Review on external affairs from Oct.3-10: Strengthen political trust with Korea; Vietnam's position in Ukraine-Russia conflict

WVR - Review on a number of news headlines on external affairs from October 3-10 by The World and Vietnam Report.
Review on external affairs from Oct.3-10: Strengthen political trust with Korea; Vietnam's position in Ukraine-Russia conflict
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh receives Era Dabla-Norris, head of the IMF’s Article IV Consultation of the Department of Asia-Pacific, in Hanoi on October 3. (Photo: VNA)

Leaders’ activities

On October 4, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc received Prosecutor General of Russia Igor Krasnov, who was on a working visit to Vietnam. The President suggested the two sides continue promoting cooperation and exchange of delegations at all levels in order to strengthen friendship and mutual understanding, and share information on crime, thus improving the efficiency of their coordination in the fight against crime, especially cybercrime.

On October 3, receiving outgoing Korean Ambassador to Vietnam Park Noh Wan, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc commended the diplomat’s successful tenure and contributions to the two nations’ political trust and increasing cooperation across various fields, particularly in defence, security and economy.

On October 7, receiving Ambassador Park Noh Wan, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam always highly values bilateral relations with the Republic of Korea (RoK) and wants to strongly develop the ties between the two countries in a more practical manner.

On October 3, receiving Ms. Era Dabla-Norris, Head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s Article IV Consultation of the Department of Asia-Pacific, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called on the IMF to prioritize assistance for Vietnam. He asked the IMF to increase policy advice on economic governance and risk response for the Government and relevant agencies, providing training programs and technical support on economic management, and actively help the country with green economy development, energy transition, climate change response, digital transformation, and the development of a digital economy and e-commerce.

On October 6, receiving Vice Governor of Wakayama Province (Japan) Shimo Hiroshi, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh affirmed that Vietnam is keen on promoting partnership among localities of Vietnam and Japan, considering it as a substantial and effective cooperation channel for both sides to beef up bilateral ties in various fields. He highlighted that Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership is in prime time with high political trust, and underlined that Japan has been a leading important economic partner of Vietnam.

On October 6, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent a message of condolences to his Thai counterpart Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha over the shooting at a day-care centre in Nongbua Lamphu province that killed and injured people, including many children. The same day, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son extended his condolences to Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Don Pramudwinai.

On the occasion of the 32nd German Unity Day (October 3, 1990 - 2022), President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has sent greetings to his German counterpart President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also extended greetings to German Prime Minister Olaf Scholz, and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to President of the Bundesrat (Federal Council) Bodo Ramelow and President of the Bundestag (German Federal Parliament) Baerbel Bas. Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son offered greetings to his Germany counterpart Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.

Activities of the Foreign Affairs Minister

On October 4, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son sent a message of condolences to Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi over the tragedy that left hundreds of people dead and injured at Kanjuruhan Stadium on October 1, 2022.

Review on external affairs from Oct.3-10: Strengthen political trust with Korea; Vietnam's position in Russia-Ukraine conflict
Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son presents Friendship Order to outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Park Noh-wan on October 3, 2022. (Photo: WVR)

On October 3, at the Government Guest House, authorized by President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son presented a Friendship Order to outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Park Noh-wan, in honour of his valuable contributions to promoting bilateral ties.

Bilateral activities

On October 7, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu received Ms. Vuyiswa Tulelo, Ambassador of South Africa to Vietnam and Mr. Mohammed Ismaeil A. Dhalwy, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Vietnam.

On October 5, in Hanoi, the State Commission for Overseas Vietnamese (SCOV), under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, received a token of COVID-19 prevention and control aid worth 1.8 billion VND (75,408 USD) from the Vietnamese Buddhist cultural centre in the Republic of Korea (RoK). The aid will be sent to the Vietnamese community living, working, and studying in the RoK.

Multilateral activities

On October 7, at the Plenary Session on the topic of promoting the rule of law at the national and international levels of the Committee on International Legal Affairs (6th Committee) of the United Nations General Assembly (UN) Session 77, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, emphasized Vietnam's efforts in working with the international community to promote the rule of law at different levels. In the context of many complicated conflicts taking place in the world, international law and the principles of the UN Charter have always been the basic foundation of the international system, he stressed.

Earlier, at the plenary session on the topic “Measures to eliminate international terrorism” on October 3, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang affirmed that Vietnam resolutely condemns all acts of terrorism in all forms, for any purpose.

On October 6, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang had a meeting with Ramla Al Khalidi, newly-appointed UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam. Ramla Al Khalidi has pledged to further support Vietnam’s development, covering climate change response and the settlement of bomb and mine consequences.

On October 3-4, the Committee on Economic and Financial Affairs of the 77th United Nations General Assembly conducted its Annual General Discussion. Member states of the United Nations emphasized the need for securing resources and international cooperation in solving global problems. In his remarks, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang stated that to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), countries must step up efforts at national, regional and global levels.

On October 3, receiving Mr. Bjorn Andersson, Director of the Asia-Pacific Region of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc suggested that UNFPA continue to cooperate and support Vietnam in the near future to effectively implement the 10th National Program on Cooperation between the Government of Vietnam and UNFPA for the period 2022-2025 (CPD10 program).

On October 3, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu received Mr. Giuseppe de Vincentiis, representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Thailand in charge of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

On October 7, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) closed its 51st session, after four weeks of working from September 12 to October 7. Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), the World Trade Organisation and other international organisations in Geneva, made active contributions to the session. From October 3-7, Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai attended the Bridge Building Week (BBW) 2022 in Switzerland as a speaker at two sessions.

Review on external affairs from Oct.3-10: Strengthen political trust with Korea; Vietnam's position in Ukraine-Russia conflict
Vietnam makes active contributions to UNHRC’s 51st session. (Photo: WVR/VNA)

On Oct. 4, speaking at the discussion of the Third Committee on Social, Humanitarian & Cultural issues at the UN General Assembly’s 77th Session, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam at the UN Le Thi Minh Thoa said gender equality has always been respected in Vietnam’s national policies. Vietnam has affirmed the importance of preventing and eliminating all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls.

On October 3, after the 66th General Assembly of the IAEA, Ambassador Nguyen Trung Kien represented Vietnam to attend the ground-breaking ceremony of the construction of a new complex of laboratories for nuclear applications ReNuAL 2 project, in Seibersdorf, Austria.

From October 1-4, Ambassador Nguyen Hai Bang, Head of the Vietnamese Mission to ASEAN, led the Vietnamese delegation to attend the meetings of the ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee (ACCC) and the 13th ASEAN Connectivity Forum in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson

On October 6, at the regular press conference, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang emphasized Vietnam's position in the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Asked about Vietnam’s reaction to Russia’s move to take in four Ukrainian oblasts, Spokesperson Hang said: "Vietnam closely follows the developments surrounding the Ukraine-Russia conflict. Vietnam calls on relevant parties to resume dialogue and resolve issues by peaceful means on the basis of respecting basic principles of international law, especially the principle of respect for countries' independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity".

"As an active and responsible member of the international community, Vietnam is ready to contribute to promoting dialogue and finding solutions to soon stabilise the situation, for peace and stability in the region and the world," she noted.

The Spokesperson also clarifies MoFA’s viewpoint on officials’ wrongdoings related to repatriation flights during the COVID-19 pandemic; responded to reports alleging that some wood products exported to the United States from Vietnam are made from timber originating from Russia; information on victims with Chinese national identity in Phu Quoc; situation of Vietnamese in the Philippines; updated issue of Vietnamese people tricked or lured to Cambodia for illegal work.

Other activities

On October 6, Le Hoai Trung, member of the CPV Central Committee and Chairman of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations attended virtually an international inter-party conference on ecological security and sustainable development held by the United Russia party in Sakhalinsk city, Russia. He highlighted the main content of Vietnam’s sustainable development policy and affirmed that the sustainable development policy of Vietnam both reflects common positive trends in the world and appropriately applies them in a way that takes into account the country’s conditions, with the consistent goal of socialism, rich people, and a strong, democratic, equitable, and civilised nation.

On October 7, the World & Vietnam Newspaper’s Acting Editor-in-Chief Nguyen Truong Son and Pakistani Ambassador Samina Mehtab discussed Vietnam-Pakistan relations and a number of cooperation opportunities between the two agencies to promote bilateral relations in the near future.

TIN LIÊN QUAN
Review on external affairs from Sept.26-Oct. 2: Strengthening Vietnam-Cuba ties; FM’s visits to Germany, Austria
Review on external affairs from Sept.19-25: Standing Deputy PM's activities in UNGA 77; President to attend Abe Shinzo's State funeral
Review on external affairs from Sept.12-18: Cambodian NA President’s visit to Vietnam; deepening ties with Australia, New Zealand
Review on external affairs from Sept. 5-11: PM attends Eastern Economic Forum, UNESCO Director General visits, Vietnam-Brunei ties deepened
Review on external affairs from Aug. 29-Sept. 4: Celebrating 77th National Day, 9th Vietnam-US Asia-Pacific Dialogue

(Source: WVR)