Review on external affairs from Sept.26-Oct. 2: Strengthening Vietnam-Cuba ties; FM’s visits to Germany, Austria
WVR - Review on a number of news headlines on external affairs from September 26-October 2 by The World and Vietnam Report.
Latest
 |
| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed and held talks with Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz on September 29, 2022. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
Leaders’ activities
From September 25-28, on behalf of Party and State leaders, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the State Funeral of the late Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. President Phuc expressed thanks for Abe’s warm feelings for Vietnam and his important contributions to the Vietnam-Japan relations throughout eight years of his serving as Prime Minister of Japan, leaving deep imprints in all fields, from economic cooperation, investment and trade to labour and people-to-people exchange.
The President had a meeting with the Emperor of Japan; held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio; attended the thank-you gathering after the state funeral, hade meetings with President of the Japanese House of Councillors Otsuji Hidehisa, Speaker of Japanese House of Representatives Hosoda Hiroyuki and a number of foreign leaders attending the state funeral; extended condolences to Mrs. Abe Akie, the widow of late Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo and met former Japanese Ambassadors to Vietnam.
 |
| President Nguyen Xuan Phuc held talks with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio in Tokyo. (Photo: VNA) |
On September 29, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed and held talks with Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, who was on an official friendship visit to Vietnam from September 28 to October 2. The Vietnamese Prime Minister appreciated new developments in bilateral cooperation, especially in agriculture, investment and health care as well as the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation mechanisms. On behalf of the leaders of the Party, State, Government and people of Vietnam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presented the Ho Chi Minh Order, the noble distinction of the Vietnamese State, to Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz.
Receiving the Cuban Prime Minister, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong suggested the two sides enhance coordination and actively boost relations across all three channels, namely Party diplomacy, State diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy, as well as effectively carrying out cooperation agreements.
Meeting Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc affirmed that Vietnam always stands united with and supports fraternal Cuba amid complicated developments in the world.
Meeting the Cuban Prime Minister, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue affirmed that Vietnam will continue working closely with the National Assembly of the People's Power of Cuba to share experience in lawmaking and supervision, as well as offer mutual support at regional and global parliamentary forums.
Within the framework of the visit, the Cuban Prime Minister attended the Vietnam-Cuba Business Promotion Forum; visited Ho Chi Minh City; met members of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association... On October 2 Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz left Ho Chi Minh City successfully concluding his official visit to Vietnam.
On September 28, receiving Mr. Charles Kaye, Director General of Warburg Pincus, the US-based global growth investor, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh lauded cooperation of local partners with Warburg Pincus which has invested 2 billion USD in Vietnamese firms since 2013. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested Warburg Pincus to further its effective coordination with Vietnamese agencies to increase long-term and sustainable investment in Vietnam.
On September 28, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue hosted a reception for visiting First Vice President of the Thai Senate General Singsuk Singpai and a delegation of the Senate Standing Committee on the Independent Organs under the Constitution of Thailand. On behalf of the Thai Senate, General Singsuk Singpai invited NA Chairman Hue to attend the 30th Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-30) in Thailand next month. Members of the delegation of the Senate Standing Committee on the Independent Organs under the Constitution of Thailand highly valued the effectiveness of Vietnam's corruption combat, expressing the desire to learn about the country's policies and share experience in this field with relevant Vietnamese agencies.
On September 28, at the Government Headquarters, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to strengthening the strategic partnership with Germany while receiving Jochen Flasbarth, State Secretary of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, who was on a visit to Vietnam.
On September 26, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam received visiting Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, who was attending the Horasis India Meeting 2022 in southern Binh Duong province. Deputy PM Dam affirmed that Vietnam always treasures the comprehensive strategic partnership with India, asking the two sides to jointly promote the pillars of bilateral cooperation, including politics - diplomacy, defence - security, trade - investment, science - technology, culture, and people-to-people exchange.
Activities of the Foreign Affairs Minister
From September 26-27, at the invitation of German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son paid an official visit to Germany to promote relations between the two countries. During the visit, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son held talks with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, paid a courtesy call to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, met President of the Federal Council Bodo Ramelow, Minister-President of Hessen state Boris Rhein, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Michael Kellner respectively; and had meeting with Vietnamese community in Germany.
 |
| Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son pays a courtesy call to German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. (Photo: WVR) |
From September 28-29, at the invitation of Austrian Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son paid an official visit to Austria. The visit is an important event when the two countries are marking the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties (1972-2022). During the visit, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son paid a courtesy call to President of the National Council of Austria Wolfgang Sobotka, held talks with his Austrian counterpart Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, met with Minister for Digital and Economic Affairs Martin Kocher and Minister for the EU and Constitution at the Federal Chancellery of Austria Karoline Edtstadler respectively. The Foreign Minister also attended the opening ceremony of a "Vietnamese Cultural Space", the Vietnam - Austria Business Forum and ceremony to mark the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Austria diplomatic ties, and met with officials and staff of Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Austria.
Bilateral activities
On the occasion of the official visit to Vietnam by Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz from September 28 to October 2, in interview with the World & Vietnam Report, Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Orlando Nicolás Hernández Guillén shared the significance of the visit and his thoughts about the very special relationship between the two peoples. Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz's official visit to Vietnam was the first visit outside Latin America since the Cuban Prime Minister took office in December 2019 and the first visit by a high-ranking Cuban leader to Vietnam since 2018.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Le Thanh Tung shared his thoughts on the significance of the visit by Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz to Vietnam as well as the special relationship between Vietnam and Cuba.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh shared with the World & Vietnam Report the agenda of Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son's visit to Germany as well as highlights in the relationship between Vietnam-Germany.
On the occasion of Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son's official visit to Austria (September 28-29), in an interview with the World & Vietnam Report, Austrian Ambassador to Vietnam Hans-Peter Glanzer highlighted the significance of the visit and orientations to promote economic cooperation.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Austria Nguyen Trung Kien also shared the significance of the visit and the major features of the bilateral relationship.
From September 28-29 in Vienna (Austria), Vietnam Day was held in Austria in 2022, towards the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
On September 30, meeting with the delegation of the Eminent People Group (EPG) of Korea, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu affirmed that the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Korea has achieved many great achievements in the past 30 years.
On the same day, the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) coordinated with the Korean Diplomatic Academy (KNDA) and the Korean Embassy held the third meeting of the Vietnam-Korea Eminent Group (EPG).
From September 21-28, a delegation led by Le Quang Huy, Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee on Science, Technology and Environment and the Vietnam-US Friendship Parliamentarians' Group had a trip to the US to promote collaboration between the two countries’ legislatures, especially in the fields of science, technology and environment. The Vietnamese delegation held meetings with US Congresspersons, Senators and officials, particularly those overseeing science, technology and environmental affairs, such as Congresswoman Haley Stevens, Vice Chair of the US House of Representatives’ Science Space and Technology Committee, and official Tomas Carbonell from the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Multilateral activities
On September 29, on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Vietnamese Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Head of Vietnamese Permanent Mission to the United Nations, affirmed the bloc’s strong commitment to enhance development cooperation at a general debate of the Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Affairs Committee of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly.
 |
| Vietnam stresses ASEAN’s commitment to enhance development cooperation at a general debate of the Social, Humanitarian, and Cultural Affairs Committee of the 77th session of the UN General Assembly. (Photo: VNA) |
On September 26, addressing a meeting held by the UN General Assembly to mark International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons in New York, Vietnamese Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang emphasised the international law observance, the fulfillment of obligations and implementation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). A favourable international environment is needed to promote trust and friendship among countries in order to achieve the effective the disarmament of the nuclear weapons, Vietnam’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, has said.
On September 27, addressing a forum on the Mekong River Commission recently held at the Flemmish Parliament in Brussels, Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Nguyen Van Thao suggested that Flanders-Mekong cooperation should focus on cross-border water management and hi-tech agriculture in adaptation to climate change, given the challenges facing the Mekong region such as climate change impacts, floods, droughts, rising sea level, and saltwater intrusion.
On September 27, the Institute for the Study of Diplomatic Strategy, under the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) Foundation co-chaired the 2nd Mekong Forum. The forum focused on discussing issues of promoting the ASEAN's central role for finding solutions to subregional challenges; practical steps to promote ASEAN consensus on issues in the Mekong sub-region.
On September 26, Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States Nguyen Quoc Dung chaired three meetings of the ASEAN Committee in Washington D.C (ACW). These are the first Ambassador-level meetings in the last 4 months of 2022. The Vietnamese Embassy assumes the role of ACW President.
From September 26-28, the Vietnamese delegation, led by the appointed Vietnamese Ambassador to India Nguyen Thanh Hai, attended the 60th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Africa Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO) in New Delhi, India.
Other activities
On September 26, the Vietnamese Embassy in France arranged a trip to the French cities of Le Havre and Sainte Adresse where late President Ho Chi Minh lived and worked from 1911-1912. Participating in this meaningful activity were Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang, Ambassador, Head of the Vietnamese Mission to UNESCO Le Thi Hong Van, and Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra who was on a working visit to France (September 22-27). Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang affirmed that through out France places where late President Ho Chi Minh once visited have all become historical places attached to the Vietnamese people, hoped Le Havre and Saint Adresse, as well as other France localities, will join in activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties and 10 years of the strategic partnership between Vietnam and France in 2023.
On September 30, the Thai Embassy in Vietnam and the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) co-organised a ceremony to inaugurate the Thai Room at the Academy's campus. The inauguration was part of activities in celebration of the 46th anniversary of Vietnam-Thailand diplomatic relations. Supported by the Embassy and the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vietnam (ThaiCham), the Thai Room, the first dedicated to an ASEAN member state at the Academy, is suitable for multipurpose usage, including reception, lecturing and training for government officials, diplomats and students.
(WVR)
