Day: December 1, 2022

Tra fish exports have posted the strongest growth among fishery products so far this year while the biggest revenue was recorded in shrimp shipments, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

 

During the first 11 months, tra fish export value increased 63% from a year earlier to nearly 2.3 billion USD. The second fastest growth was seen in tuna, up 40% to 941 million USD, followed by squid and octopus with 30% and 704 million USD.

 

Shrimp exports generated over 4 billion USD in revenue, rising 14% year-on-year.

 

The US remains the biggest importer of fishery products from Vietnam, with over 2 billion USD in value, up nearly 10%.

 

Meanwhile, aquatic exports to China and Japan stood at about 1.6 billion USD each, the EU more than 1.2 billion USD, and the Republic of Korea 882 million USD. Members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), including Japan, accounted for more than 26% of Vietnam’s total fishery exports, with nearly 2.7 billion USD in value, up 34%.

 

In total, Vietnam earned 10.2 billion USD from fishery exports in the 11 months, increasing almost 28% from the same period in 2021.

 

However, November marked the first time this year to witness a decline in exports, down over 14% year-on-year to 780 million USD.

 

Le Hang, director for communications at VASEP, said exports have slowed during the latter half as a result of an inflation-triggered decrease in import demand. Overseas shipments are forecast to contract even more in December, and the downward trend may linger into 2023./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

A high-ranking delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) led by Truong Thi Mai, Politburo member and Chairwoman of the CPV Central Committee’s Organisation Commission, is paying a working visit to Singapore from November 27 to December 2.

 

Mai had meetings with Singaporean Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean, and members of the ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) Central Executive Committee, namely PAP Assistant Secretary-General and Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing, Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan, and Minister for Communications and Information Josephine Teo.

 

The delegation also attended working sessions with public administration training establishments, and learned about voter meeting models with representatives of the PAP and the Singaporean parliament, along with methods for organising integrated administrative services with support from the Government to meet people’s cultural, healthcare, and sports demands.

 

During the trip, the Vietnamese delegation also met with leaders of the Sembcorp group and Temasek Foundation to discuss orientations for helping with bilateral economic and training cooperation.

 

At the meetings, Mai affirmed the importance that the Party and State of Vietnam attach to the PAP and Singapore. She also expressed her delight at the thriving Vietnam – Singapore relations.

 

She appreciated the PAP’s support for personnel training cooperation, noting the two countries are important economic partners and also share views on many major international issues.

 

The official also talked about directions for promoting cooperation between the two Parties to serve as a long-term political basis for the countries’ relations, including increasing high-level mutual visits, boosting ties between CPV agencies and PAP partners, sharing experience in Party building and issues of common concern, and working together in training personnel.

 

She welcomed cooperation enhancement proposals by officials of the PAP, the Government, and other partners in Singapore, calling on the city state to continue creating conditions for the Vietnamese community to work, study and live there.

 

The Singaporean side said their country views Vietnam as a leading partner in the region, and they are delighted at the strong development of connections between the two Parties and countries.

 

They emphasised their wish to strengthen partnerships in new areas such as digital transformation, green economy and renewable energy.

 

The PAP welcomed the proposals for reinforcing ties with the CPV and agreed to jointly carry out cooperation frameworks in different fields and organising personnel training.

 

Besides, economic and training partners of Singapore also suggested cooperation measures for the new period.

 

In Singapore, Mai also met with the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of Vietnamese people living there./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with representatives from organisations of Republic of Korea citizens living and working in Vietnam on December 1, ahead of his State-level visit to the RoK at the invitation of his counterpart Yoon Suk-yeol.

 

At the meeting, RoK Ambassador to Vietnam Oh Young-ju said the RoK attaches special importance to the friendly and cooperative relationship with Vietnam, and has high expectations of President Phuc’s visit that it would open up new opportunities for bilateral cooperation in various fields, especially a cooperation framework for a mineral supply chain.

 

Participants shared the view that the Vietnam-RoK strategic cooperative partnership is developing strongly, and people-to-people exchanges are also flourishing, with the Vietnam-RoK Friendship Association and RoK-Vietnam Friendship Association playing a prominent role.

 

The representatives from the organisations of RoK citizens in Vietnam expressed their hope that President Phuc and relevant agencies always support the RoK community in Vietnam and further facilitate investment and business activities of RoK enterprises in the country.

 

The President appreciated the role of organisations of RoK citizens in Vietnam in supporting RoK nationals in the country and deepening the friendship and mutual understanding between the two peoples.

 

He affirmed that the Vietnamese State always takes care of and protects the legitimate rights and interests of the RoK community, as well as creates the best possible conditions for the community.

 

The State leader said the great achievements of the Vietnam-RoK bilateral cooperation after 30 years establishing diplomatic relations prove that the two countries have become very important partners of each other.

 

However, they still have great potential for expanding cooperation, Phuc said, noting his wish to further promote the bilateral partnership. He asked RoK citizens and enterprises to continue fostering the friendship and cooperation between the RoK and Vietnam./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

 

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue received Australian Foreign Minister, Senator Penny Wong on December 1, within the framework of his official visit to the country.

 

Hue said this is the first official visit to Australia by a Vietnamese senior leader after the 13th National Party Congress in early 2021 to continue implementing the nation’s foreign policy.

 

He also appreciated Minister Penny Wong’s selection of Vietnam as one of the first countries to visit just one month after she took office in May.

 

Minister Wong affirmed that Australia always considers Vietnam a close friend and partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the region.

 

The two countries’ discussion towards the upgrade of their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of their diplomatic ties next year is an important step forward and achievement, demonstrating the strategic trust and shared determination to intensify bilateral cooperation, including in economics, climate change response and other strategic issues, she said.

 

The Vietnamese top legislator affirmed that the Vietnamese NA supports the upgrade of the bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership at an appropriate time when the two countries complete all necessary procedures.

 

He proposed that Minister Wong coordinate in promoting visits by the two countries’ senior leaders, organising activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary next year, completing the implementation of the Strategic Partnership Action Programme for 2020-2023 and preparing to build a cooperation framework for the next period, accelerating the implementation of the Australia – Vietnam Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy (EEES), intensifying labour cooperation, and expanding collaboration in digital transformation, energy transition, and climate change adaptation.

 

He expressed his hope that the two sides will strengthen parliamentary cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels, and coordinate at multilateral forums on parliamentary matters such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF).

 

Hue also suggested the Australian Government maintain support and create conditions for the Vietnamese community in the country so that they can continue making positive contributions to Australia and the two countries’ relations.

 

Wong affirmed that in her role, she will promote the implementation of Hue’s proposals, including labour cooperation; and agreed to complete the procedures as soon as possible so that seasonal workers and Vietnamese agricultural workers could work in Australia.

 

She asserted that her country always attaches importance to collaboration with ASEAN, and continues to cooperate actively in the Mekong sub-region issue as well as other regional ones.

 

During his stay, NA Chairman Hue also gave a reception for representatives from the newly-established Australia-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group.

 

He announced that the 15th National Assembly of Vietnam has also established the Vietnam – Australia Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group with 11 members, led by the Chairman of the NA’s Law Committee. He showed his wish that the two groups will play a pivotal role in promoting exchanges between the two countries’ parliamentarians, thus enhancing mutual understanding as well as the sharing of experience and expertise between the two parliaments.

 

Sharon Clayton, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Australia-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group, affirmed that her group will coordinate closely with the Vietnamese counterpart to promote cooperation between the two parliaments, especially in exchange experience in law making, contributing to lifting the bilateral Strategic Partnership to a new height.

 

In the afternoon of the same day, the Vietnamese NA Chairman observed Q&A session in the Senate and the House of Representatives./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called for concerted efforts to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing while chairing a teleconference with 28 coastal provinces and cities on December 1.

 

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) reported that IUU fishing has been reeled in since the European Commission issued a “yellow card” warning five years ago.

 

However, problems and shortcomings remain, regarding which an EC delegation gave recommendations on during their third inspection recently, MARD noted, adding that the EC also highly valued Vietnam’s strong political resolve, especially the drastic directions delivered by the Government and the PM.

 

At the meeting, ministries, sectors and localities pointed out causes and obstacles, looked into international experience, and proposed solutions to prevent IUU fishing.

 

Applauding their recent efforts, PM Chinh said many problems still exist and haven’t been addressed quickly enough.

 

He noted those problems are caused by not only people’s limited awareness but also a lack of sense of responsibility among some organisations and individuals. This sluggish progress is due to a lack of strong action, attention, inspection and supervision over the issue, as well as long-term solutions, including ensuring livelihoods for fishermen.

 

“The fight against IUU fishing must be carried out not for the sake of formality but for the sake of the people and Vietnam’s image as a responsible member of the international community in implementing international commitments, including marine environment protection,” he emphasised.

 

Chinh also asked for developing a 180-day action plan to carry out the EC’s recommendations, devising a long-term strategy to prevent IUU fishing, reviewing sea areas and territorial waters, re-assessing fishing and aquaculture activities, and creating sustainable livelihoods for people./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Chief Operating Officer of Nike, Inc., Andy Campion in Hanoi on December 1, speaking highly of the firm’s contributions to Vietnam’s exports and job creation in the recent past.

 

The host leader noted with satisfaction the vigorous growth in Vietnam – US relations, including bilateral trade rising over 18% year on year to top 105 billion USD in the first 11 months of 2022.

 

The US has been the largest export market of Vietnam for many years while Vietnam currently ranks ninth in the world and first in ASEAN among trading partners of the US. Many major technology firms from the North American country such as Apple, Dell, GE, Intel, and Microsoft has invested in the Southeast Asian nation, helping promote Vietnam’s role in regional and global supply chains, he went on.

 

PM Chinh asked Nike to increase applying scientific and technological advances and achievements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to its production and management activities in Vietnam, while assisting the country to improve the management capacity, give policy advice, train human resources, boost green growth and digital transformation, and develop a circular economy, thereby helping Vietnam build an independent and self-reliant economy with extensive, substantive, and effective integration into the world and deeper engagement in global supply chains.

 

Vietnam is building a fair, transparent, and stable business climate, effectively dealing with administrative procedures, and reducing input costs for enterprises and investors. It views the foreign invested sector as an important part of the economy and hopes foreign firms will make more investment, especially in the fields matching Vietnam’s demand and enterprises’ strengths, he affirmed.

 

Agreeing on his host’s cooperation suggestions, Campion informed about the sportswear producer’s operations in Vietnam with enhanced application of technology and automation, adding it produces about 600 million pairs of footwear each year, half of which are made in Vietnam, and that half of the materials for the company’s global supply chains are also sourced from the country.

 

He highly valued Vietnam’s human resources, saying the staff members in Vietnam are the ones with the best skills in the world of Nike.

 

He also spoke highly of the Vietnamese economy’s resilience and thanked the Government and PM for their active and effective assistance for the firm’s establishments to quickly and safely resume operations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

The COO also expressed his belief that the country will play an increasingly important role in global supply chains.

 

Set up in 1995, the Nike Vietnam Co. Ltd has more than 200 partner factories in 20 provinces and cities, along with hundreds of businesses joining its supply chain, indirectly providing jobs for nearly 500,000 local workers./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission held its 23rd session in Hanoi on November 29-30, during which it proposed disciplinary actions be taken against some leading officials and party organisations.

 

Following the instruction of the Central Steering Committee for Corruption and Negative Phenomenon Prevention and Control, and after reviewing the inspection results when there were signs of violations of the Party civil affairs board of the People’s Committee of Dong Nai province, the Inspection Commission found that the board had violated the principle of democratic centralism and working regulations, lacked responsibility, and loosened leadership, thus enabling the provincial People’s Committee and many organisations and individuals to infringe on the Party’s regulations and the State’s laws in the implementation of a number of projects and the equitisation work. Some officials and Party members showed degradation in political ideology, ethics and lifestyle, violated regulations on things that Party members are banned from doing and the responsibility of setting good examples, and were subject to criminal prosecution.

 

The violations have caused serious consequences, great damage and risk of state budget loss, resulting in bad public opinion, affecting the reputation of Party organisations and local authorities.

 

Accordingly, the commission decided to issue a warning against Tran Van Vinh, former member of the Standing Board of the provincial Party Committee, former Vice Secretary of the Party civil affairs board at the provincial People’s Committee and former Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee.

 

Meanwhile, several leading officials of Tin Nghia Corporation and Nhon Trach Investment Joint Stock Company were expelled from the Party.

 

The commission also proposed the Politburo and the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee to consider and discipline Tran Dinh Thanh, former member of the Party Central Committee, former Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, and former Chairman of the provincial People’s Council; Dinh Quoc Thai, former Vice Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, former Secretary of the Party civil affairs board of the provincial People’s Committee, and former Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee; Phan Huy Anh Vu, member of the provincial Party Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee of and Director of the Department of Health, and former Director of Dong Nai General Hospital; and Bo Ngoc Thu, former member of the provincial Party Committee, former Secretary of the Party Committee of and former Director of the Department of Planning and Investment.

 

During this session, the Inspection Commission found that the Party delegations to the People’s Committees of Thanh Hoa, Nam Dinh and Binh Duong provinces had infringed on working regulations, lacked responsibility, and slackened leadership and direction, resulting in the provincial People’s Committees and many organisations and individuals violating the Party’s regulations and the State’s laws in bidding, purchasing biological products, chemicals and medical supplies in service of COVID-19 prevention and control work.

 

In addition, the Party civil affairs board of the Nam Dinh provincial People’s Committee also let the committee and several departments and branches violate the Party’s regulations and the State’s laws on public investment; and in the management and use of land in some projects.

 

Those violations and wrongdoings posed the threat of causing great damage to the state budget and affecting the reputation of the Party committees and local authorities.

 

The commission decided to reprimand the Party civil affairs boards of the People’s Committees of Thanh Hoa and Nam Dinh in the 2016-2021, 2021-2026 tenures, and the Party civil affairs board of the People’s Committee of Binh Duong in the 2021-2026 term.

 

Many incumbent and former officials of the three localities also received warnings this time.

 

The inspection commission requested the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat to consider disciplinary measures against some officials in Thanh Hoa province./.

 

Source: Vietnam News Agency