Review on external affairs from Oct.16-22: President’s successful trip to attend 3rd BRF; new cooperation with Saudi Arabia
WVR - Review on a number of news headlines on external affairs from Oct.16-22 by The World and Vietnam Report.
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Leaders’ activities
On October 20, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong held high-level phone talks with French President Emmanuel Macron as the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of strategic partnership this year. The General Secretary affirmed that Vietnam attaches great importance to and gives a high priority to the Vietnam-France strategic partnership, and supports France's initiatives for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world; discussed with the French President some major directions and measures to expand and improve the effectiveness of cooperation between the two countries.
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| General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong holds phone talks with French President Emmanuel Macron: General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong (middle) in the phone talks. (Photo: VNA) |
On October 18, receiving Chairman of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Prak Sokhonn, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong emphasized that Vietnam always support Cambodia’s cause of national construction and development, expressing his belief that Cambodia will reap new, greater and more comprehensive achievements in implementing the CPP Platform for the 2023-2028 period and the strategy designed by the 7-tenure Government.
On October 20 afternoon, President Vo Van Thuong and his entourage arrived in Hanoi, successfully concluding their trip to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) from October 17-20, at the invitation of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and President of China Xi Jinping. President Thuong attended the opening ceremony of BRF, affirmed that Vietnam always supports initiatives that benefit peace and development in the region and the world, welcomes and actively joins several important global mechanisms and initiatives initiated by China.
On the occasion, he held numerous meetings with Heads of state and delegations from different countries and international organisations. In particular, he held meetings with President Vladimir Putin of Russia, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, Prime Minister Hun Manet of Cambodia, Party General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith. He also met with President Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka and United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. The Vietnamese leader also held an important meeting with Chinese Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping.
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| President Vo Van Thuong meets with President of China Xi Jinping in Beijing. (Photo: VNA) |
On October 21, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the high-level Vietnamese delegation arrived in Hanoi, successfully concluding their trip to attend the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (ASEAN-GCC) Summit and a visit to Saudi Arabia from October 18-20 at the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
The Prime Minister engaged in more than 20 bilateral and multilateral activities, including attending and delivering an important speech at the ASEAN-GCC Summit, holding bilateral meetings with heads of delegations from many countries, such as Prime Minister of Laos, Prime Minister of Cambodia, President of the Philippines, President of Indonesia, Prime Minister of Singapore, King of Qatar, President of UAE, along with bilateral activities and promoting multi-faceted relations with Saudi Arabia. Addressing the ASEAN-GCC Summit, Prime Minister Chinh called on ASEAN and GCC to join hands in promoting resilience, harnessing resources for growth, and taking substantive actions with the highest political determination and vigorous efforts, towards creating tangible breakthroughs and becoming a highlight for regional and global collaboration.
On October 17, receiving Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces General Vong Pisen, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said Vietnam always gives top priority to the continuous strengthening and development of the good neighborliness, traditional friendship, and comprehensive and long-term sustainable cooperation with Cambodia. The Prime Minister briefed the Cambodian military leader on Vietnam's external relations direction and "four-nos" defence policy.
On October 16, receiving Chairman of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Prak Sokhonn, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated Mr. Prak Sokhonn's positive contributions to consolidating and promoting the Vietnam-Cambodia relationship over the past time. The Prime Minister affirmed that his visit has important significance as it helps to strengthen ties between the two countries, Parties, and their people.
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| PM Pham Minh Chinh receives Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund Governor: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) receives PIF Governor Al-Rumayyan. (Photo: VNA) |
On October 16, receiving Indian Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to its comprehensive strategic partnership with India. He lauded outcomes of the 18th meeting of the Vietnam-India Joint Commission for Economic, Trade, Science and Technology Cooperation. The Prime Minister urged relevant ministries and agencies of both sides to work harder in order to increase two-way trade turnover, towards the target of 20 billion USD.
On October 18, receiving Algerian Minister of Industry and Pharmaceutical Production Ali Aoun, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue expressed his belief in thriving economic, trade, and investment ties between Vietnam and Algeria in the time ahead. Welcoming his guest to Vietnam to co-chair the 12th meeting of the Vietnam - Algeria Inter-governmental Committee in Hanoi on October 16 - 18, the NA Chairman highlighted the faithful friendship between the two countries over the last more than 60 years, since their diplomatic relations were set up in 1962. The connections between their Parties, parliaments, governments, and peoples are also being further reinforced.
Activities of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
On October 21, during an interview granted to the press, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said President Vo Van Thuong and his entourage’s trip to China to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) has been a success, achieving the set goals and contributing effectively to the enforcement of foreign policy set by the 13th National Party Congress. It marked the first multilateral diplomatic activity of President Thuong this year. Through the forum and sideline activities, Vietnam has affirmed its consistent foreign policy of being a friend, a reliable partner and a responsible member of the international community, and clear stance on support for multilateralism and initiatives that promote peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world, the Foreign Minister said.
On the afternoon of October 16, under the authorization of the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son handed over the Prime Minister's Decision to appoint Deputy Foreign Minister to Ms. Nguyen Minh Hang.
Bilateral activities
On October 19, receiving Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) Tatiana Valovaya, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang said the Vietnam is actively implementing the foreign policy identified at the 13th National Party Congress, which is multilateralisation and diversification of external relations, active integration into the world, being a trustworthy partner and active and responsible member of the international community, and equal and mutually beneficial cooperation with all countries on the basis of the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law. Therefore, Vietnam has made and will make more contributions to the common works of the UN and international organisations in Geneva, she noted.
On October 18, the Vietnamese Embassy in the Kingdom of Belgium concurrently with the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg coordinated with the Vietnam Confederation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Belgian-Vietnamese Alliance (BVA) to organize the event Meet Vietnamese-Belgian businesses to connect and promote cooperation between Hai Duong province and Belgian businesses.
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| Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son handed over the Prime Minister's Decision to appoint Deputy Foreign Minister to Ms. Nguyen Minh Hang. (Photo: WVR/Tuan Anh) |
On October 21, Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet gave a briefing on the outcomes of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s recent trip to Saudi Arabia. He said that the Prime Minister’s official visit to the Gulf state and attending the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (ASEAN-GCC) Summit have created a significant breakthrough in searching for new cooperation opportunities and expanding the market for Vietnamese goods and services in Saudi Arabia and the GCC. In particular, the working trip opened up new collaboration chances in such fields as investment, trade, energy transition, sustainable growth, supply of skilled labours, Halal industry, agro-fishery exports, and tourism.
On the occasion of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh leading a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to attend the ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and visit Saudi Arabia (October 18-20), Vietnamese Ambassador Dang Xuan Dung in Saudi Arabia shared the significance of the visit as well as the highlights of ASEAN-GCC relations, Vietnam-Saudi Arabia ties.
On October 16, hosting a reception for Deputy Mayor of China's Chongqing city Zhang Guozhi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang highlighted the Chinese city’s contributions to nurturing the fraternal friendship between the two nations, including its efforts to preserve President Ho Chi Minh’s relic sites during his stay there for revolutionary activities. Vietnam has attached much importance to its friendly neighbourliness, and comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China, seeing this as a top priority in the country’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification, Deputy Foreign Minister Hang has said.
On October 16, receiving Mr. Markus Kircher, Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Austria. Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang expressed her hope that, as Honorary Consul, Mr. Kircher will contribute actively and effectively to strengthening Vietnam-Austria relations, especially in the areas of trade, investment, supporting businesses of the two countries, promoting people-to-people and cultural exchanges, strengthening local cooperation, vocational and labor training.
Multilateral activities
On October 20, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang received Mr. Julien Guerrier, Ambassador-Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Vietnam. Ambassador Julien Guerrier affirmed that the EU strongly support member countries to soon complete the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), contributing to perfecting the Vietnam –EU cooperation framework.
On October 17, speaking at a general debate of the 6th Committee for Legal Affairs of the UN General Assembly convened in New York, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, emphasized that Vietnam is working with other ASEAN countries to build a peaceful, stable and prosperous Southeast Asia region. Recent developments in the East Sea have still caused concerns and affected peace, security and stability in the region. Therefore, all relevant parties need to comply with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) as well as diplomatic and legal processes.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson
On October 18, in responce to reporter's question concerning escalating tensions in the Middle East, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang stated that Vietnam strongly condemns acts of violence against civilians, humanitarian facilities, and essential infrastructure.
"Vietnam calls on all parties to immediately cease fire, end the use of force, respect international humanitarian law, resume negotiations, and resolve differences through peaceful means, based on international law and relevant United Nations resolutions to achieve a fair, satisfactory and lasting solution to the Middle East peace process and ensure the people’s lives, security, and safety".
“Vietnam supports and is ready to join the international community’s common efforts to promote dialogue and provide humanitarian assistance to those living in conflict-affected areas, contributing to peace, security, and stability in the region and the world”, the Spokesperson emphasized.
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| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) Tatiana Valovaya, Vice President of the Vietnam Women's Union Tran Lan Phuong, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pauline Tamesis and President of the Association of Swiss Women and Empowerment (ASWE),Victoria Dzodziev cuts the ribbon to open the Fhoto Exhibition '"7 Faces of Vietnamese Action for Sustainable Development'". (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
Other activities
On October 20, speaking at the opening ceremony of the Photo Exhibition "17 Faces of Vietnamese Action for Sustainable Development" in Hanoi by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Office in Geneva (UNOG), in coordination with the Vietnamese Women's Museum and the Association of Swiss Women and Empowerment (ASWE), Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang emphasized that the exhibition has an important significance, an opportunity to honor and encourage Vietnamese women positively contribute to social development as well as in promoting the achievement of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
On October 17, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Editor-in-Chief of The World & Vietnam Report and the Deputy Editor-in-Chief in charge of the Communist Party of Vietnam Online Newspaper signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOU) to strengthen sharing information between both parties.
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