Day: May 1, 2022

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had an informal meeting with his Japanese counterpart immediately after Prime Minister Kishida Fumio arrived in Hanoi for an official visit on April 30 evening.

At the meeting, Chinh talked about the Vietnamese culture with his guest and invited a calligraphic master to write three words Chan thanh, Tinh cam, Tin cay (meaning Affection, Sincerity, Trust) in both Vietnamese and Japanese Kanji to present to the Japanese Prime Minister.

The three words are the new motto for the Vietnam-Japan relationship that the two countries’ PMs had agreed upon during PM Chinh’s visit to Japan in November 2021.

PM Kishida said cultural similarities between Japan and Vietnam create an important foundation for strengthening their friendship.

The visit by the Japanese PM takes place when the Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership is developing robustly across the fields. The two countries are actively preparing for activities marking the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2023.

During the visit, besides holding talks with his Vietnamese counterpart, PM Kishida is scheduled to pay respect to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum, make cordial visits to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and have a meeting with National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue. He will also attend a conference on Vietnam-Japan cooperation in industrial reform and digital transformation.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and the high-level delegation of Japan left Hanoi on May 1 afternoon, concluding an official visit to Vietnam from April 30-May 1.

During the visit, PM Kishida paid respect to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum, held talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh, attended the exchange of cooperation documents, co-chaired a press conference with PM Chinh, participated in a seminar on Vietnam-Japan cooperation in technology renovation, digital transformation and supply chain diversification.

He also paid courtesy visits to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and had a meeting with National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

During his reception for the Japanese guest, Party leader Nguyen Phu Trong laid stress on the great potential for bilateral cooperation. He welcomed the two countries’ building of plans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relationship in 2023 so as to create durable foundation for the substantial, effective and practical ties in the future.

Meanwhile, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed in his reception for PM Kishida that Japan is a reliable partner of top importance of Vietnam, and among the top priorities in Vietnam’s external policy.

At his meeting with NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, the Japanese PM shared that he has been a member of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance for more than 20 years, and so always value the exchange between the two parliaments. He asked Chairman Hue to continue contributing to bilateral cooperation between the two countries, especially between the two law making bodies.

During their talks, the two PMs agreed on the major orientations and measures to further deepen cooperation across the fields, opening up a new period of development for the extensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan.

They reached consensus on further enhancing political trust through maintaining high-level visits and contact, and improving the effectiveness of cooperative and dialogue mechanisms.

They welcomed the great strides in implementing outcomes of PM Chinh’s visit to Japan last November, and agreed to intensify collaboration in post-pandemic economic recovery, and to work together to hold activities marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Following the talks, the two PMs witnessed the exchange of 22 cooperative documents between ministries, agencies, localities and enterprises of the two countries.

They co-chaired a joint press conference to announce the main outcomes of their talks, stressing that the two sides agreed to coordinate closely to promote their extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia for the sake of the two peoples’ interests, and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Addressing the Vietnam-Japan seminar on cooperation in technology renovation, digital transformation and supply chain diversification, PM Kishida said cooperation possibilities between Japan and Vietnam are limitless, noting that the two countries have been promoting cooperation towards the post-COVID-19 period.

The visit by PM Kishida took place when the Vietnam-Japan ties are at their best ever. It contributed to deepening the bilateral relationship, implementing the outcomes of PM Chinh’s visit to Japan last November, enhancing political trust between the two countries and good relations between their leaders and strengthening result-oriented in all fields, meeting the interests and aspiration of the two peoples.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue attended a ceremony marking the 60th founding anniversary of the Nguyen Duy Trinh High School in Nghi Loc district of central Nghe An province on May 1.

Recalling the school’s history, Rector Hoang Thi Kim Lien said the school was initially named the Nghi Loc High School and was renamed in 2011 after late Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Duy Trinh – an eminent leader of the Party and revolution of Vietnam, an excellent diplomat, and a loyal disciple of late President Ho Chi Minh.

She noted throughout its 60-year history, thousands of the school’s students left for battlefields, with over 200 of them laying down their lives for the sake of the Fatherland’s independence and freedom. Many others have become senior leaders of the Party and State, generals in armed forces, scientists, technicians, teachers, writers, poets, artists, or successful entrepreneurs and skilled workers.

On behalf of Party and State leaders, NA Chairman Hue presented the first-class Labour Order to the school and scholarships to 60 disadvantaged students with outstanding academic results. This is the second time the school has been bestowed with the first-class Labour Order.

On this occasion, the school and many of its teachers were also honoured with merit certificates by the Nghe An administration and the Ministry of Education and Training.

The Fund for the Poor of Nghe An presented gifts to disadvantaged students while the provincial Department of Education and Training donated 100 million VND (over 4,300 USD) to the school’s education promotion fund. The Sun Group also donated 10 billion VND to help improve school infrastructure.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong voiced his delight at the flourishing Vietnam – Japan relations while receiving Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio in Hanoi on May 1.

Welcoming the PM and the high-level Government delegation of Japan, the host Party leader congratulated Kishida on his election as President of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan.

He highly valued the good results of the Japanese PM’s official visit, especially Kishida’s talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh and meetings with President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, during which the two sides reached many common perceptions, agreements, and important measures for bilateral cooperation.

General Secretary Trong expressed his delight at the fast and comprehensive development of the two countries’ relations as seen in frequent mutual visits by their leaders, the intensive and effective economic ties, and the nearly 450,000 Vietnamese people in Japan.

He emphasised the enormous cooperation potential in various areas, asking both sides to continue boosting high-level exchanges and meetings as well as relations between their sectors and localities, while coordinating with each other at international forums for the sake of the two countries’ interests, and for peace, friendship, and cooperation in the region and the world at large.

The Party leader applauded the countries’ plan on activities marking the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2023 so as to create more durable stepping stones for their result-oriented, effective, and practical relations in the time to come.

He also highlighted Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development; multilateralisation and diversification of foreign relations; and of being a friend, a trustworthy partner, and a responsible member of the international community.

For his part, PM Kishida noted the significant results obtained during his talks with his counterpart Pham Minh Chinh and meetings with other leaders of Vietnam.

He proposed his host support the activities celebrating the 50 years of the Japan – Vietnam diplomatic ties, affirming that he will do his utmost to promote bilateral relations to a new level.

At the meeting, the two leaders also exchanged views on some regional and international issues of common concern.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil Pham Thi Kim Hoa paid a working visit to Amazonas state on April 25-28, in the framework of the working programme of the ASEAN Committee in Brazil (ACB).

During the visit, which aimed to tap new cooperation potential in order to strengthen the ASEAN-Brazil relations, ACB representatives inquired into Brazil’s forest protection efforts using its own advanced technology, which contribute to forest fire control and fight against deforestation.

Besides joining the ACB delegation’s activities, Hoa attended a meeting with the head of the State Secretariat for Economic Development, Science, Technology and Innovation (SEDECTI), during which the sides pledged to closely collaborate and bolster cooperation in trade, aquaculture, tourism and mining, among others.

The Vietnamese ambassador also visited businesses owning production chains that turn waste into energy.

Amazonas, located in the north of Brazil, is the largest state of the country. It boasts a population of more than 4.2 million, equivalent to 2 percent of that of the entire country.

The Brazilian state is 98 percent covered by the Amazon Rainforest.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio always attaches importance to the Japan-Vietnam relations, Foreign Press Secretary Ono Hikariko said while chairing a virtual press conference on May 1 announcing the initial results of the Japanese PM’s on-going official visit to Vietnam.

She informed that during Kishida’s talks with his host Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh, the two PMs discussed many important issues. In regards to economic cooperation, the Japanese PM laid stress on supply chain diversification, digital transformation and technology development.

Japan will bolster cooperation with Vietnam in energy transformation in a bid to reduce Vietnam’s carbon emissions and enhance its natural disaster preparedness, Ono said.

The PMs also discussed a number of regional and international issues and consented to closely collaborate for the development of the Mekong region via the Japan-Mekong cooperation development fund. PM Kishida affirmed that Japan will protect the spirit and principles of the CPTPP.

Ono added that with 2023 marking the 50th founding anniversary of the Japan-Vietnam relations and the ASEAN-Japan ties, the PMs discussed ways to open up a new era for the countries on the occasion.

Responding to reporters’ queries on the significance of Kishida’s Vietnam visit to the Vietnam-Japan bilateral relations, she said the ties are at their best ever. The 50th founding anniversary will be an important milestone for the countries and the Japanese PM’s visit serves as a stepping stone for the event next year, she said.

Mentioning the initiative on net zero emission community, Ono said not only the two governments will cooperate on the idea but the private sector will also join in the effort.

As for a project on helping Vietnam improve its capacity to respond to natural disasters and climate change via earth observation satellites, she said Japan has experiences in the field and wishes to share them with Vietnam through this project.

Asked about cooperation in strategic infrastructure, the press secretary said during talks with his Vietnamese counterpart, Kishida has mentioned the completion of urban railway projects, adding that Japan will devise suitable infrastructure projects in Vietnam in accordance with studies of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as well as the country’s development trend.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted an official welcoming ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on May 1 for Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and a high-level delegation of the Japanese Government who are here for an official visit from April 30-May 1.

Following the ceremony, the two Government leaders planted memorial trees in the compound of the Government Office.

They then proceeded to the conference room to hold talks.

This is the first visit to Vietnam of Kishida six months since he took office and five months after the official visit to Japan by PM Chinh. The visit by the Japanese PM takes place when the Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership is developing robustly across the fields. The two countries are actively preparing for activities marking the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2023.

During the visit, besides holding talks with his Vietnamese counterpart, PM Kishida is scheduled to pay respect to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum, make cordial visits to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, and have a meeting with National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue. He will also attend a conference on Vietnam-Japan cooperation in industrial reform and digital transformation. The visit is intended to deepen the Vietnam-Japan relations, promote the implementation of the outcomes of PM Chinh’s visit to Japan, enhance political trust between the two countries and the good relationship between the two governments in the motto of “Affection, Sincerity, Trust”, and intensify result-oriented partnerships in all aspects, meeting the interests and aspiration of the two peoples.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The banking sector hopes that by 2025, the volume of mobile payment transactions will grow by 50 – 80 percent while transaction value will surge 80 – 100 percent annually.

Among the other targets for 2025, Vietnam aims for at least 80 percent of the population aged 15 and above to have bank accounts, the number of internet payments increasing 35 – 40 percent annually, and the rate of individuals and organisations using cashless payments reaching 40 percent, according to Le Van Tuyen, Deputy Director of the State Bank of Vietnam’s Payment Department.

He said cashless payment methods, typically contactless card, QR code payment, online payment for digital and e-commerce services, and mobile banking, are becoming increasingly popular in Vietnam, especially among young people.

There is now a strong shift to electronic payment methods replacing cash, which is also a target of the plan for cashless payment development in Vietnam from 2021 – 2025, Tuyen noted.

Nguyen Quang Minh, Deputy General Director of the National Payment Corporation of Vietnam (NAPAS), said the firm always holds reserves equivalent to 50 percent of its capacity to ensure smooth cashless payments. Even during peak periods, the number of transactions account for just over 40 percent of its system’s designed capacity.

It has also continually developed new products and services to meet market demands, he went on, noting that it launched a set of domestic chip cards, from debit card, prepaid card to credit card, which are intended to support the central bank’s plan to switch from magnetic strips to chip cards.

To help promote cashless payments in public services, NAPAS has also connected payment infrastructure between 45 localities and 15 ministries, departments and agencies that provide public services in order to supply online payment services for five groups of public services on the National Public Service Portal, namely paying social insurance premiums, real estate taxes, traffic violation fines, court fees, and other fees and charges, he added.

Source: Vietnam News Agency