Thong.

Tourism is also a promising field to promote collaboration between the two countries, he said. The resumption of direct flights after a period of disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the opening of new Ho Chi Minh City – Jakarta and Hanoi – Jakarta routes by the Vietnamese carrier Vietjet are favourable conditions for the two sides to cooperate in developing specific tourism products, connecting destinations, and creating new products in a green and sustainable direction, he assessed./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency