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Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son proposed Switzerland continue to assist Vietnam in getting access to COVID-19 vaccine supplies, treatment medicines and necessary medical equipment during his talks with Swiss Vice President and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ignazio Cassis in Hanoi on August 5.

Welcoming the guest to Vietnam, Son said the visit, which is taking place from August 4-6 in celebration of the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, will contribute to promoting the bilateral relations.

He thanked the Swiss Government for continuing to prioritise the provision of Official Development Assistance (ODA) for Vietnam in the future, focusing mainly on environmental protection and economic reform.

The two sides agreed to increase the exchange of high-level delegations and meetings, and those between ministries, sectors and localities.

They committed to creating a favourable environment for enterprises of the two countries to expand investment and business in each other’s markets, and share efforts to soon conclude the negotiation of a Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in order to create strong impetus for bilateral trade and investment exchanges.

On behalf of the Vietnamese Government, Son thanked the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs for donating 500,000 quick COVID-19 test kits, 300,000 antibacterial masks and 30 oxygen machines with a total value of about 117 billion VND (5.1 million USD) to Vietnam.

Cassis expressed his belief that Vietnam will soon recover from the pandemic and agreed that the two countries need to continue to share experiences in COVID-19 prevention and control as well as roadmap of opening up and recovering the economy, and strengthen bilateral cooperation in healthcare, especially the technology transfer of COVID-19 vaccines and treatment drugs.

Also at the talks, the two officials agreed to continue cooperation and strengthen mutual support at multilateral forums and international organisations, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations.

The Swiss official affirmed his support for ASEAN’s central role in regional structures. He also congratulated Vietnam on successfully assuming its role as Chair of ASEAN in 2020 and thanked the nation for acting as a bridge to bolster the Switzerland – ASEAN partnership.

The two ministers emphasised the importance of complying with international law, ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight, security and peace in the East Sea, in which the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is the legal framework governing all activities at seas and oceans.

Son thanked and proposed the Swiss Government continue to create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Switzerland to integrate well, contribute positively to Switzerland’s development and strengthening the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received visiting Swiss Vice President and Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis in Hanoi on August 5, during which he thanked the Swiss Government for the timely and valuable help when Vietnam is coping with a resurgence of COVID-19.

The Swiss Government has decided to provide Vietnam with an emergency aid package of 500,000 COVID-19 testing kits, 300,000 face masks, 30 ventilators, and other medical supplies.

PM Chinh also asked Switzerland to help Vietnam access COVID-19 vaccine supply sources as soon as possible. He also recommended the sides boosting cooperation in technological transfer and production of pharmaceuticals, including COVID-19 vaccines and treatment drugs.

The leaders reviewed outcomes of cooperation between the two nations over the past five decades and discussed orientations to lift the relations to new heights in the future. They also talked about the preparation for Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to Switzerland.

Both host and guest agreed to speeding up negotiations for the signing of a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), of which Switzerland is a member.

The Vietnamese PM proposed Switzerland further create favourable conditions for Vietnamese goods and farm produce to enter the Swiss and EU markets; boost cooperation with Vietnam in sectors of Swiss strength; and early research and build bilateral cooperation projects on digital transformation.

Chinh also took the occasion to express his gratitude for Switzerland’s development aid worth 650 million USD granted for Vietnam in the past more than 30 years.

For his part, the Swiss Vice President stressed the Swiss Government and people highly evaluate Vietnam’s effective use of the aid, adding that Switzerland will offer Vietnam more official development assistance (ODA) during 2021 – 2024. The two sides agreed to continue working closely at multilateral regional and international forums, with Ignazio Cassis praising the role and contribution of ASEAN and Vietnam in seeking solutions for the Myanmar issue.

The Vietnamese and Swiss officials highlighted the importance of ensuring free navigation and navigation, security, peace and stability in the East Sea as well as of addressing disputes in the waters via peaceful measures in line with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan hosted a reception on August 5 for Vice President and Foreign Minister of Switzerland Ignazio Cassis, who is on an official visit to Vietnam on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Switzerland diplomatic ties.

Appreciating the outcomes between Ignazio Cassis and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Vice President Xuan thanked Switzerland for its continued provision of ODA for Vietnam.

She affirmed that Vietnam will create favourable conditions for the two countries to expand investment cooperation to fields with good potential.

The Vice President also valued the timely support of the Swiss Government for Vietnam in times of difficulties, and asked Switzerland to help Vietnam access COVID-19 vaccines.

Vice President Ignazio Cassis stressed that Switzerland attaches importance to developing relations with Vietnam in the context of Vietnam’s rising role and prestige in the region and the world.

He spoke highly of Vietnam’s response to the latest resurgence of the COVID-19 and informed that the Swiss Government had decide to provide Vietnam with emergency aid of 500,000 kits of rapid test kits, 300,000 anti-bacterial masks and 30 ventilators.

The Swiss Vice President also thanked Vietnam for supporting stronger cooperation between Switzerland and the ASEAN.

The two Vice Presidents took the occasion to discuss measures to promote bilateral relations, including the resumption of delegation exchanges, especially high-ranking delegations.

The Swiss official said President Guy Parmelin hopes President Nguyen Xuan Phuc will early make an official visit to Switzerland so that the two sides can reach agreement on major orientations for bilateral cooperation.

The two sides also looked into the prospect of an early conclusion of negotiations on a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the EFTA in which Switzerland is a member.

The two sides agreed to cooperate closely and support each other at multilateral forums, and reiterated the importance of maintaining navigation and overflight freedom in the East Sea, while highlighting the need for observance of international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), thus contributing to a peaceful and stable environment for development in the region and the world as a whole.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse will pay an official friendly visit to Laos from August 9-10 at the invitation of General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang announced at an online press conference on August 5.

During the visit, President Phuc is scheduled to hold talks with Party General Secretary and President Thongloun; meet with Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh and National Assembly Chairman Saysomphone Phomvihane; receive several senior leaders; and visit some former senior leaders of Laos.

He will deliver a speech at the first extraordinary session of the 9th NA of Laos, and attend and address the inaugural and handover ceremony of the Lao NA House, and join other activities.

Hang said that during these talks and meetings, the two sides will discuss measures to deepen the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos, thus bringing practical benefits to the people of both countries.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnamese diplomatic missions in Japan will continue to coordinate with Japanese agencies for the urgent investigation into the death of a Vietnamese man in Osaka while implementing necessary citizen protection measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang informed at a regular press conference of the ministry held online on August 5.

She said immediately after there was information on social networks about a Vietnamese young man who died after being assaulted in Osaka city’s Namba area, the Vietnamese Consulate General in Osaka contacted the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Osaka police, and Vietnamese community in the Kansai region to learn about the case.

On August 3, local police officially informed the Consulate General in Osaka that the victim is a Vietnamese national, born in 1999 from the northern port city of Hai Phong. The Consulate General has contacted and sent condolences to the victim’s family, affirming that it would closely follow the case and assist the family in necessary procedures.

Hang said according to the latest updates from the Consulate General, Osaka police had arrested a suspect in the case – a foreigner – at 4:10 pm local time on August 5.

The Foreign Ministry’s Consular Department is ready to assist the victim’s family, she said.

“This is a heartbreaking incident. We would like to send our deepest condolences to the victim’s family and will coordinate with and request the Japanese side to soon bring the perpetrator to trial,” said the spokesperson.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue held an online meeting with 5,000 voters in the northern port city of Hai Phong on August 5.

The NA Chairman informed the voters about the reforms in the organization and operation of the legislative body in the 15th tenure, particularly in the first session.

He took time to talk to voters about an urban development strategy for Hai Phong, which draws many voters’ interest.

The top legislator noted that the Prime Minister issued a decision on September 2020 approving the task of building a master plan for Hai Phong in 2021-2030 with a vision to 2050.

The city must quickly implement the task, he said, noting that without a master plan, there will be many obstacles for socio-economic development.

According to Hue, several districts in Hai Phong have been designated to become urban districts, so their plans on new-style rural area building should include urban development.

The city also needs to make plans for the environment in industrial parks and export processing zones, water supply and waste collection and treatment in urban and rural areas, he said.

Regarding the building of Bach Long Vy into a fishery logistics centre for the northern region, Chairman Hue said the Bach Long Vi island district authority should coordinate with the municipal People’s Committee and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to develop a scheme to this purpose to submit to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

He pledged that the delegation of NA deputies of Hai Phong will help promote the idea.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnamese and US competent agencies are coordinating to prepare for the visit of US Vice President Kamala Harris to Vietnam, which is scheduled for August, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang at the ministry’ virtual press conference held on August 5.

She noted the arrangement for the visit is made in the spirit of the Vietnam – US comprehensive partnership, which has been growing robustly and practically across all fields in contribution to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and around the world. She added that the specific programme of the US Vice President’s visit will be announced at an appropriate time

The diplomat unveiled that Vietnam will conduct a series of diplomatic activities and delegation exchanges in the time to come. Vietnam welcomes leaders of nations, including the US, to visit the country, she said.

Hang stated that Vietnam follows a consistent external relations policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation, diversification. The country is stepping up efforts to deepen relations with partners, especially important ones, toward effectiveness and sustainability, she said, stressing that Vietnam does not align with one country to fight against another.

The diplomat continued to affirm that Vietnam always attaches importance to strengthening relations with China and the US – its two top partners in multiple fields – for the sake of the people as well as for peace and development in the region and across the globe.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Travellers are set to have an opportunity to experience Vietnam’s beauty on trains with steam locomotives.

The Ministry of Transport has approved in principle a project on the renovation and building of such tourist trains on the Hue-Da Nang route, a section of Hanoi- Ho Chi Minh railway route. The Vietnam Railways Corporations (VNR) will collaborate with the Dong Duong Rail Tourist Service Co.Ltd in carrying out the project.

The Ministry of Transport asked the VNR to collaborate with the Indochina Rail Tourist Service Company Limited to allocate funds to invest in the items of the project, ensuring compliance with current standards and technical regulations.

In addition, the VNR should develop a train schedule to ensure the safety for the transportation of passengers and goods.

Units must pay a fee for using railway infrastructure from the project’s revenue as required.

To effectively exploit the steam locomotive, transportation experts said it is necessary to build auxiliary works such as coal and water supply systems and they must be licensed by the competent authority.

A steam locomotive is a rail vehicle that provides the force to move itself and other vehicles utilising the expansion of steam. It is fuelled by burning combustible material – usually coal and oil – to heat water in the locomotive’s boiler to the point when it becomes gaseous and its volume increases 1700 times. Functionally, it is a steam engine on wheels. Fuel and water supplies are usually carried with the locomotive, either on the locomotive itself or in a tender coupled to it.

This type of locomotive was widely used in the world from the 19th century to the middle of the 20th century.

Vietnam’s railway sector gradually replaced steam locomotives with electric and diesel locomotives in the 1990s.

Source: Vietnam News Agency