Day: April 23, 2024

Hanoi: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on April 23 hosted a reception for ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn who is paying a working trip to Vietnam and attending the ASEAN Future Forum (AFF) 2024 from April 21-24. PM Chinh thanked Kao for his attendance at the forum, which was held at the initiative of Vietnam, and expressed his hope that the AFF will be a venue where initiatives to bolster regional cooperation will be shared, helping to build an ASEAN community of solidarity, resilience and sustainable development. Speaking highly of the ASEAN Secretariat and Kao's contributions to the ASEAN Community, the Vietnamese Government leader stressed that the group has made important achievements after nearly six decades of establishment and development. The bloc needs to maintain its solidarity, independence, self-reliance and adaptation to the regional and global volatility so as to build a community with fast and sustainable growth and in accordance with the trend of the era, he said. PM Chinh held that A SEAN should boost dialogue relations with its partners, particularly the world's powers, in the direction of balance, diversification, multilateralisation, harmonising benefits and sharing risks, and reducing disagreements for an environment of peace, cooperation and development in the region, and for a strong, independent, resilient and adaptive ASEAN. Amidst complicated developments of the region and the world, PM Chinh laid a stress on the significance of maintaining solidarity, unity and central role of ASEAN in promoting the settlement of regional issues. Regarding the East Sea issue, he affirmed that ASEAN is adopting a rational approach and maintaining its key role in promoting dialogues, handling disagreements via peaceful measures and in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS), preventing the escalation of tensions and conflicts, and ensuring peace, security and freedom of navigation and overflight in the region. Regarding the situation in Myanmar, PM Chinh affirmed that Vietnam and other ASEAN member states always support humanitarian assistance efforts of the bloc and its partners in Myanmar. He expressed his hope that ASEAN will continue to steadfastly implement the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) to support Myanmar. He said that Vietnam supports Laos as the Chair of ASEAN 2024 and the Special Envoy of the Chair on Myanmar, as well as the ASEAN Secretary-General in promoting the implementation of 5PC, especially in mobilising humanitarian assistance from the international community for the people of Myanmar through the Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) to help Myanmar overcome this difficult period. More than ever, ASEAN needs to unite together, promote more innovative and breakthrough approaches to support Myanmar in seeking feasible and sustainable solutions for the benefit of the people of Myanmar, and for peace, security, and stability in the region, the PM stressed. For his pa rt, Kao said the AFF is an important initiative, reflecting the strategic vision of PM Chinh and Vietnam in promoting the establishment of a dedicated ASEAN forum on the future of the bloc, contributing to the building of a rapid and sustainable development and people-centered ASEAN Community, which can adapt swiftly to geopolitical fluctuations and competition among major countries in the region. For the building of the ASEAN Community, Kao reaffirmed that this is a common interest and priority of member nations. He noted that partner countries consistently value the relationship with and central role of ASEAN, and are ready to support the group in implementing its key priorities in each pillar of the Community, especially in trade, investment, human resources training, and people-to-people exchanges. Regarding the Myanmar situation, Kao said ASEAN needs to prompt relevant parties in Myanmar to increase meetings and dialogues for the interest of the Myanmar people and for peace and stability in the region. For the East Sea issue, he welcomed and praised Vietnam's strategic thinking and appropriate approach, expressing his hope that all parties will promote negotiations towards the completion of a practical, effective and suitable Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) based on international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, and for the benefit of ASEAN. On this occasion, the two leaders exchanged views on other ASEAN cooperation issues such as promoting Timor Leste's efforts to become a full member of the group and enhancing the capacity of the ASEAN Secretariat by recruiting competent officials from the bloc's member countries, including Vietnam. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam./. Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The 32nd session of the National Assembly Standing Committee concluded in Hanoi on April 23 after four and a half days of work. NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said that the session has completed its agenda, with opinions exchanged on 19 items and written opinions provided on three reports from the Government. Specifically, the Standing Committee opined on the proposed law-making programme for 2025 and adjustments to the 2024 one. These matters will be presented to the NA at its upcoming 7th session. Six draft laws were also thoroughly discussed by the committee before they are submitted to the 7th session for debate for the first time. They were the draft laws on cultural heritage (revised), geology and minerals, urban and rural planning, judicial procedures for juveniles, value added tax (revised), and amendments and supplements to certain provisions of the Pharmacy Law. Thus far, the Standing Committee has provided opinions on 21 out of 24 draft laws to be submitted to the NA's 7th session. Three it ems related to legislative work were set to be transferred to the next session of the committee, including the draft law on fire prevention and fighting, rescue, as well as two draft resolutions on mechanisms and policies for Nghe An and Da Nang provinces. Regarding inspection work, participating legislators heard and opined on four reports of the NA and NA agencies. They also provided opinions on the Government's proposal and agreed to join the Government to decide investment policy adjustments for the socio-economic development programme in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for 2021-2023, as well as the investment policy for a project on building the Gia Nghia-Chon Thanh section of the north-south expressway-west. The lawmakers discussed the organisation of the 7th session and the results of the 6th extraordinary session, among other matters./. Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh spoke highly of cooperation between the Russian Federal Bar Association (RFBA) and the Vietnam Lawyers' Association (VLA) while receiving RFBA Chairman Sergey Stepashin, who is also former Prime Minister of Russia, in Hanoi on April 23. PM Chinh affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to and wants to continue deepening and developing its traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, contributing to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world. He proposed the two countries continue strengthening political trust, facilitating high-level visits, removing difficulties and obstacles in economic and investment projects in the spirit of harmonising interests and sharing risks. The PM also suggested advancing cooperation and sharing experiences among ministries and localities of Vietnam and Russia, especially in education-training, exchange of students in basic science fields, culture-arts, tourism, people-to-people exc hanges and aviation connectivity. To concretise agreements reached by high-ranking leaders, PM Chinh suggested RFBA and VLA, as well as relevant agencies, review and efficiently carry out cooperation deals, build a legal framework for bilateral cooperation and actively step up economic, trade and investment collaboration. On global and regional issues, he called for continued coordination at multilateral forums for the sake of peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world. Stepashin, for his part, affirmed that Russia treasures and wants to fortify relations with Vietnam across various fields. He vowed to report the contents of his discussion with the PM to Russian leaders and relevant agencies. He also personally committed to further promoting the bilateral relationship, especially in the areas and topics recommended by the PM./. Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son met with Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Dato Pehin Erywan Yusof in Hanoi on April 23, as the latter has been in Vietnam to attend the ASEAN Future Forum 2024. Both officials expressed their delight at the positive development of the Vietnam-Brunei Comprehensive Partnership over the past time and agreed to facilitate all-level visits in the coming time, with a particular focus on preparations for the Vietnam visit by the Sultan of Brunei. They also concurred on the importance of soon convening the third session of the Vietnam-Brunei Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation to review the overall bilateral relationship, and ensure the effective implementation of the agreements reached during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to Brunei in February 2023, particularly the Action Plan on the implementation of the Vietnam-Brunei Comprehensive Partnership in the 2023-2027 period. In addition to accelerating the effective implementation o f four key areas, including oil and gas, chemicals, Halal products, tourism and people-to-people exchange, Son proposed Brunei work closely on implementing bilateral agreements on food security and promptly finalise new deals in agriculture, fisheries, finance, trade, economy, investment and education. Agreeing with Son's proposals, Yusof suggested enhancing cooperation in potential areas such as oil and gas, agriculture, and tourism, including the "6 countries, 1 destination" initiative. Both sides also vowed to strengthen cooperation in other important areas such as national defence, education, increasing the number of scholarships, and short-term student exchanges. On global and regional issues of shared concern, they affirmed support for Laos as it assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2024. They also vowed to hasten the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, fostering ASEAN's solidarity and central role in addressing regional issues, including maintaining its common stance on the East Sea issue and promoting the imp lementation of ASEAN's Five-Point Consensus on the Myanmar issue. At a working session with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn on the same day, Son suggested the ASEAN Secretariat further enhance its effectiveness in supporting member countries, increase research and forecasting efforts, improve inter-sectoral and inter-pillar coordination, and pool resources for the Secretariat's activities. Kao expressed support for Vietnam's stance on strengthening broader and more substantive dialogue relations between ASEAN and its partners. He also pledged to collaborate with Vietnam to successfully conclude its term as coordinator for ASEAN-Republic of Korea relations and assume its new roles as coordinator for ASEAN-UK and ASEAN-New Zealand relations./. Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: The 11th Vietnam-Republic of Korea (RoK) defence policy dialogue took place in Hanoi on April 23, reviewing results of the countries' cooperation in the field, discussing matters of shared concerns, and agreeing on orientations for joint work in the time to come. Deputy Minister of National Defence Hoang Xuan Chien and his RoK counterpart Kim Seon Ho co-chaired the event. Chien said that the bilateral ties have been enhanced across areas, including defence, following the upgrade of the Vietnam-RoK relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership in December 2022. He noted that with support from their leaders, the countries' defence cooperation has reaped practical outcomes regarding delegation exchanges, education-training, dialogue and consultation mechanisms, defence industry, military trade, war aftermath alleviation, cybersecurity, military medicine, and UN peacekeeping. The sides have also consulted and backed each other at related multilateral forums and mechanisms, particularly ASEAN-led me chanisms. He recommended they continue to foster joint work in these spheres, and affirmed that the Vietnamese defence ministry is willing to host senior officers from the RoK attending training courses at the National Defence Academy and Vietnamese language courses at the Military Science Academy in Vietnam. He took the occasion to thank the RoK Government for granting a total of 34 million USD for two projects on tackling wartime bombs in Vietnam. For his part, Kim stated the RoK wants to expand its defence collaboration with Vietnam and proposed the sides maintain current joint activities and explore new cooperation areas based on their friendship. At the dialogue, the officials exchanged views on the global and regional situations of mutual concerns. Regarding the East Sea issue, Chien emphasised that Vietnam remains steadfast in resolving all disputes through peaceful means, based on international law and commitments in the region, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea ( UNCLOS), the ASEAN six-point principles on the East Sea, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the waters (DOC), and the promotion of substantive and effective negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC). On the situation on the Korean Peninsula, he said Vietnam maintains its stance against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and supports the denuclearisation of the area and the resolution of issues through peaceful dialogue. The deputy ministers also signed the dialogue's minutes./. Source: Vietnam News Agency

Hanoi: Politburo member, permanent member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat and Chairwoman of the Party Central Committee's Organisation Commission Truong Thi Mai on April 23 received outgoing Japanese Ambassador Yamada Takio. Mai, who is also Chairwoman of the Vietnam - Japan Friendship Parliamentarians' Group, praised the diplomat's significant contributions to the comprehensive and strong growth of the countries' relations over the past four years. She said during his tenure, the two countries successfully co-organised activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties last year. Among them were high-level phone talks between Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio as well as the upgrade of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world. Appreciating support from the Vietnamese Party, State, ministries, and organisations, including the friendship parliamentarians' group, the ambassador expressed his delight at outstanding progress made in the Vietnam-Japan ties across sectors as well as the Party, State, parliamentary, people-to-people, and locality-to-locality channels. He pledged to make efforts to foster the development of the countries' friendship and cooperation in any future capacity, contributing to deepening and translating into reality the content of the Japan-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership./. Source: Vietnam News Agency