Category: Politics

Hanoi: National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s upcoming visit to China is expected to create a spillover effect, creating a strong motivation and momentum for the development of the relations between Vietnam and China.

This will be the first visit to China by Hue as the NA Chairman, and also the first direct meeting between the heads of the two countries’ legislatures after the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the 20th Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC)

The visit is taking place in the context that the two countries celebrated the 73rd anniversary of their diplomatic relations and 15 years of bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in 2023.

Vietnam and China are close neighbours sharing many cultural and social similarities. Over the past 74 years, experiencing ups and downs, the Vietnam-China relations have developed steadily with the main flow being friendship and cooperation.

The friendship nurtured by generations of leaders of th
e two countries has become a shared asset of the two peoples, contributing to maintaining a stable and healthy trend of cooperation, bringing practical benefits to both countries.

Particularly, since Vietnam and China normalised their relations in 1991, they have enjoyed thriving partnership across all fields of politics, economy, culture, and defence and security.

In 2008, the two sides decided to establish a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, the highest partnership framework with the widest and deepest contents in Vietnam’s relations with other countries. China is the first country to share this partnership with Vietnam.

Over the past 15 years, the two Parties and countries have maintained healthily and stably growing ties with high political trust.

Commenting on the relations between Vietnam and China recently, Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai said that with the joint efforts of both sides, the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries has developed positively
and reaped many important achievements in all fields.

Leaders of the two Parties, States, Governments, parliaments, and fronts have regularly maintained meetings and exchanges, contributing to strengthening political trust and reinforcing the political foundation for the ties between the two Parties and countries, he said.

Especially, the historical visits by CPV General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to China in October 2022 and CPC General Secretary and Chinese President Xi Jinping to Vietnam in December 2023 created strong momentum for the two Parties and countries to continuously reinforce and promote their neighbourliness and comprehensive cooperation.

The outstanding feature of meetings between high-ranking leaders of the two countries is that they affirm that they take each other as the priority in their external relations.

At multilateral forums, especially ASEAN and the UN, Vietnam and China have actively coordinated with each other, promoting peace, stability, and cooperation in the region and the w
orld.

Meanwhile, economic, trade and investment cooperation has been deepened and made more substantive, becoming a bright spot in the two countries’ relations recently.

China continuously remains Vietnam’s largest trade partner and second largest export market, while Vietnam is China’s largest trade partner among the ASEAN member countries, and China’s fifth largest trade partner in the world after the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Russia.

Two-way trade reached 133.09 billion USD in 2020, 165.9 billion USD in 2021, 175 billion USD in 2022, and 171.9 billion USD in 2023, according to Vietnam customs data. In the first two months of 2024, the figure hit 27.3 billion USD.

Vietnam and China shared many bilateral cooperation agreements as well as multilateral deals such as the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). China is promoting the process to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Sinc
e the two sides implemented commitments of the ACFTA, China has reduced tax rates for more than 8,000 products imported from Vietnam, including farm produce and fresh fruits.

Regarding investment, as of March 2024, China had invested 27.64 billion USD in Vietnam with 4,418 valid projects, ranking sixth among the 145 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. In 2023 alone, China invested 4.47 billion USD in Vietnam, an increase of 77.5%, ranking 4th among the foreign investors, but leading in the number of new projects. In the first quarter of 2024, China led in the number of the new FDI projects in Vietnam, accounting for 27.8%. The two sides have also actively coordinated to settle major problems in a number of previous economic cooperation projects.

Cooperation in culture, education, tourism, and people-to-people exchange, especially contacts between the youth of the two countries, has been promoted, helping enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two Parties, countries, and peoples.
So far, nearly 60 cities and provinces across Vietnam have set up friendship relations with Chinese localities.

In terms of tourism, before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, China had led in the number of tourists to Vietnam for many years. On average, for every three foreign visitors to Vietnam, there was one Chinese. Currently, China has basically restored commercial flights with Vietnam with more than 200 two-way flights between the two countries each week. China has also reissued visas for Vietnamese students and workers returning to China. In 2023, there were more than 1.7 million Chinese visitors to Vietnam. In the first three months of 2024, the figure reached nearly 890,000, an increase of 634.5% over the same period last year.

According to Ambassador Mai, NA Chairman Hue’s visit to China from April 7-12 is crucial to maintaining high-level exchanges, upholding the strategic orientations for bilateral relations, and realising the common perceptions shared by the top leaders of the two Parties and cou
ntries, affirming that Vietnam considers developing ties with China as the top priority and a strategic choice in its external policy.

The visit also aimed to concretise six major directions of cooperation between the two countries, especially promoting “higher political trust” and consolidating a “stronger social foundation”, contributing to raising the level of the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and China for the benefit of the two peoples, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

In addition, in the context that the relationship between the National Assembly of Vietnam and the National People’s Congress (NPC) of China has been constantly consolidated and developed well, the visit is expected to contribute to deepening and improving the effectiveness of cooperation between the two legislatures, affirming the important role of the Vietnamese National Assembly’s foreign affairs in the country’s development./.

Source: Vietnam
News Agency

Geneva: Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son reaffirmed Vietnam’s priorities when participating in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), including protecting vulnerable groups, promoting gender equality and digital transformation, and ensuring human rights, while delivering his opening statement at the 55th regular session of the council, which took place from February 26 to April 5.

He emphasised that human rights can only be best ensured when peace, stability, and international law are maintained and respected, with states placing people at the centre of all policies and ensuring inclusive and sustainable development.

Son called on countries to support Vietnam’s re-election as a member of the UNHRC for the 2026-2028 term.

The Vietnamese delegation led by FM Son actively joined many sessions, discussing specific rights such as the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment; the right to food; cultural rights; rights of persons with disabilities; and rights of children.

Additionally, Vietn
amese delegates also engaged, exchanged views, and consulted with delegations from other countries, co-sponsoring a number of initiatives in the spirit of dialogue and cooperation. They also fulfilled their duties as a member of the UNHRC by participating in consultations and voting on 32 draft resolutions and two decisions of the council.

Vietnam gave a joint statement on a topic of mutual interest shared by other ASEAN countries, focusing on fisheries exploitation and ensuring the right to food.

Vietnam also spoke on behalf of the core group of the resolution on human rights and climate change – including Vietnam, Bangladesh, and the Philippines – during a dialogue session related to the report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on measures to mitigate the impact of climate change on the enjoyment of the right to food.

Representing the inter-regional group, Vietnam delivered two joint statements with strong endorsement from partner countries, calling for the acceleration of the implementation o
f Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to promote gender equality and protect essential infrastructure for people in armed conflicts.

In these statements, Vietnam emphasised consistency, efforts, and achievements of the Southeast Asian nation in promoting and protecting human rights; reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to sustainable development for the benefit of its people; and highlighted the necessity to address inequality and protect vulnerable groups.

Vietnam called for addressing global challenges such as climate change and protecting human rights in armed conflicts, while affirming its commitment to enhancing constructive cooperation with countries, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, the UNHRC and the council’s mechanisms to promote and protect human rights for all based on respect for the UN Charter, international treaties on human rights, ensuring national sovereignty and principles of objectivity, fairness, constructive dialogue, and cooperation.

The UNHRC completed its 55th se
ssion with a heavy workload and record-long meeting times, in the context that humanity still faces many challenges such as strategic competition; the conflict in Ukraine; the Hamas-Israel conflict; climate change; food, energy, water insecurity; and many other social injustices.

The council reviewed and discussed about 80 reports, consulted and adopted 32 draft resolutions, adopted reports of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on human rights of 14 countries, and approved decisions to postpone some activities of the UNHRC./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

HCM City: Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States and International Organisations of the Vatican, will visit Vietnam from April 9-14 at the invitation of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam, the office of the conference announced on April 3.

According to Chief of the office Archbishop Giuse Dao Nguyen Vu, this will be the first Vatican Secretary for Relations with States-level visit to Vietnam. During the visit, Archbishop Gallagher will meet with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Government Committee for Religious Affairs.

He planned to visit the Hanoi-based National Children’s Hospital, which has had medical cooperation with Rome’s Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital since 2005.

Archbishop Gallagher will celebrate the Mass at designated cathedrals in Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh City; and meet with members of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Vietnam before wrapping up the
visit./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

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

– Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on April 3 demanded ministries, sectors, and localities resolutely not surrender to difficulties but keep persistence in the set targets.

He made the request while chairing the Government’s regular meeting for March and a teleconference with the 63 provinces and centrally-run cities to discuss the socio-economic situation in the first quarter and set tasks for Q2.

– Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai had a meeting with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai in Boston on April 2 (local time), as part of his US trip for the Vietnam Executive Leadership Programme (VELP).

Khai highlighted Vietnam’s consistent policy of building an independent and self-reliant economy in association with active, extensive, and effective international integration.

– The Vietnam-Hungary comprehensive partnership has grown soundly across various sectors, with the countries’ parliamentary cooperation
thriving on both bilateral and multilateral fronts, stated Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Tran Quang Phuong at his recent talks with Márta Mátrai, First Deputy of the Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, in Budapest.

The Vietnamese legislator took the occasion to propose both sides maintain exchanges of high-level delegations and specialised committees, enhance mutual cooperation and support at multilateral forums, and coordinate the implementation of agreements signed between the two parliaments during the visit of Vietnamese NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to Hungary in 2022.

– The Ministry of Information and Communications has set a target of increasing the usage of Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) to 65-80% by the end of this year, bringing Vietnam into the top 8 for IPv6 usage in the world.

Converting to IPv6, the most recent version of the Internet Protocol, is critical to ensure address resources for Internet development and connection with new services such as Internet of Things, c
loud computing and 5G/6G networks, the ministry said.

– The total revenue from the retail sales of goods and consumer service in March was estimated at 509.3 trillion VND (20.3 billion USD), up 0.5% month-on-month and 9.2% year-on-year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

In the month, the retail revenue of food and foodstuffs rose by 11.6%, household appliances and tools 16%, garment 10.1%, accommodation and catering services 15.8%, and tourism and travel services 66.1% against the same period last year.

– The General Statistics Office (GSO) reported a decade-high number of new businesses established nationwide in the first quarter, reaching 36,224.

Taking into account enterprises resuming operation, the number reached 59,848.

– The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism on April 3 launched the 2024 stimulus programme, with discounts of 10-60% on various tourism products and services.

Participating businesses have already signed Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) to ensure a comprehensive
range of discounted options. The programme, with nearly 100 travel agents, accommodation and dining facilities, shopping venues and entertainment centres taking part, will be officially introduced to tourists at the upcoming Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival slated for April 4-7 at 23/9 Park in District 1.

– The 17th International Processing and Packaging Exhibition and Conference (ProPak Vietnam 2024) opened in Ho Chi Minh City on April 3.

The three-day event attracts 310 exhibitors from 30 countries and territories, including India, the Republic of Korea, China’s Hong Kong, Singapore, Spain, and the US. It also features a number of international conferences, seminars, and technical sessions.

– The Vietnam International Trade Fair (Vietnam Expo 2024), one of the leading international trade exhibitions in Vietnam, kicked off in Hanoi on April 3, attracting 480 enterprises from 15 countries and territories worldwide.

The 33rd event of this kind features nearly 600 pavilions, up 20% compared to the figure l
ast year.

– The Metro Line 1 (Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien) in Ho Chi Minh City is expected to start commercial operation in October this year, according to the Ho Chi Minh City’s Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR).

Addressing a meeting on April 2 of the municipal People’s Committee to review socio-economic situation in the first quarter, Nguyen Quoc Hien, deputy head of MAUR – the investor of the project, said 98% of the workload on the metro line has been completed and six task groups to prepare for the official operation of the urban metro line are underway. ./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on April 3 demanded ministries, sectors, and localities resolutely not surrender to difficulties but keep persistence in the set targets.

He made the request while chairing the Government’s regular meeting for March and a teleconference with the 63 provinces and centrally-run cities to discuss the socio-economic situation in the first quarter and set tasks for Q2.

Officials highlighted the continued socio-economic recovery in March with results last month higher than in January and February and the Q1 performance faring better than the same period last year in most areas.

However, they also pointed out certain difficulties and challenges, including those facing production and business activities, the inflationary and foreign exchange pressure, latent risks in the financial and monetary markets and the banking system, the shortage of filling materials for road construction in the southern region, and life hardships facing some people.

Mentioning some key tasks and solu
tions for the coming time, PM Chinh emphasised the demand for exerting efforts to reach the growth target of 6.5% for 2024.

He ordered ministries, sectors, and localities to stay determined to address every difficulty and challenge, implement tasks and not to lower their guard, and protect the cadres who think big and act bold for common interest. They also need to keep the determination to improve the investment and business climate, tackle difficulties, facilitate production and business activities, and ensure people and enterprises truly gain benefits. Besides, they should show the determination to make all-out efforts to secure the best possible results in 2024.

At the same time, the PM asked for ensuring the comprehensive, drastic, and effective implementation of the tasks and solutions set by the Party Central Committee, Politburo, key leaders, National Assembly, and Government. He ordered ensuring macro-economic stability, major balances of the economy, and inflation control; ensuring the healthy dev
elopment and transparency of markets like the real estate and capital ones; and ensuring sufficient conditions for implementing the new salary regime from July 1.

In addition, it is also important to ensure social welfare; security and safety; the fight against corruption, other negative phenomena and wastefulness; along with independence, sovereignty, and territorial unity and integrity.

Besides, the Government leader also asked ministries, sectors, and localities to promote economic growth in all fields during which traditional growth drivers must be renewed and new drivers boosted. Economic shift should be promoted towards green transition, digital economy, circular economy, knowledge-based economy, sharing economy, and emerging sectors. They were requested to promote the mobilisation of all social resources for development investment, the facilitation of production, business and job creation, and the settlement of outstanding problems and prolonged projects.

He demanded the three strategic breakthrough
s on institutional perfection, comprehensive and modern infrastructure development, and human resources development be promoted. Ministries, sectors, and localities need to promote external activities, international integration, the consolidation of Vietnam’s stature and prestige in the world, as well as the capitalisation of international treaties and agreements of high-ranking leaders. Promoting national digital transformation is also a crucial task mentioned by the PM.

Assigning tasks to each ministry, sector, and locality, he told them to have a good grasp of the situation, make timely policy response, stay united, actively and effectively perform duties, and coordinate closely with one another to achieve the set targets./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Budapest: The Vietnam-Hungary comprehensive partnership has grown soundly across various sectors, with the countries’ parliamentary cooperation thriving on both bilateral and multilateral fronts, stated Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Tran Quang Phuong at his recent talks with Márta Mátrai, First Deputy of the Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, in Budapest.

The Vietnamese legislator took the occasion to propose both sides maintain exchanges of high-level delegations and specialised committees, enhance mutual cooperation and support at multilateral forums, and coordinate the implementation of agreements signed between the two parliaments during the visit of Vietnamese NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to Hungary in 2022.

The two NA’s joint organisation of legislative workshops is an effective and practical mechanism that needs to be further leveraged, Phuong said.

On the Hungarian side, Mátrai stated Vietnam stands as Hungary’s foremost important partner in Southeast Asia.

Hungary, situated a
t the heart of Europe with flexible legal frameworks, hopes to receive more investment cooperation from Vietnam, she noted.

The senior officials exchanged views on mutual concerns, with Phuong expressing a wish for the Hungarian government to support the recognition of the Vietnamese expat community, which numbers around 6,000, as an ethnic minority of the country.

As part of his trip to Hungary from April 1-3, the NA vice chairman paid a courtesy call to the speaker of the Hungarian NA, László Kövér, who affirmed that the relationship between the two NAs is one of special importance, characterised by frequent and effective delegation exchanges as well as the maintenance of a legislative dialogue mechanism for experience exchanges.

Phuong told Kövér that Vietnam wants to enhance multifaceted cooperation with Hungary, the country’s traditional friend and first and only comprehensive partner in the Central Eastern European region.

He expressed his hope for both sides to continue stepping up engagements at a
ll levels through the party, government and parliamentary channels as well as people-to-people exchanges, to further strengthen mutual political trust and understanding.

He also conveyed an invitation from NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to welcome the Hungarian NA speaker to visit Vietnam at the earliest opportunity.

While in Hungary, Phuong also met with the chairpersons of the Hungary-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group and the Hungary-Vietnam Friendship Association, visited the Vietnamese Embassy, and met with representatives of some prominent associations.

At these meetings, he shared his hope to continue maintaining exchanges between the friendship parliamentarians’ groups for better mutual understanding and parliamentary cooperation in the time to come. The NA Vice Chairman also affirmed that people-to-people exchanges are an important diplomatic channel, contributing to fostering bilateral friendship./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency