Category: Politics

Hanoi: Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu and Russian First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Vladimir Titov co-chaired the 13th Vietnam – Russia diplomacy – defence – security strategy dialogue in Hanoi on March 4.

In the spirit of traditional friendship, openness, trust and mutual understanding, both sides reviewed the bilateral cooperation in all areas, particularly in politics – foreign affairs, defence – security, and trade – investment as well as cooperation at multilateral forums, while discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Speaking highly of the efficiency of the strategy dialogue, they recognised the results that have been achieved over the past time, especially the exchange of delegations at all levels in 2023 which laid a foundation to bolster cooperation and promptly remove bottlenecks, making contributions to consolidating the Vietnam – Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The two diplomats affirmed the resolve to maintain and promote
the practical and effective bilateral ties in the coming time, and make efforts to implement the signed agreements and cooperation projects in the context that the two countries will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on Principles of Friendly Relations (June 1994 – 2024) and the 75th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations (January 1950 – 2025).

Titov said Russia treasures and wants to develop its practical ties with Vietnam, and considers Vietnam a trustworthy partner, suggesting the two foreign ministries promote their coordinating roles in implementing the bilateral agreements, and promoting the removal of roadblocks to expand cooperation in potential fields that meet the development requirements in each country.

As the region and the world are witnessing rapid changes, it is necessary to maintain the efficiency of the annual strategy dialogue to promptly enhance bilateral cooperation, exchange information and coordinate at multilateral forums.

They also affirmed to mainta
in close cooperation at the United Nations, the ASEAN-Russia cooperation framework as well as other international forums for peace and stability in the region and the world.

On this occasion, a cooperation plan between the two foreign ministries for the next period was signed./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang has proposed US consumer goods giant P and G consider expanding its partnership with Vietnam and facilitating the entry of Vietnamese firms into its global supply chain.

During a reception in Hanoi on March 4 for P and G Vice President Nitin Darbari, Deputy PM Quang hailed the corporation’s investments in Vietnam, totaling 450 million USD since 1995, acknowledging their significant contributions to the country’s socio-economic development and the Vietnam-US relationship.

He also suggested the company pay attention to human resources training in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Government always attaches importance to improving the business environment and promoting transformation to create favourable conditions for foreign enterprises to do long-term business in Vietnam, he said.

Darbari, for his part, commended the Vietnamese Government’s efforts in positioning Vietnam as a foreign investment hub and overcoming the global headwinds to achieve an impressive growth of ove
r 5% last year.

He thanked the Vietnamese Government for its support to P and G during the COVID-19 pandemic and stressed that P and G considers Vietnam one of its strategic markets, aiming to establish the Southeast Asian nation as a regional manufacturing hub and a sustainable supply source for its other markets./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vientiane: Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) and Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong had bilateral meetings with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Gen. Chansamone Chanyalath, and Cambodian Deputy Minister and Minister of National Defence Gen. Tea Siha in Luang Prabang, Laos, on March 4.

The meetings took place as Cuong is in Laos to attend the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Retreat (ADMM-Retreat) from March 4 to 6.

Meeting with the Lao official, Cuong affirmed that the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence always supports and stands ready to assist the Lao side to successfully organise military-defence events when Laos is holding the chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2024.

Chansamone, for his part, welcomed the high-level delegation from the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence to attend the ADMM-Retreat, expressing his belief that their attendance will contribute to the meeting
‘s success.

Both sides evaluated the bilateral cooperation over the past time, and discussed cooperation orientations in the coming time, particularly in the areas of Party and political affairs, border management and protection, human resources training and defence industry.

The Lao official said he hoped the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence will support the Experts’ Working Group on Humanitarian Mine Action of the ADMM Plus (ADMM+) for 2024-2027 co-chaired by Laos and Russia.

In the meeting with Tea Seiha, Cuong expressed his delight at the sound Vietnam – Cambodia defence cooperation in 2023 as both sides worked closely and effectively in the fields of high-level delegation exchanges, human resources training, and exchange of young officers.

They agreed that the two armies should continue their traditional cooperation and solidarity, serving as a pillar in the Vietnam-Cambodia good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, and comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability.

Besides, they
concurred to direct competent agencies and units to carry out and review the protocol on defence cooperation between the two ministries during the 2020-2024 period and map out another for the 2025-2029 period.

Cuong took this occasion to invite leaders from the Cambodian defence ministry, royal military and enterprises to attend the 80th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army, and the 2nd Vietnam International Defence Expo scheduled to be held at the end of this year./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Canberra: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his spouse Le Thi Bich Tran and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation arrived at Melbourne airport on March 4, beginning their trip to attend the ASEAN – Australia Special Summit and official visit to Australia.

Welcoming them at the airport were Australian officials, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski, Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam and representatives of the overseas Vietnamese community in Australia.

The Summit marks the 50th anniversary of the ASEAN – Australia dialogue relations and will be followed by an official visit to Australia from March 5-9 at the invitation of Australian PM Anthony Albanese.

Themed “A Partnership for the Future,” the Summit presents an opportunity for both sides to reflect on their five-decade relationship and plan for future development in line with bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership established in 2021.

PM Chinh, along with other ASEAN and Australian leaders, will outline visions, direc
tions, and concrete measures to expand cooperation in the coming years. Notably, Australia is to propose new cooperative initiatives, which, if agreed upon, could lead to breakthroughs in bilateral relations and further bolster ASEAN-Australia relations.

While in Australia, the Vietnamese PM will engage in talks and meetings with Australia’s top leaders. He will attend the Vietnam – Australia business forum, visit an exhibition showcasing investment projects in Vietnam, and hold working sessions with Australian business associations and major corporations. Furthermore, he is set to tour various socioeconomic and scientific research facilities and interact with Vietnamese and Australian intellectuals and experts.

Beyond evaluating the progress of bilateral ties, particularly within the framework of the Vietnam – Australia strategic partnership, both sides will map out future cooperation directions. These efforts aim to elevate bilateral relations to a new height, with a focus on trade and investment cooperat
ion, especially in education-training, sci-tech, innovation, digital economy, and green economy.

The visit is expected to culminate in the signing and exchange of cooperation agreements in various fields, including education, energy, minerals, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, science and technology, innovation, law, finance, trade and investment./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Vietnam always treasures its traditional friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Russia, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of its Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung said on March 4.

Trung made the statement while hosting a reception for Russian First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Vladimir Titov, who is on a visit to Vietnam for the 13th Vietnam – Russia diplomacy, defence and security strategy dialogue.

Congratulating the success of the dialogue, Trung affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, State and people always bear in their mind the valuable support that the Russian people have given to Vietnam during the past struggle for national independence and the current process of national construction and defence.

He also discussed several measures to strengthen the bilateral ties in all areas with his Russian guest.

The Russian diplomat, for his part, spoke highly of the positive development of the Vietnam – Russia relations, and affirmed that Russia
has attached much importance to consolidating and developing its ties with the Southeast Asian country.

Titov shared Trung’s recommendations to enhance the bilateral relationship in the coming time, particularly promoting high-level visits in 2024./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

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

– National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue attended the inauguration of the first phase of the Becamex VSIP Binh Dinh Industrial Park and Township in the central province of Binh Dinh on March 4.

Work on the industrial park and township, located in Canh Vinh commune of Van Canh district, was launched in September 2020 by the Investment and Industrial Development Corporation (Becamex IDC) and the Vietnam – Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) Group.

– Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s trip to attend the ASEAN – Australia Special Summit commemorating the 50th anniversary of the two sides’ dialogue relations and pay official visits to Australia and New Zealand holds special significance, said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet.

The trip from March 5 to 11 is made at the invitation of Australian PM Anthony Albanese and New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon.

Talking to the media, Viet said the first special
thing of this tour is that 2024 marks 50 years since the establishment of the ASEAN – Australia dialogue relations, follows the 50th anniversary of Vietnam – Australia diplomatic ties in 2023, and is ahead of the 50th anniversary of the Southeast Asian country’s relations with New Zealand next year.

– Positive prospects are forecast for Vietnam’s rice export in 2024, with bright signs in both market and price.

Last year, Vietnam continued to be one of the top three rice exporters in the world, accounting for about 15% of total global rice exports.

– The disaster risk reduction partnership’s plan for 2025-2030 will be developed in accordance with the Government of Vietnam’s priorities on natural disaster prevention as well as in line with the strategic goals of all partners, Pauline Tamesis, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Vietnam has said.

She made the remark at a meeting to build the plan organised by Vietnam Disaster and Dike Management Authority (VDDMA) under the Ministry of Agriculture a
nd Rural Development on March 2, which saw the participation of representatives of disaster risk reduction partners such as UN Women, Action Aid, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Vietnam Office and Plan International in Vietnam.

– Nearly 500,000 hectares of land were cleared of bombs, mines, and explosives in the 2014-2023 period, informed the Vietnam National Mine Action Centre (VNMAC) at a ceremony to mark its 10th founding anniversary and receive the Fatherland Protection Order, third-class, on March 4.

VNMAC General Director Maj. Gen. Tran Trung Hoa said that in 2010, the Vietnamese Government issued a National Action Programme to overcome the consequences of post-war ordnances in the 2010-2015 period (Programme 504). To manage, coordinate and implement the programme, on March 4, 2014, the Government established VNMAC, under the direction of the Prime Minister and the management of the Ministry of National Defence.

– Vietnam, the only representative of Asian, has ranked fifth in a list of
the 10 best graduation trips to take in 2024 by Lonely Planet.

According to the travel magazine, the affordable, beautiful, and warm country will get graduates out of their comfort zone.

– A Vietnam classical music festival (VCMF) will be held for the first time in the Central Highlands resort city of Da Lat – the UNESCO Creative Music City – from March 10-17.

The event is expected to attract about 30,000 music lovers with numerous classical music works performed by both domestic and foreign artists from Arietta, Song Hong Ensemble, Schubert in a Mug, Vietnam Youth Music Institute – VYMI, and Vietnam Youth Orchestra, among others.

– Three Vietnamese teams have won one silver and two bronze medals at the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) Asia Pacific Championship.

The Sudo team from the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) under the Vietnam National University-Hanoi secured a silver medal in the final round of the 2024 ICPC Asia Pacific Championship. ./.

Source: Vietnam News
Agency