Day: November 7, 2021

Vietnam and France will work together to seek solutions to step up projects regarding defence equipment while seeking new cooperation opportunities.

The consensus was reached during the talks between Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien and French Minister Delegate for Remembrance and Veterans Geneviève Darrieussecq, attached to the Minister for the Armed Forces. The talks took place within the framework of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s freshly-ended official visit to France.

The two sides noted with pleasure development steps of the Vietnam-France strategic partnership and mutual support at multilateral forums.

They agreed to coordinate in organising the second Vietnam-France defence strategic and cooperation dialogue, thus contributing to fostering mutual understanding and creating a foundation for the bilateral defence ties.

Chien said Vietnam treasures France’s role as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), and a member of the European Union (EU) and many other international organisations.

He called for France’s further support to Vietnam, helping the Southeast Asian country complete its role as a non-permanent member of the UNSC for 2020-2021, and strengthen its collaboration with the EU, especially in 2022 when France holds the rotating EU Presidency.

Vietnam backs France’s efforts to contribute to maintaining peace, stability and cooperation for development in the region, Chien said, pledging that Vietnam stands ready to work as a bridge between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and France.

The Deputy Minister expressed his hope that France will uphold its role and position in the region, for peace and stability on the basis of respect for international law.

The two sides applauded cooperation achievements, especially those in training and UN peacekeeping operations.

Chien and Darrieussecq witnessed the signing of a letter of intent between the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence and the French Ministry of Armed Forces on military medical cooperation.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietjet and Airbus have inked a strategic partnership agreement on the delivery timeline for 119 aircraft of the airline’s existing backlog and cooperation for the development of Vietjet’s wide-body fleet together with other supporting terms for the airline post COVID-19 period.

Both sides have agreed on further support and training for the airline’s technicians and engineers while accelerating Vietjet’s Training Academy development for simulators, safety management programmes, and flight management training.

The agreement was announced during the official visit to France by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam.

Vietjet will take delivery and operate up to three leased A330 aircraft in November as part of the airline’s wide-body fleet development plan under its LCC model operation, the airline said in a statement.

“We are pleased to reach this agreement with Vietjet,” said Christian Scherer, Airbus Chief Commercial Officer and Head of International.

“It’s another example of how we have worked together with our customers to find solutions to adapt to the impact of the pandemic. With its modern and efficient Airbus fleet Vietjet will be well equipped to benefit from the rebound in air travel in Asia, where we see strong pent-up demand,” he said.

“Our cooperation today again acknowledges both parties’ long-term and sustainable relationship, which is now elevated to a strategic and comprehensive partnership. I believe that the add-on of the A330s will surely enhance our fleet’s technical reliability, operational efficiency and flight range to better meet travel demand of our flyers in the future,” Vietjet Managing Director Dinh Viet Phuong said.

The agreement also covers a variety of other aspects such as aircraft’s equipment supply and services, comprehensive aviation training, consultation, and development of MRO facilities for Vietjet and in the region together with other initiatives for fuel efficiency and sustainable development.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnamese Consul General in Preah Sihanouk province Vu Ngoc Ly on November 6 led a delegation to visit local authorities and armed forces on the occasion of Cambodia’s 68th Independence Day (November 9).

Ly congratulated the Cambodian people on great achievements they have recorded over the past 68 years, saying Cambodia has maintained stability in politics, national defence and security, and economy, and ensured livelihoods for its people.

Speaking highly of Preah Sihanouk province’s performance in COVID-19 prevention and control, economic development and social security, the Consul General thanked local authorities for providing free treatment for many Vietnamese labourers who got infected with the coronavirus, and free vaccinations for Vietnamese Cambodians in the locality.

On this occasion, the Consulate General presented 10,000 masks to Preah Sihanouk province.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnamese Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha has highly valued initiatives of France’s Bureau Veritas Company in building a sustainable future in Vietnam and the world at large.

The minister made the praise at a recent meeting with leaders of Bureau Veritas, where the two sides discussed solutions to respond to challenges caused by climate change and reduce carbon emissions in Vietnam by 2050.

The meeting took place within the framework of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s trip for attending the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland, a working visit to the UK and an official visit to France.

Ha said Vietnam has chosen a sustainable and positive approach, towards the green and circular economy.

The two sides sought ways to boost strategic cooperation for sustainable development, and exchanged views on challenges facing Vietnam on its path towards the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

The company’s leaders expressed their hope for cooperation opportunities with the Vietnamese Government in fulfilling the target of cutting carbon emissions.

Established in 1828, Bureau Veritas is global leader in Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) services.

The company has carried out investment projects in Vietnam over the past 25 years. It now employs more than 1,000 employees and has 10 offices and labs in the Southeast Asian country.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Since Vietnam joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO) 15 years ago, the country has made big strides on the path of international integration, confidently joining the global playground.

With 17 free trade agreements (FTAs) whose negotiations have been completed or underway, Vietnam has become an open economy with a trade to GDP ratio of up to 200 percent.

According to the Agency of Foreign Trade under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), Vietnamese firms have maximised advantages to boost exports and penetrate into new markets.

The country’s total export-import value rose from 84.7 billion USD in 2006 to 545.3 billion USD last year. In the first 10 months of this year, the figure was 537.31 billion USD.

Vietnam has always recorded a trade surplus, from 1.77 billion USD in 2016, to 2.1 billion USD in 2017, 6.8 billion USD in 2018, 10.9 billion USD in 2019 and 19 billion USD in 2020.

The structure of exports has been improved significantly, with the turnover of processed industrial goods increasing from 80.3 percent in 2016 to 85.1 percent in 2019 and 85.2 percent last year.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh cited a report by the WTO last year as saying that among the top 50 merchandise traders, Vietnam recorded the biggest increase in the world’s rankings, leaping from the 39th place in 2009 to the 23rd position in 2019.

The numbers reflect that Vietnam is an open economy after joining the WTO and seriously realising its commitments, he stressed.

Moreover, the signing and implementation of FTAs have helped the country attract more foreign direct investment (FDI), creating momentum for the national economy, the official added.

Ngo Chung Khanh, Deputy Direrector of the MoIT’s Multilateral Trade Policy Department, said apart from reducing administrative procedures, the ministry will continue with the communication work to raise domestic firms’ awareness of the FTAs.

Notably, the ministry will speed up the building of the FTA Portal (FTAP), he said, adding that more than 20 ministries and agencies will join a working group to operate and upgrade the portal.

Deputy Minister Khanh affirmed that Vietnam will further promote trade policies comprehensively and synchronously to boost economic development in tandem with sustainable development.

Vietnam will work harder to effectively implement the present international commitments and FTAs, while seeking potential partners to conduct negotiations on new FTAs, thereby helping to expand trade ties in the future, he said.

Source: Vietnam News Agency