Month: October 2022

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Chinese media spotlights Vietnamese Party leader’s visit

Chinese media has highlighted the official visit by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong to China, quoting experts’ comments on the significance of the trip in the development of the ties between the two countries.

 

News website thepaper.cn on October 30 ran an article summarising the opinions of some experts on the visit and the partnership between the two countries.

 

According to the article, Ha Jiajie, an expert of international relations and public affairs from Fudan University, underlined that the interactions between leaders of the two Parties play the guiding role for the future development of the relations between the two countries.

 

The visit is an affirmation of the strategy, the position and foundation of the bilateral relationship, which is expected to reinforce mutual trust and adjust the China-Vietnam relations in the next period, Ha held.

 

Meanwhile, Ge Hongliang, Director of the China-ASEAN Maritime Security Research under Guangxi University, reportedly commented that the relationship between the two Parties has always led and shaped the relationship between the two countries, which has become an important tradition going beyond the bilateral partnership. Currently, the two Parties have set up mechanisms for cooperation, theory exchange and personnel training, he noted.

 

Ge highlighted that Vietnam is the largest trade partner and an important investment target of China in Southeast Asia.

 

The article also quoted Xu Liping, a researcher from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, as holding that the relations between the two Parties and countries were not affected but strengthened during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Cooperation in health care and pandemic control were promoted, while two-way trade still rose through years, Xu said.

 

In its article gathering Chinese experts’ opinion on the Vietnamese Party leader’s visit, the Global Times, run by the People’s Daily, which speaks for the Communist Party of China, quoted Prof. Pan Jine from the School of Marxism Studies of China as highlighting that CPV General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit shows the special nature and significance of the China-Vietnam relations. Trong is the first foreign leader to visit China after the 20th CPC National Congress, Pan noted.

 

The expert asserted that the visit is taking place as the two countries have entered a new development period. Therefore, the meeting between the leaders of the two Parties will be a great motivation for cooperation between ministries, sectors and locality, Pan stressed.

 

Amidst the complicated world situation, this visit will help the two countries strengthen mutual political trust and promote cooperation in many fields, the expert added.

 

Zhao Gancheng from Shanghai Institutes for International Studies reportedly underscored that potential is huge for trade between Vietnam and China as the two sides can supplement each other.

 

Meanwhile, reporter David Hutt from The Diplomat held that economic partnership will be one of the major discussion contents between the Vietnamese and Chinese Party leaders as China is one of the leading trade partners and investors of Vietnam./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

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Delegation from State Commission for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs meets with OVs in Japan

A delegation of the Foreign Ministry’s State Commission for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (SCOV) led by its vice chairman Ambassador Ngo Huong Nam, had a meeting with seven Vietnamese associations in Japan during the visit to the country from October 27-28.

 

Informed the delegation about the efforts in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Buddhist nun Thich Nguyen An, a representative of the Vietnamese Buddhists Society in Japan, said that the organisation provided over 200 tonnes of rice, and accommodation and food aid for Vietnamese students and workers studying and working in the country.

 

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Vietnamese Association in Fukuoka Nguyen Duy Anh said that the association raised more than 2.6 billion VND (nearly 105,000 USD) to support the fight against the pandemic in Vietnam.

 

Representatives of the organisations expressed the hope for closer connections among them so that people who have good economic condition and stable live in Japan can help newcomers in difficult situations like the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

Vu Hoang Duc, a representative from the Vietnam Business Association (VBA) in Japan said that the organisation will re-orient its activities and have specific plans to organise activities on the occasion of the 50th founding anniversary of the Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties.

 

Regarding OVs’ violations of Japanese laws, Nguyen Hoa Binh from the Vietnam Youth and Student Association suggested that relevant agencies tighten the management of sending workers to Japan.

 

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Vietnam – Japan Culture Exchange Association Do Quang Ba suggested the embassy enhance citizen protection and support for Vietnamese guest workers who face difficulties or are treated unfairly in Japan in the context that there has not been an official union of Vietnamese workers in Japan.

 

In his response, Nam said the delegation will sum up the proposals of the associations and reported to authorised agencies for consideration and seeking solutions. He also proposed the establishment of compatriot associations in Japan connected to localities in the homeland to promote tourism and exports of Vietnamese goods to the country.

 

In a working session with the delegation, Chairman of the Association of Vietnamese Intellectuals in Japan (AVIJ) Ta Viet Phuong asked the SCOV and relevant sectors to provide financial and communication support for AVIJ’s events, and introduce the association to domestic agencies and organisations that have demand for human resources.

 

Nam said the commission is ready to accompany and sponsor major events of the association, expressing the hope that AVIJ will promote the building of a database of experts and intellectuals in Japan, and its leaders will join the global network of intellectual societies initiated by the SCOV.

 

During their stay, the delegation visited and worked with representatives of the Vietnam – Japan Culture and Sports Exchange Association which has also organised many volunteering activities in Japan and in the homeland, and served as the coordinator for giving support to OVs meeting with difficulties in the country./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 

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Agreement signed to improve capacity of identifying human remains from war

The Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) and the International Committee for Missing Persons (ICMP) on October 31 signed a cooperation plan on improving the capacity of identifying human remains from the war.

 

The plan, which will be implemented until the end of 2024, was inked by Dr Phi Quyet Tien, deputy director of the Institute of Biotechnology under the VAST, and Patrick White, managing director of ICMP’s programmes.

 

Addressing the event, Chu Hoang Ha, VAST’s vice president said the signing of the plan reflects the cooperation after the war between functional agencies of the Governments of Vietnam and the US in the spirit of “Close the past and look toward the future”.

 

The plan implements a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) on assisting Vietnam to improve its capacity in examining human remains recovered from the war between the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons (VNOSMP) and USAID.

 

The Centre for DNA Identification under the Institute of Biotechnology is the coordinator for the cooperation under the MOI framework.

 

According to Patrick White, the ICMP hopes to help relevant Vietnamese agencies in the search for those missing in the war through the plan./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 

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Vietnam-China relations to get new push to grow further: Foreign Minister

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son highlighted the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between Vietnam and China in his article published on the People’s Daily, the mouthpiece of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on October 30.

 

The article was released on the occasion of the ongoing official visit to China by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong.

 

In the article, Son emphasised that the neighbouring countries boast the time-honoured friendship, saying since the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic ties more than 72 years ago, the friendship and cooperation have remained a mainstream.

 

With a foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralism and diversification of relations, the Vietnamese Party, State and people attach great importance to developing the friendly neighbourliness and comprehensive cooperation with their Chinese counterparts, the minister affirmed.

 

The reality shows that the consolidation and enhancement of the friendship and cooperation matches fundamental and long-term interests of the two Parties, countries and peoples, and is conducive to peace, stability, cooperation and development throughout the region and the world.

 

Thanks to joint efforts, the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership has made progress across spheres, Son continued, saying that leaders of the two Parties and countries have maintained their regular contacts through flexible forms, and decided important orientations for the bilateral ties.

 

Vietnam has remained the biggest trade partner of China in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and China has been Vietnam’s largest trade partner for many years. China’s direct investment in Vietnam has grown through years.

 

It is not easy to gain such good results, especially in the context of the regional and global supply and production chains impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the minister noted.

 

He described the mutual support during the pandemic combat as a bright spot in the bilateral ties, saying that right after the pandemic broke out, Vietnam was one of the first countries to provide medical equipment for China. In return, China was among the countries that supplied the most vaccines to Vietnam when the pandemic hit the Southeast Asian country.

 

The two sides have maintained the exchanges of ideas in negotiation mechanisms on border, and seriously and fully implemented high-level agreements and common perceptions, and satisfactorily settled emerging issues in a timely manner.

 

They have closely coordinated in managing the shared border line and border markers, expanding and upgrading border gates, fighting diseases, removing difficulties in goods circulation, and promoting development cooperation in the border area.

 

For the sea issue, they have also maintained regular exchanges of ideas at all levels and channels. The working group on the marine issue has maintained consultations regularly and flexibly.

 

The article also commends coordination and cooperation between Vietnam and China in regional and international mechanisms, especially within ASEAN. Vietnam is willing to support and promote ASEAN-China relations. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of dialogue relations, ASEAN and China officially announced the establishment of comprehensive strategic partnership in late 2021.

 

Vietnam and China have also coordinated closely together at the United Nations, the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, the East Asia Summit (EAS), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation.

 

Vietnam welcomes China’s initiatives for the sake of peace, stability and prosperity in the region, Son said, adding that Vietnam stands ready to work together with China and other countries to step up exchanges of ideas and sketch out substantive cooperation programmes within the Global Development Initiative, contributing to fulfilling the UN Sustainable Development Goals, as well as peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

 

At the end of this article, Son expressed his belief that the Vietnam-China relationship will constantly receive new push and be advanced to a new height, for the sake of the Vietnamese and Chinese people, and for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

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Welcome ceremony with cannon salute held for Vietnamese Party leader in China

 

A grand welcome ceremony at the highest level for a head of state was held in Beijing on October 31 for Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, who is on an official visit to China.

 

The ceremony at the Great Hall of the People was chaired by Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping, and attended by many Chinese high-ranking officials. As the cars of the Vietnamese Party leader and the Vietnamese delegation marched into the site, 21-cannon salute was fired.

 

The Vietnamese and Chinese Party leaders posed for photos together and reviewed the guards of honour.

 

Following the ceremony, they held talks./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 

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Leaders extend condolences to India over deadly bridge collapse

 

Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on October 31 sent a message of condolences to his Indian counterpart Droupadi Murmu over the collapse of a bridge in Gurajat state a day earlier, killing many people.

 

On the same day, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also extended condolences to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.

 

The death toll rose to 134 on October 31, including many children, as police detained nine people as part of a criminal investigation into one of the deadliest accidents in the country in the past 10 years, Reuters reported.

 

Footage from just before the collapse showed a group of young men taking photos while others tried to rock the bridge from side to side, before they tumbled into the river below as the cables holding it together gave way.

 

The bridge over the Machchhu river around 200 kilometres (120 miles) west of Gujarat’s main city, Ahmedabad, had only reopened several days earlier after months of repairs./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 

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Fitch Ratings affirms Vietnam at ‘BB’ with positive outlook

Credit ratings agency Fitch Ratings has affirmed Vietnam’s long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating at ‘BB’ with a positive outlook.

 

In a commentary published on its website, Fitch Ratings said Vietnam’s rating reflects its strong medium-term growth prospects, lower government debt compared to peers, and favourable external debt profile.

 

The agency expected a growth rate of 7.4% for Vietnam in 2022, led by strong gains in industry, construction and services. High FDI in manufacturing should continue to support robust growth in the medium term.

 

However, as downside risks remain, related to the economic implications of the Ukraine war and tighter global funding conditions, Fitch Ratings forecast a slowdown in GDP growth, to 6.2% in 2023.

 

According to the agency, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has intervened in the foreign exchange market, which led to FX reserves falling to under 100 billion USD, after rising to a record 109.8 billion USD at the end of 2021./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

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IMF expert highlights policies motivating Vietnam’s economic growth

Effective policies applied by the Vietnamese Government have contributed to the country’s positive good economic results so far this year, according to Era Dabla-Norris, Mission Chief to Vietnam and Division Chief in the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s Asia and Pacific Department.

 

The first nine months of 2022 saw the fast recovery of the Vietnamese economy when COVID-19-related restrictions were removed.

 

The gross domestic product (GDP) in the first three quarters of this year expanded 8.83%, motivated by strong production and exports as well as the growth of retail and tourism.

 

Speaking to Vietnam New Agency, Dabla-Norris said that Vietnam’s inflation has stayed at a lower level than the majority of countries in the region.

 

Highlighting some policies that have contributed to the economic results so far this year, she mentioned the Vietnamese Government’s switching of the COVID-19 control strategy and the complete reopening of the country’s economy in March thanks to the super-fast vaccination campaign. This was the key for the resumption of economic motivations, she held.

 

The expert also underlined the country’s low interest rate and responsive monetary policies that have allowed businesses to return to operation, along with tax cuts to support labourers including income and environmental taxes to minimise the impacts of the global petrol price hike, and price freezes for some services, including power, healthcare and education, which have contributed to keeping inflation under control.

 

However, Dabla-Norris pointed to a number of challenges that Vietnam is facing, and gave a number of recommendations, especially on monetary and fiscal policies. She also welcomed the expansion of the trading band for the exchange rate recently, and advised Vietnam to maintain inflation at around 4% in 2023.

 

She underscored the need to maintain flexible policies and the stability of the financial system, along with the improvement of the business environment and the productivity of domestic firms as well as the capacity of labourers, and continuous economic digitalisation. Vietnam should also focus more on implementing reform policies in climate change to complete its target of net-zero emissions in 2050, she added.

 

In its latest global economic outlook report, the IMF predicted that the world economy will see a fall of 2.7%, while Vietnam will enjoy a growth of about 5.8%./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency