Review on external from Nov.14-20: President's trip to Thailand; NA Chairman visits Cambodia, attends AIPA-43
WVR - Review on a number of news headlines on external affairs from November 14-20 by The World and Vietnam Report.
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| President Nguyen Xuan Phuc wraps up the official visit to Thailand and attends the 29th APEC Summit Week in Bangkok from November 16-19, 2022. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
Leaders’ activities
On November 20, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc highlighted the need to enhance cooperation and exchanges between localities of Vietnam and Japan during a reception for Governor of Japanese Kanagawa prefecture Kuroiwa Yuji, who is on a working trip to Vietnam.
From November 14-17, during the official visit to Vietnam, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern paid a courtersy call to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong; held talks with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, witnessed the signing ceremony of cooperation documents and had a joint press briefing after the talks. The New Zealand Prime Minister also had meetings with President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue.
On November 19, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Spouse and high-ranking Vietnamese delegation successfully concluded official visit to Thailand and attendance in the 29th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand from November 16-19, 2022.
During the visit, President Phuc attended the official welcome ceremony and held talks with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. The two leaders witnessed the signing of cooperation documents and co-chaired a press conference. The Vietnamese President and his entourage visited a booth displaying Thai handicrafts and attended a banquet hosted by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and Spouse.
On November 16, Vietnam and Thailand issued a Joint Statement on the official visit of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc to Thailand.
The President and Spouse paid an audience to King Maha Vajiralongkorn and Queen Suthida; had a meeting with President of Thai National Assembly Chuan Leekpai; received the President of the Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association (TVFA) Sanan Angubolkul, and met with leaders of some leading enterprises and corporations in Thailand such as SCG, Amata, CP. President Phuc also had a meeting with 350 typical Vietnamese and Thai enterprises attending the Opening Ceremony of Vietnamese Goods Week in Thailand, visited and had meetings with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and Consulate General as well as overseas Vietnamese in Thailand.
Attending the 29th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the first session; the APEC Leaders' Informal Dialogue with Guests, and the APEC Leaders' and Guests' Working Lunch. The President also attended the plenary session and a dialogue between leaders of APEC economies and members of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC), the second session and a gala dinner hosted by the Thai Prime Minister and his Spouse.
On the sidelines of the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting (AELM), President Phuc had a series of bilateral meetings with leaders of APEC member economies including China, the US, the Philippines, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Australia, Canada, France, Chile and Peru. He also met with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong (China) Special Administrative Region and the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
On November 14, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received a delegation from the three central provinces of Entre Ríos, Córdoba and Santa Fe led by Entre Ríos Governor Gustavo Eduardo Bordet, saying it will contribute to strengthening the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Argentina, towards the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations (October 23, 1973). Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Argentina.
From November 19-25, at the invitation of the President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, AIPA President Samdech Heng Samrin and President of the Senate of the Republic of the Philippines Juan Miguel Zubiri, Chairman of the Natonal Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue pays an official visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia and the Republic of the Philippines.
From November 19-20, during his official visit to Cambodia, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue held talks with Cambodian National Assembly President Samdech Heng Samrin; called on King Norodom Sihamoni; had meetings with Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Senate President Samdech Say Chhum; received the Deputy Prime Minister, Vice Chairman of the Cambodian People's Party, Chairman of the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Association Men Sam An; attended the signing ceremony of cooperation agreement between the two National Assembly. These are activities within the framework of the visit to the 43rd AIPA General Assembly.
On November 20, in Phnom Penh, the leaders of the National Assemblies of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos signed a Joint Statement on establishing their summit mechanism in the framework of the 43rd General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-43).
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| National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and President of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, AIPA President Samdech Heng Samrin. (Photo: VNA) |
On November 20 evening, National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue attended a meeting of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA)’s Executive Committee within the framework of the 43rd AIPA General Assembly in Phnom Penh
On November 14, at the Party Central Committee headquarters, Politburo member and Permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Secretariat Vo Van Thu received a delegation from the Lao National Academy of Politics and Public Administration (NAPPA), led by its Director Phuvong Ankhamsen, who was on a working visit to Vietnam.
On November 18 (local time), Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan arrived in Djerba city, Tunisiaber to attend the 18th Francophonie Summit at the invitation of Tunisian President Kais Saied. The Summit, themed “Connectivity in diversity – the digital vector of development and solidarity in the French-speaking world” was held from November 19-20, with discussions on political and economic situation in the world.
The Vice President attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches, proposing comprehensive and long-term solutions to build a united and strong Francophone community. The Vice President also proposed enhancing cooperation in economy, trade and investment, creating a favourable environment for French to become a business language, and building a global Francophone digital economic space. Vice President Xuan also held bilateral meetings with other leaders and heads of delegations during the event. Secretary General of the International Organisation of la Francophonie (OIF) Louise Mushikiwabo highlighted the strong changes of the OIF over the past 50 years which affirmed its important role and position and promoted multilateralism.
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| Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan at the 18th Francophonie Summit. (Photo: VNA) |
On November 14, receiving Ms. Katherine Brown, Governor of Oregon State, USA, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh said that Vietnam hopes to intensify economic-trade ties with Oregon State through enhancing business connectivity and boost cooperation in culture and education between Vietnamese localities and this state. Deputy Prime Minister Minh said that the relationship between Vietnam and Oregon has developed well on the basis of the letter of intent on cooperation signed by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US state in 2015. Vietnam is the eighth biggest export market of Oregon, with the turnover surpassing 1 billion USD last year.
Activities of the Foreign Minister
In an interview with the press about the outcomes of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc's official visit to Thailand and attendance in the 29th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed that the visit is a success of great significance, a milestone in the enhanced strategic partnership between Vietnam and Thailand, creating a new momentum to promote cooperation between the two countries; convey the message of the determination of the leaders of the two sides to make the bilateral relationship grow stronger, more comprehensive and more effective.
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| Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son meets US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the occasion of attending APEC 2022 in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 18, 2022. (Photo: WVR/Nguyen Hong) |
On the occasion of attending APEC 2022, Minister Bui Thanh Son had meetings with French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna, Papua New Guinean Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa.
On November 15, in Hanoi, at the meeting with Minister Bui Thanh Son, Angolan Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Domingos Vieira Lopes said that this visit to Vietnam is aimed at concretizing the Angolan Government's goal of economic diversification and Vietnam is a priority partner in the region.
On November 14, Minister Bui Thanh Son received Ms. Katherine Brown, Governor of Oregon State, USA on the occasion of her working visit to Vietnam.
Bilateral activities
On the occasion of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc's official visit to Thailand and attending the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting from November 16 to 19, Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Phan Chi Thanh shared with the press the contents of the trip.
In the interview with the World and Vietnam Report (WVR), Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Nikorndej Balankura affirmed that the visit will create a great impetus for bilateral relations between the two countries in a comprehensive and extensive way. Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc said that this is a meaningful and important visit for both countries.
Granting an interview on the significance of the official visit to Cambodia and attending AIPA-43 by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue from November 19-22, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Huy Tang affirmed that the visit is of great significance, contributing to the development and deepening of the relationship of "good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability" with Cambodia.
Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand Nguyen Van Trung hightlighted the meaning and key contents of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's visit to Vietnam from November 14 to 17. According to New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Tredene Dobson, the visit is a new demonstration of the importance of the bilateral relationship for both countries.
On November 17, receiving Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Sandeep Arya, Standing Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Vu hoped the Ambassador to continue promoting cooperation in trade and investment, including further opening the market of India for Vietnamese agricultural products.
On November 16, meeting with Governor of Japanese Yamaguchi Prefecture Muraoka Tsugumasa, Standing Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Vu affirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is always ready to support, create favorable conditions and promote mutually beneficial cooperation between Vietnam and Japan in general and Yamaguchi province in particular.
On November 15, at the political consultation with General Director, General Directorate of Bilateral, Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Jeroen Cooreman within the framework of a business trip to Vietnam, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc asked the Belgian side to support the European Commission' soon removal of the IUU "yellow card" for Vietnamese seafood.
On November 15, at a meeting, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu and Secretary of State of the Angolan Ministry of Foreign Affairs Domingos Vieira Lopes agreed that the two sides should step up trade exchanges, striving to increase bilateral trade turnover to over 100 million USD in the coming years.
Multilateral activities
Acting Representative of the Francophonie International Organization for Asia and the Pacific (REPAP-OIF) Tran Thi Mai Yen stressed that Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, as a very active member in the OIF, attended the 18th Francophonie Summit in Tunisia, to demonstrate Vietnam's high responsibility in the international community. Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang said that this shows the importance of the cooperation between Vietnam and OIF.
On November 17, speaking at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on the issue of reforming the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, affirmed that Vietnam consistently support reform of the UN Security Council to ensure representation, democracy, transparency and efficiency so that it can better respond to global challenges.
On November 14, at the 11th emergency session to discuss the situation in Ukraine of the United Nations General Assembly, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang emphasized that the current top priority is ending hostilities, restoring peace, protect the security and safety of the people and the civil infrastructure.
From November 14-18, in Vienna, Austria, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Governors Council held its last regular meeting in 2022, with representatives from 35 member states and international organisations as observers taking part. Ambassador Nguyen Trung Kien, Governor - Permanent representative of Vietnam at the IAEA as Head of the Vietnamese delegation to attend the meeting. Vietnam has reaffirmed its consistent policy of supporting all three major pillars of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), including ensuring nuclear safety and security, and inspection and application of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson
On November 17, at the Ministry's regular press conference in Hanoi, Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang updated information on the efforts to bring imperial seal "Hoang de chi bao" (Treasure of the Emperor) from France to Vietnam. The Spokesperson said:
“Recently, under the Government’s timely direction, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnamese Embassy in France and the Vietnamese Mission to UNESCO have worked on all channels to intervene stopping the auction of the seal and ownership transfer to the Vietnamese side. They exchanged diplomatic letters and notes; officially contacted and met with the diplomatic Advisor of the French President, the French Ministries of Foreign Affairs, and of Culture, UNESCO leaders, and other relevant specialised departments.
We have also discussed with the French auction House Millon and consulted organisations specialising in cultural and artistic heritage, and individuals involved to acquire information and notify relevant agencies in Vietnam, creating a basis for negotiations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to direct the Vietnamese Embassy in France and the Vietnamese Mission to UNESCO to coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) and relevant agencies to implement procedures to bring the Nguyen Dynasty’s imperial seal "Hoang de chi bao" (Treasure of the Emperor) from France to Vietnam as soon as possible".
Other activities
On November 17, in Da Nang, the 14th International Conference on the East Sea under the theme "Peaceful Sea - Solid Recovery" was officially closed. The Conference was held by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) in hybrid format, attracted in-person attendance of over 220 delegates and virtual participation of more than 250 others. The two-day conference featured one introductory and eight discussion sessions, with nearly 40 papers, and more than 160 comments and questions.
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| The 14th international conference on East Sea wraps up in Da Nang, on November 17, 2022. (Photo: DAV) |
After 2 working days, the delegates discussed enthusiastically about the context of international and regional situations, recent developments in the East Sea, the value of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), as well as requirements for cooperation to ensure maritime security from scientific and technological developments. climate change adaptation and peaceful and sustainable marine development.
At a session marking the 40th anniversary of the signing of the UNCLOS as well as 20 years since ASEAN and China signed the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), most comments highlighted the universal value and importance of the UNCLOS as a constitution of the oceans.
(Translated by Thai Nguyen)
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