Category: Politics

Hanoi: 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.

This is the first visits by a Vietnamese PM to Australia and New Zealand in seven years and also the first by Chinh to the two countries as the Government leader of Vietnam, Viet noted.

The second special thing is the sound relations between AS
EAN and Australia over the past 50 years as seen in their increasingly enhanced political trust and fruitful partnerships in all fields, including trade, economic, cultural, and social affairs.

ASEAN countries considered Australia as one of the comprehensive strategic partners boasting substantive and effective cooperation with members of the bloc, the official said.

Given this, he went on, the summit is expected to be a good occasion for ASEAN and Australian leaders to review the 50-year bilateral relations, especially the implementation of their comprehensive strategic partnership set up in 2021.

This is also a chance for the leaders to discuss vision, orientations, and concrete measures for expanding ties in the time ahead. The two sides, particularly Australia, are set to propose new cooperation initiatives, thus creating more resources and basis for the ASEAN – Australia ties to grow more strongly in the coming time, according to Viet.

Highlighting the strides in the Vietnam – Australia relations ove
r the last half a century, he said PM Chinh’s official visit is an occasion for the two countries to look back on the development of their ties, especially in the implementation of the bilateral strategic partnership as well as the high-level agreements reached during the Australian Governor-General and PM’s trips to Vietnam in 2023 and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s visit to Australia in 2022.

During this visit, the two sides are scheduled to outline cooperation orientations for the time ahead, with an emphasis on trade and investment; education – training, including vocational training; science – technology; innovation; and new impetuses like digital economy, green economy, energy transition, and renewable energy.

Besides, the countries will work towards elevating bilateral relations to a new height, he added.

Apart from Australia, New Zealand is also an important strategic partner of Vietnam in the South Pacific, Viet remarked, underlining the long-standing and fruitful connections in vario
us fields such as education – training, gender equality, development, and agriculture.

During PM Chinh’s official visit, the two countries will continue exploring measures for further strengthening cooperation in such areas as trade, investment, people-to-people links, labour, education – training, and agriculture, particularly new technologies for agriculture and ways to expand their markets to each other’s high-quality agricultural products, the Deputy Minister noted./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son hosted a reception on March 3 for Russian First Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs V. Titov who is in Hanoi for the 13th Vietnam-Russia strategic dialogue on diplomacy, defence and security.

Son spoke highly of the two sides’ maintenance of the strategic dialogue as an effective information exchange channel to promptly review the situation and agree on measures to promote bilateral multifaceted cooperation, especially coordination between the two Foreign Ministries.

He affirmed that Vietnam greatly values its traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, built by generations of leaders and people of the two countries. He emphasised that Russia is one of the top priority partners in Vietnam’s foreign policy.

The Vietnamese official expressed his wish that the two sides will maintain coordination to solve difficulties and problems, promote potential areas of cooperation, in accordance with the two peoples’ aspirations and interests.

For hi
s part, Titov also affirmed that Russia attaches importance to its time-tested friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam. He appreciated the political trust and regular exchange of delegations at all levels as well as the diverse development of bilateral and multilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Russia in recent times.

He said he hopes that the two ministries will promote their role of coordinating and promoting effective bilateral collaboration, as well as maintaining close coordination in the international arena.

The two officials agreed to continue working together in implementing bilateral cooperation in general, and between the two ministries in particular to achieve substantive results, especially in promoting the exchange of delegations at all levels and removing obstacles to strengthen economic, trade, education and training cooperation, thus contributing to the Vietnam – Russia comprehensive strategic partnership, for the benefits of the two peoples, for peace, cooperat
ion, and development in the region and the world./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski has emphasised the significance of the upcoming trip to Australia by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

PM Chinh and his spouse will attend the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit to commemorate the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Australia dialogue relations, and pay official visits to Australia and New Zealand from March 5-11.

His attendance at the summit and visits will be made at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Prime Minister of New Zealand Christopher Luxon.

According to the ambassador, the PM’s official visit to Australia is ‘incredibly important’ as it comes after the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties last year when all important Australian leaders came to Vietnam.

PM Chinh is one of the three ASEAN leaders to pay an official bilateral visit to Australia next week, he said, noting that Australia highly values the importance of Vietnam as well as th
e bilateral relationship, which is expected to grow further following the visit.

According to Goledzinowski, the Vietnam-Australia relationship covers all spheres, but PM Chinh’s visit will focus on the five areas of political and strategic understanding; economy and trade; education; energy transition and climate change; and knowledge, innovation and science.

The diplomat revealed that Australia now has a new economic policy towards Vietnam, which will be announced by the Australian PM on this occasion, and expected to help attract more Australian investments to the Southeast Asian nation.

Asked about the bilateral cooperation in renewable energy, Goledzinowski said some leading Australian companies and groups are scheduled to hold meetings with PM Chinh to talk about specific investment opportunities.

‘Vietnam has amazing prospects in solar and offshore wind and other renewable energy sources. So I think there’s a great deal that Australia and Vietnam can do together,’ he said.

Regarding the summit, th
e ambassador said Australia was the very first country to enter into a dialogue partnership with ASEAN, and four years ago, Australia became the grouping’s first comprehensive strategic partner.

Australia wants to further strengthen economic engagement with ASEAN, he said, noting that the bloc is now the country’s second most important trade partner.

‘So we want to build on that. And we also want to build on our strategic and political cooperation in the region,’ he stressed.

‘For us, we talk about ASEAN’s centrality. ASEAN is at the heart of our regional strategy. And we hope that this summit will further strengthen ASEAN’s role in maintaining stability, peace and dialogue in our part of the world,’ the ambassador said./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang attended the Antalya Diplomacy Forum and held bilateral activities in Trkiye on March 1-2.

Themed ‘Advancing Diplomacy in Times of Turmoil,’ the forum brought together about 4,000 delegates, including 19 high-ranking leaders, and nearly 100 ministers and deputy ministers from 147 countries, along with representatives of international organisations, policy makers, experts, scholars and businesspeople.

It looked into the world and regional situation, and how to respond to non-traditional security challenges such as food security, energy security and climate change, and new development trends like digital transformation, green transition, and artificial intelligence, among others.

In her remarks, Hang said the Asia-Pacific needs to maintain an open, transparent, resilient, inclusive and rules-based regional structure, in which ASEAN plays a central role.

ASEAN wishes and stands ready to strengthen cooperation with all countries and partners in and ou
tside the region to contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the region, she said.

The official also affirmed that Vietnam will continue to consistently implement its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, development, diversification and multilateralisation of relations, and being a friend, and a reliable and responsible partner of the international community.

Vietnam will work together with other ASEAN member countries for peace, stability and prosperity in the region, she said.

On this occasion, Hang had meetings with Turkish Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Burak Akçapar, President of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) Nail Olpak, and other Turkish officials.

Hang suggested the two countries take more measures to boost their cooperation across spheres, for the development of each side.

While in Trkiye, Hang also met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyz Jeenbek Kulubaev and her counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and Oman./.

Source: Vietnam Ne
ws Agency

Hanoi: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang attended the Antalya Diplomacy Forum and held bilateral activities in Trkiye on March 1-2.

Themed ‘Advancing Diplomacy in Times of Turmoil,’ the forum brought together about 4,000 delegates, including 19 high-ranking leaders, and nearly 100 ministers and deputy ministers from 147 countries, along with representatives of international organisations, policy makers, experts, scholars and businesspeople.

It looked into the world and regional situation, and how to respond to non-traditional security challenges such as food security, energy security and climate change, and new development trends like digital transformation, green transition, and artificial intelligence, among others.

In her remarks, Hang said the Asia-Pacific needs to maintain an open, transparent, resilient, inclusive and rules-based regional structure, in which ASEAN plays a central role.

ASEAN wishes and stands ready to strengthen cooperation with all countries and partners in and ou
tside the region to contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the region, she said.

The official also affirmed that Vietnam will continue to consistently implement its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, development, diversification and multilateralisation of relations, and being a friend, and a reliable and responsible partner of the international community.

Vietnam will work together with other ASEAN member countries for peace, stability and prosperity in the region, she said.

On this occasion, Hang had meetings with Turkish Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Burak Akçapar, President of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) Nail Olpak, and other Turkish officials.

Hang suggested the two countries take more measures to boost their cooperation across spheres, for the development of each side.

While in Trkiye, Hang also met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyz Jeenbek Kulubaev and her counterparts from Saudi Arabia, Nigeria and Oman./.

Source: Vietnam Ne
ws Agency

Hanoi: The 140-year-old railway, considered outdated in Vietnam, will undergo the most significant infrastructure transformation in decades, as the North-South high-speed railway project will be submitted to the Politburo in March, and the National Assembly within this year.

At a working session with the Ministry of Transport earlier, permanent Government members stressed that the high-speed railway must be modern, concerted and sustainable.

The ministry had sketched out three scenarios, which, however, are expected to be reduced to two, offering freight services, apart from passenger transportation as the priority.

Under the first scenario, the train will move at a speed of 200-250 km/h and the investment capital is estimated at around 72.02 billion USD. Meanwhile, the speed of 350 km/h and some 71.6 billion USD in investment capital are set for the second, including spending on infrastructure and equipment for freight transportation.

The bullet train will depart from the Ngoc Hoi Station in Hanoi to Thu
Thiem in Ho Chi Minh City, with its running time from 5 hours 26 minutes to 7 hours 54 minutes, depending on the number of stops.

The ministry explained that cargo services are to ease the burden for other means like marine and air transportation, saying the present North-South railway will also be modernised to carry both goods and passengers.

According to the ministry, permanent Government members will opine on the selection of one of the two before they are submitted to the Politburo.

Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Chung, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Road Traffic Investors (VARSI), and member of the project’s consulting team, expressed his support for the second, which, he said, would help materialise the country’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050, and raise the rail sector’s competitiveness in terms of speed.

The railway project would require around 13,000 people to operate, said Dang Sy Manh, Chairman of the Board of Members of Vietnam Railways (VNR)./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency