Review on external affairs from Mar. 20-26: Expanding Vietnam-Cambodia cooperation; Deputy PM’s attendance at UN Water Conference
WVR - Review on a number of news headlines on external affairs from March 20-26 by The World and Vietnam Report.
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| President Vo Van Thuong receives Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia Prak Sokhonn on March 21, 2023. (Photo: VNA) |
Leaders’ activities
On March 22, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam sent a congratulatory message to the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) on the occasion of its 68th founding anniversary (March 22, 1955 - 2023).
n this occasion, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong sent a basket of flowers to congratulate LPRP General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith, while permanent member of the 13th Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Truong Thi Mai sent flowers to permanent member of the LPRP Central Committee's Secretariat and Vice President of Laos Bunthoong Chitmany.
On March 23, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Italy diplomatic relations (March 23, 1973- 2023), President Vo Van Thuong exchanged congratulatory messages with Italian President Sergio Mattarella; Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh exchanged congratulatory messages with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni; Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son sent a congratulatory message to Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani.
On March 21, receiving Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Kingdom of Cambodia Prak Sokhonn, who was in Vietnam for an official visit and co-chairing the 20th meeting of the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Commission on Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technological Cooperation, President Vo Van Thuong emphasized that Vietnam always attaches great importance and wishes to constantly strengthen the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, and comprehensive, sustainable, long-term cooperation with Cambodia.
On the same day, at the reception for Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam is ready to support and share experience in successfully organizing important events in Cambodia. The two sides also agreed to maintain close coordination and mutual support at regional and international forums and contribute to the building of a united, strong, and prosperous ASEAN Community.
On March 22, receiving a delegation of businesses from the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam wants to promote its comprehensive partnership with the US in a practical, effective, equal and mutually-beneficial manner.
The Prime Minister believed that USABC and the US enterprises will be instrumental in bolstering the Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership to bring growth and jobs to the two countries' people for the sake of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. The delegation comprised leaders of over 50 leading US and world businesses like Netflix, Boeing, Apple, Coca-Cola, Pfizer, Abbott, Visa, Citibank, Meta, Ford, Fedex Express, among others.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and a delegation of businesses from the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) on March 22, 2023. (Photo: VNA) |
On March 23, during a reception for the delegation from the US-ASEAN Business Council, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue affirmed that the National Assembly of Vietnam is committed to create a stable, transparent and favourable legal framework for foreign enterprises, including those from the US, to continue their long-term operations in Vietnam, especially in fields of the US’s strength and Vietnam’s demand.
On March 20, on the occasion of Mr. Ibrahim Bouderbala being elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Tunisia, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue sent a congratulatory message.
From March 22-24, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha led the Vietnamese delegation to attend and deliver remarks at the United Nations Conference on Mid-term Comprehensive Review on the Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” for the 2018-2022 period. In his remarks, the Vietnamese Deputy pledged for sustainable cross-border water development goals. Sharing comprehensive, inclusive and fair approaches to cooperation in water resource management, he suggested strengthening the global and regional legal frameworks for the use and management of trans-boundary water resources; adopting an integrated, nature-based approach to managing transboundary water resources as a unified entity in the building and implementation of planning, programmes and projects; and enhancing transparent and equitable consultation mechanisms among the countries.
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| On March 23, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha delivers keynote speech at the United Nations Conference on Mid-term comprehensive review on the Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”. ( Photo: VGP) |
The UN Water Conference, held for the first time after 46 years, is an opportunity for countries to discuss, evaluate, share experience and results of implementing the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”. On March 22, at the opening session of the Conference, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has highlighted the need to establish a social ethical standard regarding water resources, especially trans-boundary water, in accordance with the principles of fairness, equality, rationality, and respect for the rights and interests of other countries in river basins.
On the occasion of the UN 2023 Water Conference, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha had numerous bilateral meetings with many foreign leaders, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres.
Activities of the Foreign Minister
At the invitation of Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn paid an official visit to Vietnam and co-chaired the 20th meeting of the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Commission on Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technological Cooperation from March 20-22. On March 21, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son welcomed and held talks with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn.
The two sides agreed to facilitate high-level visits, continue upholding the effectiveness of existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms, implement the joint statements and cooperation agreements between the two Parties and Governments, step up connectivity between the two economies, enhance locality-to-locality cooperation, speed up the demarcation and border marker planting of the remaining 16% of the border line, toward building a borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation and sustainable development between the two countries.
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| Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son welcomed and held talks with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn. (Photo: WVR/Tuan Anh) |
On March 21, in Hanoi, co-chairing the 20th meeting of the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Commission on Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technological Cooperation, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn agreed to continue maintaining high-level exchanges, consultations, and bilateral mechanisms in the coming time. On behalf of the two Governments, Foreign Minister Son and Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Sokhonn signed the Minutes of the meeting. The 21st meeting of the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Commission is scheduled to be held in Cambodia in 2024.
On March 21, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son received Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Tan Yang Thai. The Foreign Minister expressed his belief that Ambassador Tan Yang Thai will be an important bridge to promote coordination between the two Foreign Ministries and between the ministries, branches and localities of the two countries, contributing to the development of the Vietnam-Malaysia Strategic Partnership.
On March 20, in Hanoi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son welcomed and held talks with Dominican Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade and Energy Vince Henderson, discussing orientations and measures to strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the two nations. Vietnam and Dominican Foreign Ministers agreed to continue expand cooperation both bilaterally and multilaterally for the sake of their people and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the two regions.
On March 20, receiving Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Vietnam Iain Frew, Minister Bui Thanh Son suggested that Ambassador Iain Frew to continue facilitating the exchange of all-level delegations, effectively implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms and work closely with Vietnamese partners to hold activities celebrating the 50th founding anniversary of Vietnam-UK diplomatic ties this year.
Bilateral activities
On March 25, attending the ceremony to mark the 52nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Chile (March 25, 1971 - 2023) organized by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc said that the establishment of diplomatic ties opened up a new chapter for the bilateral relations. The Deputy Foreign Minister expressed confidence in the bright future of Vietnam-Chile relations in the next half century and beyond. Notably, in the coming time, when Chilean President Gabriel Boric to visit Vietnam, it will be a good opportunity for the two countries to join hands to write more new history pages of bilateral relations, he stressed. Former President of Chile Michelle Bachelet and a delegation from Chile, Chilean Ambassador to Vietnam Sergio Narea also attended the ceremony.
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| Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet with delegates at the ceremony. (Source: VNA) |
On March 24, Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu received Mr. Shimizu Akira, Chief Representative of the Office of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Vietnam to greet him on the occasion of the end of his working term in Vietnam and introduced the Chief Representative to succeed Sugano Yuichi.
On March 23, attending 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam- Italy diplomatic relations (March 23, 1973- 2023), Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang affirmed Vietnam and Italy have become reliable cooperation partners in many fields ranging from politics, diplomacy, investment, business to culture, tourism, education and training in both bilateral and multilateral aspects. The upgrade of bilateral ties to strategic partnership in 2013 was a historic milestone in their relationship, the Deputy Foreign Minister said, adding that Italy is one of the top European Union partners of Vietnam while Vietnam is the biggest ASEAN trade partner of Italy.
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| Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang and Italian Ambassador to Vietnam Antonio Alessandro gave a toast to congratulate 50 years of establishing diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Italy. (Photo: WVR/Quang Hoa) |
In an interview with the World & Vietnam Report on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam - Belgium diplomatic relations (March 22, 1973 - 2023), Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Nguyen Van Thao affirmed the two countries have built a solid and comprehensive foundation of cooperation in various fields, from politics and diplomacy to economic and cultural relations, and people-to-people exchanges. The Ambassador described the relationship between the two countries in three words "trust", "substantial" and "effective".
In an interview to Vietnamese media on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties (March 22, 1973-2023), Belgian Ambassador to Vietnam Karl Van den Bossche has called Vietnam a responsible, reliable and stable partner.
Multilateral activities
On March 22, the United Nations (UN) Security Council held a meeting to the Arria format on achieving a better protection of water-related essential services and infrastructure for the civilian population during armed conflicts. Speaking at the event, Counsellor Le Thi Minh Thoa, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, said that in the context of the current complicated conflicts in the world, it is more important than ever to promote the observance of the principles and obligations of the parties amid conflict. Accordingly, the parties engaging in the conflict should have primary responsibility for the protection of civilians as well as the infrastructure providing essential services in the territory or area under their control.
On March 21, at the headquarters of the European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS) in Belgium, a workshop "ASEAN-EU celebrates 45 years of relations: A new dynamic" was held by the ASEAN Committee in Brussels, in collaboration with the European Parliament (EP) and EIAS. Ambassador Nguyen Van Thao, Chief of the Vietnamese Mission in Belgium and to the European Union (EU), attended as a keynote speaker representing ASEAN.
On the occasion of Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha to attend the United Nations Conference in New York (USA) from March 21-24, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Head of the Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, gave an interview to the World & Vietnam Report.
On March 22, on the occasion of the World Water Day 2023, Mr. Gal Saf, Counselor, Head of Economic and Trade Mission, Israeli Embassy to Vietnam, gave an interview to The World and Vietnam Report.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Spokesperson
On March 23, at the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang made statements on Vietnam’s stance on the nuclear submarine agreement within the framework of the Australia-UK-US (AUKUS) Security Pact as well as attitudes of several ASEAN member states; ASEAN-Japan relations; Vietnam's response to the US Department of State’s March 20 announcement of the annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2022 and Vietnam-US comprehensive partnership.
Other activities
On March 23, in Khanh Hoa, the 10th Ocean Dialogue, entitled “Offshore Renewable Energy: Opportunities and Challenges to Green Transition”, was jointly organized in hybrid format by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung Foundation (KAS). The event drew the virtual and in-person participation of more than 200 domestic and foreign experts. In his opening remarks, Assistant to the Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu expressed optimism about the development of renewable energy in general and wind power in particular.
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| Women diplomats and spouses witness silkworms at the field trip. |
On March 21, at the Central Mulberry Research Center, on the occasion of International Women's Day 8 March, a programme themed "Following silkworms" was held by the ASEAN Community Women's Circle of Hanoi (AWCH) in association with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam.
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