Day: August 10, 2022

The sixth court conference of Lao, Vietnamese, Cambodian border provinces opened in Vientiane on August 10.

In his opening speech, Lao Deputy Prime Minister Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune said the event not only enabled participants to share lessons in fighting trans-national crimes and judicial assistance but also helped Laos carry out two national agendas on dealing with economic-financial difficulties and drug issues.

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Lao Deputy Prime Minister Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)

Chief Justice of the Vietnam Supreme People’s Court Nguyen Hoa Binh urged judicial agencies of the three countries to further strengthen cooperation as the fight against crimes and the settlement of civil disputes across the border remain complicated.

He expressed his belief that via the event, participating courts will seek effective ways to further boost their collaboration in 2022 and the following years.

During the two-day events, delegates are due to look into the implementation of the joint statement of the fifth conference in 2018 and solutions to combat trans-national crimes and offer mutual judicial assistance, thus reaching consensus on the coordination plan in the coming time.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong hosted a reception in Hanoi on August 10 for Anouphap Tounalom, Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee, and Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Council of Vientiane.

The Party leader congratulated Laos on its comprehensive achievements, with active contributions made by the capital Vientiane.

Vietnam always treasures and gives top priority to the special relationship between the two countries, he said, affirming Vietnam’s strong and comprehensive support for reform in the neighbouring country.

He highlighted effective cooperation between the two capital cities, including the exchange of experience in Party building and collaboration in economy, trade, investment, infrastructure building, personnel training and COVID-19 prevention and control.

The Party chief urged Vientiane to step up close coordination and cooperation with Hanoi and other localities of Vietnam.

He asked Anouphap Tounalom to convey his wishes and regards to Party General Secretary and State President Thongloun Sisoulith and other senior leaders of Laos.

For his part, Anouphap Tounalom also congratulated Vietnam on its great achievements, and noted his belief that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) headed by the Party chief, the Vietnamese people will gain greater attainments.

The official also thanked the Party, State and people of Vietnam for their support to Laos, including Vientiane.

Laos will work together with Vietnam to promote their special solidarity, Anouphap Tounalom said, briefing his host on the situation in Laos and its capital city as well as outcomes of his talks with Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung.

Vientiane will join hands with Hanoi to effectively implement agreements reached by leaders of the two Parties and countries, and the two capital cities.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Localities should revamp their tourism products focusing on cultural demand to attract more international visitors, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung said at a Q&A session during the 14th sitting of the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee in Hanoi on August 10.

Relevant ministries and agencies such as the ministries of Public Security, Foreign Affairs and Transport need to coordinate to create optimal conditions for tourists, the minister continued.

According to Hung, it is taking time for travel firms to reconnect with foreign markets, noting that Vietnam is targeting holidaymakers from traditional markets such as China, the Republic of Korea (RoK) and Japan.

More attention has been focused not just on the number of tourists, but also their spending, to assess the efficiency of the tourism sector, the minister stressed.

In culture, there have been changes in both mindset and action, he said, adding that many localities have invested and focused more on building a cultural environment.

For sports, Hung highlighted the successful hosting of the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) last May, which he said contributed to fulfilling the sector’s political goals.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc received in Hanoi on August 10 Ambassador of Kuwait Yousef Ashour Al-sabbagh and Ambassador of Israel Yaron Mayer, who came to present their credentials.

At his meeting with Ambassador Al-sabbagh, President Phuc affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to and wishes to enhance the traditional friendship with Kuwait, one of the leading economic partners of Vietnam in the Middle East.

Mentioning trade between the two countries, which was valued at about 4.8 billion USD last year, up 48% year-on-year, the President suggested Kuwait facilitate the penetration of Vietnamese goods, especially agricultural products, seafood, garments-textiles, wood products and components, into Kuwait and other Gulf countries.

He also called on the Kuwait side to coordinate with Vietnamese partners and enterprises in trade promotion, and to seek suitable solutions for the Nghi Son Oil Refinery.

Lauding the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development that has provided preferential loans for mountainous and disadvantaged provinces of Vietnam over the past nearly four decades, the leader urged the fund to speed up the preparation and signing of loan agreements for projects.

He also suggested Kuwait pay attention to protecting legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese labourers, saying the two sides should sign an agreement on labour cooperation to create a legal corridor for the bilateral collaboration in this regard soon.

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Ambassador Kuwait Yousef Ashour Al- Sabbagh (Photo: VNA)

In reply, Al-sabbagh emphasised that Kuwait backs Vietnam at international forums and organisations, saying Kuwait supported the Southeast Asian nation’s non-permanent membership at the UN Security Council for 2020-2021, granted scholarships to Vietnamese students, assisted Vietnam in socio-economic development, especially rural and disadvantaged areas, and created conditions for Vietnamese citizens to return home safely amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ambassador pledged to make every effort to strengthen the bilateral ties in different spheres.

Meeting with Ambassador Mayer, the President affirmed the importance Vietnam attaches to cooperation with Israel, particularly in economy, science-technology, innovative startup, labour and tourism, adding that many Vietnamese research and startup delegations visited Israel to learn from the country’s experience.

He suggested Vietnam and Israel soon resume the exchange of delegations and cooperation mechanisms, especially the third meeting of the joint-governmental committee.

The two countries should intensify their coordination and mutual support at international forums and organisations, and organise many practical activities marking the 30th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties (1993-2023), he said.

Trade between Vietnam and Israel reached 2 billion USD in 2021, a year-on-year rise of 20%, the leader said, urging the ambassador to make active contributions in order to raise the bilateral trade revenue to 10 billion USD.

Phuc also suggested the two countries step up trade, investment and tourism promotion activities in-person as the pandemic has been initially brought under control, while accelerating the negotiations and signing of a bilateral free trade agreement and another on labour cooperation.

Collaboration in other fields like science-technology, personnel training and national defence should also be enhanced, he continued.

For his part, the ambassador noted that education would be an effective bridge between people of the two countries as thousands of Vietnamese students are studying in Israel.

He said stronger tourism cooperation will facilitate the traveling of Israel people to Vietnam and vice versa.

The diplomat promised to try his best to foster cooperation between Vietnam and Israel.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 10 sent a message of sympathy to his Korean counterpart Han Duck-soo over the huge loss in human lives and assets caused by heavy-rain-induced floods in a number of localities in the Republic of Korea.

On the same day, Minister of Foreign Affairs also extended his sympathy to his Korean counterpart Park Jin.

Sixteen people have been confirmed dead or missing and more than 2,500 homes and buildings were flooded in this week’s record rainfall that battered Seoul and elsewhere in the central and eastern regions, Korean officials said on August 10, as reported by the RoK’s news agency Yonhap.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Localities in northern Vietnam, particularly coastal ones, are being warned to brace for heavy rain triggered by tropical storm Mulan, the second storm entering the East Sea this year, which is heading towards the area from Quang Ninh province to Hai Phong city.

According to the National Centre for Hydrology Meteorology Forecasting (NCHMF), as of 7am on August 10, the storm was located 480km east-southeast of Quang Ninh province’s Mong Cai city. The wind speed near the storm centre was 62-88km per hour.

It is forecast to move in west-northwesterly direction at a speed of 15-20km per hour in the next 24 hours.

At 7am on August 11, Mulan would be just 70km south of Mong Cai city (Quang Ninh) and 110km east of Hai Phong.

Under the influence of the storm, the northern part of the East Sea, including the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands, will experience strong wind with 4-to-6-metre high waves and rough sea.

The northern part of the Gulf of Tonkin, including the island districts of Co To and Bach Long Vi, will likely see strong wind at 62-74km per hour near the storm centre and 2-to-4-metre high waves from June 10 evening. Coastal localities are also urged to watch out for high tides.

From August 10 afternoon to August 11, the northern region and the north central provinces of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An should expect heavy rain between 100-200 mm, with certain areas recording rain levels up to 250 mm.

From 7am August 11 to 11am August 12, Mulan is expected to move west-northwest, with a speed of 15km per hour. It will weaken into a tropical depression over the northern region of Vietnam.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Hai Phong Economic Zone Authority (HEZA) on August 10 organised an investment promotion with supporting supporting businesses of the Republic of Korea’s multinational conglomerate corporation LG.

The RoK participants expressed their wish to invest or expand their current investment in the northern port city.

Head of the HEZA management board Le Trung Kien introduced to investors Hai Phong’s advantages, including the largest deep-water port in the north, a direct flight route to the RoK’s Incheon international airport, and the education of the Korean language at school.

The local economic zones currently house 102 RoK-funded projects worth 8.53 billion USD, accounting for 88.4% of capital channeled in the city by Korean investors. In the past sevent months, RoK businesses in Hai Phong saw their revenue and number of labourers growing by nearly 20% and 15%, respectively.

LG has so far invested in seven projects worth 7.24 billion USD in the Trang Due industrial park in An Duong district. A network of local satellite projects and auxiliary production for LG has also been formed with more than 50 enterprises, who have injected close to 1 billion USD into the industrial park.

HEZA wished LG to further enhance its investment and production activities, focus on research and development (R&D), technology transfer, and high-quality human resources training.

It suggested the group establish a R&D centre in the city.

It also unveiled the city’s growth orientations for the time to come that highlight circular economy, renewable energy, and a high-quality workforce.

Source: Vietnam News Agency