Category: General

Vietnam has great opportunities to export rice, fruits and other agricultural products to the UK, one of the world’s 10 largest markets with an annual food import turnover of more than 65 billion USD, heard a recent conference to promote Vietnamese farm produce in the UK.

The event, organised by the Embassy of Vietnam in the UK on September 28 under the theme ‘Exploring tropical specialties’, attracted the participation of representatives from the UK-ASEAN Business Council (UKABC), South East Asian Trade Facilitation Organisation (SEATFO), businesses in the UK and more than 100 Vietnamese exporters of agricultural products.

The participants discussed the potential, requirements and standards of the UK market for imported agricultural products. They were also introduced to various Vietnamese farm produce.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Nguyen Hoang Long said that Vietnam-UK bilateral trade is expected to see remarkable growth after the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) was signed in December 2020.

He stated that bilateral trade in agriculture has great potential for development as Vietnam has an advantage in terms of agricultural products while the UK is a large market for these types of products.

While giving advice to Vietnamese exporters, CEO of UKABC Ian Gibbons said businesses need to carry out thorough market research to ensure their products are suitable and competitive on the import market.

He also stressed the importance of building trust with UK partners through developing long-term and sustainable relationship.

Meanwhile, SEATFO Director John Gavin pointed out that it is important for businesses to ensure their products meet market requirements while providing good customer services and on-time delivery.

British businesses also value partners who uphold environmental protection and participate in social activities, he added.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Vietnam – Indonesia joint working group on defence – military cooperation convened the fourth meeting via videoconference on September 29.

The event aimed to prepare for the two countries’ second defence policy dialogue slated for October, the Quan doi Nhan dan (People’s Army) daily reported.

Colonel Vu Thanh Van, Director of the External Relations Department under the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence, expressed the willingness to join hands with the Indonesian side to help promote defence and military cooperation.

He noted in the Vietnam – Indonesia strategic partnership, bilateral defence and military links have maintained a positive development trend in the recent past.

Amid the complex COVID-19 pandemic, the organisation of the joint working group’s fourth meeting reflected both sides’ proactiveness, flexibility, and determination to maintain contact and enhance defence – military relations, according to the officer.

Both sides shared the view that the joint working group has shown its effectiveness in helping to develop substantive defence – military ties between Vietnam and Indonesia.

Notably, leaders of the two militaries have paid mutual visits on the occasion of each other’s important events. The countries have also maintained and made good use of the consultation and information exchange mechanisms; shared experience between their military arms and services; cooperated in the defence industry; and supported and consulted each other at multilateral forums.

Regarding cooperation orientations for the time ahead, the two officials agreed to propose their defence ministries’ leaders increase mutual visits, especially at high levels, to boost viewpoint sharing and trust building; bring into play consultation and dialogue mechanisms; augment ties in personnel training; continue supporting each other at multilateral forums; and consider expanding cooperation to more areas such as search, rescue, and military medicine, particularly in COVID-19 response./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The 13th Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission on September 30 issued an announcement about its 7th session from September 28-30.

The commission said the Standing Board of the Party Committee of the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) in the 2015-2020 tenure violated working principles and regulations, showed a lack of responsibility and supervision, loosened leadership and directions, violated the Party’s regulations, the State’s laws and the Defence Ministry’s regulations on the use and management of finance, implementation of basnstruction, purchase of technical materials and equipment, smuggling prevention and control, and maintenance of security, safety and order at sea.

The above violations caused serious consequences and significant losses of money and assets for the State, affected the performance of political tasks and prestige of the Party organisation and army, thus causing concern among officers and soldiers.

The commission decided to give a warning as a disciplinary measure against Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Quang Dam, former Vice Secretary of the Party Committee and former Commander of the VCG. It also decided to relieve Col. Nguyen Van Hung, member of the Party Committee and Deputy Commander of the VCG from all Party positions.

The commission also suggested the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat consider imposing disciplinary measures against the Standing Board of the VCG’s Party Committee in the 2015-2020 tenure, and Vice Secretary of the VCG’s Party Committee and Commander Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Van Son; and former Secretary of the Party Committee and former Political Commissar of the VCG Lieut. Gen. Hoang Van Dong, and several other individuals.

At the session, the commission considered the settlement of complaints about Party disciplines and decided on other important contents

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan held phone talks with Vice President of Nigeria Yemi Osinbajo on September 30 to discuss measures to promote bilateral ties.

Xuan welcomed the upcoming visit to Vietnam by Osinbajo, affirming that the trip will offer both sides a chance to review bilateral cooperation and outline specific measures to boost cooperative ties.

She also hailed positive progress in multifaceted collaboration between the two countries over the past years.

Speaking highly of Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements over the past years, Osinbajo affirmed that Nigeria treasures Vietnam’s role and position in the region and the world.

The two leaders expressed wish to improve the efficiency of bilateral collaboration in the near future. They agreed to step up trade and investment promotion activities, and beef up cooperation in energy, agriculture, education and sports.

Both sides pledged to accelerate talks and signing of agreements to create favourable conditions for bilateral multifaceted cooperation.

They vowed to continue working closely together and offering mutual support at multilateral forums, especially the United Nations and the African Union.

They expressed support for efforts to enhance developing countries’ access to COVID-19 vaccines and transfer of vaccine production technologies.

The Vice Presidents also exchanged views on several regional and global issues of shared concern.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Authorities, businesses, and retailers in Ho Chi Minh City are promptly making preparations for reopening retail and distribution activities in “green zones” after a period of strict social distancing.

Many districts in the southern metropolis has managed to put COVID-19 under control such as Cu Chi, Can Gio, Nha Be, 7, 5, Go Vap, Phu Nhuan, and Tan Binh, along with Thu Duc city.

Nguyen Thi Kim Ngoc, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Industry and Trade, said the department has been working with enterprises, retailers, and producers to ensure the supply of essential goods and promote selling farm produce after September 30.

It has asked the districts and Thu Duc city to devise appropriate plans to reopen traditional markets while still ensuring pandemic safety. It has also told the retail system to report on their distribution plans and pledge to guarantee sufficient supply.

Facing new requirements from the market and consumers, Chairwoman of the People’s Committee of District 5 Truong My Kieu said local authorities will strive to meet local demand for essential goods with stable prices, so they will keep a close watch on the pandemic situation and the market so as to resume trading activities step by step.

Though local residents hope for the reopening of direct retail and distribution, they still expect trading activities will meet safety criteria to sustain the achievements in the COVID-19 fight.

So far, HCM City has reopened the wholesale food markets of Binh Dien, Thu Duc, and Hoc Mon. Residents in “green zones” have also been permitted to go shopping once a week.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Prime Minister has agreed on the Transport Ministry’s proposal on assigning five localities to carry out projects of Belt Road No.4 of Ho Chi Minh City.

Accordingly, the People’s Committee of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province is responsible for constructing the section from Phu My to Bau Can, with a total length of 18km.

The People’s Committee of Dong Nai province will be responsible for the section connecting Bau Can to Thu Bien bridge (excluding Thu Bien bridge), with a total length of 45km.

The People’s Committee of Binh Duong province is tasked with building the sector from Thu Bien bridge to Sai Gon river (including Thu Bien bridge, excluding the bridge over Sai Gon river), which is 49km long.

A 17km section from Sai Gon river and Thai Cai canal (including the bridge over Sai Gon river) will be implemented by the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City.

Meanwhile, the People’s Committee of Long An province will construct the section connecting Thai Cai canal with Hiep Phuoc, with a total length of 71km.

The Government leader requested the Transport Ministry to exercise State management over these projects.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Chairman of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education Nguyen Trong Nghia held online talks with Chairman of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) Central Committee’s Commission for Publicity and Education Tak Sun Y on September 30.

Nghia, who is also Secretary of the CPV Central Committee, said cooperative ties between the two Parties and nations have kept growing intensively and extensively in various areas over the past years.

During the phone talks between Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President of the CPP and Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen in February, the two leaders vowed to work closely together to effectively realise high-level agreements, contributing to the enhancement of fine neighbourliness, traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Tak Sun Y, who is also member of the CPP Central Committee, said from the fight against colonialists and imperialists to the period of peace at present, relations between the two Parties and people of the two nations have been both urgent and voluntary, which are always remembered by their leaders, officials and people. Today, the bilateral relationship has been consolidated in diverse areas in the spirit of fine neighbourliness, traditional friendship and long-term cooperation.

At the talks, the two sides discussed the dissemination and implementation of each Party’s policies and guidelines, the fight against wrongful and hostile viewpoints which aim to sabotage Vietnam – Cambodia ties, and campaigns to raise awareness of the fight against COVID-19.

They agreed that the two commissions will boost cooperation in fields of their strengths that suit each other’s functions and tasks, thus diversifying exchange activities between the people of the two nations, especially among young generations and those working in theoretical research, dissemination and press, thereby firmly strengthening the social foundation for Vietnam – Cambodia fine neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue had an online working session with a high-ranking business delegation from the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) on September 30 at the request of the council’s President & CEO Ted Osius.

The Vietnamese top legislator highly valued the great contributions by Osius, who is also the former US Ambassador to Vietnam, and other US officials to the Vietnam-US relations over the years, as well as the contributions of US business community and the USABC to the economic development in Vietnam as well as the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and the US.

He affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to the ties with the US and hopes to promote the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership. He said practical outcomes have been seen in action plans that the Vietnamese Government has made to boost bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries.

Hue thanked the valuable support that the US Government, people and businesses have given to Vietnam in COVID-19 prevention and control, especially through vaccine provision, helping the country control the pandemic soon and gradually resume production and economic development. Hue also lauded US pharmaceutical firms such as Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson for supplying vaccines for Vietnam, especially during the fourth wave of COVID-19 in the country with the dangerous Delta variant.

He expressed his hope that participants will discuss issues of shared concern of Vietnam and the USABC as well as specific matters of US investors.

For his part, Ted Osius hailed Vietnam’s efforts to ensuring that all people and businesses can adapt to the new situation and improving COVID-19 approaches. He underlined the USABC’s hope to cooperate with the Vietnamese Government in maintaining production, creating jobs and promoting economic development.

The US business community commits to supporting the dual targets of Vietnam in controlling the pandemic and boosting economic development at the same time, as well as the country’s adaption to the ‘new normal’.

Source: Vietnam News Agency