Category: Politics

Hanoi: The 32nd National Diplomatic Conference concluded on December 23 after five working days.

With 23 sessions and more than 300 delegates giving opinions, the conference evaluated the overall situation, opportunities and challenges in the diplomatic environment, while seeking measures to renovate and enhance the efficiency of diplomatic activities towards pioneering, comprehensive, modern and professional direction.

Participants also discussed ways to strengthen coordination among Party, State, and people diplomacy as well as between the diplomatic sector and other sectors, localities and businesses.

They agreed that the inclusive task of the diplomatic sector in the coming time is to promote its pioneering role in building and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, protecting the national sovereignty and territorial integrity, mobilising outside resources for the national development, and enhancing the position and reputation of the country.

They defined major focal points and priorities for the sector in the time to come, including strengthening and deepening relations with other countries, elevating multilateral diplomacy, and promoting Vietnam’s role in regional and international organisations.

Addressing the closing of the conference, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son asked all officials of the diplomatic sector inside and outside the country to work harder to generate higher operational outcomes.

On the occasion, FM Son presented certificates of merit to individuals and collectives with outstanding performance in implementing their tasks./.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Bac Giang: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on December 23 attended a live-fire tactical exercise of the Army Corps 12.

This is the first live-fire exercise that the Army Corps 12 has conducted after it was established earlier this month with the merging of Army Corps 1 and 2.

Along with announcing the results of activities to research, manufacture and renovate equipment and weapons of the Vietnamese defence industry, the exercise aims to enhance the coordination capacity of participating forces for the completion of assigned tasks, developing the Army Corps 12 into a major and strategic mobile army corps of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).

Hailing the efforts of officers and soldiers of the Army Corps 12 as well as forces participating in the exercise, PM Chinh said that the success of the drill demonstrates the maturity, growth and comprehensivenes of the VPA with the suport of the people.

Although it has been freshly formed, the Army Corps 12 has overcome difficulties and excellently completed all of its tasks, he noted.

He requested them to continue to effectively implement resolutions, strategies and directions from the Party, State, the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence regarding military and defence.

Along with enhancing the training quality and combat readiness and strengthening the research and application of science and technology in operations, the Army Corps 12 should focus on Party building and foster relations with the people, and engage in promoting the people-based defence, he said.

The Government leader reminded the Army Corps 12 to show strong performance in political and ideological education among officers and soldiers, ensuring that they are absolutely loyal to the Party, nation and people, and willing to receive and complete all asigned tasks in any circumstances.

On the occasion of the 79th founding anniversary of the VPA (December 12, 1994-2023) and the 34th All People’s Defence Festival, PM Chinh extended best wishes to all officers and soldiers of the Army Corps 12 and the VPA in general, expressing his hope that they will continue to promote the glorious tradition of Uncle Ho’s soldiers, acting as a firm fulcrum of the Party, State and people./.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

New Delhi: Vietnam’s ‘bamboo diplomacy’ is a strategic and valuable concept in international relations, according to former Deputy National Security Advisor of India SD Pradhan.

Speaking to Vietnam News Agency (VNA) correspondents in New Delhi, the expert said that the ‘bamboo diplomacy’ characteristic demonstrates the steadiness in policy and flexibility in external relations of Vietnam based on the Ho Chi Minh ideology as well as national interest.

It reflects Vietnam’s great attention to the role of multilateralism in settling global issues, said Pradhan.

He held that over the years, the ‘bamboo diplomacy’ school has helped Vietnam reap important achievements in external relations amid the complicated world situation.

The policy has helped enhance Vietnam’s position in the international arena and ensure the country’s economic growth, said the expert, noting that Vietnam has so far established strategic partnership with countries from different blocs, ensuring the maintenance of independence and protection of national interests.

In terms of economy, Vietnam has posted fast growth, at 8.02% in 2022, higher than the forecast by the IMF and World Bank. Total import-export revenue of Vietnam last year grew 9.5% to 732.5 billion USD, he said.

He underlined that the ‘bamboo diplomacy’ school should be popularised and added to research topics of academic organisations.

Pradhan also highlighted Vietnam’s contributions to building an environment of peace and prosperirty in the world, especially as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in the 2020-2021 tenure and ASEAN Chair in 2020. In the period, Vietnam chaired more than 30 meetings to discuss security issues in the Middle East, Colombia, the Central African Republic and West Africa, and evaluate operations of peacekeeping missions in Yemen, Cyprus and Libya, the expert said.

Regarding the relationship between India and Vietnam over the years, Pradhan said that the two countries have shared the same approach. Both have emphasised the significance of maintaining peace and security for economic development, and the role of multilateralism, while sharing friendly relationships with other countries, he added.

The expert held that the two sides should continue coordinating actions at multilateral forums to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

In addition, the two countries need to become production/ processing centres to promote their role as trade bridges between the East and the West. Besides, Vietnam and India should strengthen cooperation in developing advanced technology to promote economic growth, while fostering cooperation in the field of defence, he asserted./.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Vietnamese and Indian scholars and experts gathered at a conference in Hanoi on December 22 to discuss achievements of the Vietnam-India relations over the past 50 years and outlook for the bilateral ties in the future.

Participants agreed that Vietnam and India have shared a time-honoured relationship with strong connections in history and culture.

The modern stage of bilateral ties is closely attached with the name of President Ho Chi Minh.

Former Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien, the first Vietnamese diplomat deployed to India to set up Vietnamese Consulate General, underlined that the Vietnam-India relationship is a special one. India provided Vietnam with great support during the past struggle for independence, he said.

Participants affirmed that despite considerable instability in the world, the solidarity and strong trust between the two countries have provided both sides with encouragement and confidence to overcome the current period.

Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Sandeep Arya underlined that India and Vietnam shared a similarity in promoting technology with the establishment of special task forces to make full use of the technological development during the growth process in each country.

At the event, participants also highlighted the potential of cooperation between the two sides in various fields, including digital transformation.

They emphasised that as both countries are striving for net-zero emissions, their experience in national energy transition can be helpful for each other, including models and policies regarding electricity auctions, power grid management, electricity purchasing and electric vehicle use encouragement./.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 5 of Vietnam, which has joined the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), has organised practical activities to introduce the image of Vietnam and its people, and the heroic tradition of the Vietnamese army, to international friends.

In celebration of the 79th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (December 22, 1944 – 2023), the activities have helped to send a message to international friends about a friendly and peace-loving Vietnam that always wants to be a friend with all countries in the world.

On this occasion, Force Commander of UNMISS Lieutenant General Mohan Subramanian, who had worked in Vietnam for four years, visited officers and soldiers of the Vietnamese field hospital.

While expressing his impression of the history and heroic tradition of the VPA, the officer acknowledged the contributions of the hospital in particular and the Vietnamese army in general to the UN peacekeeping force at the UNMISS.

He took this occasion
to present a certificate of merit to Senior Lieutenant Nguyen Thi Thanh Hang for her outstanding achievements at the hospital.

Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 5 was deployed to South Sudan in July this year to replace Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 4. It consisted of 63 members, including 11 females. These officers and soldiers have undergone comprehensive training in all aspects, including political, military, technical logistics, medical expertise, and peacekeeping knowledge relevant to the current situation.

The continuous deployment of Vietnam’s level-2 field hospitals at UN peacekeeping missions has contributed to affirming Vietnam’s responsible and active participation and long-term commitment to UN peacekeeping operations./.
Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The year of 2023 has continued to witness Vietnam’s practical and effective contributions to United Nations peacekeeping operations, helping to affirm the country’s image as a dynamic, active and responsible member of the international community.

Following the Party and State’s orientations, Vietnam has sent personnel to UN peacekeeping missions, realising the country’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development.

So far, Vietnam has sent nearly 800 military and public security officers to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA), and the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) as well as the UN headquarters in the forms of individuals and units.

Currently, Vietnam ranks 45th out of 120 countries sending military and police officers to the missions with the number of personnel regularly deployed to field missions reaching 274, including 36 women officers.

The
UN Secretary General, the UN Under-Secretary-General for peacekeeping operations and the UN Military Advisor have repeatedly praised Vietnamese peacekeeping forces and sent letters of thanks to the Government of Vietnam for the contributions of the forces. Many UN leaders also highlighted Vietnam’s contributions to promoting gender equality by sending a large number of women officers to UN peacekeeping missions, meeting and exceeding the criteria set by the UN.

UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix hailed the active and effective engagement of Vietnam in UN peacekeeping activities as well as the country’s commitments to realising UN targets and criteria. The official said he was deeply impressed by the Vietnamese engineering unit’s performance in the UNISFA despite difficulties.

Meanwhile, UN Under-Secretary-General Atul Khare for Operational Support expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s efforts and contributions, especially through the deployment of level-2 field hospitals to
UN peacekeeping missions since 2018. This showed Vietnam’s strong commitments and efforts, and was a wonderful thing in the partnership between Vietnam and the UN, he commented.

In March this year, during a conversation with Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for South Sudan and Head of the UNMISS Nicholas Haysom appreciated the active and effective contributions, creativeness and efforts to overcome difficulties of medical officers and soldiers of the level-2 field hospital and peacekeepers of Vietnam at the UNMISS.

In December, UN Police Adviser Faisal Shahkar highly valued Vietnam’s active involvement and good results in peacekeeping operations, including police activities, and voiced his hope for closer cooperation with Vietnam in this regard.

At an event to honour the contributions and sacrifices of ‘blue beret’ forces as part of activities marking the 75th anniversary of the International Day of United Nations Pe
acekeepers (May 29, 1948-2023), UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres emphasised that in the context of escalating tensions and conflicts in many regions of the world, UN peacekeeping forces are considered a fulcrum of safety and hope for people in many countries and is a symbol of multilateralism.

At the event, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, on behalf of the Vietnamese State, received a Dag Hammarskjöld Medal – the medal for the cause of international peace to servicemen who died while on duty under the UN flag in 2022 – presented by the UN Secretary General to Lieutenant Colonel Do Anh.

The contributions and successes of Vietnam in the past journey are clear evidence that the deployment of forces to international peacekeeping operations is a sound policy of the Party and State, helping to affirm that Vietnam is a responsible member of the international community, enhancing Vietnam’s position, prestige and role in solving international problems, while creating favourable conditions to promote international c
ooperation on both bilateral and multilateral aspects.

With their braveness and spirit of self-reliance as well as flexible and creative approach, Vietnamese officers joining peacekeeping activities have shown strong performance in implementing their tasks, overcoming difficulties, maintaining close relations with local communities, and acting as ambassadors of peace and friendship. Joining UN peacekeeping missions has also helped Vietnam actively prepare forces and become ready to deal with non-traditional challenges in any circumstances./.
Source: Vietnam News Agency