Category: Politics

Hanoi: Vietnam attaches great importance to strengthening its strategic partnership with the UK, Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue told British Ambassador to Vietnam Ian Frew at their meeting in Hanoi on January 24.

The top legislator highlighted the recent progress in the bilateral relationship, especially the joint declaration on the occasion of the 10th founding anniversary of the strategic partnership (2010 – 2020) with a vision towards elevating the relationship in the next decade.

Frew thanked the Chairman for his efforts in enhancing the Vietnam – UK cooperation, particularly the legislature’s ratification of the UK – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA).

He shared Chairman Hue’s view that activities held in 2023 to celebrate the 50th founding anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties have contributed to increasing strategic trust between the two sides.

The ambassador stressed that the strategic partnership covers a range of areas, from politics and diplomacy to economy, tra
de, investment, sustainable development, national defence and security, and health care, adding the UKVFTA has benefited both nations, as reflected through the increasing bilateral trade despite global trade turmoil last year.

Congratulating the UK on its joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) last year, Chairman Hue affirmed that Vietnam had supported the country to become a member of the deal.

Along with the UKVFTA, the UK’s CPTPP membership is expected to create new momentum for the Vietnam – UK relations, consolidate their cooperation framework in trade and economy, and help their businesses diversify the markets and participate in the global supply chain more deeply, he said.

The Chairman used this occasion to call on British firms to increase investment in Vietnam, affirming that the NA and the government of Vietnam always make efforts to improve the business environment for foreign investors, including those from the UK.

Highly valuing the UK’s pot
ential and capacity in the financial and monetary markets, the NA leader expressed his hope for stronger cooperation in this field, including the building of an international financial centre in Ho Chi Minh City.

Vietnam wants to work with the UK to address global issues, including digital transformation and just energy transition, he said.

Chairman Hue asked the ambassador to convey his invitations to the Speaker of the House of Commons and the Lord Speaker to soon pay official visits to Vietnam.

Frew emphasised that the UK wants to boost cooperation with Vietnam via the Party and parliament channels, including exchanges and cooperation between young parliamentarians./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his spouse left Ho Chi Minh City on January 24 evening, concluding their state visit to Vietnam on January 23-24 at the invitation of President Vo Van Thuong and his spouse.

During their stay in Vietnam, the German President and his spouse laid a wreath at the Monument to Heroic Martyrs on Bac Son street, Hanoi.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier attended the official welcome ceremony, held talks, witnessed the signing ceremony of cooperation documents, met with the press, and joined a banquet with his Vietnamese counterpart Vo Van Thuong. He also met with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue.

At the talks and meetings, the Vietnamese leaders warmly welcomed the German President’s state visit to Vietnam, expressing a belief that the visit would contribute to strengthening the friendship and political trust, creating motivation to comprehensively promote the Vietnam – Germany Strategic Partnership, for t
he benefit of the two countries’ people as well as for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Thanking the Vietnamese leaders for their warm welcome, President Frank-Walter Steinmeier expressed his impression of Vietnam’s dynamic socio-economic development. He emphasised the cohesion and mutual trust between the two countries have been continuously promoted over the past nearly 50 years. He affirmed a desire to enhance cooperation in various fields with Vietnam, particularly in trade and investment, energy transition, labour and vocational training, development cooperation, as well as close coordination in contribution to regional and global peace and cooperation.

The Vietnamese leaders stressed that in its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of international relations, Vietnam always attaches importance to and prioritises developing relations with Germany.

On this occasion, they thanked the State, Government, and people of Germany
for supporting Vietnam in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, saying the support demonstrates the friendship and solidarity between the two countries, helping Vietnam control the pandemic, reopen its doors for socio-economic recovery and development.

In an atmosphere of mutual trust and understanding, both sides exchanged views on major directions and measures to further deepen the Vietnam-Germany Strategic Partnership, as well as shared regional and international issues of mutual concern.

While in Vietnam, the German President visited Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature) in Hanoi, and met with Ho Chi Minh City’s leaders and visited the German House in the city. He also attended an exchange programme with students and lecturers of the Vietnamese-German University in the southern province of Binh Duong.

His spouse Elke Bdenbender and President Vo Van Thuong’s wife Phan Thi Thanh Tam watched a traditional water puppet show in Hanoi.

The state visit by the German President took place in the co
ntext that the bilateral relations are growing intensively and making practical progress in various fields. More importantly, this was President Steinmeier’s first overseas trip in 2024, and the first high-level official visit between the two countries in the year. This was the second visit to Vietnam by a German President since Germany’s reunification, following the first by President Horst Kohler in May 2007./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Phnom Penh: Minister of Public Security General To Lam led a delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security to pay an official visit to Cambodia from January 22-24 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Sokha.

After a welcome ceremony for the Vietnamese delegation on January 23, the two officials held talks, co-chaired a conference reviewing cooperation outcomes and signed a cooperation agreement between the two ministries for 2024.

Sar Sokh stressed the significance of the visit, saying it offers an opportunity for the two ministries to seek specific measures to advance the relationship between the two ministries to a new level, for the sake of the Vietnamese and Cambodian people, and for peace, stability and development in the region.

The officials shared the view that the Vietnam-Cambodia relations have been consolidated and strengthened, with the traditional friendship between the two ministries serving as a pillar.

The two sides have maintained their close c
oordination in the fight against crimes, they said, adding that thanks to efforts by the public security forces, security and order in border areas has been ensured.

The officials agreed to increase information exchanges and continue coordination in preventing plots by hostile forces, maintaining security and social order and safety, and fighting cross-border crimes.

Earlier, the Vietnamese delegation paid a courtesy visit to Samdech Techo Hun Sen, President of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and President of the Supreme Privy Council to the King.

Hun Sen pledged to contribute more to the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia across spheres, including security.

For his part, Lam affirmed that Vietnam always backs Cambodia’s national construction and development, and expressed his belief that the neighbouring country will gain more achievements in the time ahead.

Later the same day, the Vietnamese delegation visited the Police Academy of Cambodia, where Lam stressed that personnel trainin
g is a fundamental task which has contributed to enhancing the relations between the two countries in general and the two ministries in particular.

According to the minister, since 2003, the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security has admitted thousands of Cambodian police officers to train at academies and schools, and sent hundreds of teachers to Cambodia for training classes.

The Vietnamese ministry has also sent 100 officers to the Police Academy of Cambodia to study the Khmer language, helping to promote coordination between public security forces of the two countries in the crime combat.

On January 24, the Vietnamese delegation paid a courtesy visit to Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet, who suggested the two ministries intensify cooperation in fighting crimes, especially drug and high-tech ones, and digital transformation, support each other to improve law enforcement capacity, and coordinate to handle legal documents for people of Vietnamese origin in Cambodia.

The same day, the de
legation also met with other Cambodia officials, and visited the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in the country./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue received New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Tredene Dobson in Hanoi on January 24, lauding the outgoing diplomat’s contributions to relations between the two countries and their parliaments.

On this occasion, Hue thanked the New Zealand Embassy in Vietnam and the ambassador for supporting a high-ranking NA delegation led by him on a visit to New Zealand in June 2022.

She said she is very proud of joint achievements gained by the two nations during her term, praising their close coordination in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

She also emphasised the positive results of people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between the two countries in agriculture, defence, and security.

The ambassador affirmed the importance of tightening parliamentary cooperation between New Zealand and Vietnam, pledging to promote bilateral cooperation in any capacity.

The top legislator praised Tredene Dobson’s contributions during the past three years have helped promote
the multifaceted and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in various fields. Particularly, the two sides facilitated the access of agricultural products to each other’s markets.

On this occasion, Hue thanked New Zealand for actively supporting Vietnam with vaccines, ventilators, and resources to control the COVID-19 and recover its economy after the pandemic.

He said he and the NA of Vietnam will continue to create favourable conditions for the New Zealand Embassy and Ambassador Tredene Dobson’s successor to work in Vietnam, contributing to fostering cooperation between Vietnam and New Zealand in general and between the two countries’ legislative bodies in particular./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Binh Duong: German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on January 24 visited the Vietnamese-German University in the southern province of Binh Duong as part of his two-day state visit to Vietnam.

Delivering a speech to hundreds of students, the President said he was impressed by Vietnam where tradition and modernity are combined together and highlighted close ties between Vietnam and Germany despite their geographical distance.

Germany will help Vietnam in many areas, including ecological transformation, infrastructure and economic restructuring, he affirmed while speaking highly of Vietnam’s important role in the region and the world.

Pointing out difficulties and challenges facing the two countries amidst global uncertainties, the leader noted his belief that Germany and Vietnam will continue observing and respecting international law, and multilateralising and diversifying friendly and cooperative relations, which, he said, would help them overcome difficulties.

The President called the university a “lig
hthouse project” for the close relations between the two countries, and pledged that Germany will further support Vietnam to double the university’s training scale.

Founded on September 1, 2008, the university has attracted nearly 3,000 students enrolled in seven undergraduate and 10 master’s programmes with a focus on high-tech engineering and economics./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hoa Binh: A delegation from Laos’ Houaphanh province led by its Vice Governor Phutphan Keovongxay on January 24 visited and extended New Year greetings to Hoa Binh province’s Party Organisation, authorities, and people.

Receiving the Lao delegation, Vice Chairman of the Hoa Binh provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Chuong told the guests about the province’s socio-economic achievements in 2023, and reviewed the good relationship between Vietnam and Laos in general and between Hoa Binh and Houaphanh in particular.

Appreciating Hoa Binh’s significant changes in socio-economic development. Phutphan Keovongxay thanked Hoa Binh province for supporting Houaphanh in building a school, training Lao students, and transferring technology to the province.

He said he believes that the two provinces will continue to strengthen and expand cooperation in many fields, contributing to strengthening the relationship between the two provinces.

Chuong affirmed that his province will further promote people-to-people excha
nges with the Lao locality, especially those among the young generations./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency