Day: January 10, 2023

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on January 10 visited and presented gifts to poor and disadvantaged households and Agent Orange/Dioxin victims in Hon Dat district of the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang on the occasion of the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

Attending a programme organised by the provincial Red Cross Society for local poor people to celebrate Tet, the State leader hailed the local administration, Red Cross chapters at all levels and social organisations and individuals for donating Tet gifts worth over 10 billion VND (427,000 USD) for social welfare beneficiary families, poor and disadvantaged people in the province.

The programme, which is taking place from January 1-16, in response to a campaign launched by Vietnam Red Cross Society to provide Tet gift for the less fortunate, includes a variety of activities such as providing free haircuts, calligraphy, folk games as well as cultural exchanges between groups of people in society.

As many as 20,000 packages of gifts, worth between 300,000-500,000 VND each, will be presented to poor people and families of Agent Orange victims as well as those aftected by natural disasters or COVID-19 pandemic during the programme.

The same day, the president visited and presented 200 packages of Tet gifts to disadvantaged workers at Thanh Loc Industrial Zone.

He underlined that the Party and State always pay attention to poor households and people with difficult circumstances, ensuring that everyone can enjoy a happy Tet. The president asked Kien Giang province, enterprises to continue to improve the working condition and health for labourers.

He also visited and presented gifts to poor households, disadvantaged workers and Agent Orange victims in Chau Thanh district.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Delegations from the Cambodian Royal Army Guards and provinces on January 10 paid visits to Can Tho city, Ca Mau and Bac Lieu provinces in the south of Vietnam ahead of the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.

Visiting Can Tho city, General Dieng Sarun, advisor to Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen and vice commander of the High Command of the Cambodian Royal Army Guards extended the best wishes to local authorities on the occasion of the traditional festival.

He appreciated the good friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia and wished that in the coming time, the two countries will continue to maintain the fine relationship that has been cultivated by generations of leaders of both countries.

The Cambodian Royal Army Guards always remembers and thanks the local authorities for providing material and financial support to the unit over the past time.

For his part, Chairman of the city People’s Committee Tran Viet Truong said he expects Can Tho and Cambodia will continue cooperation in economy, education, and training.

In Ca Mau, Chairman of the Koh Kong provincial Council Kai Samrum sent New Year greetings to the Party, State, and people of Vietnam in general and Ca Mau province in particular.

Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Council of Ca Mau province Nguyen Tien Hai said that the visit is an opportunity for the two localities to strengthen the relationship between Vietnam and Cambodia and between the two localities in particular.

Meanwhile, a delegation from Preah Sihanouk province led by its provincial council head Vong Phanat came to deliver Tet greetings to Bac Lieu authorities and people.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Politburo member and Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA) Nguyen Xuan Thang has asked the new Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, Andrew Goledzinowski, to continue promoting the cooperation between the HCMA and Australian partners, including the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, during his tenure.

During a reception for the diplomat in Hanoi on January 10, Thang, who is also President of the Central Theoretical Council, told his guest that bilateral ties between Vietnam and Australia have been growing over the past years, especially since the establishment of a strategic partnership in 2017.

He highlighted the fine cooperation between HCMA and Australian partners, notably a project on establishing and improving the capacity of a Vietnam-Australia Centre.

Since 2019, HCMA has also partnered with the Australian Embassy and Aus4Skills Programme to hold pilot English training courses for Vietnamese officials as well as sign memoranda of understanding on cooperation with Australian partners in the fields of human rights and human resources development, he said.

Goledzinowski, for his part, expressed his honour to be appointed as Australian Ambassador to Vietnam at a time when the two countries are preparing for the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the fifth anniversary of strategic partnership this year.

He affirmed that the most important task during his tenure is to further consolidate and strengthen bilateral political trust which is an important foundation for Vietnam-Australia ties.

Following the reception, host and guest co-chaired the second meeting of the Steering Committee for the Vietnam-Australia Centre Project and attended an inauguration ceremony for the centre’s office at the HCMA./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will pay an official visit to Laos from January 11-12 at the invitation of his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandon.

It will be his first visit to Laos on the capacity as Vietnamese PM. He will also be the first foreign leader to visit Laos since Lao PM Siphandon was elected.

During the visit, PM Chinh will co-chair the 45th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee and attend the closing ceremony of Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022.

The visit will affirm Vietnam’s consistent policy of treasuring and prioritising the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive partnership between the two nations, as well as Vietnam’s support for Laos during its national renovation and integration.

It is also meant to realise the foreign policy set at the 13th National Party Congress and reinforce external activities via Party, State and people-to-people diplomacy channels, as well as the Politburo’s conclusion on overseas Vietnamese affairs in the new situation.

As scheduled, both sides will review outstanding achievements in bilateral ties in 2022 and lay out major orientations for 2023, jointly hold major celebrations, discuss measures to enhance political-diplomatic and national defence-security cooperation, and effectively implement legal documents related to border and overseas Vietnamese and Lao affairs.

They will also push forward economic-trade-investment, education and culture ties, connectivity between the two economies, contributing to effectively carrying out key projects and mutual liaison at regional and global forums, particularly within the framework of ASEAN and Mekong sub-regional cooperation.

The Vietnamese leader is also due to meet Vietnamese community living in Laos and commit the Party and State’s support for them, thus contributing to upholding the great national unity.

A range of political, economic, education, cultural and tourism and people-to-people exchange activities were held during Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022.

Two-way trade was estimated at 1.63 billion USD last year, up 20% annually. With 238 valid projects worth about 5.34 billion USD in Laos, Vietnam remained the third biggest investor in the country.

About 14,000 Lao students are studying in 160 Vietnamese educational establishments. In the first nine months of last year, Laos welcomed around 197,000 Vietnamese visitors and roughly 26,000 Lao tourists arrived in Vietnam./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

People-to-people diplomacy has contributed to creating a favourable international environment for national development, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan said on January 10.

She was speaking at the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisation (VUFO)’s meeting with representatives from the diplomatic corps, international organisations, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) on the occasion of the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.

On behalf of the Party and State leaders and people of Vietnam, Xuan expressed her sincere thanks to the guests for their support to and cooperation with Vietnam in the past time.

She commended the VUFO and the Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organisations Affairs for their achievements, especially in 2022, which contributed to strengthening and fostering the friendship, solidarity, and bonds between the Vietnamese people and those of other countries around the world.

The Vice President also affirmed the important role of people-to-people diplomacy in implementing Vietnam’s foreign policy.

She said that she hopes diplomatic agencies, international organisations, and NGOs will continue cooperating with Vietnam for the sustainable and prosperous development of the country and others on the globe.

Palestinian Ambassador Saadi Salama, head of the diplomatic corps in Vietnam, appreciated the VUFO’s role in boosting the solidarity, friendship, and cooperation through people-to-people diplomacy. He expressed his belief that the union will continue promoting the work to further enhance the collaboration with diplomatic corps, international organisations, NGOs and peace lovers all over the world.

He reaffirmed his readiness and determination to further develop the multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and other countries and international organisations for mutual benefits, as well as for a world of equality, prosperity, cooperation, peace, and sustainable development./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has operated a free flight carrying over 100 disadvantaged workers from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi to re-unite with their families on the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

The carrier also funded travelling costs for them to return to their home villages as well as airfares for return flights to Ho Chi Minh City after Tet.

The workers on the flight are all live in difficult circumstances, have relatives in need of special care, and have not been able to return to their home villages for Tet for years.

As part of the “Flights of Love” campaign, the flight was a joint effort of Vietnam Airlines, Frequent Flyer Programme Lotusmiles members and partners, to spread humane value for the community and social responsibility that the carrier has been promoting for years./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception in Hanoi on January 10 for Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in charge of the Asia-Pacific Antoinette Sayeh, who is on her first working visit to Vietnam.

PM Chinh told his guest that the Vietnamese economy grew by 8.02% last year despite difficulties at home and abroad. The economic size was worth about 409 billion USD while the average GDP per capita hit 4,110 USD.

This year, the Vietnamese Government will take synchronous measures to maintain macro-economic stability, control inflation and propel growth, he said, adding that focus will be placed on developing infrastructure, digital transformation, energy transition and circular economy, and diversifying markets and supply chains.

Vietnam is ready to discuss and listen to recommendations and advices from international organisations like the IMF, he stressed.

Sayeh, for her part, informed the host about the outcomes of her working sessions with the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission, the State Bank of Vietnam and the Finance Ministry.

She hailed Vietnam as one of the best performing economies in Asia-Pacific that will continue maintaining growth momentum with proper fiscal, monetary and public investment policies.

The IMF will acknowledge and share Vietnam’s development experience with other countries, as well as strive to provide technical support and consultancy for the nation to bring into full play its past achievements, including in meeting its net zero emission goal by 2050, she said.

The host said Vietnam is fine-tuning legal system to develop renewable energy industry on the back of support from foreign countries and financial institutions in terms of technology, capital, governance and human resources.

He wished ties between Vietnam and the IMF to become a fine example for other countries to follow in the near future.

Source: Vietnam News Agency