HCM City looks to expand cooperation with Cambodian localities


HCM City: Ho Chi Minh City is willing to further strengthen multifaceted cooperation with Cambodian localities as desired by leaders and peoples of the two countries, said Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Vo Van Hoan.

In his April 3 visit to extend greetings to the staff of the Cambodian Consulate General in HCM City on the occasion of their traditional Chol Chnam Thmay festival, the official congratulated the Cambodian people on their achievements, expressing his belief that under the reign of King Norodom Sihamoni and the leadership of the National Assembly and the government, the country will continue to make greater accomplishments in the coming time.

Hoan emphasised that, based on the strong development of traditional friendship, good neighbourliness, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability between Vietnam and Cambodia, HCM City always attaches importance to and does its best to preserve and promote the good relationship with Cambodia in general and its localities in pa
rticular, focusing on promoting economic, trade, and investment cooperation.

He promised to closely coordinate with the Consulate General to step up the good relationship between HCM City and Cambodian localities, contributing to strengthening the longstanding friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Cambodian Consul General Chan Sorykan showed his gratitude for the support and close cooperation of the municipal authorities for his agency in recent times.

He affirmed he will make every effort to further promote the relationship between Cambodian localities and the Vietnamese southern metropolis, as well as between Cambodia and Vietnam in general, especially in the fields of trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges, following agreements between leaders and the common aspiration of the two peoples.

The diplomat said hope that the municipal authorities will continue supporting and creating favourable conditions for Cambodian and Vietnamese businesses to explore and promote trade and investment activ
ities in each other’s markets.

The two sides are preparing plans to organise conferences to promote investment cooperation in the real estate sector and trade exhibitions between HCM City and Cambodian localities, he said./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam-RoK ties at best stage in history: Deputy Foreign Minister


Seoul: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang on April 1 held working sessions with Governor of Jeonbuk province Kim Kwan Yyeong and Mayor of Naju city in Jeollanam-do province Bok Soo Kim within the framework of her working visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), during which she assured them that the Vietnam-RoK ties are now at the best development stage in history.

Hang, who is also Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (OV) Affairs, described the RoK as the biggest foreign direct investor in Vietnam with a total capital value of 86 billion USD. The two countries also enjoy active exchanges on various levels, including cultural interactions and high-level delegations.

Governor Kim Kwan Yeong, for his part, praised the Vietnamese community in Jeonbuk and Vietnamese brides in particular for taking care of their families and raising their children in multicultural households, contributing to the development of both countries.

The provincial authorities will continue improving
policies in support of Vietnamese workers through simplified visa process, consider offering Vietnamese as a second language in local schools, and continue to support the stability and development of the Vietnamese community here.

Presenting Naju as a burgeoning city thriving in both industry and agriculture, Mayor Bok Soo Kim said the city needs skilled labour, citing the presence of 16 major industrial conglomerates. He also mentioned Naju’s recent labour agreement with Thuan Thanh district in Bac Ninh province and a twinning relationship established with Dong Nai province in Vietnam.

In reply, Hang proposed that the host further boost cooperation in labour, trade and vocational training, especially for skilled workers from Vietnam. She also urged continued support for the Vietnamese community living there.

While in the RoK, she attended the opening of the Vietnamese community office in Jeonbuk, and held meetings with the Vietnamese Associations in Jeonbuk and Jeonnam Gwang Ju.

The Vietnamese community
in Jeonbuk now groups about 15,000 people, primarily students, workers and women married to Korean citizens./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam-RoK ties at best stage in history: Deputy Foreign Minister


Seoul: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang on April 1 held working sessions with Governor of Jeonbuk province Kim Kwan Yyeong and Mayor of Naju city in Jeollanam-do province Bok Soo Kim within the framework of her working visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), during which she assured them that the Vietnam-RoK ties are now at the best development stage in history.

Hang, who is also Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (OV) Affairs, described the RoK as the biggest foreign direct investor in Vietnam with a total capital value of 86 billion USD. The two countries also enjoy active exchanges on various levels, including cultural interactions and high-level delegations.

Governor Kim Kwan Yeong, for his part, praised the Vietnamese community in Jeonbuk and Vietnamese brides in particular for taking care of their families and raising their children in multicultural households, contributing to the development of both countries.

The provincial authorities will continue improving
policies in support of Vietnamese workers through simplified visa process, consider offering Vietnamese as a second language in local schools, and continue to support the stability and development of the Vietnamese community here.

Presenting Naju as a burgeoning city thriving in both industry and agriculture, Mayor Bok Soo Kim said the city needs skilled labour, citing the presence of 16 major industrial conglomerates. He also mentioned Naju’s recent labour agreement with Thuan Thanh district in Bac Ninh province and a twinning relationship established with Dong Nai province in Vietnam.

In reply, Hang proposed that the host further boost cooperation in labour, trade and vocational training, especially for skilled workers from Vietnam. She also urged continued support for the Vietnamese community living there.

While in the RoK, she attended the opening of the Vietnamese community office in Jeonbuk, and held meetings with the Vietnamese Associations in Jeonbuk and Jeonnam Gwang Ju.

The Vietnamese community
in Jeonbuk now groups about 15,000 people, primarily students, workers and women married to Korean citizens./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Afternoon briefing on April 2


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 1 issued a directive ordering measures be taken to cope with the current heat waves, drought, water shortages, and saltwater intrusion which have hit several localities.

The directive noted that due to El Nino impact, so far this year, many regions nationwide have faced a low rainfall, high temperatures, prolonged heat waves, drought, water shortages, and saltwater intrusion, especially in the Mekong Delta, central, and Central Highlands regions. Read full story

– The Government’s drastic directions in financial and monetary management, and growth support in the first quarter of 2024 are a foundation helping Vietnam’s economy overcome difficulties and achieve impressive growth amidst a variety of challenges of the world economy, according to economists.

Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc said that the financial sector has continued to solve a “difficult problem” of impl
ementing a reasonable expansionary fiscal policy to both promote the economy and ensure macro-economic stability, control inflation, and ensure national financial safety. Accordingly, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) has operated the fiscal policy flexibly and effectively. Read full story

– Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has signed a decision approving a roadmap for the implementation of the national electricity development plan for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050.

The approval aims to vigorously step up the energy transition from fossil fuels to new and renewable energy sources, thus easing environmental pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and realising commitments to the Nationally Determined Contributions and the 2050 net-zero target. Read full story

– The 15th Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) report was announced on April 2, showing progress in citizen perceptions on local anti-corruption efforts and e-governance but a backsliding in transparency in 2023.

The state of the economy and household prosperity were the top concern for citizens. Read full story

– General Auditor of the State Audit Office of Vietnam (SAV) Ngo Van Tuan had a working session with Comptroller General of Peru Nelson Eduardo Shack Yalta in Lima on April 1 to seek stronger bilateral cooperation.

Hailing the Office of the Comptroller General’s experience in maintaining transparency and accountability for the government, Tuan expressed his hope to promote bilateral collaboration through expanding delegation exchanges, and enhancing the sharing of expertise and training cooperation. Read full story

– The US Department of Commerce (DOC) has issued a preliminary conclusion on the anti-subsidy investigation into frozen warm water shrimp originating in Vietnam, according to the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam (TRAV).

The investigation, initiated on November 14, 2023, was conducted by the DOC at the request of the American Shrimp Processors Association with the investigated period from Janu
ary 1, 2022 to December 31, 2022. Read full story

– Coconut trees are seen in many localities across Vietnam, mostly in the Mekong Delta and the central coast region. However, the coconut industry including the value chains from planting, purchasing, processing, consumption, and export, has long been developing spontaneously without specific, clear planning.

As consumer demand for coconut products increases and Vietnam sees more opportunities to export coconut, the issue then becomes how Vietnam develops its coconut industry effectively and sustainably. Read full story

– Airplane engine manufacturer Pratt and Whitney (PW)’s recalling of a number of A321Neo aircraft operated by Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet Air has caused the domestic aviation industry to face a serious shortage of aircraft, said Director of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) Dinh Viet Thang at a conference held by the Ministry of Transport on April 1.

The official said due to the recall, the aircraft will stop operating
in 2024 and 2025, beginning from January 2024. Read full story

– The Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) Hanoi 2024, slated to take place from April 11-14 under the theme “Vietnam tourism – Green transition for sustainable development,” is said to closely follow a new global trend of “Net zero tours” which promotes sustainable tourism and reduces negative impacts on the environment.

With the theme, VITM Hanoi 2024 aims to promote responsible tourism, turning Vietnam’s tourism into a green economic industry with green destinations and products. It also prompts tourism businesses to equip their staff with knowledge about green tourism. Read full story

– Lai Gia Thanh won the first title for Vietnam at the International Weightlifting Federation World Cup on April 1 in Phuket, Thailand.

The world champion topped the men’s 55kg in the snatch event with a lift of 120kg, leaving behind two powerful ChomChuen Nathawat of Thailand (119kg) and Pang Un Chol of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (118kg).
Read full story

– A total of 65 prizes have been presented to individuals and groups winning the “Denmark in Your Eyes” painting contest at a ceremony in Hanoi on April 2.

Themed ‘Green Future,’ the competition was co-organised by the Danish Embassy and the Vietnam – Denmark Friendship Association (VIDAFA). It had received more than 21,500 entries from 256 schools and clubs across 42 provinces and cities nationwide./. Read full story

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam, Peru strengthen cooperation in auditing


Buenos Aires: General Auditor of the State Audit Office of Vietnam (SAV) Ngo Van Tuan had a working session with Comptroller General of Peru Nelson Eduardo Shack Yalta in Lima on April 1 to seek stronger bilateral cooperation.

Hailing the Office of the Comptroller General’s experience in maintaining transparency and accountability for the government, Tuan expressed his hope to promote bilateral collaboration through expanding delegation exchanges, and enhancing the sharing of expertise and training cooperation.

The official shared Vietnam’s experience in carrying out cooperative audit on sustainable development goals, and affirmed that the visit by the Vietnamese delegation to Peru on the occasion of the 30th anniversary Vietnam-Peru diplomatic relations will contribute to strengthening bilateral partnership in the field.

Vietnam also shared experiences on the process of cooperative auditing in the management of water resources in Mekong River basin in line with the implementation of the Sustainable Develo
pment Goals. The work was conducted simultaneously by the audit institutions of Vietnam, Thailand and Myanmar under the chair of the SAV, said Tuan.

For his part, Shack Yalta affirmed that the Office of the Comptroller General of Peru is willing to work with Vietnam in areas of its strengths, while further cooperating with the SAV.

He said he believes the SAV delegation’s visit will lay a firm foundation for cooperation between the two audit agencies and the two countries.

At the working session, the two sides exchanged information om the structure, missions and achievements that they have gained recently, and agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding between the two agencies at an early date./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Indian pollution control vessel visiting Ho Chi Minh City


HCM City: The Indian Coast Guard (ICG)’s pollution control vessel Samudra Paheredar, with a crew of 120 sailors led by Captain Sudhir Ravindran, arrived at Ho Chi Minh City port on April 2, commencing a 4-day visit to the city.

The Indian delegation is scheduled to pay courtesy calls to leaders of the municipal People’s Committee and the commander of Coast Guard Region 3. They will participate in friendly exchanges, demonstrate pollution response activities, and carry out a joint exercise with the Vietnamese Coast Guard (VCG).

The visit is organised in line with a memorandum of understanding on cooperation signed by the two sides in 2015.

Ravindran stated that this visit is a good opportunity for officers and soldiers of the two forces to exchange experiences and practices in maritime law enforcement, thereby contributing to enhancing their friendly relations, cooperation, mutual understanding, and trust.

The 94.1m-long vessel boasts modern pollution response equipment and can operate at sea for 20 days w
ith a range of 6,000 nautical miles./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency