Review on external affairs from May 30-June 5: Vietnam-Laos to boost defense cooperation; Suggestion of Austria's early ratification of EVIPA

WVR - Review on a number of news headlines on external affairs from May 30-June 5 by The World and Vietnam Report.
Review on external affairs from May 30-June 5: Vietnam-Laos to boost defense cooperation; Suggestion of Austria's early ratification of EVIPA
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Lt. Gen. Khamliang Outhakaysone, Deputy Minister of National Defence and Chief of the General Staff of the Lao People’s Army. (Photo: VNA)

Leaders’ activities

On May 30, following the mass shooting incident on May 24 that killed 19 students and 2 teachers of Robb Elementary School in Uvalde city, Texas, USA, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent messages of sympathy to President of the United States of America Joe Biden.

On June 2, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Lieutenant General Khamliang Outhakaysone, member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister of National Defense and Chief of the General Staff of the Lao People's Army, who was on an official visit to Vietnam. The Prime Minister affirmed that the defense relationship between Vietnam and Laos has always been one of the important pillars of the relationship between the two countries.

Previously, on June 1, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received President of Lao State Inspection Authority Khamphan Phommaphat, Politburo member of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), Secretary of the LPRP Central Committee, Head of the LPRP Inspection Commission and Head of the Central Committee for corruption prevention and control.

On May 31, receiving Mr. Pascal Soriot, CEO/Executive Director of AstraZeneca, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the Government and people of Vietnam will forever bear in mind the valuable support from AstraZeneca during the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

On May 31, at the National Assembly House, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue received Hungarian Ambassador to Vietnam Ory Csaba. The National Assembly Chairman emphasized that Vietnam always treasures and hopes to forge its multi-faceted cooperation with Hungary, Vietnam’s first comprehensive partner among traditional friends in Central and Eastern Europe.

Also on May 31, received Ambassador of Bulgaria to Vietnam Marinela Petkova, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue affirmed that the National Assembly of Vietnam will work to continuously enhance the relations between the two countries, consolidate friendship between their legislatures and peoples.

On May 30, receiving UK Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward, at the Houses of Parliament, the National Assembly Chairman highly appreciated the fine development in the cooperation between the National Assembly of Vietnam and the British Parliament over the past years.

Activities of the Foreign Affairs Minister

On June 4, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Kyrgyz Republic (June 4, 1992 - 2022), Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son sent a congratulatory message to Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Jeenbek Kulubaev.

On June 1, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son had a phone conversation with Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria Alexander Schallenberg. They agreed to closely coordinate to successfully organize the upcoming session of the Vietnam-Austria Joint Committee on Economic-Trade Cooperation, while taking advantage of opportunities and benefits brought by the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). Minister Bui Thanh Son suggested that the Austrian Government raise a voice to urge the Austrian Parliament to early ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

On May 30, at the headquarters of the Foreign Ministry, Minister Bui Thanh Son hosted a reception for Secretary (East) of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs Saurabh Kumar, who had been in Vietnam to co-chair the 12th Political Consultation and the 9th Strategic Dialogue between the two foreign ministries from May 29-31.

Bilateral activities

On the occasion of the Danish Constitution Day on June 5, Danish Ambassador to Vietnam Kim Højlund Christensen shared the meaning of this day, expressed his thinking about the country and people of Vietnam, as well as pointed out potential areas of cooperation between the two countries.

In a message to the people of Vietnam, new Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Shawn Steil shared feelings of joy to be in Vietnam at the present time.

On June 3, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu granted the exequatur to Mr. Souphanh Hadaoheuang, the new Consul General of Lao PDR in Ho Chi Minh City.

Taking place from June 2-3, the program "Pioneer the possible" was co-organized by the Embassy of Sweden, the Swedish Trade and Investment Council (Business Sweden), the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry Association (VCCI) to promote Swedish-Vietnamese partnership in the field of sustainable development.

On June 2, holding talks with Lieutenant General Khamliang Outhakaysone, member of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister of National Defense and Chief of the General Staff of the Lao People's Army, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Tan Cuong, member of the Party Central Committee, member of the Central Military Standing Commission, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army affirmed that the visit will create a new impetus for cooperation between the two armies, contributing to consolidating and enhancing the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive collaboration between the two countries, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.

In celebration of International Childrens Day (June 1), US Ambassador in Vietnam Marc E. Knapper visited Vietnam And Friends Centre, a nonprofit in Hanoi that helps disabled people, especially children, and recorded a story for the Open Road, Audio books Online Library sponsored by the US Embassy.

At the invitation of Comrade Sisay Leudetmounsone, Politburo member, Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and Head of the Organization Commission, Comrade Truong Thi Mai, Politburo member, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and Head of the Organization Commission, led a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to visit Laos from May 30 to June 1.

On May 30, at the headquarters of the Ministry, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu received Mr. Wei Hoa Tuong, the new Consul General of China in Ho Chi Minh City on the occasion of the beginning of his tenure in Vietnam.

On May 30, Vietnamese Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu and the Secretary (East) of Indian Ministry of External Affairs Shri Saurabh Kumar co-chaired the 12th Political Consultation and the 9th Strategic Dialogue between the two Foreign Ministries in Hanoi.

Multilateral activities

The 19th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) Security Policy Conference took place via videoconference under the chair of Cambodia on June 3. Addressing the event, Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lt. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien, head of the Vietnamese delegation, shared views on the emerging global and regional security situation, including traditional and non-traditional security challenges

On June 1, Ambassador Nguyen Van Thao, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the EU, had a meeting with EU Commissioner for Agriculture Janusz Wojciechowski to discuss ways for fostering agricultural cooperation between Vietnam and EU.

Other activities

On June 4th, the 14th Vietnam Festival in Japan opened at Yoyogi Park in Tokyo, with the participation of former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and a number of Japanese officials and politicians, attracted lots of visitors. .

From May 30-31, Consulate General of Vietnam in Shanghai in coordination with the Trade Promotion Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade, organized the “Online trade conference of Vietnamese seafood with RCEP markets 2022”, to support localities and businesses operating in the field of seafood supply. Vietnam’s seafood industry has increased its search for partners, business connections and expanded export markets.

TIN LIÊN QUAN
Review on external affairs from May 23-29: Initial IPEF discussion; FA Minister’s conversation with Vice President of EC
Review on external affairs from May16-22: NA Chairman's visit to Laos, Greek President's visit to Vietnam, deepening ties with Singapore
Review on external affairs: ASEAN-US Special Summit, FM Bui Thanh Son meets US Secretary of State
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 external affairs from April 25- May 1: Visit by Japanese Prime Minister; deepening Viet Nam-Laos special relationship
(Source: WVR)