Review on external affairs from May 22-28: General Secretary’s talks with Chairman of United Russia Party, deepening Vietnam-Slovakia ties
WVR - Review on a number of news headlines on external affairs from May 22-28 by The World and Vietnam Report.
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| Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Chairman of the United Russia Party (URP) and Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia Dmitry Medvedev, who was on a working Vietnam visit from May 21-23 under a cooperation agreement between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the URP. (Photo: VNA) |
Leaders’ activities
On May 22, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong held talks with Chairman of the United Russia Party (URP) and Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia Dmitry Medvedev, who was on a working Vietnam visit from May 21-23 under a cooperation agreement between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the URP. It is his first Vietnam visit in the capacity as leader of the ruling URP. Party General Secretary Trong outlined the key tasks set by the CPV for socio-economic and cultural development. On Party building which is a crucial task, he highlighted the positive changes in Party building and rectification, with concerted efforts to combat corruption and negative phenomena. He expressed appreciation for achievements made by Russia under the leadership of President Vladimir Putin and the URP.
In its foreign policy, Vietnam values the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, he said, adding that the CPV attaches importance to developing relations with political parties in Russia, including the URP, as a political foundation for long-term and sustainable relations between the two countries.
On May 22, President Vo Van Thuong has welcomed visit by Chairman of the United Russia Party (URP) and Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia Dmitry Medvedev, saying that it affords both sides a chance to discuss orientations to Vietnam-Russia ties, including cooperation between the two Parties and States. Both sides hailed the significant achievements in bilateral cooperation over the past years, especially in economy, trade, science, education-training, and locality-to-locality cooperation.
On the same day, receiving Chairman of the United Russia Party (URP) Dmitry Medvedev, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that Vietnam treasured its traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia. The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the recent achievements in bilateral cooperation, including the successful organisation of the 24th session of the Vietnam-Russia Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic, Trade and Scientific-Technological Cooperation, during which they reached consensus on measures to further improve the effectiveness of bilateral coordination, particularly in economy, trade and investment.
On May 24, President Vo Van Thuong received the Ambassadors of Qatar, Brazil, Slovenia, Portugal, Estonia and Guinea, who came to present their credentials.
On May 23, President Vo Van Thuong sent a message of sympathy to Italian President Sergio Mattarella over human and property losses caused by torrential rains and floods in the country. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also extended his sympathy to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The same day, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son sent a similar message to Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani.
O May 24, receiving Mr. Karan Adani, CEO of the Adani Group’s Adani Ports and SEZ Limited (APSEZ), part of Adani Group - India's largest economic group, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that Vietnam welcomes partners, including those from India, who are interested in investing in infrastructure, especially strategic infrastructure in the country, including transportation, energy, digital, and climate-adaptive infrastructure. The Prime Minister told his guest that during the recent expanded Summit of the Group of Seven in Japan, he met with his Indian counterpart, Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss measures and orientations to promoting bilateral cooperation that matches with the potential of their comprehensive strategic partnership.
On May 26, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Samdech Kittisangahapundit Men Sam An, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Assembly-Senate Relations and Inspector of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Chairwoman of the Cambodia - Vietnam Friendship Association. Vietnam always values and gives high priority to strengthening the fine neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive, sustainable and long-term cooperation with Cambodia, said the Prime Minister.
On May 26, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received a delegation of the United States Senate led by Senator Mike Crapo. At the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam always treasures comprehensive partnership with the US, highly appreciating the fact that the two sides have maintained high-level contacts, especially the recent successful phone talks between Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and US President Joe Biden. He suggested that in the near future, both sides continue enhancing cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, investment, science and technology, education and training, innovation, digital transformation, and climate change response.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received a delegation of the United States Senate led by Senator Mike Crapo in Hanoi, on May 26, 2023. (Photo: VNA) |
On the same day, during the meeting with the US Senate delegation led by Senator Mike Crapo, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue emphasized that Vietnam appreciates the US strengthening cooperation with partners the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. Vietnam hopes the US, through new strategies and initiatives, will continue to demonstrate its strong commitment to upholding ASEAN centrality, the ASEAN-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, as well as the Mekong–US Partnership.
On May 23, in Hanoi, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception for Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon. Prime Minister Chinh spoke highly of the results of the talks between the Slovenian official and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, and her meeting with Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, as well as the Vietnam-Slovenia business forum in Ho Chi Minh City. The Prime Minister noted his belief that Fajon’s official visit to Vietnam from May 22-23 will contribute to advancing the traditional friendship and good cooperation between the two countries across spheres. Vietnam always attaches importance and wishes to enhance the multi-faceted cooperation with Slovenia, one of its traditional friends in Central-Eastern Europe, the Prime Minister affirmed.
On May 23, receiving Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech parliament Jan Bartosek, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue affirmed that the Czech Republic is a very important partner of Vietnam in Central-Eastern Europe. NA Chairman Hue hailed the outcomes of the talks between Bartosek and NA Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai, which took place earlier the same day, and stressed that the Czech legislator’s Vietnam visit contributes to boosting cooperation between the two countries in general and their legislative bodies in particular. NA Chairman Hue suggested the Czech Republic urge other EU countries to soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement, and the European Commission (EC) to soon remove its “yellow card” warning against Vietnamese seafood.
From May 24-26, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang attended the 28th Asia Future Conference and had a working visit to Japan at the invitation of Mr. Tsuyoshi Hasebe, President and CEO of the Nikkei group.
On May 25, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang stressed Vietnam’s commitment to making all-out contributions for the sake of peace, cooperation, stability, and prosperous development in Asia and the world while speaking at the 28th International Conference on the Future of Asia. On this occasion, the Deputy Prime Minister had meetings with Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and Chief Representative of the Komei Party of Japan Yamaguchi Natsuo, President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan Hosoda Hiroyuki. On previous day, May 24, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang had meetings with former Prime Minister of Japan Suga Yoshihide, Chairman of the Japan - Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance Nikai Toshihiro, and President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Tanaka Akihiko in Tokyo as part of the working visit to Japan.
On May 23, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha called on Canada to continue sharing experience with and support Vietnam in green and sustainable development, and cutting emissions to net-zero while having a meeting with Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Shawn Perry Steil.
Activities of the Foreign Minister
From May 22-23, at the invitation of Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon paid an official visit to Vietnam.
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| Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son welcomed Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tanja Fajon in Hanoi, May 22, 2023. (Photo: WVR/Tuan Anh) |
On May 23, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son held talks with Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon. During the talks, Foreign Minister Son affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to and wishes to strengthen the traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Slovenia, a traditional partner and friend of Vietnam in the Central Eastern Europe. He welcomed Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Fajon’s first visit to Vietnam, saying that it is an important milestone which helps deepen bilateral relations between the two nations. Deputy Prime Minister Fajon affirmed that Slovenia always attaches importance to and wants to boost relations with Vietnam, its most important partner in Southeast Asia.
They agreed on measures to boost cooperation in potential fields in the coming time, saying that there is ample room for the two countries to further step up the bilateral cooperation. The two sides underlined the need to promote the exchange of all-level delegations; enhance cooperation across channels of State, Government, and National Assembly and people-to-people exchanges; and closely coordinate and support each other at multilateral forums and international organisations.
Bilateral activities
On May 27, the Vietnamese Intellectuals Association in Japan held a meeting with 100 outstanding Vietnamese intellectuals with the patronage of the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Planning and Investment. Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu welcomed and highly appreciated the enthusiasm of the intellectual community, especially the Vietnamese Intellectuals Association in Japan, the Vietnamese Academic Network in Japan (VANJ).
From May 22-25, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung visited Utah state. Within the framework of the visit, the Ambassador had meetings with Executive Appropriations Chair of the Utah State Senate Jerry Stevenson; Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall; Mr. Franz Kolb, Head of Economic Development of Utah Governor's Office, business community at the Utah World Trade Center; speaking at the People's Foreign Affairs Council of Utah and Brigham Young University (BYU), University of Utah, University of Westminster; met some overseas Vietnamese, Vietnamese students, artists and Vietnamese friends and partners currently living and working in Utah.
On May 25, speaking at the 60th Anniversary of Africa Day (May 25, 1963 - 2023), organized by African Embassies in Vietnam, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc highlighted the significance of Africa Day, which marks the foundation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which is now the African Union (AU). He highly valued the enormous development achievements of Africa over the past years, especially the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and hailed contributions by the AU and people of African countries to the settlement of global challenges to help maintain regional and global peace, stability, cooperation, and development.
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| Joyful celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Africa Day in Hanoi, on May 25, 2023. (Photo: WVR/Tuan Anh) |
The event was attended by representatives of the Embassies of many African countries, including Egypt, Algeria, Angola, Libya, Mozambique, Morocco, South Africa, and Nigeria, along with those of the diplomatic corps in Hanoi and officials from many Vietnamese ministries and sectors.
On May 25, a musical concert with the combination of famous artists from Argentina and Vietnam to mark the 213th anniversary of Argentina’s National Day (May 25, 1810-2023) was co-organized by the Embassy of Argentina in Vietnam, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Hanoi Opera House.
The event was also part of the main activities organized to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the bilateral relations between Argentina and Vietnam (1973-2023). In his welcoming remarks, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc highlighted the historic journeys and important achievements that people of Argentina have recorded over the past 213 years.
On May 22, Deputy Minister Ha Kim Ngoc had a working session with Mr. Vangelis Vitalis, Deputy Minister in charge of Economy and Trade, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand on the occasion of the Deputy Minister's visit to Vietnam to co-chair the meeting of the Vietnam-New Zealand Joint Committee on economy and trade.
Multilateral activities
On May 26, in Paris, at the headquarters of the French Senate, the Institute for Applied Geopolitics Studies (EGA) hosted a workshop on the East Sea. The workshop brought together more than 120 delegates, including French Senators, representatives of the French Ministries for Europe and Foreign Affairs and the Interior, and experts in international relations, military strategy, and defense policy. 14 speakers provided up-to-date information about what has happened in the regional waters and warned about possible negative developments in the area. They also emphasized the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, the need to respect and implement the 1982 UNCLOS, and regional countries’ commitments such as the 2002 Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).
From May 22-25, within the framework of the Week for the Protection of Civilians (PoC), at the UN headquarters in New York, a high-level open debate of the Security Council took place with the theme “Ensuring the security and dignity of civilians in conflict: addressing food shortages and protecting essential services.” Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, attended and spoke at the debate.
On May 25, the 29th annual ASEAN-China Senior Officials Consultation (ACSOC) took place in Shenzhen, China. Ambassador Vu Ho, Acting Head of SOM ASEAN Vietnam, joined the Heads of SOMs of ASEAN countries and Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, Head of SOM China Nong Rong attended the meeting.
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| The 29th annual ASEAN-China Senior Officials Consultation (ACSOC) took place in Shenzhen, China, on May 25, 2023. (Photo: WVR) |
On May 25, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, chaired a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers (May 29, 1948-2023). Ambassador Giang affirmed that Vietnam’s active participation in peacekeeping since 2014 is an important policy and decision of the Party and State in the nation’s integration process, reflecting the new position and power of Vietnam in the international arena. The diplomat also noted that many UN leaders and international friends have highly appreciated the bravery, self-reliance, and flexible and creative approach of the Vietnamese peacekeeping forces in deploying their tasks and overcoming difficulties.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu shared with the World and Vietnam Report on message brought by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang’s trip to Japan for the 28th International Conference on Future of Asia, not only affirming importance of the event to Vietnam’s foreign policy but also extending the message that Vietnam wishes to contribute more to the future of Asia.
On May 26, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), hosts an international workshop to enhance cooperation, encourage knowledge transfer and promote experience sharing in the just energy transition. The workshop is convening senior government representatives from the three countries with Just Energy Transition Partnerships (JETPs) – South Africa, Indonesia and Vietnam – as well as representatives from another seven developing countries with a strong interest in the energy transition, to create a forum for them to learn from one another. In his remarks, Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet said Vietnam is one of the countries most affected by climate change, often hit by floods, droughts, sea level rise, extreme weather events... He stated that Vietnam’s central development policy has always been to consistently build a green, circular and eco-friendly economy. Although just energy transition will bring many benefits, it will also pose many difficulties and challenges for developing countries, including Vietnam.
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
On May 26, Deputy Spokespeson of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang has stated the country’s objection to the China Maritime Safety Administration's placement of three light buoys on some entities in Truong Sa (Spratly) of Vietnam.
Replying to reporters’ question about the placement by the China Maritime Safety Administration under the Chinese Ministry of Transport, Deputy Spokesperson Hang stressed that Vietnam has sufficient legal grounds and historical evidence testifying to its sovereignty over Truong Sa as well as Hoang Sa (Paracel) in line with international law. The installation of the light buoys on entities in Truong Sa without Vietnam’s permission is an infringement of Vietnam’s sovereignty over Truong Sa, so the move is invalid, she stated.
Vietnam demands the parties concerned not take any actions that may complicate the situation but respect Vietnam’s sovereignty, international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and maintain an environment of peace, stability and cooperation in the East Sea.
On May 25, in response to a question on Vietnam's response to the Xiang Yang Hong 10, a Chinese research vessel, and a number of Chinese Coast Guard and fishing vessels breaching Viet Nam's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) recently, Deputy Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang stated: “As reported recently, China's research vessel Xiang Yang Hong 10, along with a number of Chinese Coast Guard and fishing vessels have breached Vietnam's EEZ as established in accordance with the 1982 UNCLOS.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and competent authorities have been in contact with their Chinese counterparts on numerous occasions and are implementing appropriate measures in accordance with Vietnamese and international law to ensure Viet Nam's lawful and legitimate rights and interests.
Vietnam requests that Chinese relevant authorities observe the consensus between the two countries' high-level leaders, to cease immediately any acts of violation, withdraw the Xiang Yang Hong 10 and other vessels from Vietnamese waters, respect Vietnam's sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, to strictly abide by the Declaration of Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC), to maintain peace, cooperation and development in the South China Sea, and contribute to strengthening the two countries' bilateral ties.”
Citizen protection
Regarding Vietnamese victims in a car crash in Jingxi city, Guangxi province of China on May 19, two more Vietnamese victims were confirmed dead, bringing the total number of Vietnamese victims to 13, including 11 fatalities and two injured, reported the Vietnamese Consulate General in Nanning on May 22.
On May 25, the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that it worked with relevant authorities to verify the identity of the victims and notify their families to initiate necessary post-incident procedures.
Earlier on May 21, the Vietnamese Consulate General in Nanning visited the two injured citizens. They are currently in stable conditions and wish to return home soon to reunite with their families.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs instructed the Consular Department and the Vietnamese Consulate General in Nanning to closely monitor the situation and work with the Chinese authorities to assist families in repatriating the remains of their relatives and take necessary protection measures to bring home the injured victims soon.
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