Review on external affairs from June 27-July 3: NA Chairman’s visit to Europe; strengthening Vietnam-Australia strategic partnership
Review on a number of news headlines on external affairs from June 27-July 3 by The World and Vietnam Report.
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Leaders’ activities
On June 28, at the Presidential Palace, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc received Vietnamese Honorary Consul in Switzerland Philipp Rosler and a Swiss business delegation to visit Vietnam, seeking opportunities to promote trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and Germany and Switzerland.
On June 27, receiving Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed that Vietnam always treasures and works hard to foster its relations with Australia, a strategic partner of Vietnam in the South Pacific region, and a comprehensive strategic partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
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| On the steps of the Presidential Palace, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc shook hands with Foreign Minister Penny Wong, confirmed for a highly productive meeting. (Photo: WVR/DFAT) |
Also on June 27, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on the occasion of the Minister's official visit to Vietnam from June 26-28.
On June 30, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Japanese Minister of Justice Furukawa Yoshihisa who had a working visit in Vietnam.
On July 1, Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue and a high-ranking delegation of the National Assembly of Vietnam arrived at Noi Bai International Airport, successfully concluded the official visit to Hungary, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from June 26 to June 30.
In the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue held talks with Speaker of the UK House of Lords John Mcfall; talks with Speaker of UK's House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle; meeting with Deputy Prime Minister, Justice Secretary Dominic Raab; meeting with UK's Home Secretary Priti Patel; Mr. Alok Sharma, UK Cabinet Office Minister, President for 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) (COP26); received UK Secretary of State for International Trade Anne - Marie Trevelyan; attend the Vietnam Education Cooperation Forum; meeting representatives of British businesses group investing in Vietnam, receiving leaders of Imperial College London; meeting with Chairman of Vietnam-UK Network (VUKN) Warwick Morris...
In Hungary, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue held talks with Speaker of the National Assembly of the host country László Kövér; co-chaired the fourth legislative discussion with the theme “Improving the legal framework on greenhouse emission reduction, renewable energy and green economy”; met with Prime Minister Viktor Orban; received leaders of a number of Hungarian enterprises, President of the Hungarian-Vietnamese Friendship Association Botz László; visited the Vietnamese Embassy and met the Vietnamese community in Hungary.
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| National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue held talks with Speaker of the UK House of Lords John Mcfall. (Photo: VNA) |
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| National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue has a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. (Photo: VNA) |
On June 30, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan on behalf of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc led the Vietnamese delegation to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Philippine President for the 2022-2028 term, Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.
On June 29, at the Party Central Committee headquarters, Vo Van Thuong, Politburo member, permanent member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee held online talks with Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M)
Activities of the Foreign Affairs Minister
On July 1, speaking at the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the East Sea Institute (July 12, 2012 - 2022), Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son praised the Institute, which has made great efforts to build its group of experts and scientific researchers, contributing to reinforcing scientific, historical, legal and political bases to safeguard the sovereignty, sovereign rights, and national jurisdiction in the East Sea as well as raise voice to help regional and global communities further understand the policies of Vietnam’s Party and State over the issue.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son urged the East Sea Institute to strive to become Vietnam's leading prestigious research institution, affirming its brand in the region and the world.
On June 29, in a phone conversation with Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Al-Safadi, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son asked Jordan to support the Embassy of Vietnam in citizen protection and providing relief for Vietnamese survivors of a toxic gas leak at the port of Aqaba.
On June 27, in Hanoi, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son held talks with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
Welcoming his guest’s decision to choose Vietnam as the first destination to visit after taking office and praising Australia’s recent achievements serving its post-pandemic recovery, Foreign Minister Son said he believes Minister Wong’s trip will contribute to creating new dynamics in promoting the countries’ strategic partnership towards the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations in 2023.
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| Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son holds phone talks with Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Ayman Al-Safadi regarding the Aqaba toxic gas explosion. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
Bilateral activities
On June 30, the Vietnam Office for Seeking Missing Persons (VNOSMP) handed over the remains of American soldiers missing in action during the war in Vietnam to the US in a ceremony held at Da Nang International Airport. The search for missing US soldiers' remains from the war in Vietnam has been an ongoing humanitarian activity jointly conducted by the Vietnamese and US Governments. This was the 158th handover since 1973.
On June 29, at the 8th Conference to review the cooperation situation between Vietnamese ministries, branches and localities and China’s Guangdong province, Deputy Minister Hieu affirmed that Vietnam welcomes and is ready to create favorable conditions for foreign enterprises, including capable enterprises of Guangdong, to expand investment in Vietnam in high-tech projects, environment-friendly, developing high-quality infrastructure.
On June 28, Assistant Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu had a courtesy call with Mr. Philipp Roesler, Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Switzerland and a delegation of German and Swiss businesses seeking investment cooperation opportunities in Vietnam.
On June 28, in the capital Brussels (Belgium), the Vietnam-Belgium Trade and Investment Promotion Forum 2022 took place with the theme "Doing business with Vietnam". The program is co-ordinated by the Embassy of Vietnam in Belgium, Luxembourg, the European Union (EU), trade and investment agencies in Brussels (Hub.Brussels), Wallonia (AWEX), Flanders region (FIT) and the Belgian-Vietnamese Alliance.
On June 27, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu received Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Vepa Hajiev, who was on the visit to Vietnam as the two countries are going to celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations (July 29, 1992 – 2022).
On June 27, Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang visited the city of Verrière-le-Buisson and had a working session with the Mayor of the city François Guy Trébulle, to prepare for activities towards the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Agreement on ending the war, restoring peace in Vietnam (1973-2023).
Multilateral activities
On July 1, in Seoul, the Republic of Korea (RoK) Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yeo Seung-bae and Ambassador Vu Ho, Acting Head of ASEAN SOM Vietnam, co-chaired the 26th ASEAN-RoK Dialogue. It was the first in-person dialogue between ASEAN and a partner after a two-year hiatus due to the C-19 pandemic. The two sides reviewed their relationship, outlined cooperation orientations and compared notes on regional and international issues.
From June 30 to July 1, at the UN Headquarters, the United Nations General Assembly held a high-level session on improving road traffic safety to promote cooperation and evaluate practical results, and implement the road safety-related goals of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Tra, Charge d'affaires a.i. of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the UN attended and spoke at the meeting, affirmed that Vietnam totally supports the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030.
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| Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Tra affirmed that Vietnam totally supports the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2021–2030. (Photo: WVR/VNA) |
On June 28, Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Tra also reaffirmed Vietnam’s support for the UN Secretary-General's appeal for a global ceasefire at a dialogue session on the topic "From words to actions: A global ceasefire after the COVID-19 pandemic”. Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Tra, Charge d'affaires a.i. of Vietnam to the UN, pointed out that while the COVID-19 pandemic continues to threaten peace and development efforts, conflicts in many regions have led to heavy casualties and growing humanitarian challenges; shared concerns with countries about the multifaceted impact of illegal activities related to small arms and light weapons, which negatively affect the security, stability and development situation in the world
From June 27 to July 1, in Lisbon, Portugal, the United Nations High-Level Meeting was taken on Supporting the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals 14 (SDG 14) on the conservation and sustainable use of oceans, seas and marine resources (UNOC). The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu.
On June 29, the 8th Ocean Dialogue with the theme “40th Anniversary of UNCLOS: Promoting maritime cooperation in Southeast Asia”, was held in Hanoi. This year’s Ocean Dialogue especially reaffirmed the value of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) after 40 years, as well as discussed potential aspects of cooperation for Southeast Asia.
On June 28, the 16th ASEAN-China Forum on Social Development and Poverty Reduction opened in Nanning, China. Consul General of Vietnam in Nanning Do Nam Trung attended and spoke at the Forum.
On June 28, at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, Vietnam took part in a number of activities, to share its efforts, achievements and commitment to human rights in responding to climate change, preserving national identity, and ensuring the freedom of religion and belief.
Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC)’s debate on climate change impacts on vulnerable groups, Assistant to Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet, Head of the Vietnamese delegation to the HRC’s 50th regular session, said climate change is posing challenges to communities, countries and all people, especially vulnerable groups. On the sidelines of the session, Assistant to Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet and Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, the World Trade Organisations and other international organisations in Geneva, chaired the opening ceremony of a photo exhibition on ethnic and religious communities in Vietnam.
On June 27, within the framework of the 50th Regular Session, the United Nations Human Rights Council held annual session on Women’s Rights. Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet, Head of the Vietnamese delegation to the 50th session of the Human Rights Council, highlighted the important role of women in family work.
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| Assistant to Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet (C), Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai (L) and Director General of the United Nations Office in Geneva Tatiana Valovaya. (Photo: VNA) |
On the sidelines of the session, Assistant Minister Do Hung Viet had meetings with the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet, President of the Human Rights Council Federico Villegas; Director General of the United Nations Office in Geneva Tatiana Valovaya.
Citizen protection
The Vietnamese Embassy in Saudi Arabia and Jordan, said it has asked competent agencies of Jordan, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to coordinate in supporting Vietnamese citizens injured in a toxic gas leak at Jordan's Aqaba port on June 27, and the relevant issues.
According to the Vietnamese Embassy in Spain, police on the Spanish island of Mallorca said on June 25 they had arrested two Vietnamese citizens accused of raping a 17-year-old girl and privacy violation. After learning about the case, the Embassy took initial steps in citizen protection, held working sessions with local competent agencies to verify the information, and asked the Spanish side to ensure the rights and legitimate interests of the citizens and provide updates on the settlement.
Other activities
On June 29, the Conference on implementing the Politburo's Conclusion No. 12-KL/TW on overseas Vietnamese affairs in the new situation and the Government's Resolution No. 169/NQ-CP on overseas Vietnamese work for the period 2021-2026 has just been successfully held in Hanoi.
On June 28, the Conference on promoting international cooperation for developing Vietnam's Halal industry was held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in Hanoi in both in-person and online forms.
(WVR)
