Day: September 3, 2021

As an active member of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN) and a reliable partner of Russia, Vietnam is ready to serve as a bridge connecting Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) with ASEAN nations, Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said.

The minister made the remarks via video on September 2 at a dialogue session between Russia and ASEAN held within the framework of the Eastern Economic Forum which is currently being held in Vladivostok, Russia.

He suggested that steps be taken to implement the free trade agreement between ASEAN and the EAEU which serves as a basis for boosting cooperation between ASEAN and Russia in particular and inter-regional collaboration between ASEAN and the EAEU in general.

After nearly 55 years of establishment and development, ASEAN is increasingly asserting itself as one of the most successful regional cooperation organisations and plays an increasingly important role in regional and international relations, Dien said.

The minister said that at the special ASEAN-Russia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN-Russia relations in July, the countries agreed on the necessity to create a new impetus in the relationship and further strengthening the strategic partnership.

Vietnam and other ASEAN countries had pledged to work closely with Russia to promote trade and investment, maintain regional supply chains, intensify cooperation between the EAEU and ASEAN, and make contributions to promote regional trade and linkages, he said.

Ivan Polyakov, Chairman of the Russia-ASEAN Business Council Ivan Polyakov, who chaired the dialogue, said ASEAN is a region with strong economic development and still has great development potential.

The President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Russian Federation, Sergey Katyrin said Russia has a lot of mechanisms and tools to cooperate with ASEAN.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Russia-ASEAN trade turnover increased by 20 percent in the first six months of this year, he said, adding that with this growth rate, bilateral trade turnover is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels by the end of this year.

He also noted the cooperation in developing a green economy in the context of more natural disasters would occur in the world due to the impact of climate change.

At the dialogue, speaker Do Quoc Viet – a member of the Vietnam Entrepreneurs Association in Russia – said that transport infrastructure and logistics activities always play an important role in economic cooperation and development between the two countries.

He cited a lack of containers and congestion at seaports as reasons for an increase in transportation fees for the route from Vietnam to Vladivostok. It has increased from 1,000 USD per container in October last year to 10,000 USD. The shipping time has also risen, sometimes up to 2-3 months.

Viet suggested that Russia build a larger port which is corresponding with the transport capacity from ports in Southeast Asia to solve the problem.

The most important issue on the agenda between Russia and ASEAN as well as the between the EAEU and ASEAN is to fully tap the potential of the two sides, Ivan Polyakov, the Chairman of the Russia-ASEAN Business Council, told Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Moscow after the dialogue.

Polyakov said he hoped that Vietnam and other ASEAN member countries are increasingly interested in strengthening cooperation with Russia in the widest range, not only in business, trade, or investment but also in culture and tourism and mutual understanding.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

On September 2, 1945 at Hanoi’s Ba Dinh Square, President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence declaring the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam). The Declaration, which demonstrates the strong will and aspirations of Vietnamese people, remain deeply topical both at home and abroad after 76 years.

The Declaration was the work that reflects President Ho Chi Minh’s philosophical, political and even human points of view most fully and deeply, as well as containing the values of human civilisation.

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In this document, the late President affirmed that national rights and human rights have a dialectical relation.

The Declaration was not only a declaration of independence of the Vietnamese people but also a declaration of human rights and the rights of colonial nations. President Ho Chi Minh’s elevation of human rights to national rights was his contribution to the treasure of human rights ideology.

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Under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Vietnamese people rose up to repel the colonialists, feudalists and imperialists, regaining independence, freedom and human rights. Human rights in Vietnam are not a value given by anyone but the result of the long struggle of the Vietnamese people.

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The Declaration of Independence is a solid legal basis that strongly affirms the national sovereignty of the Vietnamese people to the whole world; laying the foundation for the establishment of a rule-of-law state with the goal of independence, freedom and happiness; and illuminating Vietnam’s revolutionary path in the cause of building a socialist rule-of-law state of the people, by the people and for the people, for the sake of wealthy people, strong country, democracy, justice and civilisation.

Seventy-five years have passed, President Ho Chi Minh’s views and thoughts on human rights, national rights, aspirations and resilience to maintain independence and freedom shown in the Declaration still remain topical and significant to the nation building and safeguarding cause at present.

Since then, the Vietnamese people have constantly strived for human rights and achieved many positive and important results. Human rights, civil rights in political, civil, economic, cultural and social fields are recognised, respected, protected and guaranteed in accordance with the Constitution and laws. With its achievements in ensuring human rights, Vietnam was elected as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council in the 2014-2016 term.

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After nearly 35 years of Doi moi (Renewal), Vietnam escaped from the underdevelopment state. Its human development index (HDI) has gradually improved, currently in the upper middle group and ranking 118th out of 189 countries.

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Years will pass, but the spirit of the Declaration of Independence that gave birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam will always live on in the hearts of generations of Vietnamese people.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Phyllis Papadavid, Head of Research and Advisory at Asia House, a consulting organisation based in London, the United Kingdom, in her research, pointed out that Vietnam should promote investment to revive its economy and strengthen its ability to respond to new risks despite its success in dealing with a crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Papadavid – an expert in economics and financial strategy, Vietnam has been an economic success story and has shown resilience during past crises, including the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The economist cited data from the World Bank that the value of trade exchange (including goods and services) of Vietnam with foreign countries was equivalent to 209 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) last year – second only to Singapore in the region. This reflected the openness and deep international integration of the Vietnamese economy.

Trade liberalisation has played an important role in Vietnam’s success. Vietnam joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2007 and signed free trade agreements with countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the US, and the UK. Last year, Vietnam also signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) – the world’s largest free trade agreement.

According to the expert, the openness of the economy has made Vietnam resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite production disruptions from the temporary closure of some factories due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam is one of the few countries with positive economic growth last year, showing the country’s ability to withstand and recover economic growth during the crisis.

However, she said, Vietnam also faced many challenges namely the climate change risks, a decline in foreign direct investment (FDI) and exports due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has disrupted the supply chain.

The expert said that it was necessary for Vietnam to promote new policies to deal with these challenges. She also highlighted the importance of investments to build resilience to climate change and economic shocks.

According to Papadavid, given the important role of FDI in the country’s economic growth, Vietnam should promote FDI attraction in response to the impact of climate change, prioritise investment in the field of agricultural technology, biotechnology, automation and information technology, which are the foundation for Vietnam’s green economy.

To build resilience, she said it was essential for the country to attract FDI that promotes the spatial re-patterning of the economy through creating new economic clusters in non-coastal areas and generating employment opportunities.

The expert believed that the success of reform in the past would serve as a basis for Vietnam to confidently cope with challenges in the future.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended and delivered a speech at the 2021 Global Trade in Services Summit via video in the evening of September 2, at the invitation of Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping.

Following is the full text of the remarks.

Comrade Xi Jinping, General-Secretary,President of the People’s Republic of China,

Excellencies Leaders of Governments and international organizations,

Distinguished delegates,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Today, it is my great honor and pleasure to deliver my remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the 2021 Global Trade in Services Summit, under the theme of “Towards Digital Future and Service Driven Development.” At the outset, I wish to express my sincere thanks to Comrade Xi Jinping, General-Secretary, President of the People’s Republic of China, for inviting me to this very meaningful Summit. On this occasion, on behalf of the Government of Vietnam, I would like to extend my heartfelt greetings, warm regards and best wishes to Excellencies Leaders and distinguished delegates present.

Ladies and gentlemen,

We are entering the 3rd decade of the 21st century, an era of digitalization with numerous intertwined opportunities and challenges. As countries are facing the collective impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and depletion of natural resources, stronger international cooperation and effective application of digital technology are among the key solutions. This will create new drivers for economic growth and recovery, thus ensuring sustainable, inclusive, and comprehensive development. Moreover, stepping up cooperation in digitalization is a key contributor to an environment of peace, stability, cooperation, and development among countries and peoples across the world.

The remarkable achievements and sound investment in digital technology as seen in many countries, including China, have been truly impressive. Reality has shown that the development and application of science and technology have ushered in tremendous benefits. They have enabled economies to transform their growth models, make better use of available resources, and promote the flow of capital, goods, and services at an unprecedented scale and magnitude.

Vietnam has long been aware of the importance of digitalization. Accordingly, we have been accelerating digital transformation of the economy, and the development of digital economy and society. With that in mind, I wish to share with you the following points:

First, we should harness the opportunities presented by the fight against Covid-19 to kickstart digitalization, with the focus on digital technology and digital economy, in order to soon realize the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Vietnam looks forward to the active and effective cooperation of the international community to ensure that digitalization is truly a new method for narrowing not only the development gap among countries, but also social inequalities. Such cooperation will also help ensure that people living in underdeveloped or remote areas can enjoy equal access to services provided through digital platforms.

Second, it is necessary to uphold the role of international agreements on digital technology and digital economy. They would drive the development of these areas, while safeguarding the legitimate demands of countries in ensuring cyber security and safety, and personal privacy, preventing monopoly and eliminating inequality in tax obligations. In this spirit, Vietnam has participated in shaping new norms pertaining to e-commerce in free trade agreements, most recently ones being the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the ASEAN – China Free Trade Area (ACFTA). Vietnam welcomes China’s ideas and efforts in these areas, and stands ready to work with China and other countries to formulate an appropriate legal framework, with a view to promoting the healthy, rapid, suitable, extensive, effective and harmonious development of our digital economies, for the common interest of the whole society.

Third, it is essential to strengthen cooperation in education and training of human resources, and bolster the connectivity among the scientific and technological communities between different countries and regions. This would serve to improve digital literacy for our businesses and people, and support workers, particularly those from disadvantaged groups, in gradually adapting to digital technology.

Fourth, we need to promote digital technology in facilitating trade, supporting the flow of goods and services, especially via multimodal transportation, and the movement of people.

This would prevent the disruption of the supply chains, particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic may persist.

Fifth, we should bolster cooperation to enhance cross-border digital trade in a fair and mutually beneficial manner, thereby promoting exports, especially those of seasonal agricultural and aquacultural goods.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As an ASEAN member with robust economic growth, Vietnam has a network of 17 Free Trade Agreements with over 60 partners, a domestic market of around 100 million people, the majority of which is made up of young people, and an innovation-driven mindset that is highly responsive to digital technologies. Taken all together, Vietnam has vast untapped potential in developing its digital economy. Currently, nearly 70 percent of Vietnamese people are Internet users, and Vietnam is among the fastest growing countries in terms of digital evolution momentum.

Vietnam hopes that cooperation in the development of digital economies will be given due priority and become a core focus in its relations with other countries, and in its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China. At present, China is Vietnam’s largest trading partner, while Vietnam is China’s 5th largest trading partner in the world, and the largest within ASEAN. Vietnam attaches great importance to cooperation with China and other countries in trade in services and digital economy development. Together we will ensure that such ties would be more open, inclusive, sustainable, fair and humanistic, on the basis of mutual respect and interest. Such concerted efforts would be a meaningful contributor to the development of each country, and bring about substantial benefits to the region and beyond.

May the 2021 Global Trade in Services Summit be a resounding success!

I wish you all good health, happiness and greater success.

Thank you.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered a speech at the 2021 Global Trade in Services Summit via video on September 2 evening, highlighting the promotion of cooperation in digital transformation given the current context.

The PM said that in the context that countries are suffering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and resource depletion, promoting international cooperation in the field of digital technology is the key to helping countries transform their growth models, better exploit resources, promote flows of capital, goods and services, thereby creating a new driving force for economic growth, and ensuring sustainable, inclusive and comprehensive development.

He emphasised that Vietnam’s potential for digital economic development is enormous as the country is a dynamic developing economy in ASEAN, has a network of 17 Free Trade Agreements (FTA) with over 60 partners, and is a market of nearly 100 million population, most of whom are young and quickly adapting to digital technology.

Vietnam is ready to, together with China and other countries, promote trade in services and digital economy in particular, contributing to the development of each nation and bringing practical benefits to the region and the world at large, he said.

In the spirit, the Vietnamese Prime Minister put forward five specific proposals.

Firstly, he said, countries need to take advantage of digital transformation to accelerate the fulfilment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 2030, which focus on narrowing development gaps and social inequality between countries, creating conditions for people in underdeveloped areas to have equal access to services provided on digital platforms.

Secondly, he recommended further strengthening the role of international cooperation agreements on digital technology so that the digital economy develops strongly and in the right direction, while at the same time it ensures cyber security and safety, guarantees privacy, fights monopoly and eliminates inequality in the implementation of tax obligations.

Vietnam is willing to, together with other countries, build an appropriate legal framework so as to help the digital economy develop strongly, contribute and harmonise the common interests of the entire society, he affirmed.

Thirdly, attention should be paid to cooperation in education and training of human resources in science and technology, thus supporting labourers to gradually adapt to digital technology.

Fourthly, he suggested promoting the role of digital technology in trade facilitation, especially the movement of goods by multimodal transport, facilitating people’s travel, and ensuring the supply chain is not disrupted amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finally, countries need to strengthen cross-border e-commerce on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, thereby helping promote exports, especially for seasonal agricultural and aquatic products.

The Global Trade in Services Summit 2021 opened in Beijing, China, on September 2 as part of the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) 2021.

CIFTIS2021 is the largest of its kind with the participation of more than 700 enterprises inside and outside China.

There are 15 related conferences and forums within the fair’s framework. This is the first time Vietnamese enterprises have joined the event in both direct and online formats.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Major newspapers of Laos as well as the Lao National Television and Radio have posted an interview granted by Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung to local media on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day (September 2, 1945-2021).

In the interview, Ambassador Hung highlighted Vietnam’s achievements in national construction and defence over the past 76 years under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam as well as positive contributions to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

From a colonial country, Vietnam has become a developing country with a population of nearly 100 million and GDP growth of about 7 percent per year, defence and security ensured, stable socio-political situation, he said, adding the country’s position has been rising in the international arena.

The diplomat underscored that despite complicated and unprecedented developments recently, especially those brought by COVID-19, the Party, State and people of Vietnam have shown strong mettle, creativity to overcome challenges, optimising opportunities and flexibly adapting to the new situation with comprehensive solutions, thus gaining important achievements in controlling the pandemic and boosting economic development.

Last year, Vietnam enjoyed GDP growth of 2.91 percent, becoming the fourth largest economy in ASEAN, he noted.

Vietnam has so far set up ties with more than 500 international organisations and diplomatic relations with 189 out of 193 members of the United Nations, said the ambassador, adding that Vietnam has also established ties with 30 strategic and comprehensive partners.

Ambassador Hung affirmed that in the special occasion, Vietnamese people are commemorating great contributions of President Ho Chi Minh, President Kaysone Phomvihane and President Souphanouvong who laid firm foundation for the Vietnam-Laos ties. Throughout ups and downs of the history, the relationship between the two countries has overcome all challenges and thrived, becoming a great, exemplary, loyal and rare friendship in the world.

General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith still visited Vietnam in June, while President Nguyen Xuan Phuc also paid a visit to Laos in early August. The two historical visits have proved the great friendship, special solidarity between the two nations that cannot be hindered by any hardship, he stated, stressing that despite any difficult situation, the two nations still give each other warm embrace of brotherhood and comradeship as well as encouragement and support, strengthening collaboration and reinforcing their trust.

Hung said 2022 will be the “Year of Solidarity and Friendship between Vietnam and Laos”, during which various activities will be held to mark the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and 45 years of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Amity. This will be a chance for people of both sides, especially young people, to work together to reinforce and accelerate bilateral ties to a new height in all fields, he added.

On behalf of the Party, State and people of Vietnam, Ambassador Hung expressed sincere and deep gratitude to the Party, State and people of Laos for offering Vietnam support, sentiments as well as creating optimal conditions for Vietnamese businesses and community to work and live stably in Laos.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Parliamentary leaders have sent letters of congratulations to Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue on the 76th National Day of Vietnam (September 2).

The letters were sent by Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Park Byeong-seug, President of the Senate of Romania Anca Dana Dragu, President of the National Assembly of Bulgaria Iva Miteva, Chairman of the State Great Hural of Mongolia Gombojav Zandanshatar, Speaker of the Senate of Canada George J. Furey, and Speaker of the House of Common of Canada Anthony Rota.

Source: Vietnam News Agency