Category: Politics

New York: Vice State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan is paying a working visit to the US, starting March 11 morning (Vietnam time), to attend the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) and carry out several bilateral activities in the US.

Xuan visited and offered sympathy to the family of left-wing activist Merle Ratner, a close friend of Vietnam, who passed away after a traffic accident in early February.

She affirmed that Vietnam always remembers and respects the affection and contributions that Merle Ratner gave to Vietnam over the past half a century, from antiwar activities, to the nation building cause, and the fight for justice for Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange.

The official then visited and laid wreaths at the National September 11 Memorial to commemorate the victims who died in the terrorist attack in 2001./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Wellington: Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament Gerry Brownlee in Wellington on March 11 afternoon (local time) as part of his official visit to the South Pacific nation.

Congratulating Brownlee on being elected Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament, PM Chinh expressed his belief that the country will become increasingly prosperous and secure a growing stature in the region and the world, with the New Zealand Parliament playing an important role.

Speaker Brownlee voiced his delight at the progress of the friendship and cooperation in various areas between the two countries.

Both host and guest agreed to exert joint efforts to make new breakthroughs in labour and education – training cooperation.

Speaker Brownlee pledged to promote the granting of long-term visas for Vietnamese citizens. He highly valued the Vietnamese community’s considerable contributions to New Zealand and the bilateral relations. He also agreed to increase people-to-people exchanges
and cultural cooperation to help strengthen the friendship and bonds between the two nations’ people.

PM Chinh suggested the two sides continue increasing mutual visits, especially those at the high level; create conditions for their specialty fruits, including banana and passion fruits of Vietnam and kiwi and cherry of New Zealand, to enter each other’s markets; foster navigation and aviation connectivity; and step up cultural ties and people-to-people interactions.

Meanwhile, the two countries’ legislative bodies should continue bringing into play their roles in further strengthening the Vietnam – New Zealand Strategic Partnership; share experience in resolving national issues, building law-governed states, and exercising supreme supervision; create legal frameworks to assist their respective governments; and work together to promote the implementation of the signed cooperation agreements, he recommended.

The two leaders agreed to facilitate experience exchanges between the parliaments’ committees, parli
amentary friendship groups, female parliamentarians, and young parliamentarians in not only traditional fields but also new ones such as climate change response, just energy transition, digital transformation, and digital economy.

At the meeting, they also touched upon some regional and international issues of shared concern. They agreed that Vietnam and New Zealand will support each other at international organisations, including the United Nations, ASEAN-led mechanisms, and multilateral parliamentary forums./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Wellington: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a meeting with Governor-General of New Zealand Dame Cindy Kiro in Wellington on March 11 (local time), as part of his ongoing official visit to New Zealand.

The Governor-General said the PM’s visit is of significance as the two countries will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties in 2025, and expressed her belief that it will be a success, contributing to enhancing the Vietnam-New Zealand strategic partnership.

Kiro also commended Vietnam’s important role and position in the region, especially within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), affirming that New Zealand always considers Vietnam a crucial partner in the region.

The PM conveyed regards from Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and other high-ranking leaders of Vietnam to the Governor-General.

Informing Kiro of the outcomes of the talks with his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon earlier the same day, Chinh said the bilateral relationship has been de
veloping intensively, extensively, and substantively over the past nearly five decades, especially after the establishment of the strategic partnership in 2020.

Ample room remains for the two sides to foster their strategic partnership, for the sake of their people, and for peace, stability and development in the region, he continued.

Host and guest agreed to strengthen and deepen the relations across spheres, step up people-to-people exchange, carry forward the role of the two countries’ friendship associations, and weigh the resumption of direct flights.

Chinh laid an emphasis on the six main cooperation areas, namely high-ranking delegation exchange and the implementation of bilateral cooperation mechanisms; trade-investment; education-training; green economy, sustainable development and environmental protection; cultural exchange; and labour.

The PM suggested New Zealand further facilitate the Vietnamese community to live and study there, and serve as a bridge between the two countries.

Kiro affirmed
her support for the Vietnamese community, and lauded their contributions to New Zealand’s development.

The two sides also concurred to maintain their close coordination and mutual support at regional and international forums./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Wellington: Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his New Zealand counterpart Christopher Luxon identified major orientations for further strengthening cooperation in multiple areas during talks in Wellington on March 11 morning.

The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the stable and increasingly effective development of their countries’ strategic partnership in all aspects, including politics – diplomacy, economy – trade, security – defence, education – training, agriculture, and labour, especially the frequent exchanges of high-ranking delegations and the good growth of bilateral trade, by 60% during 2017 – 2022.

To further intensify multi-faceted cooperation, first, they agreed to stabilise and consolidate political trust, strategic trust, and political – diplomatic cooperation to create a more solid foundation for bilateral ties. Vietnam and New Zealand will step up mutual visits and meetings at all levels and via all channels while effectively implementing cooperation mechanisms, including re
gular meetings between the PMs and ministers of the two countries.

On this occasion, PM Chinh, who is on an official visit to the South Pacific nation, invited his counterpart to pay an official trip to Vietnam at a suitable time. Luxon accepted the invitation with pleasure.

The two sides also agreed to promote the fruitful implementation of the action plan for implementing the Vietnam – New Zealand strategic partnership 2021 – 2024, and soon build an action plan for the new period.

Second, the leaders concurred in enhancing and expanding cooperation in all important cooperation pillars of the strategic partnership, including economy – trade – investment, security – defence, agriculture, and people-to-people interaction.

Agreeing to foster economic, trade, and investment ties, they look to raise the countries’ trade revenue to 2 billion USD in 2024 and 3 billion USD in 2026, and soon double bilateral investment through appropriate measures, including opening markets and reducing trade barriers.

Vietnam w
elcomes New Zealand investment in all fields, particularly education – training, high-quality agriculture, and renewable energy, PM Chinh remarked.

At the talks, PM Luxon announced the launch of the third phase of a project on developing high-quality fruit varieties (Vietfruits) worth 6.24 million NZD (3.85 million USD) to help small-scaled passion fruit farmers and other stakeholders in value chains to increase productivity.

Amid uncertainties in the region and the world, the PM were unanimous in expanding defence – security cooperation; effectively responding to traditional and non-traditional security challenges that are increasing in the region, including transnational crimes, terrorism, natural disasters, and epidemics; and strengthening cooperation in peacekeeping, maritime security, and intelligence information so as to contribute to regional and global peace, stability, and cooperation.

The two leaders agreed to step up agricultural cooperation, including in climate change response and developing h
igh-tech agriculture, plant saplings, and food safety management.

They reached consensus on expanding collaboration in culture, education – training, and people-to-people exchanges. PM Chinh showed his hope that New Zealand will increase scholarships for Vietnamese students, and its universities will strengthen links with Vietnamese counterparts, thus meeting the need for high-quality human resources of the Southeast Asian country. He added that the early reopening of direct flights between the two nations will be an important motivation to expand cooperation in these fields.

Third, the Vietnamese leader agreed to accelerate and make breakthroughs in cooperation in science and technology, innovation, green and digital economic development, environmentally-friendly technology transfer, emission reduction, and emerging technology industries such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), and semiconductor. He proposed creating breakthroughs in marine economic cooperation and marine environmental protection, acceleratin
g labour cooperation and vocational training, and creating conditions for Vietnamese labourers to work in New Zealand.

Discussing regional and international issues, the two PMs affirmed to maintain coordination and mutual support at regional and international forums, especially the United Nations, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and ASEAN-led mechanisms, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum; and back each other’s candidacies at regional and international organisations.

PM Chinh thanked New Zealand for supporting Vietnam’s candidacy to the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023-2025 term, congratulating New Zealand on successfully assuming the role as Chair of the Comprehensive Partnership for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in 2023, and affirming that Vietnam will actively promote practical cooperation programmes between ASEAN and New Zealand in its capacity as coordinator of ASEAN – New Zealand relations for 2024-2027. PM Luxon affirmed that New Zealand will support and
cooperate closely with Vietnam when the Southeast Asian nations hosts the APEC Year 2027.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the two leaders reaffirmed the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea; and addressing disputes by peaceful means, on the basis of respect for international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). They agreed to share information and strengthen maritime cooperation, and strive together to turn the East Sea into a sea of peace, stability, friendship, cooperation and development./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

New York: Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), has attended a dialogue with Louise Mushikiwab, Secretary General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF).

The dialogue, chaired by the Group of French-speaking Ambassadors, took place on March 9 at the UN headquarters in New York, the US. It drew the presence of more than 40 ambassadors and representatives of permanent missions of OIF member countries in New York.

Addressing the event, Ambassador Giang underlined that Vietnam highly appreciates the efforts of the OIF and Secretary-General Mushikiwabo to promote multilateralism and multilingualism at the UN.

He underlined Vietnam’s support to French-speaking countries sharing and coordinating each other to make contributions to preparation for the future summit, the global digital agreement as well as other discussions at the UN.

He affirmed said Vietnam will actively contribute to the upcoming 19th Francophonie Summit.

At the ev
ent, Secretary-General Mushikiwabo talked about the complicated situation in many regions, challenges that the international community is currently facing such as conflict, political and economic instability, competition between major countries, climate change, differences in development levels, digital transformation and digital disruption which are the priorities and focus of the OIF’s actions from now to 2030.

She called on OIF member countries to continue working together to promote a multilateral system based on the central role of the UN, adding that it is necessary to ensure multilingualism in all activities and discussions at the UN for the system to operate effectively and substantially.

Mushikiwabo briefed participants about preparation for the 19th Francophone Summit to be held in France in October which focusing on creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vientiane: Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung paid a courtesy call to Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone in Vientiane on March 11, assuring the host that Hanoi, as well as Vietnam, will spare no effort, together with the Party, State and people of Laos, to preserve and foster bilateral special relationship in various areas.

Dung affirmed that Hanoi always gives high priority to its important political relations with Laos, especially Vientiane capital and northern Lao provinces.

In the coming time, Hanoi will work together with Vientiane and other Lao localities to enhance cooperation in a more practical and effective manner, he said, adding that in this regard, Hanoi will increase sharing experiences in various fields.

PM Sonexay Siphandone, for his part, highly valued the success of joint initiatives between the two capitals under their 2022-2025 cooperation agreement, especially practical support provided by Hanoi for Vientiane during this period.

Expressing his confidence that the
two capitals will continue effectively realising the 2022-2025 cooperation agreement, he wished that Hanoi would actively share the best practices and lessons learned in Party and political system building, economic management, budget allocation, Capital Law drafting, decentralisation, long-term planning with innovative thinking, building of green-clean-beautiful urban areas and fight against social vices like drug abuse, among others.

He envisioned a future where the two capitals become a model of local-level collaboration, thereby fostering the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation nurtured by leaders of both Parties and States.

In the afternoon the same day, Dung held talks with Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Council of Vientiane Anouphap Tounalom.

Dung said in response to Laos’ National Tourism Year 2024, Hanoi will collaborate with Vientiane to hold a bilateral tourism promotion programme aimed at increasing economic cooperation and people-to
-people exchanges between the two capitals.

He further highlighted Hanoi’s keen interest in and desire to step up cooperation with Vientiane in quality human resources development this year.

Beyond offering scholarships for university and postgraduate education, Hanoi stands ready to assist Vientiane in leadership training, and facilitate vocational training and internship opportunities for Vientiane artisans in Hanoi’s craft villages, he said.

Agreeing with Dung’s proposals, Anouphap Tounalom vowed to direct local agencies to discuss with Hanoi counterparts to effectively realise them. This collaborative approach, he believed, will foster deeper mutual understanding and solidify the bonds between the two cities./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency