Hanoi: The amended Land Law, freshly passed at the 15th National Assembly (NA)’s 5th extraordinary session, introduces numerous new elements, focusing on five groups of issues, a legislator said at a January 18 press conference on outcomes of the session.

In his response to queries regarding the revised law, Phan Duc Hieu, permanent member of the NA Economic Committee, elaborated that the first group include provisions aimed at better protecting the legal rights and interests of land users, such as the expansion of land-use rights for Vietnamese citizens, including those residing abroad, and land policies for ethnic minorities.

The second group involves facilitating people and businesses’ access to land, like those specifying land recovery for socio-economic infrastructure development as well as production and business activities. This means land is taken back only when absolutely necessary. Additionally, it expands regulations related to land-use agreement mechanisms, land-use purpose changes for existing
land users, land fund expansion, and land funds for small- and medium-sized enterprises, among others.

The third group focuses on enhancing the efficiency of land use, while the fourth deals with land finance, and the last is about improving the effectiveness and efficiency of state management, including various reformative provisions to streamline administrative procedures and provide convenience for citizens.

As heard at the press conference, chaired by NA General Secretary and Chairman of the NA Office Bui Van Cuong, the extraordinary session completed its entire agenda after 3.5 days of work.

Adopted at the event were the amended Land Law, amended Law on Credit Institutions, the resolution on specific mechanisms and policies for implementing national target programmes, and the resolution on the use of the central budget’s common reserve for the 2021-2025 period’s mid-term public investment plan for ministries, central agencies, localities, and the Vietnam Electricity./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang received Chairman of the Committee on International Trade (INTA) at the European Parliament Bernd Lange in Hanoi on January 18.

Affirming that the EU is a partner of leading importance in Vietnam’s foreign policy, the host official applauded the positive results of Vietnam’s cooperation with the EU as well as members of the bloc.

He called on the EU and its member countries to continue sharing experience and giving financial, technological, and capacity building assistance in climate change response and energy transition to help Vietnam realise the commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 and secure green and sustainable development.

The Deputy PM asked Lange, with his role and prestige, to raise an important voice to promote the 10 remaining EU members’ ratification of the EU – Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) so as to step up equal and mutually beneficial investment ties.

Quang also suggested his guest help persuade the European Commission to re
move the ‘yellow card’ warning for Vietnam’s seafood exports on the basis of the recognition of Vietnam’s efforts against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Recalling the negotiation on and signing of the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), Lange stressed that the deal is successful in terms of both political and economic aspects for both sides, helping the Southeast Asian country gain a growth rate many EU members dream about.

He held that Vietnam and the EU boast stable and trustworthy relations and sound cooperation in multiple areas with many agreements inked, so both sides need to work closely to continue developing this relationship in a more intensive and extensive manner in the future.

With regard to the issue of IUU fishing, he spoke highly of Vietnam’s efforts over the recent past, particularly in monitoring fishing vessels and perfecting the legal corridor, and recommended the country promote law enforcement in its localities./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong and President Vo Van Thuong have exchanged messages of congratulations with General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping on the occasion of the 74th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries (January 18, 1950 – 2024).

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh exchanged messages of greetings with Chinese Premier Li Qiang while National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue exchanged congratulatory messages with Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) of China Zhao Leji.

On this occasion, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son also exchanged congratulations with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to Hungary from January 18 to 20 will create breakthroughs and impetus for the comprehensive partnership between the two countries, said Vietnamese Ambassador to the European nation Nguyen Thi Bich Thao.

The PM, his spouse, and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam will pay the official visit at the invitation of Hungarian PM Viktor Orban, following their attendance in the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

In a recent interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency, Thao said the trip takes place as the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Hungary have been growing well for nearly 75 years. This will be the first time the two PMs held talks since their countries lifted bilateral ties to the comprehensive partnership in 2018.

Despite numerous difficulties, uncertainties, and risks in the world, with senior leaders’ very high political resolve, the visit will further tighten the po
litical trust, create breakthroughs and impetus for the comprehensive partnership, and especially foster ties in investment, economy, trade, science – technology, education, digital transformation, and green transition to generate practical benefits for both peoples, she remarked.

The ambassador went on to say that during the three-day visit, PM Chinh is scheduled to engage in 15 activities. In particular, the two PMs will witness the signing of cooperation documents in the fields of diplomacy, culture, water management, and crime, along with 10 others between Vietnamese and Hungarian universities. They will attend a business forum with a view to fostering bilateral economic, trade, and investment links.

PM Chinh and the delegation of Vietnam will also visit and have meetings with some Hungarian enterprises operating in such key industries as the pharmaceutical sector. The Government leader is set to deliver an important speech on Vietnam’s foreign policy and relations between the two countries at the Natio
nal University of Public Service of Hungary. In addition, he will visit the Vietnamese Embassy and meet representatives of Vietnamese people there.

Highlighting some major achievements in bilateral economic, trade, and investment ties, Thao noted that implementing its ‘Look East’ policy, Hungary has attached importance to relations with Vietnam, one of its important partners in Southeast Asia, and also supported Vietnam’s enhancement of connections with the EU. In particular, Hungary was one of the first to ratify the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), helping bilateral economic and trade links to progress over the recent past.

Thanks to these two deals, Vietnam has become a bridge for goods from Europe, including Hungary, to enter ASEAN and vice versa. Since the signing of the EVFTA, trade between the two countries has grown by a record of 33%, from 354 million USD in 2017 to over 1.2 billion USD in 2022 despite impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023,
braving regional and global economic difficulties and an economic recession in Hungary, bilateral trade still reached some 900 million USD, she noted.

Meanwhile, she added, Hungary’s investment in Vietnam remains stable with 22 projects worth 72.28 million USD in total, ranking 51st among the 143 countries and territories investing in the Southeast Asian country.

The diplomat held that there remains huge potential for Vietnam – Hungary cooperation, especially when it has been promoted via frequent meetings between the leaders of the two countries, thereby contributing to the Vietnam – EU relations.

As Hungary is about to hold the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU in the last half of 2024, during which it will focus on economic recovery, PM Chinh’s visit will help tackle bottlenecks and step up Vietnam’s trade and investment links with the EU via Hungary, according to Ambassador Thao./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.

– Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended a discussion on ASEAN as a main speaker in the framework of the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF-54) in Davos, Switzerland, on January 17 (local time).

Other speakers at the event included Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, Speaker of the Philippine Lower House Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Read full story

– Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a talk with representatives from world leading banks and financial investment funds on investment in Vietnam’s financial market in Davos, Switzerland, on January 17 (local time), on the sidelines of the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF-54).

Participants focused on assessing the financial market in Vietnam in 2023, shared models and experiences in building international financial centres and put fo
rth recommendations for Vietnam. Some financial groups also talked about their plans on investment in Vietnam. Read full story

– Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with Swiss President Viola Amherd and Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Rebeca Grynspan in Davos, Switzerland, on January 17 (local time) on the sidelines of the 54th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF-54).

At the meeting with Swiss President Viola Amherd, PM Chinh thanked the Swiss Government for the warm welcome for him and congratulated Switzerland on the successful organisation of WEF-54, which was attended by nearly 3,000 leaders of governments and businesses globally. Read full story

– Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on January 17 afternoon (local time) received leaders of major international businesses to promote investment into Vietnam during his working trip to Davos, Switzerland to attend the 54th Annual Meeting of the WEF (WEF-54).

Receiving Marcus Bards, Chairman of the
Board of Directors of staBOO Holdings AG Company – a subsidiary of BARD AG specialising in research, development, and production of high-end interior products, PM Chinh appreciated the cooperation between the company and its Vietnamese partners to build a factory to produce bamboo products. The cooperation helps enhance the value of bamboo and increase income for bamboo growers. Moreover, with modern technologies, the factory produces environmentally friendly products and export them to the world. Read full story

– Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Duc Hai hosted a reception in Hanoi on January 17 for Bernd Lange, Chairman of the European Parliament (EP)’s Committee on International Trade, during which the legislator affirmed that Vietnam always wishes to enhance its partnership and comprehensive cooperation with the European Union (EU).

Hai noted with pleasure positive developments in the relations between Vietnam and the EU as well as the Vietnamese legislature and the EP, saying Vietnam
is now an important partner of the EU in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Asia-Pacific. Read full story

– Representatives from 25 Malaysian travel companies joined a FAM trip to Quang Ninh from January 16-21 to study tourism products in the northern coastal province, home to the World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay.

Nguyen Van Son, director general of Victoria Tourism Company which organised the trip together with Malaysia’s Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA), said this is an opportunity for Vietnamese tourism businesses in general and Quang Ninh in particular to expand cooperation with Malaysia. Read full story

– The development strategy of the coal industry to 2030 with a vision to 2045 has been approved by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha in Decision No 55/QD-TTg, under which coal output is expected to be between 45 and 50 million tonnes by 2030, and between 38 and 40 million tonnes in 2031-2045.

Under the strategy, the industry will focus on exploration for upgrading existing
coal resources along with new coal mines. Read full story

– The volume of international arrivals in Vietnam is forecast to increase in 2024, said The Outbox Company in a report titled ‘Vietnam Travel Landscape 2024′ released on January 17.

According to the Vietnam-based market intelligence company, the country’s aviation industry has bounced back impressively since the travel restrictions triggered by COVID-19 were relaxed in the country and the world. Vietnam has quickly become the world’s fastest recovering domestic aviation market and is expected to establish itself as the fifth fastest developing one by 2035. Read full story

– Vietnamese players Le Tien Anh and Vu Tuan Phong have qualified for the Asian tennis championship finals in India in April after winning the championship at the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Asia 14 and Under Development Championship 2024 Regional qualifying – South, Southeast and East Asia.

During the qualifying event that took place from January 7-17 in the northern
province of Bac Ninh, Anh won the championship in the boys’ singles event while female player Naba Sishan topped the girls’ singles event./. Read full story

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Bac Giang: Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue paid a working visit to Bac Giang on January 18, asking the northern province to step up infrastructure development to attract major investors.

In Viet Yen district, he visited the JA Solar Vietnam Co. Ltd, which has invested 967 million USD in three projects in Bac Giang since 2016 to form a solar battery production chain.

He applauded the performance results of the company, which has become the second biggest foreign investor in the province, created a large number of jobs, and helped create an ecosystem of solar batteries, which are now in demand around the world during energy transition.

The top legislator said he is impressed with the firm’s plan to double and triple its product chain, adding that he hopes its factory at the Vietnam – Republic of Korea Industrial Park, also located in Viet Yen district, will become operational soon to contribute more to local growth.

Chairman Hue also spoke highly of JA Solar’s sense of social responsib
ility as seen in its assistance for low-income earners and students.

He highly valued Bac Giang’s investment attraction efforts and stressed that it needs to boost comprehensive infrastructure development to attract many big investors.

Highlighting Vietnam’s promotion of energy transition, substantial potential for renewable energy, and commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050, the NA leader called on JA Solar to continue boosting investment in the country to increase solar battery products to meet demand in Vietnam and the world.

The NA and Government of Vietnam pledge to constantly improve the investment and business climate for all enterprises, including foreign ones, and consider successes of foreign invested firms as its own, he stated.

The NA Chairman presented gifts to workers of JA Solar at the event.

The same day, he attended the inauguration of a house for a disadvantaged resident in Bich Dong township of Viet Yen district./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency