VietNamNet Bridge – Outstanding diplomatic activities in February included the successful human rights report, the 13th meeting of the Viet Nam-Cambodia Joint Committee and the development in the Viet Nam-Australia strategic partnership.  

Viet Nam’s human rights report attracts attention

The UN Human Rights Council UPR working group on February 7 approved Viet Nam’s UPR Report in the second cycle at its 18th session in Geneva, Switzerland.

The Vietnamese delegation at the 18th session of the The UN Human Rights Council UPR working group, Geneva, Switzerland, February 7, 2014 - Photo: VNA

A majority of countries welcomed Viet Nam’s efforts over the past years to carry out its commitments since the first cycle review.

“We have done well in presenting our national report and conducting dialogues on human rights before the UN Human Rights Council,” said the Head of the Vietnamese to the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and other international organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Nguyen Trung Thanh.

Viet Nam-Cambodia Committee convenes 13th meeting

The 13th meeting of the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Committee convened in Phnom Penh on February 11 to discuss bilateral cooperation across economics, culture, science, and technology.

Both sides also discussed the necessary reforms to help businesses streamline their operations and push trade turnover over US$ 5 billion by 2015.

They committed to strengthening cooperation in transport, telecommunications, finance, banking, and tourism.

Developing ties with Australia, Kyrgyzstan, Sudan

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop on February 18-19 had the first official visit to Viet Nam.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop held talks in which the two sides agreed to increase the exchange of high-ranking delegations and conclude the action program for 2014-2016.     

In the second month, Kyrgyz FM Abdyldaev Erlan Bekeshovich and State Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sudan Kamal Al-Din Ismail Saeed also visited Viet Nam.  

Particularly, a solemn ceremony was held on February 11 in Washington DC to celebrate the 20th anniversary of normalizing Viet Nam-US ties (1994–2014).

Three hundred guests including senators, congresspersons, officials, diplomats, business leaders, non-governmental organization representatives, and the US negotiation delegation for the Trans-Pacific Strategic Partnership Agreement (TPP) negotiations gathered to mark the occasion.  

Since establishing a comprehensive partnership framework in 2013, two-way trade turnover has grown to nearly US$30 billion, 130 times higher than turnover in 1994.

Source: VGP