Day: January 22, 2022

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on January 22 extended his congratulations to the new President of the European Parliament (EP).

In his letter to Roberta Metsola, the NA Chairman sent the best regards from the Vietnamese legislative body and himself to the first female President of the EC over the past 20 years, and also the youngest ever leader of the body.

Hue highlighted that Vietnam always attaches importance to the comprehensive cooperative ties with the European Union (EU), which is a top partner in Vietnam’s external policy of international integration, with the cooperation between the Vietnamese NA and the EP being an important pillar.

He expressed his belief that under the leadership of the EP President and with the support of EP members, the Vietnam-EU comprehensive partnership and cooperation will be developed to new heights for the practical benefits of people of both sides.

Chairman Hue took the occasion to invite EP President Roberta Metsola to pay an official visit to Vietnam at an appropriate time to discuss the cooperation between Vietnam and the EU in general and the two legislative bodies in particular./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son had a New Year meeting with representatives of press and press management agencies, and reporters covering foreign affairs.

During the meeting, Minister Son thanked press agencies and reporters for their effective contribution to the overall success of foreign affairs as well as external information work of the country in 2021, saying that they provided timely and accurate information for both domestic and foreign audiences, contributing to popularising the foreign policy of the Party and State, and creating consensus, solidarity and support of the public at home and abroad, as well as international friends.

2021 is a challenging and difficult year, especially with the great and extensive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, adding that a fast changing world situation along with non-traditional security challenges such as diseases, climate change, and cyber security are negatively affecting international relations.

In that context, Vietnam’s foreign affairs activities have been implemented in an active, creative and flexible manner, closely following the Party’s foreign policy, achieving important results.

The friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and all countries have been maintained effectively, contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment and mobilising resources for the country’s development. Vietnam also successfully fulfilled its role as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, contributing to further increasing the country’s position in the region and the world.

According to the minister, in 2022, the foreign affairs work will focus on continuously consolidating the position of Vietnam in the region and the world through bilateral and multilateral diplomacy with neighbouring countries, big countries, partners and traditional friends, and promoting activities within ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

Attention will be paid to to stepping up diplomacy serving development, with people, localities and businesses put at the centre of service; implementing comprehensive diplomatic activities with a focus on cultural diplomacy, contributing to enhancing the country’s image, Son said.

The external information work, citizen protection and the overseas Vietnamese affairs will continue to be implemented effectively, he added.

The minister expressed the hope that press agencies will continue to contribute to the successful implementation of foreign tasks tassigned by the Party, State and people.

On behalf of the press agencies, Standing Vice Chairman of the Viet Nam Journalists Association Nguyen Duc Loi highly valued the close and effective coordination and support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs over the past year for press agencies.

On this occasion, FM Son presented the insignia for the diplomatic service and the Foreign Minister’s certificate of merit to a number of collectives and individuals who have made excellent achievements in the external information work and the development of Vietnam’s diplomatic sector./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Vietnamese community in the US and US friends gathered at the “Xuan Que huong” (Homland Spring) programme that was held online on January 21 (Washington time) in Washington on the occasion of the coming Lunar New Year (Tet), the most important festival of Vietnamese people in a year.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador Ha Kim Ngoc highlighted the meaning of the traditional Tet in the culture of Vietnam.

Looking back on the past year, the diplomat underlined that Vietnam and the US have put COVID-19 under good control and are boosting socio-economic recovery. The Vietnamese community in the US has risen strongly despite difficulties brought by the pandemic, he said, adding that the community had provided helpful support to the homeland in COVID-19 fight.

Noting that good progress was seen in the Vietnam-US relations across all fields last year, Ngoc took the occasion to thank the Vietnamese community in the US as well as US and international friends for giving Vietnam helpful support over the years. He extended best New Year wishes to the community, expressing hope that the Year of the Tiger will bring luck, success, as well as stronger recovery and growth for Vietnam and the Vietnam-US relations.

For his part, US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper expressed his delight to return to Vietnam as an ambassador. He extended New Year wish in Vietnamese to all participants. He affirmed that he will work hard for the further development of the Vietnam-US ties, contributing to peace, security, prosperity of the region and the world./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Overseas Vietnamese (OV) who have made great contributions to the home country’s COVID-19 fight and development, were honoured in a meeting on January 22 within the framework of the annual “Xuan Que Huong” (Homeland Spring) programme 2022.

Addressing the event, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu, who is head of the Foreign Ministry’s State Committee for OV Affairs, said that this is a special and meaningful occasion to look back on a challenging 2021, and express gratitude to individuals and organizations who have supported and accompanied the country to overcome difficulties in recent years.

Overseas Vietnamese honoured for contributions to homeland’s COVID-19 combat hinh anh 2

Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu speaks at the meeting (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

Accordingly, OVs in many countries had engaged in practical activities to help the homeland. They have donated up to 80 billion VND (over 3.5 million USD) to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in general and the COVID-19 vaccine fund in particular, along with large amounts of medical equipment and supplies.

Many Vietnamese expatriates in Singapore, Australia, Japan, Germany, the US, and the Republic of Korea have actively worked along Vietnamese representative agencies abroad in calling for assistance from their host countries’ governments, opening up many opportunities for Vietnam to access vaccines, medicines and medical equipment and supplies for COVID-19 prevention.

Besides active contributions to Vietnam’s vaccine diplomacy, overseas Vietnamese organizations and networks of entrepreneurs, intellectuals, youth and students had kept effective connections with the homeland, contributing to the nation’s socio-economic development, Hieu said.

Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Do Van Chien said the Party and State hold the consistent view that the overseas Vietnamese community is an integral part and an important resource of the nation.

Overseas Vietnamese honoured for contributions to homeland’s COVID-19 combat hinh anh 3

Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Do Van Chien speaks at the meeting (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

He thanked Vietnamese expatriates for their contributions to the country’s development, and the pandemic prevention and control work in particular, saying that joint efforts of people from all classes in the society, especially timely support of OVs around the world, have enabled Vietnam to achieve positive results in the vaccination drive against COVID-19.

On the occasion, 33 organizations and 45 individuals were presented certificates of merit of the VFF Central Committee for their contributions to the OV affairs and to consolidating the great national unity bloc.

In the morning the same day , Vice Chairman of the VFF Central Committee Phung Khanh Tai and a delegation of Vietnamese expats paid tribute to late President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum and visited his stilt house. They offered incense at the ancient Thang Long Imperial Citadel, and laid wreaths at the monument to heroes and war martyrs in Hanoi. /.

Source: Vietnam News Agency