Day: September 5, 2022

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on September 5 sent a message of sympathy to his Pakistani counterpart Arif Alvi over severe human and property losses caused by torrential rains and flooding in the country.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also extended sympathy to his Pakistani counterpart Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif.

The same day, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son cabled another message of sympathy to Foreign Minister of Pakistan Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Foreign media reported that torrential rains and flooding have submerged a third of Pakistan and killed at least 1,290 people, including 453 children./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his hope that the US will continue its support for Vietnam in negotiations on the just energy transition partnership while receiving US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry in Hanoi on September 5.

The two sides agreed to deepen the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership in a practical and stable manner on the basis of respecting each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political institutions, and work towards a new level of the relationship when possible.

PM Chinh called on the US to further display its strong commitments to supporting ASEAN’s centrality, the ASEAN-US strategic partnership and the Mekong-US relationship.

For his part, Kerry reiterated that the US consistently attaches importance to its comprehensive partnership with Vietnam and backs the Southeast Asian nation’s active and practical role in the region, and in dealing with international issues, including climate change.

The PM lauded US President Joe Biden and Kerry for their efforts in climate change response.

Vietnam is also working hard to promote green growth and cope with climate change to fulfill its commitments made at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), he said.

Vietnam considers the target of net zero emissions and the transition from fossil energy to clean and renewable energy an inevitable development trend of the world and the country as well, the government leader continued.

PM Chinh emphasised that climate change is a global issue that needs global solutions, with people put at the centre, and that equality must be ensured during energy transition.

Kerry noted that the US will further its cooperation and support for developing countries, including Vietnam, in climate change response, particularly in clean energy development, sustainable infrastructure and smart water resource management.

PM Chinh called for the US’s assistance in finance and technology, apart from human resource development, institutional improvement and experience sharing.

He also asked for support from developed partners in the transfer of renewable energy technology, helping Vietnam build and develop the production industry of renewable energy equipment and a map evaluating its solar and win power potential accurately.

The PM hoped that the developed partners will consider providing loans with suitable interest rates for Vietnam to help the country promote the renewable energy industry, and that Kerry, as a long-standing friend of Vietnam, will continue to assist the country in enhancing resilience of vulnerable groups in the Mekong Delta./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam strongly commits contributions to global efforts in climate change response, and considers it as a strategic cooperation area between Vietnam and the US, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son told US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry in Hanoi on September 5.

The two sides noted with pleasure positive results of Vietnam-US relations over the past time and discussed measures to enhance the bilateral ties in the time ahead such as promoting phone talks and visits by high-ranking leaders of the two countries, towards the 10th anniversary of the comprehensive partnership in 2023.

They also looked into collaboration in climate change response, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

Son suggested the US continue its cooperation and support for Vietnam in terms of resources, finance, science, technology and personnel training to fulfill the Southeast Asian nation’s commitments made at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).

For his part, Kerry reaffirmed that the US highly valued Vietnam’s strong commitments to climate change response and stands ready to assist the country through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms.

He also expressed his special sentiments and deep memories about the country and people of Vietnam. Kerry also affirmed that he, in any position, will back the Vietnam-US relations, thus bringing practical benefits to the people of both nations./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam will run for a seat in the World Heritage Committee in the 2023-2027 tenure and expects to get support from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said while meeting with UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay in Hanoi on September 5.

Expressing his delight at the robust growth of cooperation between the two sides, Son lauded UNESCO’s assistance to Vietnam in its conservation and promotion of cultural heritage sites, global geo-parks, and biosphere reserves as well as in its participation in the networks of global creative and learning cities, among others.

The diplomat affirmed that Vietnam will continue to be an active, responsible member and fulfill its international commitments to make more substantive and effective contributions to the common affairs of UNESCO.

For her part, Azoulay highly appreciated Vietnam’s practical and effective contributions to the organisation’s operations as well as its proactive, active and responsible role as a member of the UNESCO Executive Board for the 2021-2025 term.

She also congratulated Vietnam on being elected with the highest number of approval votes to the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage for the 2022-2026 tenure.

The Director General recommended Vietnam to continue keeping a balance between conservation and development.

She pledged to encourage the sharing of scientific achievements between developed and developing member countries and to further support Vietnam in education, culture, science and information-communications.

The host and guest also exchanged views on the world situation and the role of current multilateral forums in solving global problems and challenges./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Vietnamese Government pledges to create favourable conditions for Standard Chartered Bank to maintain and expand its business operations in the country, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said on September 5.

At a Hanoi reception for Bill Winters, CEO of Standard Chartered PLC, PM Chinh praised foreign businesses and investors, including Standard Chartered, for accompanying and supporting Vietnam in pandemic prevention and control, and promoting socio-economic recovery and development.

He shared Vietnam’s priorities on attracting green finance and resources to take advantage of sustainable growth drivers, especially green growth, digital transformation, and sustainable energy transition; and strengthening cooperation with development partners, international financial institutions and global financial groups, including Standard Chartered.

The Government leader asked the bank to increase its support for Vietnam in the process of digital transformation, green transformation and energy transition towards sustainability and climate change adaptation.

He also urged the bank to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses as well as foreign investors to access preferential capital resources to invest in strategic infrastructure, including digital infrastructure, green infrastructure and key infrastructure projects.

For his part, Bill Winters said he is impressed with Vietnam’s rapid and positive changes in recent years, especially its achievements in epidemic prevention and control, and socio-economic recovery and development.

Affirming that Vietnam is an important area of Standard Chartered’s activities in the Asia-Pacific region, he said Standard Chartered will promote cooperation with and support the country in mobilising capital sources, attracting green finance and promoting green growth associated with implementing commitments made at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26).

The bank will also continue to boost collaboration with Vietnamese Government agencies in national credit rating, he added.

Standard Chartered wishes to increase consultations and policy dialogues with Government agencies and partners in Vietnam on economic and development issues as well as areas of mutual interest, he stressed./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said he believes that the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation will further thrive and reach new heights toward development and prosperity for the sake of the two countries’ people, as well as for peace, stability, collaboration and development regionally and internationally.

Talking to the press on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the nations’ diplomatic relations (September 5, 1962 – 2022), he said with their time-tested relationship, Vietnam and Laos have many advantages and great potential to increase the scale of cooperation. It requires both sides to have high determination and strong efforts, the President added.

He suggested the countries keep consolidating their political relations pillar, and endeavour to turn economic collaboration a new pillar that is on par with their special ties via breakthrough measures to promote internal strength and expand international cooperation.

Based on their political trust, the nations should further consolidate their joint works in defence-security to maintain a peaceful environment and political stability, firmly protect their independence and sovereignty, and promptly prevent all plots of hostile forces, he noted.

President Phuc also highlighted a need for the sides to consider cooperation in education-training and human resources development a strategic one and to team up in promoting communications on their special relations and comprehensive collaboration.

Reviewing the Vietnam-Laos relationship, President Phuc said the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation have developed firmly, intensively, extensively and practically over the past six decades despite regional and global uncertainties.

The two sides have maintained the exchange of high-ranking delegations and meetings in all channels, utilised bilateral cooperation mechanisms of agencies and localities, and closely coordinated and supported each other at multilateral forums, he continued.

Cooperation in national defence and security has been strengthened and remained an important pillar of the special relationship, the State leader said.

Regarding economic ties, President Phuc said two-way trade in the first eight months of this year exceeded 1 billion USD, up more than 20% year-on-year.

The President also highlighted mutual support during the COVID-19 fight in terms of finance, medical equipment and personnel.

He stressed that the building of the Lao National Assembly, a gift of the Vietnamese Party, State and people to their Lao counterparts which has been handed over and inaugurated last year, has become a symbol of the special relationship in the new period.

Other cooperation projects reflecting the Vietnam-Laos friendship include Star Telecom (Unitel), a joint venture between Viettel Global and Lao Asia Telecom in Laos which has met 57% of the local demand, he said./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency