Day: July 22, 2022

Website thediplomat.com has recently run an article highlighting that with Penny Wong’s maiden trip to Vietnam as the new Australian foreign minister, Hanoi stood out as one of Canberra’s leading priorities in Southeast Asia.

The article quoted Wong as saying that “The partnership between Australia and Vietnam is grounded in trust.” She also emphasized that while the ties between Hanoi and Canberra “run deep,” the two countries’ futures “are tied together.” To a certain extent, Wong’s message and Morrison’s commitment to buttressing Australia-Vietnam ties in 2019 are following the same lines.

There are currently immense opportunities to advance Australia-Vietnam relations, with trade and investment at the top of the list, it said.

Economic cooperation has played a vital role in pushing forward the bilateral relationship over the years. Vietnam is now Australia’s 12th largest trading partner, while Canberra ranks 10th among Hanoi’s top trading partners. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, bilateral trade grew by nearly 50 percent in 2021 – the highest volume recorded to date.

In the first quarter of 2022, the two countries kept their upward economic growth on track, with trade increasing by a further 32.4 percent over the same period in 2021. As of the end of last year, Australian investors had 550 projects in Vietnam, with a net value of 2 billion USD, it noted.

Vietnam’s wide-ranging exports to Australia include electrical equipment, footwear, machinery, furniture, mineral fuels, and edible fruits. Hanoi’s major purchases from Canberra are mostly commodity goods such as coal, iron ore, live cattle, and wheat. Given the rapid growth of Vietnam’s economy, Hanoi has become an ideal site for Australian exporters, with high demands for energy, consumer goods, machinery, and professional services. With enhanced trade and investment, Hanoi and Canberra have sought to gradually reduce their mutual economic dependence on their largest trading partner, China, and strengthen their economic resilience in the face of global crises, such as COVID-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war, according to the article.

Both Australia and Vietnam have made pragmatic moves to enhance ties. In March, the two countries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support Vietnamese labourers taking part in the Australian Agriculture Visa Programme. The MOU has paved the way for around 1,000 Vietnamese employees to work in the agricultural sector in Australia each year. Last month, Canberra and Hanoi launched a new Vietnam-Australia Centre in Hanoi to “bolster Vietnam’s leadership training and research skills” by drawing on Australian expertise in several different fields, the article underscored Moreover, Vietnam and Australia have widened economic cooperation and strengthened their regional engagement through several key multilateral frameworks, it said, adding that Vietnam and Australia can have more room for maneuver to collaborate in a range of sectors, including fair trade, supply-chain resilience, decarbonisation, infrastructure, and anti-corruption.

By embracing multilateralism in its economic practice, Vietnam has sought to reinvigorate the pursuit of two ambitious national goals – shifting to a market-based economy and increasing workforce quality. Australia, for its part, has described itself as “a strong supporter” of Vietnam’s participation in regional multilateral institutions.

Multilateralism continues to serve as the nucleus that drives the Australia-Vietnam relationship, it said.

According to the article, Vietnam can be a good fit for Australia’s strategy of cementing its regional standing and enhancing its ties with Southeast Asia. Hence, Australia’s future in Southeast Asia hinges on an elevation of Australia-Vietnam ties, it added.

While the journey of the Albanese administration has only just begun, it has displayed a sense of eagerness and promise about Australia’s engagement with Southeast Asia. Given the flourishing trajectory of the relationship, particularly in terms of economic ties, the creation of a comprehensive strategic partnership will be a substantial step toward taking the Australia-Vietnam relationship to the next level, the article underlined./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong chaired a meeting of the Politburo and the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat on July 22 to discuss disciplinary measures against some collectives and individuals involved in wrongdoings in the south-central province of Phu Yen.

Officials at the meeting concluded that the Standing Board of the Phu Yen provincial Party Committee in the 2015 – 2020 tenure had violated the democratic centralism principle and working regulations and lacked a sense of responsibility, leadership and direction.

This had enabled the Party Delegation of the provincial People’s Council, the Party Civil Affairs Board of the provincial People’s Committee, and many organisations and individuals to infringe the Party’s rules and the State’s laws on the management and use of state-owned land and assets; the management and protection of forest, natural resources and minerals; investment; construction; civil servant recruitment; along with the bidding and procurement of medical supplies. It had also created conditions for some criminal cases involving some officials and Party members, including key officials of the provincial People’s Committee.

The Party Delegation of the provincial People’s Council in the 2016 – 2021 tenure had violated the Party’s rules and working regulations while lacking leadership and direction, thus enabling the Standing Board of the People’s Council to break the Law on Organisation of Local Administration, and enabling the council’s Standing Board, the council’s chairperson and the People’s Committee of Phu Yen to commit wrongdoings in the land management and use as well as the procurement of medical supplies for the COVID-19 combat.

Meanwhile, the Party Civil Affairs Board of the provincial People’s Committee in the 2016 – 2021 and 2021 – 2026 tenures had violated the democratic centralism principle and working regulations and lacked a sense of responsibility, leadership and direction.

This had enabled the People’s Committee to infringe the Party’s rules and the State’s laws on the abovementioned areas. It had also allowed some criminal cases involving some officials and Party members, including key officials of the provincial People’s Committee.

Huynh Tan Viet, who served as Secretary of the Phu Yen Party Committee, Secretary of the Party Delegation of and Chairman of the provincial People’s Council, held the main responsibility for the irregularities and shortcomings of the Party Committee’s Standing Board and standing members in the 2015 – 2020 tenure, and of the Party Delegation of the provincial People’s Council in the 2016 – 2021 tenure.

Nguyen Chi Hien, who served as a member of the Party Committee’s Standing Board, Vice Secretary of the Party Civil Affairs Board of and Standing Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee, held the main responsibility for the province’s land auction council that created conditions for the violation of the rules on state asset management and use, which caused losses and wastefulness at the southern new urban area of Tuy Hoa city.

The Politburo and the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat said the wrongdoings and shortcomings committed by the Standing Board of the Phu Yen Party Committee in the 2015 – 2020 tenure, the Party Delegation of the People’s Council in the 2016 – 2021 tenure, the Party Civil Affairs Board of the People’s Committee in the 2016 – 2021 and 2021 – 2026 tenures, and Huynh Tan Viet caused “serious” consequences.

Meanwhile, those committed by Nguyen Chi Hien caused “very serious” consequences.

The wrongdoings and shortcomings led to great losses to the state budget, undermined the reputation of the local Party committee and administration, and stirred public concern.

The Politburo decided to issue a reprimand for the Party Delegation of the provincial People’s Council in the 2016 – 2021 tenure, and warnings for the Standing Board of the provincial Party Committee in the 2015 – 2020 tenure and Huynh Tan Viet, who is currently a member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Party Committee of the Central Agencies’ Bloc.

The Party Central Committee’s Secretariat issued a reprimand for the Party Civil Affairs Board of the People’s Committee in the 2021 – 2026 tenure, and a warning for the Party Civil Affairs Board of the People’s Committee in the 2016 – 2021 tenure. It also expelled Nguyen Chi Hien from the Party./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

A text message campaign was launched in Hanoi on July 22 in order to raise funds to support Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin victims.

Organised by the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange/dioxin (VAVA) and the National Humanitarian Portal 1400, the campaign will last until September 17.

Organisations and individuals nationwide have been called on to support the campaign by texting DA CAM to 1409. Each message means a donation worth 20,000 VND (0.85 USD) to help the victims.

The money raised in the campaign will be used to support the costs of medical examination and treatment, vocational training, constructing and repairing houses for, and giving gifts to AO/ dioxin victims in difficult circumstances across the country.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, VAVA Chairman Nguyen Van Rinh highlighted the significance of the campaign, saying that the association has run the SMS campaign since 2011.

Last year, it collected over 1.8 billion VND (76,906 USD) in total, helping construct houses for 11 families of poor AO/ dioxin victims; support 300 families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic; present gifts and provide production capital for many AO/dioxin victims’ families.

On the occasion, the organising board presented 10 wheelchairs to AO/dioxin victims in Hanoi./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports and local art troupes are organising several art programmes paying tribute to war invalids and martyrs on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of Invalids and Fallen Soldiers’ Day (July 27, 1947-2022).

The programmes are being held on outdoor stages between July 21 to 27, according to the Nhan dan newspaper.

The art programme entitled “Thoi hoa do” (The Time of the Red Flowers) held by the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports is scheduled to take place at Van Xuan flower garden by Hoan Kiem Lake at 20:00 on July 24. The 90-minute programme will feature song and dance performances in commemoration of invalids and fallen soldiers.

On this occasion, each of Hanoi’s art troupes will build two art programmes to perform in most districts throughout the city. Thang Long Music and Dance Theatre will perform at the cultural centres of Nam Tu Liem and Tay Ho districts, Thang Long Puppet Theatre will hold performances in Soc Son and Dong Anh districts, and Hanoi Cai Luong Theatre will perform in Hoang Mai and Thanh Tri districts, among others.

The theme of the art programmes is to express gratitude and praise the sacrifices and merits of war invalids and fallen soldiers, who made great contribution to the cause of national liberation and construction./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Building grassroots-level Party organisations should go with the political system building as they are the foundation of the Party, the political nucleus and the bridge between the Party and people, Truong Thi Mai, Politburo member and Secretary of the Party Central Committee said at a national conference on July 22.

Mai, who is also head of the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Commission, delivered a thematic report on enhancing the consolidation and building of Party organisations at the grassroots level and improving the quality of Party members in the new period, at the national conference that looked into resolutions adopted at the fifth plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee.

She emphasised that building pure, strong grassroots-level Party organisations and improving the quality of Party members is an important, regular, continuous and long-term task which contributes to the building and rectification of the Party and the political system, and raising people’s confidence in the Party.

The official also stressed the need to strengthen the combatant capacity of Party organisations and create conditions for Party members to improve their morality, lifestyle and political mettle.

According to Mai, as of December 31, 2020, the country counted 51,988 Party organisations and more than 5.2 million Party members.

Lauding the Party organisations for fulling their tasks, she said such outcomes are significant to Party building and rectification and driving back the manifestations of degradation, “self-evolution,” and “self-transformation” within the Party.

She, however, pointed out limitations regarding the quality, leadership and combatant capacity of some Party organisations, the observance of the principle of democratic centralism, self-criticism and criticism, and the inspection work.

During the 2016-2020 tenure, up to 664 Party organisations were disciplined, up 114 as compared with the previous term, mostly for violations of the Party’s resolutions, directives, regulations and conclusions, the State’s policies and laws, and working regulations and the principle of democratic centralism.

Last year, disciplinary measures were imposed on 223 Party organisations, of which 159 received reprimands and 64 got warnings.

The fifth plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee, which took place in Hanoi last May, adopted Resolution No. 21 on enhancing the consolidation and building of grassroots-level Party organisations, and improving the quality of Party members in the new situation./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam has surpassed the Republic of Korea to become the world’s sixth largest fibre and yarn exporter after shipping abroad 2.37 billion USD worth of these items in the first five months of 2022.

The revenue increased 10% from a year earlier, according to the Vietnam Cotton and Spinning Association (VCOSA).

Meanwhile, textiles and garments, fibre, yarn and fabric brought home 18.73 billion USD in total exports during the period, rising 20.81% year-on-year. That includes 14.99 billion USD in textiles and garments (up 22.2%), 376.8 million USD in geotextiles (up 27%), and 979.8 million USD in materials (up 19.2%).

VCOSA noted China accounted for nearly 60% of Vietnam’s textile and garment exports.

Meanwhile, the US and Europe, which are the world’s biggest textile and garment importers, have reduced shipments from China, giving Vietnam a chance to expand its market share.

The association also cited the World Health Organisation’s prediction that new COVID-19 variants will continue appearing in 2022, expecting the country’s fibre and yarn segment will continue to be the main recovery driver of the industry and be less affected by the pandemic compared to the apparel segment, which is labour intensive, since its manufacturing is mostly conducted by machine.

VCOSA added Vietnam’s economic integration into the world, especially the participation in free trade agreements such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), also promises breakthrough developments for the fibre and yarn segment./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception in Hanoi on July 22 for Governor of Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) Maeda Tadashi, during which the PM hailed the effective and positive cooperation from the bank and its provision of loans for important infrastructure and large-scale projects in Vietnam.

PM Chinh highlighted the strong growth of the Vietnam-Japan relations, noting that Japan has been the leading economic partner of Vietnam, the largest ODA provider, the second biggest labour export market, the third largest investor and the fourth biggest trade partner of Vietnam.

He said he hopes Japan and JBIC will continue to coordinate with Vietnamese agencies to seek more effective collaboration methods to further beef up the Vietnam-Japan Extensive Strategic Partnership in the new period.

The Vietnamese Government leader proposed that Japan and JBIC support Vietnam in building a fast-growing and sustainable economy at larger scale with stronger self-reliance and better international integration.

Vietnam hopes to receive Japan’s support in reaching net-zero emission in 2050 through existing cooperation mechanisms as well as the efficient implementation of the initiative to build a net-zero emission network in Asia and the Asia Energy Transition Initiative, and access the 10-billion-USD support package that Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio pledged at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), he said.

PM Chinh also asked for JBIC’s help in policy consultations, capital sources, technology, human resources, and management experience for Vietnam to speed up energy transition and develop renewable energy industry, and improve the capacity in manufacturing of equipment in the field of solar power and wind power.

The Vietnamese leader asked Japan and the JBIC promote the new-generation ODA cooperation programme that he and his Japanese counterpart discussed earlier, while assisting Vietnam in implementing strategic infrastructure projects, especially in the fields of transport, climate change, and digital transformation, as well as in enhancing medical capacity, promoting innovation, education and human resource training.

For his part, Maeda highly valued the achievements that Vietnam has made during the recent tough time, with effective policies to control COVID-19 and ensure economic stability and development. He lauded commitments and actions by Vietnam regarding environment-related issues.

He agreed with the Vietnamese leader’s proposals, and shared a number of ideas and solutions for specific cooperation contents.

He affirmed that JBIC wants to cooperate and accompany with Vietnam in various aspects and areas.

Vietnam is one of the two key partner countries of Japan in ASEAN in implementing cooperation strategies on climate change adaptation to realise the idea of building a net-zero emission community in Asia with specific plans and projects, he stated./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Tran Sy Thanh, 51, Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, was elected to be Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee for the 2021-26 tenure at the 8th session of the 16th-tenure Hanoi People’s Council on July 22 afternoon.

The session was attended by Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung; Standing Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Thi Tuyen; and the heads of relevant agencies, representatives of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly and delegates of the council.

The results of the vote showed that all delegates agreed to elect Thanh to the position of Chairman of the People’s Committee of Hanoi.

Thanh, born on March 16, 1971, joined the Party on June 3, 1995. He has a Master of Arts in Economics and an Advanced Degree in Political Theory.

In February 2004, Thanh was appointed as Chief of the Vietnam State Treasury’s Office. He then held the position of Deputy General Director of the Vietnam State Treasury in 2006.

In November 2008, he became Deputy Chairman of the People’s Committee of Dak Lak province. In October 2010, he was elected as Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Dak Lak and a delegate to the 11th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).

At the congress, he was elected as an alternate member of the CPV’s Central Committee and joined the Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission.

In June 2012, he held the position of Secretary of the Party Committee of Bac Giang province for the 2010-15 tenure.

In February 2015, Thanh was appointed as Deputy Chairman of the Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission.

In October 2015, Thanh was appointed to be the Secretary of the Party Committee of Lang Son province.

In December 2017, he moved to the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission and was appointed to be Deputy Head of the commission and Chairman of the Members’ Council of Vietnam Oil and Gas Group.

In August 2020, he moved to the National Assembly’s Office and held the position of deputy chairman of the office.

In April 2021, he was elected as Auditor General of the State Audit Office of Vietnam.

In July, 2022, he was assigned as Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Hanoi by the Politburo./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency