Review on external affairs from August 1-7: AMM-55; new milestone in Vietnam-Greece relations
WVR - Review on a number of news headlines on external affairs from August 1-7 by The World and Vietnam Report.
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Leaders’ activities
On August 5, at the Presidential Palace, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc received the Ambassadors of South Africa, Saudi Arabia and Belgium to present their credentials.
On August 3, on the occasion of Mr. Nikenike Vurobaravu being elected President of the Republic of Vanuatu, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc sent a congratulatory message.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent their condolences to Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos over the death of former President Fidel Ramos. Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son also extended condolences to Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has sent a congratulatory message to King of Morocco Mohammed VI on the occasion of the 23rd anniversary of the King’s accession to the Moroccan throne (July 30, 1999-2022). Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also expressed his congratulations to Prime Minister of Morocco Aziz Akhannouch while National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue sent a congratulatory message to Senate President Naam Miyara and Speaker of the House of Representatives Rachid Talbi Alami.
On this occasion, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son also sent a message of congratulation to Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates Nasser Bourita.
On August 1, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc sent a message of sympathy to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi over heavy losses caused by recent severe floods.
On August 1, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh consequently, received Greek Foreign Minister Nikolaos Dendias who was on an official visit to Vietnam. The Vietnamese leaders believed that the visit made an important contribution to promoting the friendly and traditional relations between the two countries.
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| President Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives Greek Foreign Minister Nikolaos Dendias. (Photo: VNA) |
On August 5, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Mr. Roh Tae-moon, CEO of Samsung Electronics Group (Korea), who was visiting Vietnam.
On August 5, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent a congratulatory message to Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah following his appointment as the Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait.
On August 2, receiving Singapore Ambassador to Vietnam Jaya Ratnam and CEO of Temasek Foundation Ng Boon Heong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that the Vietnamese Government welcomes and stands ready to create favorable conditions for Singaporean businesses to invest in the country.
On August 2, receiving outgoing British Ambassador Gareth Ward, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the two sides should closely coordinate to optimise the commitments of the UKFTA in order to enhance economic, trade and investment relations.
On August 4, at the National Assembly, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue received Cuban Ambassador Orlando Nicolas Hernandez Guillen and Russian Ambassador Gennady Bezdetko.
On August 2, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue received Mr. Kim Jung Tai, Chairman of the Global Strategy Committee, Hana Financial Group (Korea).
On August 4, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh hosted a reception for heads of delegations of ASEAN and ASEAN Plus+3 countries to the 21st ASEAN Conference on Civil Service Matters (ACCSM 21),which was held in Hanoi from August 3-5.
On August 3, receiving Governor of Gunma prefecture Yamamoto Ichita, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh highlighted the strong, comprehensive and substantive development of the Vietnam - Japan extensive strategic partnership, including relations between the countries’ localities.
Permanent member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Vo Van Thuong and the Party high-ranking delegation had a working visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) from August 2-3.
On August 1, at the Presidential Palace, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan received President and CEO of the AIA Group Lee Yuan Siong, affirming Vietnamese leaders’ readiness to create an optimal environment for foreign firms, including those from the US, to develop.
Activities of the Foreign Affairs Minister
From August 2-6, at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooporation of Cambodia Prak Sokhonn, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son led the Vietnamese delegation to attend the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related Meetings held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son also held a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the event.
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| Opening ceremony of the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related Meetings presided over by Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on August 3, 2022. (Photo: WVR/Tuan Anh) |
On August 1, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son held talks with Greek Foreign Minister Nikolaos Dendias, who was on an official visit to Vietnam from July 31 to August 1, to strengthen bilateral cooperation. Foreign Minister Nikolaos Dendias expressed his wish to place a monument to the late President Ho Chi Minh in Greece, and pledged to encourage EU countries to soon ratify the EVIPA.
Bilateral activities
On the evening of August 4, at the celebration of the 57th anniversary of Singapore's National Day (August 9, 1965 - 2022), Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu affirmed that bilateral economic cooperation continues as the bright spot, with Singapore being the second largest investor in Vietnam. The two sides are ready to expand cooperation in areas such as management, digital transformation or tourism.
On August 3, Deputy Foreign Minister and Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Pham Quang Hieu had a cordial meeting with family members of Hero of the People’s Armed Forces Kostas Sarantidis - Nguyen Van Lap.
On August 3, meeting with Governor of Gunma prefecture Yamamoto Ichita, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu affirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is always ready to support, create favorable conditions and promote mutually beneficial cooperation between Vietnam and Gunma prefecture. On this occasion, Permanent Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Vu witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of human resource training and research between the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and Gunma prefecture.
Multilateral activities
In an interview with the World & Vietnam Newspaper on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of ASEAN, former Deputy Secretary General of ASEAN Hoang Anh Tuan affirmed that, despite difficulties and challenges, in the past 55 years ASEAN has achieved many important achievements in the process of building the ASEAN Community.
On August 5, the United Nations International Law Commission (ILC) held its 73rd session, ending the 2017-2022 tenure. Speaking at the 73rd session of the International Law Commission (ILC) on August 5, the Ambassador, on behalf of the Asian States regional group, spoke highly of efforts by the commission as well as its contributions and support to developing countries.
On August 1, the 10th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) was opened at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc led the Vietnamese delegation to attend the joint discussion session. He emphasized that Vietnam has taken the treaty seriously and fulfilled its national obligations under the NPT and other international agreements in the field, including the Treaty of Southeast Asia Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone (SEANWFZ) and UN Security Council resolutions, contributing to maintaining global and regional peace.
On the sidelines of the Conference, Deputy Minister Ha Kim Ngoc had a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who lauded Vietnam’s commitment to climate change response.
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| Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc had a meeting with United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres In New York, on August 3, 2022. (Photo: WVR) |
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc made the remarks at the panel discussion themed “Nonproliferation, Nuclear Energy, and Climate Change” chaired by US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm in New York.
On August 1, Vietnamese delegation joined others of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and India in the Foreign Ministerial Meeting of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith has affirmed that Vietnam and Laos have made great contributions to the building of the ASEAN Community, has affirmed. The Lao Deputy PM stressed that ASEAN's greatest achievement to date has been peace and stability thanks to mutual understanding, which laid the foundation for peace and stability for the Asian-Pacific region as well as ASEAN. He also stressed the need for ASEAN to continue maintaining its central role and consensus stance in solving challenges.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson
On August 3, in response to a reporter's question about the current situation in the Taiwan Strait, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang stated:
“Vietnam has consistently implemented the ‘One China’ policy and expects that related parties will restrain and avoid complicating the situation in the Taiwan Strait, actively contribute to maintaining peace and stability, and promote cooperation and development in the region and the world as well.”
Citizen protection
Regarding the case of Vietnamese victims in a blaze in Greater Manchester (UK), the Consular Department and the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK continue to closely monitor the case and actively coordinate with Vietnamese and British competent agencies to speed up the process of victim identification, taking the necessary measures to arrange the aftermath in case it is confirmed that the victim is a Vietnamese citizen, at the same time request the British side to soon investigate the cause of the incident, ensuring legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens.
Other activities
On August 2, on the occasion of joining Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son to attend the 55th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-55), Ms. Vu Thi Bich Ngoc, the Minister's spouse visited and presented gifts to pupils of Khmer-Vietnam Friendship Primary School in Prey Veng province, Cambodia.
During the week, many Vietnamese representative missions abroad celebrated the 55th anniversary of the founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (August 8, 1967-2022).
(Source: WVR)
