Category: Politics

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

– Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his spouse, and the high-ranking delegation of Vietnam arrived in Zurich, Switzerland, on January 16 morning (local time), starting a trip to attend the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.

At the airport, the Government leader and his entourage were welcomed by Vietnamese Ambassador to Switzerland Phung The Long, Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai – head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam in Geneva, the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and Permanent Mission, and Vietnamese people in the European country. Read full story

– The People’s Court of Dak Lak on January 16 opened the first-instance trial for 100 defendants involved in the case of “terrorism aimed at opposing the people’s administration, terrorism, organising illegal exit or entry for others, and harbouring criminals’ which happened in Cu Kuin district in the Central Highlands province on June 11,
2023.

Of the defendants, 53 are accused of “terrorism aimed at opposing the people’s administration”, 39 charged with ‘terrorism”, one with ‘organising illegal exit or entry for others,’ and one with ‘harbouring criminals’ under Clause 1, Article 389 of the Criminal Code. Read full story

– Along with the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Vietnamese garment and textile sector also needs a Vietnam-Canada free trade agreement or another bilateral deal to penetrate more deeply into the North American market, according to experts.

Currently, Vietnam is the third largest garment supplier to Canada with a market share of about 12%. Read full story

– Vietnam Airlines Group which comprises Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO) has announced an addition of over 66,200 seats, equivalent to more than 310 flights, for the peak Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday from January 25 to February 24, 2024.

These figures bring its total to about
2.64 million seats and 12,374 flights during the period. Read full story

– Despite lingering difficulties, businesses have recovered their confidence, the Private Economic Development Research Board (Board IV) under the Prime Minister’s Administrative Reform Advisory Council underlined in its latest report on business situation in 2023 and outlook for 2024.

In the report, the board said that compared to its previous survey conducted in April 2023, businesses have become more optimistic, as the proportion of businesses rating the current macro-economic situation as positive/very positive was 2.7 times higher than in the April survey. Read full story

– Since joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the ‘Design’ category in 2019, Hanoi has organised a multitude of activities relating to design and creativity.

The capital city has participated in the network with the aim of turning cultural resources and creations into the foundation for its sustainable urban development, said Director of the municipal D
epartment of Culture and Sports Do Dinh Hong. Read full story

– China was the biggest buyer of Vietnam’s agro-forestry-fishery products in 2023, and it is expected to remain a promising market with numerous opportunities for Vietnamese farm produce to increase the market share and export value.

Fourteen agricultural products of Vietnam have been licensed to be exported via the official channel to China, namely bird’s nest and related products, sweet potato, dragon fruit, longan, rambutan, mango, jackfruit, watermelon, banana, mangosteen, black jelly, lychee, passion fruit, and durian. Read full story

– The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has ordered local firms to ensure sufficient supply of goods of affordable prices for the upcoming Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, as demand on this occasion is forecast to increase 10% from the same time last year.

Businesses have rushed to stockpile essential items, with the volume of inventory rising 10-25% year-on-year. They have committed to launching an array of
price stabilisation and promotion programmes in the runup to Tet. Read full story

– Vietnam’s European Plastics Joint Stock Company (EuP) has inaugurated a factory specialising in producing filler masterbatch in Sadat city, Menoufaya province of Egypt, marking the first factory of a Vietnamese enterprise in the Middle East country.

The EuP Egypt factory was built on an area of more than 34,000 sq.m with an investment of 30 million USD. It is designed to have 24 production lines with a total capacity of 300,000 tonnes a year, creating jobs for more than 300 local workers. Its products will serve the Egyptian market and exports to the Middle East, Africa, Europe and America./. Read full story

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Vietnam and Canada concluded a vibrant year filled with a multitude of activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties (1973-2023). On the occasion of the New Year 2024, the Vietnam News Agency held an interview with Ambassador of Canada to Vietnam Shawn Steil, discussing achievements in bilateral relations and the prospects for future cooperation between the two countries.

The following is the full text of the interview.

Reporter: 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of Canada-Vietnam diplomatic relations. Over the past half a century, the two countries have recorded significant achievements in various aspects. What are your thoughts on the potential for further cooperation in the years to come?

Ambassador Shawn Steil: It is the beginning of the new year. It’s an exciting time to think ahead of what we can do more. But it’s also important to acknowledge the foundation on which we built and on which we go forward.

And as you rightly suggest, 2023 was the year we marked 50 years o
f diplomatic relations. Canada is very proud of its contributions and support to Vietnam’s remarkable development over more than 50 years. But particularly over the last 50 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, we’ve seen a deepening and broadening of the relationship in all aspects.

In fact, in 2017, our leaders marked the establishment of a comprehensive partnership, identifying a full range of areas where we should work further. So if we look at back from that period 2017 until now, you can see that we’ve really progressed in all areas into a really broad and comprehensive partnership, in trade, in politics, in defense and security, in science and innovation, in education and in people-to-people exchanges.

Across all of those fields, despite the pandemic that affected all countries from 2020, we’ve seen remarkable growth in the relationship. Moving forward on this foundation, I think it’s time for us to start to look at how the relationship between Canada and Vietnam, as strong as it is
bilaterally, can now be a positive force for change in the world. We are two countries that see eye to eye on many global issues. But we need to deepen our understanding of our positions on those global issues and find areas where we can actually cooperate for positive change in international relations.

Reporter: Vietnam is currently Canada’s largest trading partner in ASEAN and a top destination for Canadian products. Given the challenges in the global economy, how do you view Vietnam’s economic recovery? What measures do you think both nations should take to promote trade and investment relations?

Ambassador Shawn Steil: Yes, this is a pivotal time for global trade, and for economic development in Vietnam and around the world. So now is the time to make sure that we are not relying on the things that have been working up to now, but that we are actually looking forward to how do we can push things further.

So you are right, Canada and Vietnam’s trade has seen remarkable growth, 20 to 30% in some areas in
two way exports. We’ve seen because of the CPTPP, our multilateral free trade agreement that borders have been opened and trade has increased across the border, most of the trade is still Vietnamese exports to Canada. And we are proud that Canada is now in the top 10 purchasers of Vietnamese products globally. That’s a remarkable achievement. We would like to see more growth in Canadian exports. And as incomes are growing in Vietnam, I expect that is going to take care of itself.

We already see really good growth and high quality food products being exported from Canada to Vietnam, as Vietnamese consumers are looking for high quality, safe, nutritious foods. Canadians are supplying that food, so the growth is there. But we need to continue to push and promote exports from Canada to make sure that we’re keeping pace with the growth of the Vietnamese economy.

Investment is another area of strength. Canada is around the 14th largest investor in Vietnam, but that has remained relatively stable over time. We nee
d to see more breakthrough in the opportunities for us to build supply chains, value chains, not just trading goods, but actually participating as equal partners in supplying the globe with products, technology and other services. We need to partner more closely with each other on that, including through investment.

What Canadian companies are really looking for in investing in Vietnam is stability, transparency, and an understandable regulatory framework. So we continue to work with the Vietnamese Government to ensure that the needs of Canadian investors are sustained over time.

Reporter: How can Vietnam and Canada work together to promote sustainable development and prosperity in line with Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, which focuses on building a sustainable green future?

Ambassador Shawn Steil: This is a key question for everyone. Canada’s focus on a green and sustainable future in the Indo Pacific region is recognition that high rates of growth in this part of the world also come with risks. And thos
e risks are around ensuring that everyone benefits from economic growth and that the environment is not harmed.

So Vietnam has a challenge now with its remarkable economic growth to ensure that it is sustainable environmentally, socially through the long term. And Canada is a partner for Vietnam and supporting the transition to clean energy for example.

Few countries have the growth in energy demand that Vietnam does, estimated at 10% a year at least. So in order to meet that energy demand, we think it is strategic moment for Vietnam to invest in clean sources, and renewable sources of energy. But that requires remarkable investments, it requires a regulatory environment, and it requires technology. All of this Canada has experience with. So we are working through our development assistance and our advocacy to ensure that Vietnam has access to world class technology, expertise, and finally investment.

As Vietnam grows, less of the investment is going to come from official development assistance, and more i
s going to be coming from international loans and even concessional finance. But taking on debt has its own risks. And so we want to work with Vietnamese Government to ensure that Vietnam is comfortable with taking on the risks of loans to ensure that it can invest in a sustainable future.

Reporter: In terms of external affairs, 2023 is believed to be a highly successful year for Vietnam. We would like to hear your perspective on this. How do you assess the country’s achievements in external affairs during the year?

Ambassador Shawn Steil: What a year for Vietnam in 2023. First we have to state the obvious (that Vietnam was) the only country in the world to host presidential visits from the world’s two superpowers, the United States and China. That in itself I think is a sign of the attention that Vietnam is attracting from around the world.

I think we’ve also seen that success through economic development and investment. Investors are looking to Vietnam as a safe haven for investment in an era of turbulen
ce globally, both economically and in terms of security issues.

Vietnam is seen as a reliable partner and that is a precious asset for Vietnam, that the country has successfully exploited for its own benefit over the last year. Vietnam’s membership on the United Nations Human Rights Council is another major achievement.

But with all of this attention, comes also responsibility. And so Canada, for example, is hoping that Vietnam will not forget its other partners who are not superpowers such as Canada and look forward to a future of engaging with us on issues such as international rules and the rules-based international order.

We find that superpowers do have the tendency to sometimes ignore international law. Countries like Canada and Vietnam depend on consistent application of international law to secure our sovereignty and our prosperity and our security. So Canada sees Vietnam as a valuable partner in bolstering international law and respect for the rules internationally, and partnering on that as we mo
ve forward.

Clearly, Vietnam has integrated very fully into the international system, and is seeing the benefits of that integration for its own people. Now we want to partner with Vietnam to ensure that those benefits remain sustainable well into the future.

Reporter: As the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday is approaching, what are your thoughts and experiences as a foreigner living and working in Vietnam during this festive period? Do you and the embassy have any plans to celebrate the New Year of 2024 in Vietnam and participate in Tet festivities?

Ambassador Shawn Steil: You can see the smile that comes on my face whenever I started thinking about Tet. And I have been lucky to experience Ted already as ambassador here in Hanoi.

Personally, I love to stay in Hanoi and experience all of the dynamic atmosphere on the streets of Hanoi and not travel outside of Vietnam because I find that Tet is such a special time that I want to experience it right here in the country.

One of my highlights of the year is host
ing our Tet party for all of the embassy staff and their families. And we are blessed here at the embassy to have a family with many small children, all the way from children under the age of one to teenagers and young adults.

And so when we come together as an embassy community, our Canadian diplomats here with their families, as well as our Vietnamese colleagues, with their families, as one community to celebrate Tet, it really is the highlight of the year for me.

And I look forward to presenting Tet gifts to the children and experiencing their joy that comes with this really magical time of year.

So allow me to take this opportunity to wish to all of your viewers a very happy Tet this year. ‘Chuc Mung Nam Moi’.

Reporter: Thank you for the interview./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s upcoming visit to Romania is expected to mark a milestone in the bilateral cooperative relations, helping to enhance understanding of each other’s priorities and interests, Romanian Ambassador to Vietnam Cristina Romila has said.

Talking to the press, the ambassador held that the visit will continue to promote bilateral dialogue at the Prime Minister level, underlining that it will be a highlight of close ties between the two countries’ people, which has been the foundation for the bilateral relationship over the past 74 years.

The visit will prompt new progress in the implementation of joint projects and the building of bilateral legal cooperation frameworks, she said.

The diplomat underscored that that the fruitful cooperation between the two countries over the past five years has affirmed the deep friendship between Vietnam and Romania. The two sides joined hands in setting major challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and made joint efforts to evacua
te more than 1,000 Vietnamese citizens from conflict areas in Ukraine.

Romila noted that along with meetings between Romanian President Klaus Werner Iohannis and Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh on the sidelines of international events, the bilateral political-diplomatic relations have seen new progress.

Particularly, when Romania held the Presidency of the European Council, the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) were signed, she said, adding that Romania was one of the first EU members to ratify the IVIPA.

At the same time, people-to-people diplomacy between the two countries has been promoted after the COVID-19 pandemic, along with cultural, academic and business exchanges. Representatives from 30 Romanian universities have visited Vietnam over the past two years. The Romanian Bucharest Symphony Orchestra performed in Hanoi and Da Lat in 2022 and 2023. A number of Romanian business delegations also visited Vietnam to seek partnership opportunities,
helping to diversify bilateral economic cooperation, the diplomat noted.

Regarding major collaboration areas and priorities for the bilateral partnership in the coming time, the ambassador underlined that the 17th meeting of the Vietnam-Romania Joint Committee for Economic Cooperation last November achieved fruitful results. The two sides agreed on important cooperation mechanisms in areas of mutual interest such as trade, agriculture, sanitation, energy, labour, science, technology and culture, she said.

Romania can become a gateway for Vietnamese goods to penetrate into Europe, while Vietnam can support Romania to enter the ASEAN market, the ambassador said.

She stressed the need for the two sides to optimise the efficiency of the EVFTA to further open the doors for each other and draw more investment in areas of shared interest./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF-54) will offer a wonderful opportunity for Vietnam to demonstrate its international commitments and call for support from investors to its efforts, Ambassador of Switzerland to Vietnam Thomas Gass has said.

The diplomat made the remark in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s upcoming trip to Davos to attend the meeting and make his official visits to Hungary and Romania from January 16-23.

Emphasising the importance of the forum amidst global upheavals, Gass said it serves as a platform for leaders from countries and sectors to seek solutions and affirm their responsibility for the implementation of common visions, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

It also encourages pioneers to put in place positive initiatives, he said, stressing the need for recommitments to multilateralism and the international rule of law, the establishment and
upgrade of new platforms for dialogues, and the building of stronger partnerships.

The ambassador also highlighted the importance of PM Chinh’s participation at the WEF-54, and cited the leader at another WEF event in China last June as saying international solidarity, multilateralism and people-centred would help the world weather ‘headwinds’.

The PM can deliver remarks completely with self-confidence at the upcoming meeting as Vietnam has made remarkable contributions to addressing global issues, and the country deserves international acknowledgement.

As an active member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Vietnam plays a crucial role in promoting regional stability and cooperation, he said, noting its engagement in UN peacekeeping operations, including those in South Sudan and Central African Republic.

Vietnam has taken important steps to cut carbon footprint, towards achieving its commitment to net zero emissions by 2050, and the country is making efforts to raise its climate resili
ence through the implementation of a national action plan and measures to protect the vulnerable in this regard, Gass continued.

The country is also working hard to improve its energy security by investing in renewable energy sources like solar and wind energy.

Regarding the memorandum of understanding between Vietnam and the WEF for 2023-2026, the diplomat said the document will enable the Southeast Asian nation to access international resources and expertise, and join WEF programmes globally.

He also lauded efforts by Vietnamese competent agencies in reforming administrative procedures, improving education quality, developing human resources, and promoting digital economy, as reflected through the increasing FDI influx in the country.

However, the diplomat stressed, Vietnam still needs to exert greater efforts to maintain its competitive edges.

For the relations between Vietnam and Switzerland, Gass said Switzerland was one of the first Western countries to officially recognise the Democratic Republic
of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam) in 1971, and the bilateral relationship has been developing dynamically, with its focus shifting from economic development cooperation to trade.

Switzerland welcomes positive progress in negotiations on the free trade agreement between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and Vietnam, he said, adding that once coming into effect, the deal will create a favourable framework and pave the way for Swiss investments in Vietnam, thus fostering the bilateral trade, he continued.

The ambassador commended Vietnam’s foreign policy and dynamic economic environment, which has prompted many countries to seek the upgrade of their partnerships with Vietnam.

The diplomat also expressed his hope for the elevation of the Vietnam-Switzerland relations in the time ahead, saying he is making efforts to push ahead with the progress.

According to Gass, Switzerland’s main exports to Vietnam include pharmaceuticals, chemicals, machinery and precision mechanics, while its im
ports from the Southeast Asian country are electronics, footwear, textiles-garments, and seafood.

Since 2008, economic development cooperation between the two countries has focused on improving public finance, enhancing the capacity of the financial sector, raising the competitiveness of small- and medium-sizes enterprises, urban planning, climate adaptation, and sustainable growth.

Besides, the two sides have maintained cooperation in science-technology and delegation exchange, he said, recalling the latest visit to Vietnam by President of the National Council of Switzerland Martin Candinas last June.

The ambassador also called the forum an opportunity for the two countries to hold their high-level meetings./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Seoul: The Vietnamese Embassy in the Republic of Korea (RoK) held a ‘Xuan Que Huong’ (Homeland Spring) programme in Seoul on January 14 to bring the warm Tet atmosphere to the Vietnamese community in the East Asian nation.

The event, the biggest of its kind after COVID-19 pandemic, attracted the participation of about 500 Vietnamese people in the host country.

Speaking at the event, Charge d’affaires a.i of the embassy Nguyen Viet Anh said that with the spirit of mutual support and solidarity, the Vietnamese community have always helped each other to overcome difficulties and reaped many successes in work and life.

He emphasised that Vietnamese people in the RoK have stayed united and helped each other to overcome difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, manifesting the fine Vietnamese traditions and creating good impression on the host society.

President of the Vietnamese Association in the RoK Le Nguyen Minh Phuong shared that this year’s event saw the coordination of six Vietnamese associations sp
onsored by the Vietnamese embassy, including the Vietnamese association, the Vietnamese students’ association and the Vietnamese women’s association.

Ly Huan, head of the Ly Hoa Son (Lee Hwasan) clan who are descendants of Ly Long Tuong, a prince of the Ly dynasty ruling Vietnam between the 11th and 13th century, said the ‘Homeland Spring’ programme is a highly anticipated event of Vietnamese expatriates, international students and workers who cannot return to their hometowns to celebrate Tet.

He also pledged to perform his role in people’s diplomacy, actively contributing to the development of economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries.

Art performances featuring love for the homeland, games and lucky draws brought a joyful atmosphere for the participants.

According to statistics, the RoK is the second homeland of more than 200,000 Vietnamese people and currently there are about 180,000 Koreans living and working in Vietnam. This close connection is due to the comprehensive connections f
rom the past and traditional values, historical and cultural similarities and the emotional attachment between the two nations./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: President Vo Van Thuong on January 14 sent his greetings to his Maltese counterpart George Vella on the occasion of the 50th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Malta diplomatic relationship (January 14, 1974 – January 14, 2024).

The same day, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also extended his congratulations to Malteses Prime Minister Robert Abela, and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue offered greetings to Speaker of the House of Representatives of Malta Angelo Farrugia.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son sent a message of congratulations to his Maltese counterpart Ian Borg./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency