Review on external affairs from Sept. 5-11: PM attends Eastern Economic Forum, UNESCO Director General visits, Vietnam-Brunei ties deepened
WVR - Review on a number of news headlines on external affairs from September 4-10 by The World and Vietnam Report.
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Leaders's activities
Vietnamese leaders on September 9 offered condolences to the Royal Family, Government, parliament, and people of the UK over the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
Accordingly, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc sent a message of condolences to King Charles III, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh extended condolences to Prime Minister Elizabeth Truss, and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue did the same to Speaker of the House of Lords John McFall and Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle. The same day, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son sent condolences to UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs James Cleverly.
Party Secretary General Nguyen Phu Trong, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on September 9 cabled a congratulatory message to the Korean leader Kim Jon-un, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent congratulations to Korean Premier Kim Tok Hun for the 74th anniversary of Korean National Day (September 9 1948-2022).
On the occasion, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son extended similar congratulations to his Korean counterpart Choe Son Hui.
Vietnamese and Lao leaders have exchanged messages of congratulations on the occasion of the 60th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations (September 5, 1962-2022) and the 45th year of the singing of the bilateral Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (July 18, 1977-2022). President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Lao General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith have interviews with media on the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos.
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| President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) receives UK Ambassador Iain Frew. (Photo: VNA) |
On September 8 at the President Palace, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted separate receptions in Hanoi for the Ambassadors of the UK, Norway, Denmark and Czech Republic, who came to present their credentials.
On September 9, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception in Hanoi for Minister-Head of the Lao Prime Minister’s Office Alounxai Sounnalath who is paying a working visit to Vietnam.
Receiving the Chairman of the European Parliament (EP)’s Committee on International Trade (INTA) Bernd Lange who is on a visit to Vietnam from September 8-10, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue highlighted Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and diversification and multilateralisation of international relations, of which the EU is an important partner of the country.
On September 7, at the invitation of Rusia’s Government and senior leaders, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended and delivered a pre-recorded speech at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) held in Vladivostok city, Russia. In his speech, the Prime Minister stated that Vietnam is ready to contribute to economic recovery and sustainable development in Asia-Pacific.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivers speech at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF). |
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on September 6 sent a message of congratulations to the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Elizabeth Truss.
On September 7, Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son sent a message of congratulations to James Cleverly on his appointment as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
During a reception in Hanoi on September 6 for UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay, Prime Minister Chinh thanked UNESCO for cooperating with Vietnam in the areas of education, science, culture and information-communications. He affirmed that Vietnam will continue to be an active and responsible member of the UNESCO, contributing to UNESCO’s efforts for peace, cooperation and development.
At a Hanoi reception for Bill Winters, CEO of Standard Chartered PLC, PM Chinh praised foreign businesses and investors, including Standard Chartered, for accompanying and supporting Vietnam in pandemic prevention and control, and promoting socio-economic recovery and development. The Government leader asked the bank to increase its support for Vietnam in the process of digital transformation, green transformation and energy transition towards sustainability and climate change adaptation.
On September 6, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue separately hosted a reception in Hanoi for Governor of Cambodia’s Phnom Penh Khuong Sreng. In the receptions, Vietnamese leaders affirmed that Vietnam always treasures and gives high priority to foster fine neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability with Cambodia.
On September 7, at a reception in Hanoi on for President of the State Audit Authority of Laos Viengthavisone Thephachanh, who is on a Vietnam visit from September 6-10, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said the Vietnamese National Assembly is ready to facilitate the two agencies to strengthen their cooperation and fulfill their assigned tasks.
Foreign Minister’s activities
During a reception in Hanoi on September 9 for Chairman of the European Parliament (EP)’s Committee on International Trade (INTA) Bernd Lange, Foreign Minister Son affirmed that Vietnam always considers the European Union (EU) one of its top important economic and development partners.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son hosted a reception for Egyptian Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Aly Kamel Aly in Hanoi on September 9, during which he said Vietnam attaches importance to the bilateral traditional friendship and wishes to enhance multifaceted cooperative ties.
Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son on September 10 came to the residence of UK Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward to extend his condolences over the passing away of Queen Elizabeth II. Writing in the condolence book, Son stressed his respect for the Queen's fine sentiments towards Vietnam and her support for fostering the cooperative ties between the two nations. He extended his deepest condolences to the Royal Family, government and people of the UK.
At the invitation of the Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son pays an official visit to Brunei Darussalam and co-chairs the 2nd Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between Viet Nam and Brunei Darussalam in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam from September 6-8. During the visit, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son made a call upon the Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, attended the Vietnam-Brunei Trade, Culture, Cuisine and Art Exhibition, visited the Vietnam Embassy in Brunei and attended the ceremony to mark the 77th Anniversary of Vietnam's National Day (1945-2022) and 30 years of establishing diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Brunei (1992-2022).
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| Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son attended the ceremony to mark the 77th Anniversary of Vietnam's National Day (1945-2022) and 30 years of establishing diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Brunei (1992-2022). |
On September 7, Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son sent a message of congratulations to James Cleverly on his appointment as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Receiving UNESCO Director General Audrey Azoulay in Hanoi on September 5, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said that Vietnam will run for a seat in the World Heritage Committee in the 2023-2027 tenure and expects to get support from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
On September 5, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son received US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry at the headquarter of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two sides acknowledged positive developments in Vietnam-US relations and discussed measures to strengthen the bilateral relationship in the coming time, including promoting phone talks and exchange visits between the two countries’ leaders, looking towards the 10th Anniversary of the establishment of the framework of the Comprehensive Partnership in 2023.
Bilateral activities
After learning the news of the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, former Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Ambassador Vu Quang Minh (2011-2014) and former Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Nguyen Van Thao (2014-2017) wrote articles recalling their memories of working time in the UK and meetings with Queen Elizabeth II…
On September 10, a 600-sqm memorial house where remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers dying in battle in Cambodia will be kept was inaugurated in the north-western province of Battambang, Cambodia.
On September 9, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Quang Hieu and Egyptian Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Ayman Aly Kamel Aly co-chaired the ninth political consultation between the two ministries.
On September 8, in Hanoi, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu hold talks with Japanese Senior Deputy Foreign Minister Yamada Shigeo, who is visiting Vietnam.
Mutilateral activities
On September 8, at Lao Embassy in France, Vietnamese Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang attended the meeting of the ASEAN Committee in Paris (ACP).
Vietnam climbed two places from the 117 out of the 189 countries in 2019 to the 115 out of the 191 countries in 2021 in the global 2021/22 Human Development Report (HDR) freshly released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
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| A girl gets vaccinated against COVID-19. (Photo: VNA) |
On September 6, the United Nation (UN) General Assembly held the annual high-level Forum themed “The Culture of Peace: Importance of justice, equality, and inclusion for advancing peacebuilding”. To deliver his speech at the forum, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), emphasized the need for the international community to support efforts to build and maintain peace, while respecting the responsibility, independence and mastery of countries in accordance with the UN Chapter and international law.
Spokesperson’s statements
On September 10, in response to the question on Vietnam's reaction to the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Ms. Le Thi Thu Hang, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated that Vietnam extends the deepest condolences to the Royal Family, Government and people of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. As a Strategic Partner of the United Kingdom, Vietnam always highly appreciates the affection and support that Her Majesty the Queen has extended to the strengthening of the Vietnam-United Kingdom ties, with added depth and effectiveness.
On September 8, at the regular press briefing, deputy spokesman of the Foreign Ministry Doan Khac Viet introduced the Vietnamese language faculty to be opened at the Royal University of Phnom Penh and expressed belief that this meaningful event will promote cooperation in education, trade and investment, enhance understanding and exchanges between the two peoples, and make positive contributions to comprehensive relations, traditional and long-term friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia.
Other activities
On September 9, Vice Chairman of the NA's Committee for External Relations Nguyen Manh Tien and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of State Commission for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs Pham Quang Hieu attended a workshop on legal policies with the Vietnamese community in Europe. The workshop was held in both online and offline formats and attracting more than 100 participants from the UK, France, Germany, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Russia.
On September 8, a conference on building a project to train cadres, civil servants and officials of ministries, branches and localities capable of working in an international environment was held by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.
On September 8, in Hanoi, the State Commission for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a ceremony to launch the Vietnamese Language Honoring Day in the overseas Vietnamese community.
On September 5, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Member of the Party Central Committee, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son handed over the decision to appoint the Chief Inspector of the Ministry to Mr. Nguyen Xuan Anh, Acting Chief Inspector of the Ministry.
During last week, many Vietnamese representative offices abroad organized the Mid-Autumn Festivals for the children of officials and employees of Vietnamese Delegations and missions.
