Review on external affairs from Oct.30-Nov.5: New chapter in Vietnam-Mongolia relations, Dutch PM’s visit to Vietnam, Vietnam-Denmark GSP
WVR - Review on a number of news headlines on external affairs from October 30 - November 5 by The World and Vietnam Report.
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| President Vo Van Thuong, Spouse and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, Spouse at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi, on November 1, 2023. (Photo: WVR) |
Leaders’ activities
On October 30, Vietnamese leaders extended condolences to Chinese leaders over the recent passing of former Chinese Premier Li Keqiang. The messages of condolences were sent by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Vo Van Thuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to Chinese Party General Secretary and State President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China Zhao Leji and Li Keqiang’s family. The Vietnamese Party, State, and people deeply appreciate his contributions to the bilateral ties relations between the two parties and countries, said the leaders. On the same day, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son sent condolences to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
On October 31, President Vo Van Thuong sent greetings to Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on the occasion of Algeria’s 69th Revolution Day (November 1, 1954 – 2023). The same day, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh extended congratulations to Algerian Prime Minister Aymen Benabderrahmane, and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue offered greetings to President of the Council of the Nation of Algeria Salah Goudjil and Speaker of the National People’s Assembly of Algeria Ibrahim Boughali. Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son cabled his greetings to Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs and the National Community Abroad Ahmed Attaf on the occasion.
On November 5, Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, Spouse, and a high-ranking delegation of Mongolia left Hanoi, concluding their five-day State visit to Vietnam at the invitation of President Vo Van Thuong.
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| Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsuk in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA) |
During the visit, Mongolian President met with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong; held talks, witnessed the signing of cooperation documents, attended a joint press conference and a banquet with President Vo Van Thuong. He also had separate meetings with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue. The leaders of the two countries engaged in practical discussions on measures to enhance bilateral cooperation in various fields, including politics, national defence, security, economy, education, sci-tech, transportation, logistics, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchange, as well as global and regional issues of shared interest, toward creating a new framework for more comprehensive and substantive relations as the two countries will celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year. The two sides signed six cooperation documents during the Mongolian President's visit to Vietnam. On this occasion, the leaders of the two countries issued a Joint Communiqué.
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| President Vo Van Thuong and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh witnessed the signing ceremony of a cooperation document between the two sides on November 1, 2023. (Photo: VNA) |
Within his visit’s framework, Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh attended the Vietnam-Mongolia Business Forum, visited the mobile calvary police force of the Mobile Police Force High Command under the Ministry of Public Security , and toured several economic and cultural establishments in Hoa Binh province. During the visit, the Mongolian delegation paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi and offered incense in tribute to fallen soldiers at the Monument to Heroes and Martyrs on the capital city's Bac Son street.
On November 2, President Vo Van Thuong received a delegation from the Prosecution Service of Hungary led by Prosecutor General Péter Polt who was on a working visit to Vietnam. The President he believed the visit will help deepen the cooperative relationship between the Supreme People's Procuracy of Vietnam and the Prosecution Service of Hungary and nurture the friendship and traditional relationship between the two nations' people.
On October 31, hearing that a mine fire in Karaganda province, Kazakhstan caused damage to people and property, President Vo Van Thuong sent a telegram of condolences to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. On the same day, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son also sent a telegram of condolences to Deputy Prime from Minister and Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu.
From November 1-2, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and a high-ranking Dutch delegation paid an official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Prime Minister Mark Rutte attended the official welcoming ceremony and held talks with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, attended the 2023 Green Economy. During the visit, the two Prime Ministers cycled through the streets of Hanoi.
The Prime Minister of the Netherlands visited the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) and delivered speech at the Roundtable Conference on "International Law and Order at Sea" which was co-hosted by the DAV and the Clingendael Institute of the Netherlands in Hanoi. Prime Minister Rutte underscored the importance of upholding the rule of law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Speaking highly of cooperation prospects between Vietnam and the Netherlands, the Prime Minister pledged to maintain existing partnerships while expanding potential collaboration in other areas. He also visited and held conversation with teachers and students of Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted.
On November 3, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura Yasutoshi, affirming that Vietnam always views Japan as a trustworthy, leading important and long-term partner. The Government leader suggested Japan assist Vietnam in boosting green transition, digital transformation and innovation; developing high technology and semiconductor industries; and fostering the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical equipment sectors to serve public health care.
On November 2, receiving European Commission (EC) Executive Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested the EU accelerate the implementation of its free trade agreement with Vietnam (EVFTA), and create more favourable conditions for Vietnamese goods to enter the market, especially agricultural and aquatic products, striving to bring two-way trade to 100 billion USD. The PM called on Dombrovskis, who is also the EU's Trade Commissioner, to urge remaining EU member countries to soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), and the EC to soon remove its “yellow card” against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Vietnam.
On November 1, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark co-chaired a virtual ceremony to jointly declare the establishment of a Green Strategic Partnership (GSP) between Vietnam and Denmark. The GSP has opened a new chapter in the more than 50 years cooperative relations between Vietnam and Denmark. The Green Strategic Partnership (GSP) established between Vietnam and Denmark will support the materialization of the two countries’ endeavours to promote green transition and green growth, further global ambition on climate as well as a socially just green transition that creates green jobs and avoids increasing inequality.
On October 31, receiving Russian Minister of Internal Affairs General Kolokoltsev Vladimir Alexandrovich, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said Vietnam wants to continue practical and effective cooperation with Russia across fields for mutual benefits of the two peoples, and for peace, stability and development in the region and the world.He proposed that in the coming time, the two countries should enhance the exchange of all-level delegations, effectively deploy existing cooperation mechanisms, and discuss and remove bottlenecks in cooperation in the spirit of harmonising interests and sharing difficulties, thus further expanding cooperation. He also suggested the two countries beef up partnership in energy, education - training, science - technology, cyber security, and digital transformation.
On October 31, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception for Chief Financial Officer of Samsung Group Park Hark Kyu. The Prime Minister suggested that the group continue expanding its investment in high technology, electronics, semiconductors, as well as digital transformation, green growth, and circular economy, contributing to quality human resources training in Vietnam. He hopes that Samsung will continue considering Vietnam a strategic production base, a hub of research, development and production of key products for international markets.
On November 1, receiving Mr. Park Hark Kyu, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue highly appreciated Samsung Group's projects in Vietnam with fast disbursement progress, contributing to economic restructuring and promoting exports, developing domestic supporting industries, creating jobs, making an important contribution to Vietnam's economic development.
From October 28 – November 1, Politburo member, permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Secretariat, and Head of the Committee’s Organisation Commission Truong Thi Mai, paid a working visit to Sweden.
From November 2-4, following the working visit to Sweden, Politburo member Truong Thi Mai led the delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam to pay a working visit to Finland.
On November 3, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang had a working session with Ms. Carolyn Turk, Country Director of the World Bank (WB) in Vietnam. The Deputy Prime Minister said that the Government will soon establish an interdisciplinary working group, led by Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong, to remove difficulties and obstacles in implementing projects funded by the WB in Vietnam.
On November 2, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai received Managing Director of the US-based Rosen Partners LLC Daniel Rosen. The Deputy Prime Minister said that Vietnam always welcomes foreign groups, including Rosen Partners LLC, to invest in the construction and real estate market, he said, adding that Vietnam prioritises investments in new and trending sectors, such as hi-tech application, green transformation and commercial infrastructure. The Vietnamese Government will create favourable conditions for Rosen Partners LLC's project in Hanoi, he added.
Activities of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
On November 2, speaking at the Conference "Meet Japan 2023", Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese Diplomatic Representative Missions in Japan consider that supporting the connection among Vietnamese localities with Japanese partners is an important task. The Conference is part of a series of activities organized annually by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support localities in strengthening international integration and attracting external resources to serve socio-economic development.
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| Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and participants atthe event Meet Japan 2023 in Hanoi, on November 2, 2023. |
Bilateral activities
Speaking at the 120th Anniversary of Panama's National Day (November 3, 1903 - 2023), Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc said that trade and investment relations between the two sides are maintaining growing momentum and growing positively, with two-way trade turnover in 2021 reaching 467 million USD, doubling compared to 2015. Panama has 9 investment projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of over 51 million USD. A number of Vietnamese businesses have opened commercial and restaurant tourism establishments in Panama.
On November 2, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang received a delegation of the Iran-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Association led by Dr. Jalil Rahimi Jahan Abadi, Member of Parliament, Chairman of the Iran-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Group. The Deputy Minister welcomed and highly appreciated this visit, especially in the context that the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations in 2023.
On November 2, receiving Croatian Ambassador to Malaysia who is also accreditted to Vietnam Ivan Velimir Starcevic, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang expressed her thanks to Croatia for ratifying the EVFTA and supported the remaining EU member countries' early ratification of EVIPA, as well as the early lifting of the IUU "yellow card" for Vietnamese seafood.
Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam Kees van Baar shared with the press about Prime Minister Mark Rutte's official visit to Vietnam, saying that the trip is an important milestone opening a promising future in bilateral cooperation.
In an interview with World & Vietnam Report, Vietnamese Ambassador to Mongolia Doan Khanh Tam said that Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh's visit to Vietnam has a particularly important meaning, opening a new page in the 70-year history of relations between the two countries, in accordance with Ulaanbaatar's "third neighbor" foreign policy. On this occasion, Ambassador Doan Khanh Tam told a meaningful story on a symbol of Vietnam-Mongolia traditional and friendship relations, that is the story of the primary school named after President Ho Chi Minh in the heart of Mongolia's capital Ulaanbaatar.
During a recent meeting with the press, Danish Ambassador to Vietnam Nicolai Prytz highlighted the recent establishment of Green Strategic Partnership (GSP) between Vietnam and Denmark has opened up a new chapter in their 50-year relationship.
On November 5, in an interview with the press, Vietnamese Ambassador to Denmark Luong Thanh Nghi stressed that the establishment of the GSP between Vietnam and Denmark has opened up a new chapter in their 52-year relationship, representing a substantive development step in the traditional relationship between the two countries, and also a long-term and high-priority content in Vietnam's socio-economic development strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2045.
Multilateral activities
On November 3, addressing the Informal Plenary Meeting on Existential Threats of Sea-level Rise Amidst the Climate Crisis at the 78th UN General Assembly in New York, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Head of the Permanent Delegation Vietnam at the UN, welcomes the study of the International Law Commission on provisions and interpretation of international law on the issue of sea-level rise; and the UN General Assembly's adoption of the Resolution requesting an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the obligations of states with respect to climate change. Ambassador Giang has urged countries worldwide to implement commitments and enhance actions and finance for climate.
During the two days of November 1-2, at a debate on the necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the US against Cuba (called Item 36), as part of the UN General Assembly’s 77th session, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang emphasised that the embargo violates international law and the basic principles of the UN Charter, and goes against a common desire for equal relations between countries. From its traumatic experience, Vietnam fights against all forms of embargo and unilateral imposition on a sovereign nation, the diplomat said, calling for the promotion of dialogue and trust building, and urging the US to end the embargo and reverse its current policy towards Cuba. He also reaffirmed Vietnam's support, friendship, cooperation and solidarity with the Cuban people as well as its commitment to upholding the principles of international law.
On November 3, Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Phan Chi Thanh, who is also Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), chaired the final discussion of the fourth session of ESCAP’s Committee on Macroeconomic Policy, Poverty Reduction and Financing for Development. Under the chair of Ambassador and Permanent Representative Thanh, the session adopted six recommendations and two decisions.
On November 2, Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, Head of the Vietnamese Delegation in Geneva, attended and spoke at the High-Level panel “Navigating the New Normal: Legitimacy, Accountable Security, and Partnerships in Peace 2.0”, an event within the framework of the Geneve Peace Week held from October 30 to November 3. Sharing Vietnam's efforts to contribute to peace, Ambassador Mai affirmed that Vietnam values diplomacy, dialogue, and cooperation based on mutual respect and compliance with the principles of international law in settling tension and promoting peace and security in the region and the world.
Other activities
On November 2, the Steering Committee for Citizen Protection of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held an interdisciplinary meeting chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc to implement the Government's direction on the protection of Vietnamese citizens in Israel. The meeting discussed the Israel-Hamas conflict, forecasting future developments, assessing the situation and the level of possible risks for Vietnamese citizens, and protection measures.
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| The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a seminar on improving the effectiveness of promoting Vietnamese agricultural products in Africa on November 1, 2023. (Photo: WVR/ Anh Son) |
On November 1, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized a hybrid seminar on improving the effectiveness of promoting Vietnamese agricultural products in Africa chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc. Addressing the opening speech, Deputy Foreign Minister Ngoc emphasized that African region continues to emerge as a bright spot in trade between Vietnam and the world, especially as many of the former’s traditional markets are facing economic recession and rising inflation. The seminar aimed to evaluate the prospects, advantages and difficulties for the promotion of Vietnamese agricultural products in the sub-Saharan African market, and the need to establish showrooms/display spaces for agricultural product samples at Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad. Besides, the seminar tried to find solutions to improve the effectiveness of agricultural product promotion in the region in the coming time.
