Day: June 9, 2023

President Vo Van Thuong applauded contributions by Bulgarian Ambassador to Vietnam Marinela Petkova to the countries’ relations while receiving the outdoing diplomat in Hanoi on June 9.

The State leader congratulated Petkova on her excellent fulfillment of tasks in Vietnam, with various substantial contributions to the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

Thanking Vietnamese authorities for creating optimal conditions for her to perform duties, the ambassador affirmed that Bulgaria always treasures the time-tested friendship with Vietnam and wishes to step up bilateral multifaceted cooperation.

She recalled the Bulgaria visit by Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan in 2021, describing the trip as a demonstration of Vietnamese and Bulgarian leaders’ wish to strengthen bilateral ties. She also highlighted the strong recovery of trade between the two countries since the COVID-19 pandemic was brought under control.

Petkova pledged that in any position in the future, she will continue helping foster the countries’ relations.

She also took this occasion to convey the Bulgarian President’s invitation for a visit the European country to President Thuong. Appreciating the invitation, via Ambassador Petkova, President Thuong also invited his Bulgarian counterpart to visit Vietnam soon.

He expressed his belief that on the basis of the long-standing friendship, Vietnam – Bulgaria relations will develop even further in the future. He also called on both sides to increase meetings at all levels so as to fuel the development of partnerships in all spheres.

The President held that bilateral trade has been growing strongly in the recent past but yet to match potential and both sides’ expectations.

He asked the two countries to convene the 24th meeting of the Inter-governmental Committee on economic, trade, and scientific cooperation in 2023. The leader also recommended Bulgaria soon ratify the EU – Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and create conditions for businesses and investors of the EU, Bulgaria, and Vietnam to further engage in each other’s markets.

Vietnam and Bulgaria should maintain cooperation and mutual support at international forums, he added.

President Thuong highly valued Bulgaria’s creation of favourable conditions for Vietnamese people to live, study, and work in the European country, suggesting the two sides step up people-to-people exchanges and tourism so that more Bulgarian tourists can come to Vietnam.

He also thanked Bulgaria for helping Vietnam with manpower training, which he said is a contribution to bilateral connections./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam is willing to cooperate with and learn from Singapore in developing green and sustainable energy industry towards ensuring energy security and safety, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Dang Hoang An has said.

The Vietnamese official made the statement during a recent working session with Keith Tan, Deputy Minister designate of the Singaporean Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The two officials briefed each other of policy priorities for energy development in each country and acknowledged the outcomes of the first meeting of the Joint Working Group to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Energy Cooperation between the two ministries in January this year.

The Singaporean side expressed interest in investment opportunities in energy development in Vietnam, especially renewable energy, in the context that the Prime Minister of Vietnam has approved a national electricity development plan in the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050 (Power Development Plan VIII).

Singapore wishes to cooperate in the energy transition towards realising Vietnam’s net zero emissions target, and is also interested in buying electricity from Vietnam, Keith Tan said.

An applauded Singapore’s proposal in promoting energy cooperation between the two countries and effectively implementing the MoU on energy cooperation, saying that the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) will develop a plan to implement Power Development Plan VIII in the near future.

Singaporean investors need to study, comply with, abide by relevant legal regulations and meet requirements of Vietnam in the process of implementing investment projects in Vietnam, he said.

According to statistics from the MoIT’s Asia–Africa Market Department, Singapore is the fifth largest trade partner of Vietnam in ASEAN and the 11th in the world. It is the second largest foreign investor in Vietnam, with the highlight being 13 Vietnam – Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) across the country./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

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

– President Vo Van Thuong applauded contributions by Bulgarian Ambassador to Vietnam Marinela Petkova to the countries’ relations while receiving the outdoing diplomat in Hanoi on June 9.

The State leader congratulated Petkova on her excellent fulfillment of tasks in Vietnam, with various substantial contributions to the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries. Read full story

– Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son met with officials of Brazil, France, the European Commission (EC), and Canada on the sidelines of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation Development (OECD) Ministerial Council Meeting 2023 in Paris on June 8.

Meeting with his Brazilian counterpart Mauro Vieira, he affirmed that Vietnam treasures and wishes to enhance the comprehensive partnership with Brazil, one of its most important partners in Latin America. Read full story

– Vietnam is set to have 30 airports by 2030, including 14 serving international flights and 16 serving domestic flights.

The investment is estimated at about 420 trillion VND (18 billion USD), mobilised from the State budget, non-budget capital and other legal capital sources. Read full story

– State budget collection in the January-May period was estimated at over 769.6 trillion VND (32.75 billion USD), equivalent to 47.5% of the estimates for the whole year, the Ministry of Finance reported on June 8.

According to the ministry, although the domestic revenue in the reviewed period was quite good compared to the estimates, the monthly tended to decrease as the January collection reached 14.7% of the estimate, February 7.7%, March 8.9%, April 9.9%, and May 6.4%. The domestic collection in the first five months was equal to 97.1% of that recorded in the same period last year. Read full story

– VinFast officially launched the VF 3, a mini electric car model designed specifically for the Vietnamese market.

Boasting a compact and contemporary design, the VF 3 offers numerous benefits, making it suitable for a wide range of applications and operating environments. This eco-friendly vehicle is also equipped with smart features, providing a dynamic mobility option for individuals of all backgrounds. Read full story

– Vietnam exported nearly 131,777 tonnes of pepper worth 408.9 million USD in the first five months of this year, up 30% in volume but down 12.7 in value over the same period last year, according to the Vietnam Pepper Association (VPA).

Of the figures, black pepper was 119,832 tonnes and white pepper, the rest. Pepper exports to Asian market remained a bright sport, reaching 78,907 tonnes, skyrocketing 77.2% and accounting for nearly 60% of the country’s total export turnover of this kind of spice. China was the key market as the neighbour imported 46,169 tonnes of pepper, taking up 35% and soared 1,668.9% year-on-year, while the exports to the Philippines was 3,305 tonnes, a hike of 26.1%. Read full story

– Food-related issues, including the food crisis, El Nino and food reserves, have been discussed at the ASEAN Food Security Reserve Board (AFSRB)’s meeting that opened on June 7 in Bogor district in Indonesia’s West Java province.

Head of Indonesia’s National Food Agency (Bapanas) Arief Prasetyo Adi said the two-day meeting underlines the crucial issues raised by Indonesian President Joko Widodo regarding the threats of food shortages and starvation across the globe as the results of climate change./. Read full story

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on June 9 emphasised the significance of investment in hydrometeorology to national stability and development, while chairing a working session of the assessment council of the national hydro-meteorological network planning scheme for 2021-2030 with a vision towards 2050.

The scheme is closely associated with the national economy, politics and national defence. Therefore, targets and tasks set in the scheme must come from requirements in the reality, he said.

The Deputy PM noted that international cooperation plays an important role in the collection and sharing of hydro-meteorological data, adding the network forms part of the regional and global hydro-meteorological monitoring systems.

He urged stepping up the application of digital transformation, artificial intelligence and big data in building, operating and using hydro-meteorological data.

Ha also suggested orientations for hydro-meteorological development in agriculture, aviation and environment, enabling the sector to serve all aspects of the socio-economic life. Regarding the implementation of the planning scheme, He said the State’s resources allocated to the hydro-meteorological sector should be effectively optimised.

According to the Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the scheme aims to develop a modern, harmonious national hydro-meteorological network on par with developed countries in Asia by 2030.

The network will be able to integrate itself into the global hydro-meteorological network, meeting the demand for data and information.

It is also expected to help raise the accuracy, timeliness and reliability of hydro-meteorological forecasting and warning, and natural disaster prevention and control, the agency said.

During the 2021-2025, the network has been upgraded, modernised and expanded, especially in the areas prone to natural disasters and climate change. By 2050, the density of automatic hydro-meteorological stations in Vietnam will be equivalent to that in developed countries worldwide./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The 10th Singapore Dialogue on Sustainable World Resources (SWR) took place in Singapore on June 9, gathering nearly 250 scholars, experts and representatives of the private sector and non-governmental organisations in the Southeast Asian region.

Under a theme on comprehensive and sustainable growth, it brought together stakeholders from different areas to discuss measures to build a greener ASEAN.

In his opening remarks, Associate Professor Simon Tay, Chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, said global consumption is on the rise following the post-pandemic reopening, with policymakers, businesses and consumers increasingly aware of dangers posed by deforestation and biodiversity loss.

Tay said ASEAN’s horticulture sector will be at the forefront of the region’s transformation. Cross-border and multi-stakeholder cooperation is also needed to ensure that products from the region are considered green on a global scale and that the global low-carbon transition is an equitable one for ASEAN, he noted.

The dialogues included discussions on sustainable trade and growth, livelihoods and the role that the commodities sector plays in the net zero transition. Participants also delved into how ASEAN economies can leverage natural resources and capital and work with their developed peers in supporting green transition./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Senior officials of ASEAN and the UK reaffirmed commitment to further strengthen ASEAN-UK Dialogue Partnership and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation at the second ASEAN-UK Senior Officials’ Meeting (AUKSOM) in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei on June 8.

The meeting was co-chaired by Johariah Wahab, Permanent Secretary and SOM Leader of Brunei and Jenny Bates, Director-General, Indo-Pacific at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office of the UK and SOM Leader of the UK.

Both sides exchanged views on the developments in ASEAN and the UK and reviewed bilateral cooperation across the three pillars of the ASEAN Community. They took note of the progress made in the implementation of the ASEAN-United Kingdom Plan of Action (POA) for the 2022-2026 period and looked forward to further enhance the partnership in areas of mutual interest.

They encouraged bilateral cooperation in the four areas identified under the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific that is inclusive, mutually beneficial, and directed towards the stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region.

ASEAN welcomed the first ASEAN-UK project to be implemented under the POA entitled “Promoting Women and Girls’ Education in ASEAN” which was announced at the 19th Education World Forum in London in May 2023. The UK also introduced its flagship multi-year development programmes to support the implementation of the POA on girls’ education; economic integration; women, peace and security; health systems; and climate transition.

The two sides further discussed ways to deepen the ASEAN-UK collaboration in areas such as maritime cooperation, transnational crime, cyber security, trade and investment; micro, small and medium Enterprises (MSMEs); digital transformation and inclusivity, sustainable development and decarbonisation, environment and climate change, people-to-people contacts, education, health, connectivity, narrowing development gap, smart cities and infrastructure.

Their views on regional and international issues of shared concern focused on regional economic developments and multilateral trading system, the importance of maintaining ASEAN’s Centrality in the evolving regional architecture, the situation in the East Sea, developments in Myanmar, and the situation in Ukraine./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency