Review on external affairs from May 15-21: PM’s successful attendance at expanded G7 Summit; Vietnam-Singapore political consultation
WVR - Review on a number of news headlines on external affairs from May 15-21 by The World and Vietnam Report.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and other leaders take a group photo at the G7 Open Summit, Hiroshima, Japan. (Source: VNA) |
Leaders’ activities
On May 18, President Vo Van Thuong received Abdulrahman Omar Kinana, Politburo member and Vice Chairman of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM - Party of the Revolution) of Tanzania, who was on a working visit to Vietnam. Welcoming the delegation right after the CCM’s 10th National Congress, President Thuong said that this is an opportunity for leaders of the two Parties and countries to exchange ideas and evaluate the international situation, bilateral relations and orientations for cooperation in the coming time.
The President affirmed that Vietnam is pleased to witness the country's achievements in maintaining economic development momentum, improving people's living standards, and enhancing its reputation and role in East Africa in particular and Africa in general.
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| President Vo Van Thuong receives Tanzanian Party delegation in Hanoi, on May 18, 2023. (Photo: VNA) |
On May 17, receiving Secretary of the National Security Council of Mongolia Jadamba Enkhbayar, President Vo Van Thuong highly valued the outcomes of the working session between the Mongolian delegation with the Ministry of Public Security and relevant agencies of Vietnam, stressing that on the basis of important results of the bilateral cooperation relationship, the two countries will make joint efforts to upgrade their relations and further promote comprehensive cooperation in the new context.
On the evening of May 21, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh left Hiroshima airport for Noi Bai airport, successfully ending his trip on the occasion of attending the expanded G7 Summit and working visit to Japan. In less than three days, the Prime Minister attended about 40 activities, including working sessions and meetings with Japanese leaders as well as circles, businesses, friends in Japan, along with leaders of countries and international organisations.
Prime Minister Chinh delivered remarks at G7 expanded Summit’s first and second plenary sessions, giving speech at the G7 expanded Summit’s working session named "Towards a Peaceful, Stable and Prosperous World”, in which he affirmed Vietnam will do its best to jointly contribute to peace, stability and sustainable development of mankind.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the G7 expanded Summit’s working session named "Towards a Peaceful, Stable and Prosperous World”. (Photo: VNA) |
During the expanded G7 Summit, Prime Minister Chinh had meetings with Republic of Korea (RoK) President Yoon Suk-yeol, US President Joe Biden and President of the European Council (EC) Charles Michel, Canadian and Indian Prime Ministers Justin Trudeau and Narendra Modi, President of the Union of Comoros Azali Assoumanil, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann; held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, meetings with Japanese friend circles, executives of several major Japanese economic corporations, attending Vietnam-Japan businesse forum, receiving Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture Yuzaki Hidehiko. On this occasion, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended a ceremony to announce the first direct air route between Vietnam's capital city of Hanoi and Japan's Hiroshima prefecture.
On May 18, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who was on a working visit to Vietnam. Prime Minister Chinh spoke highly of the role and efforts of the WTO Director-General in managing and promoting the organisation’s activities, and congratulated Okonjo-Iweala on her remarkable achievements since she took office in March 2021. He expressed his hope that the WTO will continue its support for member countries to seize opportunities from shifting trends and reshape supply chains, production, and investment, especially developing and underdeveloped countries.
On May 17, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception for Belgian Ambassador to Vietnam Karl Van Den Bossche and Francois Michel, CEO of John Cockerill Group, a mechanical engineering firm of Belgium.
On May 16, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception for Cuban Minister of the Interior Alberto Álvarez Casas. Prime Minister Chinh hailed the significance of the visit by the Cuban Minister at a time when the two countries are celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Committee for Solidarity with South Vietnam and the 50th anniversary of Fidel Castro's first visit to Vietnam and the Southern liberated zone.
On May 17, Politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee's Secretariat Truong Thi Mai hosted a reception for a high-ranking delegation from the Committees for the Defence of the Revolution of Cuba (CDR) led by its National Coordinator Gerardo Hernandez Nordelo. Politburo Mai affirmed the support of the Party and the State of Vietnam for Cuba in the process of updating the socio-economic development model, expressing the belief the Cuban people, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Cuba, will continue to make efforts to overcome difficulties and challenges, thus protecting the revolutionary achievements and realizing the goal of socialism in the Latin American nation.
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| On May 17, Party Politburo Truong Thi Mai receives Cuban guests from the Committees for the Defence of the Revolution of Cuba (CDR) led by its National Coordinator Gerardo Hernandez Nordelo. (Photo: VNA) |
During the visit to Vietnam, Standing Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man (May 17), President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Do Van Chien (May 16) respectively hosted a reception for delegation of Committees for the Defence of the Revolution of Cuba (CDR).
On May 15, Politburo member, permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Secretariat and Head of its Organisation Commission Truong Thi Mai held talks with Abdulrahman Omar Kinana, Politburo member and Vice Chairman of the ruling Party of the Revolution of Tanzania. Politburo member Mai said that Vietnam is delighted to see Tanzanian achievements in economic development and poverty reduction, as well as its contributions to building a peaceful, stable and prosperous East Africa region.
On May 17, receiving the Australian Government's Special Envoy for Southeast Asia Nicholas Moore on a working visit to Vietnam, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang asked Australia to support and share experiences with Vietnam in various fields, such as renewable energy, digital transformation, green transformation, response to climate change, which is a common development trend of the world.
On May 18, receiving Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam Thomas Gass, Politburo member, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and Chairman of its Commission for Internal Affairs Phan Dinh Trac said that the two countries’ relations are developing well in all fields and Vietnam attaches great importance to its friendship and cooperation with Switzerland,
Activities of the Foreign Minister
On May 21, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son gave an interview to the press about the outcomes of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's trip to the expanded G7 Summit. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s freshly ended trip for attendance at the expanded Summit of the Group of Seven (G7) and a working visit to Japan was a success in both bilateral and multilateral aspects, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son stressed.
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| Prime Minister’s trip to Japan a success, in bilateral and multilateral aspects: Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son stressed. (Photo: WVR) |
On May 18, on the occasion of the 133rd birthday of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19, 1890 - May 19, 2023), Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son led a delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to lay wreaths and pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum, offer incense at the Monument of Heroes and Martyrs on Bac Son Street.
On May 18, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son received Permanent Secretary of the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs Albert Chua on the occasion of his visit to Vietnam and co-chairing the 15th Vietnam-Singapore Political Consultations. Foreign Minister Son appreciated the strong and extensive development of the Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership, especially in economy, trade and investment. He suggested further promoting the important role of the political consultation mechanism in reviewing and proposing cooperation directions between the two nations’ Foreign Ministries.
On May 18, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son hosted a reception for WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala who was on a working visit to Vietnam from May 17-19, 2023. Welcoming WTO Director-General Okonjo-Iweala's visit to Vietnam, Vietnamese Foreign Minister expressed his belief that the visit contributes to strengthening the Vietnam - WTO cooperation relationship. Vietnam's consistent policy is to actively and proactively integrate into the world, support an open, transparent, fair and rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO at the centre, he stated.
Bilateral activities
On May 18, in Hanoi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet and Permanent Secretary in the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs Albert Chua co-chaired the 15th Vietnam - Singapore Political Consultation. The two sides focused their discussion on progress of and directions to promote the implementation of the agreements reached by the two countries' leaders in key areas as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern. They vowed to work closely to enhance connectivity, raise the level of cooperation, well prepare for high-level visit exchanges, and organise practical activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the establishment of their Strategic Partnership this year.
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| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet and Permanent Secretary in the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs Albert Chua co-chaired the 15th Vietnam - Singapore Political Consultation. (Photo: WVR/Duc Viet) |
At the invitation of Mrs. Vu Thi Bich Ngoc, Spouse of Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Honorary Chairperson of the ASEAN Community Women's Circle in Hanoi (AWCH), Mrs. Alouny Kommasith, Spouse of Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honorary President of the Women's Union of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Laos led a delegation of female diplomats of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Laos to participate in the annual exchange program between the Women's Committees of the two Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and Laos in Hanoi from May 17-20.
On May 17-18, the Bac Ninh People’s Committee, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the RoK Embassy in Vietnam jointly held the program “Meet Korea in the northern region”, brought together the participation of nearly 500 people, more than 150 Korean firms and representatives from 13 northern cities and provinces. At his opening remarks, Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu affirmed that economic, trade and investment cooperation has served as both a pillar and momentum of the relations between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK).
On May 17, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the strategic partnership between Thailand and Vietnam, the Thai Embassy in collaboration with WHA Corporation PCL held a series of special seminars at the Thailand Room , Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, in order to share typical and responsible activities of the Thai business community in Vietnam.
From May 15-16, the 10th Meeting of the Joint Permanent Working Group on Maritime and Ocean Concerns between Vietnam and Philippines (the 10th JPWG-MOC) was conducted in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh province. At the meeting, the two delegations reviewed the implementation of agreements reached at the 9th Meeting in November 2021 and noted with satisfaction that, despite the Covid-19 pandemic, both sides have fostered cooperation between the two countries on maritime security, fisheries, marine scientific research, environmental protection, meteorology and coordination in regional and international fora, among others. The two delegations agreed to enhance and deepen the above-mentioned maritime cooperation between the two countries in the coming time.
On May 17, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi highly valued the Legislative Assembly of Saint Petersburg’s support for relations between the two countries while meeting with Vice Chairman of the Assembly Nikolai Bondarenko. The meeting was part of Ambassador Khoi’s working trip to this city and attendance in Vietnam Week in Russia.
Previously, on May 15, at the Hanoi-Moscow Multifunctional Complex in Moscow, the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia held a workshop on measures to help Vietnamese community to overcome difficulties and obstacles in economic-trade cooperation between Vietnam and Russia under new conditions.
On May 15, newly-appointed Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu paid a courtesy visit to Chairman of the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance (JVPFA) Nikai Toshihiro in Tokyo.
On May 15, at the press conference, the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan announced that the Vietnam Festival in Japan 2023, the largest-ever of its kind, will be held at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo on June 3 and 4, 2023.
On May 19, on the occasion of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s trip to attend expanded G7 Summit, Japanese Ambassador Yamada Takio granted an interview to The World and Vietnam Report, stressed that from both bilateral and multilateral perspectives, Japan’s invitation for Vietnam to attend the expanded G7 Summit has a lot of importance.
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| US Ambassdor to Vietnam Marc Knapper appriciated the participation of Vietnamese leadership in the expanded G7 Summit. (Photo: WVR) |
On May 18, in his interview to the World and Vietnam Report, US Ambassdor to Vietnam Marc Knapper also emphasized that the participation of Vietnamese leadership in the expanded G7 Summit further exhibits Vietnam’s significant role in the international community.
On May 18, in his interview, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu said that Vietnam’s invitation to attend the expanded G7 Summit in Japan’s Hiroshima had demonstrated the importance the international community attaching to the country’s increasing role in the region and the world at large.
Multilateral activities
On May 19 (local time), addressing the United Nations Security Council’s Arria-formula meeting on the humanitarian situation in Myanmar, Minister Counsellor Le Thi Minh Thoa, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN stressed that the process of solving the situation in Myanmar must be controlled and led by the country itself. Vietnam supports and appreciates the role of the ASEAN Chair in connecting with all stakeholders in finding a peaceful and sustainable solution to the Myanmar situation, as well as the bloc's efforts to promote humanitarian relief in the country and the repatriation process in Rakhine State, the diplomat has said.
From May 15-19, at the 5th Review Conference to examine the CWC operation held in The Hague (Netherlands), Vietnam's permanent representative to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), Ambassador Pham Viet Anh had affirmed Vietnam's commitment to fully and responsibly implement the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC). The Ambassador reaffirmed Vietnam's consistent stance on backing non-proliferation of and complete and verifiable disarmament of weapons of mass destruction, including chemical weapons. Vietnam condemns any use of chemical weapons by anyone, anywhere, under any circumstances and for any motive, he stated.
From May 15-16, the 27th ASEAN-Korea Dialogue took place in Ha Long city, Quang Ninh province. On this occasion, Ambassador Vu Ho, Head of the Vietnamese delegation, gave an interview to the press about the purpose, meaning and results of the Dialogue as well as Vietnam's contribution to the forum.
On May 17, the 20th ASEAN-China Senior Officials' Meeting on the Implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties (DOC) in the East Sea (SOM-DOC) was held in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh province after nearly two years of hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic The 20th SOM-DOC was co-chaired by Myanmar, Coordinator of ASEAN-China ties, and China.
Ambassador Vu Ho, Acting Head of ASEAN SOM Vietnam, led a Vietnamese delegation to the meetings. Speaking at the event, Ambassador Ho stressed that as the East Sea is a crucial maritime route of the world, hence maintaining and promoting peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in this sea is not only the shared interest and responsibility of ASEAN and China but also reflects their responsibility towards the international community. Given the complex situation and ongoing unilateral actions that violate international law in the East Sea, the Ambassador suggested that countries should combine "words with deeds" by translating political commitments into specific and appropriate actions in the field.
From May 15-16, Deputy Foreign Minister and Chairman of the National Commission for UNESCO Ha Kim Ngoc attended the 216th session of the UNESCO Executive Board that was opened on May 15 in Paris, France. Deputy Foreign Minister Ngoc announced the organisation of an international conference on promoting the role of UNESCO titles for sustainable development in Vietnam in July 2023, with a view to turning UNESCO titles into support for sustainable development and inspiration for the future.
From May 15-16, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet attended the 79th session of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok, Thailand. On May 15, addressing a discussion, Deputy FM Viet highlighted opportunities and challenges during the process of socio-economic development and implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the region in general and Vietnam in particular, underlining challenges from climate change in the Asia-Pacific region and Vietnam.
On May 13, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang led the Vietnamese delegation to attend the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum on strengthening partnerships and promoting dialogue, which was held in Stockholm, Sweden. The Deputy Minister affirmed that Vietnam appreciates European partners’ financial commitments on climate change and hopes for their continued support to achieve the net zero emission target. She also reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitments to the Asia-Europe Partnership, and called on countries to coordinate in resuming activities of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) for peace, cooperation and development. During the Forum, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang had a meeting with heads of delegations of several countries.
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| Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang met with State Secretary of the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jan Knutsson. (Photo: VNA) |
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
On May 18, in response to queries about China’s recent illegal opening of a hot pot restaurant on Hoang Sa’s Phu Lam island, at the Ministry’s regular press conference, Foreign Ministry’s Deputy Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang stated that Vietnam resolutely opposes actions that infringe on the country’s sovereignty and related rights over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly). The Deputy Spokesperson emphasized that Vietnam has full legal basis and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over Hoang Sa in accordance with international law.
Regarding information about Chinese research vessels operating in Vietnam's exclusive economic zone, the Deputy Spokesperson affirmed that Vietnam has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the waters in the East Sea determined in accordance with the provisions of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). "As for cases of violating of Vietnam's sovereign rights and jurisdiction, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese competent agencies have been implementing measures in line with international law and Vietnamese law to ensure the country’s legitimate rights and interests," stated Deputy Spokesperson Hang.
Concerning reporters’ information on the Philippines’ announcement on May 14 of its placing of navigation buoys in the East Sea’s waters, the Deputy Spokesperson again made clear that Vietnam has full legal basis and historical evidence to affirm its sovereignty over Truong Sa in accordance with the provisions of international law. Vietnam resolutely opposes actions that infringe on Vietnam's sovereignty and related rights over Truong Sa.
Vietnam requires relevant parties to respect its sovereignty, international law, and the Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC); to make positive contributions to maintaining stability in the waters; and to create a favourable environment for the negotiation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), the Deputy Spokesperson said.
At the press conference, Deputy Spokesperson Hang also made the remarks in reply to reporters’ queries about Vietnam’s reaction to the US Department of State’s annual Report on International Religious Freedom on May 15, 2023 and the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)’s annual report on international religious freedom in 2023. As a multi-ethnic and multi-religious country with diverse religious and belief life, the Vietnamese State consistently implements a policy of respecting and guaranteeing a citizen's right to freedom of religion and belief, and the right to follow or not follow any religion; ensuring equality and non-discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief; and protecting activities of religious organisations by law, stated the Deputy Spokesperson.
Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Pham Thu Hang asked people to stay alert against offers of “cushy jobs with high salaries”. Deputy Spokesperson Hang made the warning when speaking of the information about the Philippines’ rescue of more than 1,000 forced labourers, including Vietnamese. Under instructions of the MoFA’s leaders, the Vietnamese Embassy in the Philippines is closely coordinating with competent Philippine agencies in identifying the residency status of the Vietnamese labourers, she said.
Protection of citizens
On May 20, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that nine persons carrying Vietnamese identification papers are among 11 victims killed during a severe road accident in Jingxi city, China's Guangxi, at 6:30 am on May 19. Immediately after receiving the information, the Vietnamese Consulate General contacted local authorities to verify information and actively took necessary consular measures. It has requested Chinese authorities to ensure legitimate rights and interests if the nine people are confirmed to be Vietnamese citizens.
The Foreign Ministry has also coordinated with domestic authorities to verify the identities of the victims, and soon notify the families of the victims and relevant localities. In the meantime, the Consular Department and the Vietnamese Consulate General in Nanning are closely monitoring the case and coordinating with Vietnamese and Chinese agencies to take necessary measures to protect citizens and assist victims' families in handling relevant procedures.
Other activities
Last week, many Vietnamese Representative Missions abroad organized activities to celebrate the 133rd birthday of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19, 1890-2023).
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