Review on external affairs from Feb. 20-26: 50 years of Vietnam-Australia ties; strengthen cooperation with EU, China
WVR - Review on a number of news headlines on external affairs from Feb. 20-26 by The World and Vietnam Report.
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| On February 24, at the Presidential Palace, Acting State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan handed over the appoitment decisions to 15 new Ambassadors of Vietnam to foreign countries for the tenure 2023-2026. (Photo: WVR/Nguyen Hong) |
Leaders’ activities
On February 21, at the headquarters of the Party Central Committee, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong received Dominican Republic’s United Left Movement (MIU) General Secretary and Minister for Regional Integration Policies Miguel Mejia who was on Vietnam visit from February 18-26. Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong expressed his belief that the trip is a success, contributing to further deepening cooperation between the two countries, particularly in economy, trade and investment.
On February 26, the Vietnamese State, Government and National Assembly leaders sent letters of congratulations to their Australian counterparts on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam-Australia diplomatic relations (February 26, 1973-2023). Acting President Nguyen Thi Anh Xuan cabled her congratulatory letter to Governor-General of Australia David Hurley, while Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent congratulations to his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese. National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue also congratulated President of the Australian Senate Sue Lines and Speaker of the Australian House of Representatives Milton Dick on the special day. Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son sent a congratulatory letter to his Australian counterpart Penny Wong.
On February 24, at the Presidential Palace, Acting State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan handed over the decision to appoint 15 Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in foreign countries for the tenure 2023-2026. After the ceremony, Acting State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan had a meeting and assigned tasks to the newly appointed Ambassadors. The Acting President stressed the importance of diplomacy to national development as well as regional peace, stability and development, and the huge tasks for the sector amid global uncertainties. She also asked the Ambassadors to play more active role in economic diplomacy, while paying attention to cultural diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy with innovative, suitable forms.
On the same day, Politburo member, Head of the Party Central Committee’s Organizational Commission Truong Thi Mai had a working session with Ambassadors, Heads of Vietnamese Representative Missions abroad for the 2023-2026 tenure.
On February 23, Acting President Vo Thi Anh Xuan sent message of congratulations to Japanese Emperor Naruhito on the occasion of his 63rd birthday (February 23, 1960-2023). Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh extended congratulations to Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue sent his congratulations to Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan Hosoda Hiroyuki and President of the House of Councillors Otsuji Hidehisa. Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son sent greetings to his Japanese counterpart Hayashi Yoshimasa.
On February 23, Acting President Vo Thi Anh Xuan and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent greetings to Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei on the occasion of the country’s 39th National Day (February 23, 1984-2023). National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue extended his greetings to Speaker of the Legislative Council of Brunei Pehin Dato Abdul Rahman Taib. Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son also sent a message of greetings to Second Minister of Foreign Affairs Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof on the anniversary.
On February 22, at the Presidential Palace, Acting State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan received the Ambassadors of Switzerland, Malaysia and Cambodia to present their credentials.
On the same day, at the Government Headquarters, receiving Secretary of the Party Committee of Hainan province Shen Xiaoming, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested China’s Hainan province enhance its exchange and cooperation with Vietnamese ministries, agencies and localities, particularly Ho Chi Minh City and the northern province of Quang Ninh.
On February 23, receiving Chair of the European Parliament (EP)’s Committee on Foreign Affairs David McAllister, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue hailed the European Union as a top important partner in Vietnam’s foreign policy and said Vietnam always supports the strengthening of ASEAN-EU strategic partnership and stays ready to play an active role in the process. The National Assembly Chairman proposed that as Chair of the EP’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, Mr. David McAllister continues to support the development of EU-Vietnam and EU-ASEAN relations, raise the EP’s role in leveraging the advantages of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to advance trade ties and maintain EU-Vietnam and EU-ASEAN supply chains, and facilitate the exchange of delegations at the committee level between EP and the Vietnamese legislature.
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| On February 23, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue welcomes Chair of EP's Foreign Affairs Committee David McAllister. (Photo: VNA) |
On the same day, receiving Mr. David McAllister, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang stressed that Vietnam and the EU should continue working closely together for the common goal of promoting Vietnam – EU comprehensive partnership and cooperation, thus bringing practical benefits to their people and businesses and making positive contributions to maintaining peace, stability, development and prosperity in each region and the world.
On February 23, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang attended a ceremony held by the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam to celebrate the 63rd birthday of Japanese Emperor Naruhito.
On February 22, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha received Mr. Simon Harford, CEO of the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP). He called on GEAPP to further advise and support Vietnam in policy making and creating an optimal legal environment for energy projects within the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).
Activities of Foreign Minister
On February 24, the Australian Embassy in Vietnam celebrated the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Australia (February 26, 1973- 2023). Speaking at the ceremony, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son stressed that the relationship between the two countries has developed sustainably and rapidly and has marked many important milestones. The Foreign Minister expressed his belief with reciprocal economies, great potential of each country and increasing political trust, the Vietnam-Australia relationship will be advanced to a new height, for the sake of their people and for an Asia-Pacific region of peace, cooperation and prosperity.
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| On February 22, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son hosted a reception for the Secretary of the Party Committee of China’s Hainan province Shen Xiaoming. (Photo: WVR/Tuan Anh) |
On February 22, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son hosted a reception for the Secretary of the Party Committee of China’s Hainan province Shen Xiaoming. Foreign Minister Son suggested Vietnamese and Chinese localities step up meetings and cooperation in such areas as trade and investment, and exchange experience in spheres where Hainan has strengths like climate change response, aquaculture, and agriculture, and especially rice cultivation in the areas affected by saltwater intrusion. The Minister also called for stronger cooperation in tourism, people-to-people exchange, and the restoration of direct flights between the two sides.
Bilateral activities
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Australia (February 26, 1973-2023), Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski gave an interview to the press, highlighting the close Vietnam-Australian relationship and the future hold for the partnership between the two countries.
In an interview on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Australia diplomatic relations (February 26, 1973-2023), former Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Graham Alliband said the changes in Vietnam over the last 32 years since he finished his term of office in the country have been dramatic, "almost revolutionary".
On February 25, at the headquarters of the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Hanoi, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc attended the flag raising ceremony and the celebration of the 179th Independence Day of the Dominican Republic. Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc affirmed that the visit of General Secretary of the United Left Movement - Minister of Regional Integration Policy of the Dominican Republic Miguel Mejia has a very important meaning. The traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and the Dominican Republic have been thriving as the two countries have maintained delegation exchanges and effective cooperation between the two Governments, and particularly via the Party channel, in which the United Left Movement of the Dominican Republic (MIU) plays a key role, Deputy PM noted.
On February 23, in Beijing, the Vietnamese Embassy in China held a ceremony to mark the 73rd anniversary of the Vietnam-China diplomatic relations (January 18, 1950-2023). Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai stressed that the Party, State and people of Vietnam always attach great importance to consolidating and strengthening the friendship and cooperation with their Chinese peers. Vietnam considers developing relations with China one of the top priorities in its foreign policy, he affirmed. The two sides need to continue to fully and effectively implement the common perceptions reached by senior leaders of the two Parties and countries as well as their signed agreements, he proposed.
Multilateral activities
From February 27 to March 2, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang will lead a Vietnamese delegation to the High-Level Meeting of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC)’s 52nd regular session in Geneva, Switzerland. This will be the second time Vietnam has undertaken the role of a UNHRC member after being elected and successfully serving its first tenure from 2014-2016. On the occasion, Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, WTO and other international organisations in Geneva, granted an interview to the press about the preparation work of the Deputy Prime Minister Delegation as well as Vietnam's priorities, proposals and initiatives at the 52nd regular session of the UNHRC.
On February 24, at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on February 24 adopted two resolutions on the organisation of the High-level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response and the High-level Meeting on the Fight against Tuberculosis, which are expected to be held during the High-Level Week of the UNGA’s 78th session in September. Chairing the drafting of the UNGA resolution on International Day of Epidemic Preparedness in 2020 and proposing the resolution on organising the High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response in 2022, Vietnam has actively partnered with other major countries to lead the negotiation process to secure the adoption of the two above-mentioned resolutions.
On February 22, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, attended the UN General Assembly’s emergency special session on Ukraine, one year since the conflict broke out. In his remarks, Ambassador Giang voiced concerns about the situation in Ukraine over the past year, recent worrying developments, and the conflict’s consequences, including heavy human and property losses and negative impacts on the region and the world as well as common efforts to promote international cooperation and respond to global challenges. Vietnam urgently appeals to the parties concerned to end hostilities, avoid acts that escalate tensions, and resume dialogue and negotiations to seek comprehensive, satisfactory, and durable peaceful solutions to differences in conformity to and with respect for international law and the UN Charter, with the legitimate interests and concerns by the relevant parties taken into account, for the sake of regional and global peace and stability, the Ambassador said.
On February 22, at the United Nations Headquarters, New York, at the opening general debate of the annual session of the Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations (also known as the C34), Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen, Deputy Head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to the UN, has affirmed Vietnam’s willingness to continue expanding the deployment of personnel to United Nations peacekeeping operations in the coming time. The sending of personnel to UN peacekeeping operations since 2014 is an important landmark in Vietnam’s foreign policy, he emphasised while delivering his remarks at the session, highlighting the willingness to keep expanding the scale and scope of personnel deployment.
On February 21, the Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations opened its annual meeting with the participation of representatives from more than 80 member states. This year’s session focuses on the role of the UN Charter in maintaining international peace and security, and the peaceful settlement of disputes as well as the role of regional mechanisms and agreements. Addressing the session, Minister Counsellor Le Thi Minh Thoa, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, underlined the need to abide by the UN Charter and principles of international law to maintain international peace and security, especially when the world is facing many common challenges.
Other activities
From February 23-24, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinating with the Embassy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland organized a training course to improve knowledge of external information and communication skills for officials of the offices, separtments of foreign affairs of the People's Committees of the Southeast provinces in the Mekong Delta and a number of agencies, departments and branches in Ho Chi Minh City.
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| Iranian Ambassador to Vietnam Ali Akbar Nazari and Editor-in-Chief of the World & Vietnam Report Nguyen Truong Son. (Photo: WVR/Quang Hoa) |
On February 21, in Hanoi, Iranian Ambassador to Vietnam Ali Akbar Nazari had a visit and meeting with Editor-in-Chief and staff of the World & Vietnam Report, press agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. At the meeting, the two sides discussed cooperation opportunities between the Iranian Embassy and the World and Vietnam Report, especially in 2023 when Vietnam and Iran celebrate the 50 annivesary of establishing diplomatic relations (August 4, 1973-2023). Highly appreciating the professionalism of the World & Vietnam Report, Ambassador Ali Akbar Nazari expressed his gratitude for the effective cooperation between the two sides in the past time and affirmed his desire to further boost cooperation and strengthen the friendship between Vietnam and Iran.
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