Day: December 15, 2021

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Executive Chairman of the US-based Air Lease Corporation (ALC) Steven Udvar-Hazy in Hanoi on December 15.

Noting the growing Vietnam – US relations in many areas, PM Chinh said the US is currently a leading partner of Vietnam.

He said the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the whole world, including the two countries, and aviation businesses, including Vietnam Airlines, are among those hit hardest.

He asked the ALC to assist Vietnam Airlines in this trying time, adding that the support will help the national flag carrier weather difficulties, restructure better, and also cooperate more effectively with the ALC in the time ahead.

The country is planning to resume some international air routes, including those linking with the US, and Vietnam Airlines will take part in this process, the PM said.

Agreeing to assist Vietnam Airlines in certain contracts, Udvar-Hazy said during their 20-year partnership, the carrier has always carried out the signed agreements with his firm well, and the bilateral cooperation is now at its best.

He expressed his belief that with the assistance and after Vietnam reopens, with economic and tourism activities resumed, Vietnam Airlines will recover and develop.

Following the meeting, PM Chinh witnessed the exchange of the assistance agreement between Vietnam Airlines and the ALC. Under this deal, the American company will directly reduce prices by 420 million USD in existing contracts and cancel the previously signed aircraft leasing ones worth 600 million USD in total.

The ALC, headquartered in Los Angeles and one of the world’s largest aircraft leasing companies, is leasing 22 planes to Vietnam Airlines, accounting for more than 30 percent of the aircraft this carrier is renting.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Construction Joint Stock Company 47, Vu Phong Energy Group and Steag Energy Services GmbH of Germany signed in Hanoi on December 15 a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on jointly providing consultancy services for the implementation of wind power projects nationwide.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Pham Nam Phong, Chairman of Company 47 and Vu Phong Energy Group, said the three sides will team up with wind power investors as part of efforts to create high-quality clean energy projects in Vietnam.

The move will contribute to the sustainable development of the energy industry and support energy shift in Vietnam, helping it fulfil greenhouse gas emission commitments made at the recent UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), he said.

Earlier this year, the Vu Phong Energy Group and Steag Energy Services GmbH signed to collaborate in providing asset management service packages to Vietnam’s growing wind power industry, helping maximise wind farms’ production capacity and bring profit for financiers.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The 31st Diplomatic Conference opened in Hanoi on December 15 in both online and in-person formats.

In his opening remarks, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said the conference takes place at a crucial time when the diplomatic sector and the nation are entering a new development period and striving to successfully implement the Resolution adopted at the 13th National Party Congress, the 2021-2030 socio-economic development strategy, and the 2021-2025 socio-economic development plan.

Pointing to the rapid, complex developments in the world and domestic situations, notably the COVID-19 pandemic, Son said the diplomatic sector has made concerted efforts to overcome difficulties and challenges to synchronously carry out major tasks on foreign relations. The sector has gained important results, particularly maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, significantly contributing to protecting national independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, expanding and deepening relations between Vietnam and many partners, and maximising external resources to serve socio-economic development.

It has continued to promote the image of Vietnam as a nation of independence and self-reliance with a rich culture, which is resolved to pursue reforms and make active and responsible contributions to major international issues and forums, Son said, highlighting Vietnam’s fulfilment of its duties as Chair of the ASEAN in 2020 and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council in the 2020-2021 term, helping to raise the country’s position in the international arena. According to the minister, the sector has very heavy but glorious tasks in the time ahead. He stressed that the sector should carry forward its pioneering role in creating and maintaining the peaceful and stable environment, safeguarding the nation early and from afar, and mobilising external resources to serve socio-economic development and improve the country’s position and prestige.

He called on the delegates to seek new ways to synchronously and effectively implement major tasks of the sector in order to turn external relations and diplomacy into a strong driving force for the country’s rapid and sustainable development.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam is one of the major pillars in India’s Act East Policy and an important factor helping India strengthen partnership with the ASEAN, said Speaker of the Lok Sabha (House of Representatives) of India Om Birla.

Granting an interview to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent in New Delhi on the occasion of Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s official visit to India from December 15-19, Birla underlined that the Vietnam-India 50-year ties have been developed on a firm foundation of cultural and civilisational connections as well as strong mutual trust and understanding.

“Over the last 49 to 50 years, our relationship has grown from strength to strength- covering diverse areas of cooperation, such as trade and investment, defence, development partnership, cultural cooperation and people to people exchange,” he said, adding that the elevation of ties to comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016 has helped further consolidate the two countries’ close partnership, and has paved the way for future cooperation.

He said he believes that the Vietnamese top legislator’s visit will add momentum to India and Vietnam’s tradition of maintaining close parliamentary cooperation.

According to the Indian legislative leader, over the last two years, the world has been facing unprecedented disruptions brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, and during those difficult times, India and Vietnam have stood by each other, supplying critical medicines and equipment to support their fight against the pandemic. He added that the two Parliaments also played an important role, guiding and giving direction to these efforts.

Regarding cooperation between the two countries, Birla said that in the framework of the Mekong–Ganga Cooperation, India has implemented several Quick Impact Projects, building community level infrastructure, which are directly benefiting the people of Vietnam.

He went on to say that many Vietnamese students have benefited from scholarships to study in India, and have contributed to bringing the two countries closer, adding that he hopes more students would come to India utilizing the 1000 PhD fellowships offered to ASEAN countries.

“In coming times, keeping with the spirit of “Act East Policy”, we also hope to enhance both physical and digital connectivity with Vietnam,” Birla said.

He said that India and Vietnam share common long-term interest in maintaining peace, stability and development in the Indo-Pacific region, which has been shown in the joint vision for peace, prosperity and people that was adopted in 2020.

Asked about what Vietnam and India should do to maintain peace, stability and prosperity in Asia and Indo-Pacific, as well as in the South China Sea, the legislative leader said Vietnam and India have an abiding interest in maintaining peace, stability and development in the Indo-Pacific region, which is also reflected in the “Joint Vision for Peace, Prosperity and People” adopted by the two countries in December 2020, when both Prime Ministers participated in the Virtual Summit.

The two countries also share the fundamental principles of respect for international law and rules-based order, adding to the factor of stability in the Indo-Pacific region, he said.

“Therefore, both countries must continue to strengthen their partnership, bilaterally, as well as through ASEAN framework and other multilateral mechanisms,” he said.

Source: Vietnam News Agency