Category: Politics

Buenos Aires: Vietnam is one of the most important partners of Brazil in Southeast Asia, Eduardo Paes Saboia, Secretary for Asia and the Pacific at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, has stated at the Vietnam-Brazil meeting recently held by the Vietnamese Embassy in Brasilia.

The official hailed the strong growth of bilateral trade over the past 20 years, which topped 7 billion USD in 2023.

Vietnam and Brazil will continue to cooperate with each other on the foundation of the common values in peace, friendship and mutual respect, he said at the event which marked the 35th anniversary of the Vietnam-Brazil diplomatic relations.

Brazil’s Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira will visit Vietnam in April, he revealed, expressing his belief that Vietnam will contribute to the success of Brazil’s G20 Presidency.

Meanwhile, Márcio Honaiser, President of the Brazil – Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group, held that Vietnam and Brazil will be a bridge connecting the South American Common Market (MERCOSUR) and
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as other regional organisations. In addition to economic and trade relations, the two countries commit to strengthening cooperation in the fields of technology, culture, tourism and sports, promoting friendship and mutual understanding, he said.

General Secretary of the Brazil- Vietnam Friendship Association (ABRAVIET) Pedro de Oliveira said that over the past 13 years, the association has worked closely with the Vietnam Union of Friendship Associations (VUFO) to contribute to the growth of cooperation and friendship between the two nations.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil Bui Van Nghi underlined that in 2024, Vietnam and Brazil will organise various activities to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the diplomatic relations and the 17 years of comprehensive partnership, including a Vietnam Day in Brazil.

The diplomat affirmed the significance of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to Brazil in last September, stressing that
Brazil is currently the largest Latin American partner of Vietnam.

On the occasion, the Vietnamese Embassy held a ceremony to present the ‘For peace, friendship among nations’ insignias to Miguel Peña, Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Bolivia; João Reis, Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Minas Gerais state of Brazil; and journalist Valter Xéu, CEO of Patria Latina Media Group, in recognition of their positive contributions to the people diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Brazil and Bolivia.

Earlier, Ambassador Nghi had working sessions with Celso Amorim, advisor to the Brazilian President, on the increase of high-lefel delegation exchanges and the realisation of commitments stated in the joint statement in Prime Minister Chinh’s visit to Brazil.

The diplomat also worked with Paco Britto, Vice Governor and Director for External Relations of the Federal District of Brasilia, on the organisation of the celebration of the 35th anniversary of the Vietnam-Brazil diplomatic relations and the Vietnam Day in Brazil
as well as support to Vietnamese firms to explore the Brazilian market, and the seeking of location to name as Vietnam Street and honour President Ho Chi Minh./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Singapore: Vietnam has showed its responsibility in participating in the ReCAAP Agreement and effectively combating maritime crimes, affirmed Major General Vu Trung Kien, Deputy Commander in charge of law of the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) at the 18th ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre (ISC) Governing Council Meeting in Singapore on March 13.

The meeting saw the participation of members of the governing council, officials from 21 member countries of the Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combating Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia (ReCAAP), and guest delegates from 10 maritime organisations, shipping associations, international and regional research institutes.

In his remarks, Kien underscored the need for countries to enhance awareness of the overall situation and instability in maritime security caused by piracy and armed robbery at sea.

It is important to continue timely and effective cooperation and information sharing, and to enhance coordination among countries and with the ReCAAP ISC to ens
ure security and safety across all maritime routes regionally and globally, he said.

On the sidelines of the function, the VCG delegation held meetings with leaders of law enforcement forces at sea from the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and India, exchanging information and coordinating efforts to combat various crimes and protect the marine environment.

In particular, Vietnam reiterated its significant efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities and urged partners to cooperate with and assist the country in quickly getting the “yellow card” warning imposed on Vietnamese seafood products by the European Commission lifted./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Vietnam and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have cooperated fruitfully over the past 30 years, and their cooperation is expected to grow further in the next three decades, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said on March 13.

Addressing a ceremony in Hanoi marking the 30 years of the partnership, the PM appreciated the bank’s support to Vietnam, especially in infrastructure development, poverty reduction, education and health care, particularly in remote, border and island areas.

It is the ADB that has inspired other partners to cooperate and support Vietnam in development, he stressed.

As a developing country with an evolving economy, a modest economic scale, and limited resilience to shocks, Vietnam needs both financial aid and policy consultation from the bank, as well as its assistance in institutional building and perfection, especially the institution for the socialist market-oriented economy, Chinh said.

He suggested the two sides choose specific, focused, key cooperation programmes and projects
to help Vietnam grow rapidly, sustainably and inclusively, with no one left behind.

Collaboration priorities should be given to climate change response, green transition, digital transformation, green economy, circular economy and sharing economy, along with emerging sectors like semiconductors, artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and new energy, the leader suggested.

According to a report presented at the event, the ADB has financed about 600 programmes and projects in Vietnam with total funding of nearly 18 billion USD, covering agriculture, rural areas, education, health care, energy and urban infrastructure.

It has also provided 6.45 billion USD for trade transactions through commercial banks in Vietnam.

During the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the ADB granted non-refundable aid worth hundreds of millions of US dollars to help Vietnam purchase protective equipment, upgrade medical equipment, churn out pharmaceutical products, and support small and medium-sized and women-led businesses.

Ear
lier the same day, PM Chinh received ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa, who is in Vietnam for the celebration.

The PM affirmed that the Vietnamese government always considers the ADB an important, close and reliable development partner, and attributed Vietnam’s achievements to the bank’s effective cooperation and support.

For his part, Asakawa emphasised that the ADB always pays attention to and supports Vietnam in socio-economic development, and wishes to work together with the country to launch result-oriented cooperation projects.

The bank can provide financial aid for Vietnam to implement projects in green transition, energy transition and infrastructure, and help the country in emerging industries, he said, suggesting the Vietnamese government work to speed up the implementation of cooperation projects.

Lauding ADB’s efforts in mobilising resources of up to 3 billion USD for about 23 projects in Vietnam in the 2023 – 2026 period, the PM called on the ADB to coordinate with Vietnamese ministries and age
ncies to quickly put in place specific projects in 2024.

He also proposed the establishment of a joint working group to push ahead with capital cooperation and policy support for Vietnam./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: A conference took place in Hanoi on March 13 to review the implementation of the coordination regulations between the National Assembly (NA)’s Standing Committee and the Presidium of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF)’s Central Committee over the past five years.

The function was co-chaired by Politburo member, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Secretary of the Party Central Committee, President of the VFF Central Committee Do Van Chien.

In his remarks, Chien stated that the two bodies have fully and effectively performed their responsibilities as outlined in the coordination regulations.

He said both sides have collaborated in organising voter contacts and promptly collecting opinions and suggestions from voters and the people, contributing to promoting democracy, fostering higher social consensus, and upholding the great national unity.

For his part, Hue highlighted some of the sides’ coordinated efforts, including organising the elections of deputies to the 15th NA and to People’s Councils at all l
evels for the 2021-2026 term, and conducting vote of confidence targeting officials elected or approved by the NA during the 15th legislation’s 6th session.

The top legislator recommended strengthening coordination in consolidating the great national unity, handling petitions, and collecting opinions and suggestions from voters, among others.

He also noted the importance of the sides maintaining regular and ad hoc joint meetings to discuss coordination matters, sharing information, and coordinating external affair tasks./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang lauded the World Bank (WB) for its continued support in mobilising funding for development projects in Vietnam at a reception in Hanoi on March 13 for WB Country Director Carolyn Turk.

Quang suggested that both sides continue working closely together to overcome difficulties in the implementation and completion of projects using WB’s loans.

Since 1993, the WB has allocated about 25 billion USD in concessional loans to Vietnam, along with technical assistance and policy consultation, contributing significantly to national socioeconomic development.

Both sides reviewed the current state of the WB’s projects in Vietnam, especially since the establishment of a task force in charge of stepping up their progress led by Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, major barriers hindering project approval stem from differences in compensation policies, land clearance and complaint settlement mechanis
m between Vietnam and the WB.

To address these obstacles, the Vietnamese side proposed negotiating and signing a framework agreement to harmonise procedures between Vietnam and the WB, with a specific focus on compensation, land clearance and complaint settlement mechanisms.

Turk, for her part, expressed the WB’s willingness to engage in further discussions with Vietnam regarding this proposal.

The WB highly values its relationship with Vietnam and considers Vietnam a critically important partner, she said./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Da Nang: Deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Nguyen Hong Son on March 13 asked Da Nang to work harder to implement the project on developing the central city into an international financial centre at the regional scale.

The official made the request while addressing a conference jointly held by the Economic Commission and the municipal Party Committee to review the five-year implementation of the Politburo’s Resolution No. 43-NQ/TW dated January 24, 2019 on building and developing Da Nang by 2030, with a vision towards 2045.

Son said Da Nang should further study and popularise relevant resolutions to be better aware of its role and position, as well as development targets and tasks, while reviewing special mechanisms and policies adopted by the National Assembly and the Government to make suitable adjustments, especially those regarding the pilot of an urban administration model.

Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Van Quang reported that Da Nang has issued 12 pro
grammes and plans to materialise the Politburo’s resolution, and completed 113 set tasks (21.5%) so far.

According to Quang, the locality is focused on personnel training to serve semiconductors and artificial intelligence (AI), among other fields.

Highlighting significant achievements Da Nang has gained in IT application, digital transformation, smart city building, and in ensuring national defence-security and improving people’s living standards, he said they serve as an important foundation for the city to develop rapidly and sustainably in the time ahead.

He also admitted shortcomings like modest, unstable economic growth and limited development resources.

The participants touched upon solutions to enhance regional connectivity, boost the marine economic sector, develop high-quality personnel and attract investments in Da Nang./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency