Review on external affairs from May 2-8: Viet Nam to attend ESCAP's session, to develop Viet Nam-Laos land border gate system

Review on a number of news headlines on external affairs from May 2-8 by The World and Viet Nam Report.

Leaders’ activities

On May 6, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue had extended their sympathies to their Cuban counterparts over human and asset losses caused by a massive explosion at Hotel Saratoga in Havana.

On the occasion of Mr. László Kövér being re-elected to hold the position of Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue sent a congratulatory letter.

On May 5, hearing that Comrade Ricardo Alárcon de Quesada, former Politburo member, former President of the National Assembly of the People's Power, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba had passed away, on behalf of leaders of the Party, State and National Assembly, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue sent a letter of condolences to Comrade Esteban Lazo Hernandez, Politburo member and President of the National Assembly of the Cuban People's Power.

Activities of the Foreign Affairs Minister

On May 6, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son sent his sympathies to his Cuban counterpart Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Cuban Foreign Minister, over the losses caused by the explosion at the Saratoga hotel in Havana, Cuba.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son also sent a letter of condolences upon the passing away of Comrade Ricardo Alárcon de Quesada, former Politburo member, former President of the National Assembly of the People's Power, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba.

Bilateral activities

On May 6, at Fredensborg Palace, Vietnamese Ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark Luong Thanh Nghi presented the Letter of Credence from President Nguyen Xuan Phuc to Queen Margrethe II. The Queen expressed her expectation that the relationship between the two countries will continue to develop to new heights on becoming more comprehensive, substantive, and deepening on the basis of mutual interest.

Review on external affairs: Viet Nam to attend the 78th session of ESCAP
Vietnamese Ambassador to Demark Luong Thanh Nghi was coming to present his credentials. (Photo: Embassy of Viet Nam in Denmark)

On May 5, the National Border Committee, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted a symposium on the current situation and directions for the development of the Viet Nam - Laos land border gate system in the 2021-2030 period and vision to 2050.

On May 5, Norway's largest energy company Enquinor officially opened a representative office in Ha Noi, marking an important milestone in the Norwegian-Vietnamese business cooperation portfolio. On this occasion, Norwegian Ambassador to Viet Nam Grete Lochen shared the significance of Enquinor's presence in Viet Nam as well as the potential for cooperation between the two countries in the field of offshore wind energy.

On May 4-5, Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Nguyen Tat Thanh paid an official visit to New South Wales (NSW), paid a courtesy visit to Governor Margaret Beazley, Speaker of the House Jonathan O'Dea, Vice Chairman of the Senate Wes Fang and opposition leader Chris Minns.

On May 3, Vietnamese Ambassador to Monaco Dinh Toan Thang presented his Credentials to King Albert II. At the following meeting, King Albert II highly appreciated Viet Nam's position in the region and the world, as well as Viet Nam’s achievements in socio-economic development and COVID-19 pandemic prevention in the past time.

On May 2, Vietnamese Ambassador to Chile Pham Truong Giang paid a courtesy visit to Chilean Foreign Minister Antonia Urrejola Noguera who was newly appointed by President Gabriel Boric. Affirming that Viet Nam is one of Chile's important partners in Southeast Asia, Minister Antonia Urrejola hoped that Ambassador Pham Truong Giang will continue to make active contributions to the development of Viet Nam-Chile friendship and cooperation.

Multilateral activities

On May 6, the Department of Law and International Treaties (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) together with the Vietnamese Permanent Mission to the United Nations held an online interaction between Associate Professor Pham Huy Giao, a candidate of Viet Nam to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS) for the term of 2023-2028 and representatives from more than 50 country members of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.

Review on external affairs: Viet Nam to attend the 78th session of ESCAP
Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc had online conference with Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

On May 5, at an online conference with Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc affirmed that Viet Nam will actively contribute to the upcoming ESCAP 78th session, which is also the 75th anniversary of ESCAP's establishment (1947-2022). It is expected that the Vietnamese Delegation will propose many comprehensive and long-term solutions to pressing issues in sustainable development in the region today.

Other activities

Mr. Tran Van Tuy, former Head of the National Assembly Standing Committee’s board for Deputy affairs and former Chairman of the Viet Nam - Republic of Korea (RoK) Parliamentary Friendship Group, has been honoured with the RoK’s Grand Gwanghwa Medal for his major contributions to the two countries’ friendship.

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