Review on external affairs from July 17-23: New chapter in Vietnam-Malaysia relations; Foreign Minister’s visit to Singapore
WVR - Review on a number of news headlines on external affairs from July 17-23 by The World and Vietnam Report.
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| General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong receives Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on an official visit to Vietnam. (Source: VNA) |
Leaders’ activities
On July 23, President Vo Van Thuong, Spouse and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation left Hanoi for an official visit to Austria, a state visit to Italy and a visit to the Vatican.This is the first visit to Austria by a Vietnamese President in the past 15 years, and the first trips to Italy and the Vatican by a Vietnamese Head of State in the past seven years. The President's visit to Italy is also the most important highlight as the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the Strategic Partnership in 2023.
On July 18, Vietnam leaders have extended condolences to their Indian counterparts over serious consequences caused by floods in the northern region of India. President Vo Van Thuong sent a message of condolences to Indian President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent a message of condolences to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue extended his condolences to Vice President cum Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) Jagdeep Dhankhar, and Speaker of the Lok Sabha (Lower House) Om Birla. On the same day, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son sent a message of condolences to Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
From July 20-21, at the invitation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Spouse paid an official visit to Vietnam. During the visit, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attended the official welcome ceremony, held talks with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and witnessed the signing of cooperation documents of the two countries; paid courtersy calls to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Vo Van Thuong; had meeting with Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim attended the Vietnam-Malaysia Business Forum with the participation of delegates who are leaders of ministries, sectors, agencies, organizations and representatives of associations, corporations and businesses of the two countries.
On July 19, receiving Malaysian Foreign Minister, Senator Zambry Abdul Kadir, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed the Malaysian Foreign Minister and his Vietnamese counterpart to co-chair the seventh meeting of the Joint Commission for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, contributing to reviewing the implementation of cooperation agreements between the two countries and preparing for the official Vietnam visit by the Malaysian Prime Minister and his Spouse from July 20-21, 2023.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Malaysian Minister of Foreign Affairs Senator Zambry Abdul Kadir. (Photo: VNA) |
On July 21, receiving US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue proposed that the US recognise Vietnam's market economy status and limit technical measures and trade defence to facilitate Vietnamese goods' access to its market. The US values the comprehensive partnership with Vietnam and will continue to develop it, affirmed US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
On July 20, Politburo member, Head of the Party Central Committee's Economic Commission Tran Tuan Anh, received US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen. He stressed that the bilateral economic ties are thriving with two-way trade hitting a record last year, and expressed his hope that the two sides will deepen cooperation in economy, science-technology, trade-investment, finance-banking, supply chains, infrastructure, logistics, digital economy, green transition, health care, sustainable agriculture, energy transition and environmental protection.
On July 19, in Beijing, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Do Van Chien, had a meeting with Zhao Leji, member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee’s Political Bureau and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China. During the visit, the VFF Central Committee delegation also had a meeting with Wang Huning, member of the CPC Central Committee’s Politburo Standing Committee and Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, to discuss cooperation orientations for the time ahead, signed a new MoU; and organised the second friendship exchange between the VFF and the CPPCC, and between the VFF Committees of the seven Vietnamese provinces bordering Yunnan province and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China.
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| The meeting between Secretary of the CPV Central Committee and President of the VFF Central Committee Do Van Chien and Zhao Leji, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Central Committee’s Political Bureau and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China. (Photo: VNA) |
On July 21, receiving CEO of Samsung Vietnam Choi Joo Ho, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang affirmed that the Vietnamese Government is committed to creating an increasingly favourable and attractive business and investment environment for foreign investors, including Samsung.
On July 18, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha received Angela Pratt, Chief Representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Vietnam. At the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister proposed for the WHO’s assistance in addressing limitations in health insurance policies, and accessing quality and affordable medical products, medicines, biological products and vaccines, especially those that are not available in the expanded immunisation programme..
Activities of the Foreign Minister
In an interview with Vietnamese media about the outcomes of the implementation of the foreign policy of the 13th Party National Congress in the mid term, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasized the role of the State diplomacy in international relations.
From July 19-20, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Malaysia diplomatic ties this year and as part of his official visit to Vietnam, Malaysian Foreign Minister, Senator Zambry Abd Kadir and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son co-chaired the 7th meeting of the Joint Commission for Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation between Vietnam and Malaysia. The two Ministers agreed to strive to bring two-way trade to 18 billion USD soon in a more balanced direction, limiting the application of trade barriers, and capitalizing on opportunities from regional trade agreements that both sides participate in such as the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
From July 17-18, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son paid an official visit to Singapore at the invitation of Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan.
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| From July 17-18, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son paid an official visit to Singapore at the invitation of Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. (Photo: WVR/Quang Hoa) |
On July 17, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan attended the ceremony held by the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam-Singapore diplomatic relations (August 1, 1973-2023) and 10th anniversary of the bilateral strategic partnership (2013-2023).
On July 18 morning, at their talks, Foreign Minister Vivian affirmed that Singapore considers Vietnam an important partner in the region and wishes to further strengthen the Strategic Partnership with Vietnam for the benefit of the two nations’ people and for regional peace, stability and prosperity. Foreign Minister Son expressed his pleasure to visit Singapore for the first time in his capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs. The two Foreign Ministers expressed their satisfaction at the development of the bilateral relations, reflected in the frequency of high-level visits and bilateral cooperation mechanisms. Economic cooperation, trade and investment are constantly being promoted.
The same day, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son had a meeting with Singaporean Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean during which they agreed to continuously contribute to promoting the bilateral cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Singapore, including fostering cooperation and promoting the signing of documents in security and defence.
Bilateral activities
On the occasion of President Vo Van Thuong and Spouse's official visit to Austria, Vietnamese Ambassador to Austria Nguyen Trung Kien stressed that the visit to Austria will help promote bilateral cooperation and multilateral diplomacy. It is an opportunity for the two countries to enhance their well-developing relations, and also a chance for the Vietnamese State leader to work with representatives from multilateral diplomatic forums, thereby helping affirm Vietnam’s position and role in the international arena.
Assessing the significance of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang's official visit to Israel at the end of July, Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung affirmed that the visit takes place on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Israel (July 12, 1993 - 2023), which is the highlight in a series of activities to celebrate bilateral relations throughout 2023.
On the occasion of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang's official visit to Israel, Ambassador of Israel to Vietnam Yaron Mayer also granted an interview to The World & Vietnam Report. According to the Israeli Ambassador to Vietnam, the key outcome will be the signing of the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA).
On the occasion of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's visit to Vietnam, Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Dato’ Tan Yang Thai shared the important highlights of Vietnam-Malaysia relations, including the potential for cooperation in the Halal industry.
Also on this occasion, Vietnamese Ambassador to Malaysia Dinh Ngoc Linh said that the official visit to Vietnam by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is meaningful to recognize the 50-year achievements in bilateral relations and create a new impetus for the two countries to explore further cooperation horizons.
In an interview with the World and Vietnam Report about the official visit to Singapore by Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son from July 17-19, Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Mai Phuoc Dung highlighted the significance of the visit in a special year between the two countries.
On July 20, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu presented President Vo Van Thuong's credentials to Japanese Emperor Naruhito in Tokyo. Expressing his honor to hold the position of Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan, Hieu affirmed he will do his utmost to continue developing the bilateral ties extensively, effectively, and sustainably.
Multilateral activities
On July 19, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, spoke at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). Vietnam will exert more efforts in implementing sustainable development goals (SDGs), Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang said. From its experience, Vietnam proposes several measures to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs in the second half of the decade.
On July 18, on the occasion of the Forum, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang met with Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly (NA) of Tanzania Mussa Azzan Zungu on the occasion of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. Ambassador Giang congratulated Tansania on successfully presenting its voluntary national review on the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals at the Forum. He applauded the relations between the two countries as well as the sound cooperation between their National Assemblies, especially within the framework of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). The Ambassador expressed his hope that Tanzania will send a delegation and contribute to the success of the IPU’s ninth Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians to be hosted by Vietnam this September.
On July 17, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang had a working session with Ambassador Dennis Francis, President of the 78th United Nations General Assembly and Head of the Trinidad and Tobago Delegation to the United Nations, on the international situation, the focus of work of the United Nations General Assembly in the upcoming session and Vietnam's policies, priorities and concerns.
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
On July 20, at the Ministry's regular press conference, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang answered to the quesions about the information that Vietnamese passports have risen in the ranking of "Hanley Passport Index"; the support for Chinese citizens in distress at Khanh Le Pass and the visit to Vietnam by US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen.
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| Spokespeson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang at the Ministry’s regular press conference on July 20, 2023. (Photo: WVR/Minh Quan) |
Vietnamese citizens can enter 55 countries and territories worldwide without applying for a visa, or with simplified visa procedures like e-visas or visas on arrival, the Spokesperson said, responding to a reporter's query on the Henley Passport Index released by London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners on July 19.
From July 18-20, US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen visited Vietnam during which the two countries discussed measures for further promoting economic ties and post-pandemic recovery, she informed.
Tags:
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong
President Vo Van Thuong
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh
NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue
Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
Malaysian Foreign Minister
Senator Zambry Abdul Kadir
Singaporean Foreign Minister
Vivian Balakrishnan
US Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen
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