Ambassador: Vietnam – Italy ties at the best

Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Cao Chinh Thien (R) at the interview with the Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam – Italy ties have been at the best since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties in 1973, Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Cao Chinh Thien told Vietnam News Agency in a recent interview on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (March 23). 

Following the establishment of strategic partnership five years ago, both countries have actively facilitated high-level visits to further raise mutual understanding. In 2014 and 2015, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and President Sergio Mattarella chose Vietnam as the first country in Asia to visit, respectively. 

During exchanges, high-ranking Italian officials affirmed determination to foster multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam, consider Vietnam a priority to develop ties in Southeast Asia and a destination for Italian firms between now and 2020. 

Vietnam expressed appreciation for ties with Italy via high-ranking visits by National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung in 2014, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Nguyen Thien Nhan in 2015 and President Tran Dai Quang in 2016. 

Apart from all-level visits to share experience in specialised fields, both sides have worked closely together at multilateral and global forums. 

Over the past five years, two-way trade has neared 5 billion USD each year. Within 10 years, from the fourth place, Vietnam has become the largest ASEAN trade partner of Italy. More and more Italian firms in different production sectors want to invest in Vietnam. 

Cultural, tourism, scientific and education links have been expanded. Acclaimed Italian universities periodically visit Vietnam to boost affiliation with partners and attract students to the country. 

In 2017, the number of Italian visitors to Vietnam hit 50,000 for the first time, which is forecast to increase in the future. 

Apart from cooperation deals signed by the two countries’ ministries and agencies, Emilia Romagna region and Binh Duong province signed a cooperation agreement on October 16, 2013 in Binh Duong on the occasion of working trip by President of the Legislative Assembly of Emilia Romagna Region Palma Costi. The representative office of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Emilia Romagna Region was established in Binh Duong on September 11, 2015. 

Italy’s Turin city and Ho Chi Minh City signed a twinning agreement on September 8, 2015 during Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan’s visit to Turin. 

A tourism cooperation deal between Veneto and the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau, and another in stone mining between Carrara and Yen Bai provinces will be signed in the near future. 

About celebrations for the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2018, Thien said Vietnam will continue with existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the fifth meeting of the Vietnam – Italy Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation in the fourth quarter in Italy, as well as conduct exchange of delegations at ministry and local levels. 

A Week of Vietnamese Goods in Italy is planned for while a delegation of Italian enterprises will explore Ho Chi Minh City market in the third quarter. 

The Vietnamese Cultural Week in Italy is scheduled for the second and third quarter of 2018, not to mention photo exhibitions on Vietnam and a seminar to popularise Vietnam’s tourism. 

Commenting on the potential of bilateral ties in the near future, Thien stressed the need to further lift bilateral relations and fully tap each one’s potentials. 

He suggested launching fields of cooperation in demand such as market expansion of small and medium-sized enterprises, popularisation of culture, tourism, science, education and people-to-people exchange.

Vietnamese, Belgian leaders exchange congratulations on ties anniversary

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Belgian counterpart Charles Michel exchanged letters of congratulations on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties on March 22.

On the same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also sent a congratulatory message to his counterpart Didier Reynders.

Vietnam and Belgium set up their ties on March 22, 1973. Since then, the bilateral relations have enjoyed positive growth. 

The two countries have held high-level meetings and visits regularly, while supporting each other at international forums.

Economic and trade cooperation has played a key role in bilateral ties. In 2017, two-way trade reached nearly 2.5 billion USD. Belgium is currently running more than 60 projects worth about 600 million USD in Vietnam.

Connectivity between the two countries’ localities has been expanded in numerous fields, ranging from education and training, agriculture, cultural heritage preservation, to climate change and clean energy.

HCM City fosters collaboration with Laos

Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan (R) receives President of the Lao Front for National Construction Saysomphone Phomvihane 

Ho Chi Minh City always attaches importance to boosting the friendship and cooperation with Laos and its localities in all fields, said Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan.

The Vietnamese government and local authorities will spare no efforts to deepen the Vietnam-Laos special relationship, he said while receiving President of the Lao Front for National Construction Saysomphone Phomvihane in the city on March 21.

Sharing the city’s significant development plans in the coming time, Nhan said along with the implementation of seven breakthrough programmes and Party building programme, HCM City has recently launched two more, one of which to build the southern hub into a smart city.

The city has also focused its resources on implementing the National Assembly’s Resolution 54 on special mechanisms and policies in terms of apparatus, land management, investment and finance-state budget, he added.

At the meeting, Saysomphone Phomvihane expressed his condolences over the passing of former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, who passed away on March 17.

He said the two countries’ cooperation has been thriving, especially in 2017 when they celebrated the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 40th year since the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty on Amity and Cooperation.

Cooperation programmes between HCM City and Laos have been effectively implemented and mutual visits have been frequently made by high-ranking delegations of the city and Lao localities, he said.

The Lao official also voiced his belief that the bilateral special relations will be strengthened, and HCM City will continue to join hands with Lao localities to carry out the two countries’ joint programmes.

Visits help enhance Vietnam-Belgium ties

Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Vu Anh Quang 

Vietnam and Belgium are preparing for upcoming visits, notably the Belgium visit by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in the third quarter of this year in the context of the nations celebrating the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, stated newly-accredited Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Vu Anh Quang.

He also detailed other visits scheduled to take place in celebration of the anniversary, saying Geert Albert Bourgeois, Minister-President of Flanders of Belgium, will visit Vietnam in May and attend several trade and investment promotion activities in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Hai Phong city.

In addition, trade and investment promotion activities and cultural exchange programmes will be held in both Vietnam and Belgium throughout the year, he said, adding that a Vietnamese Culture Week is set to take place in Belgium in the third quarter.

In the meantime, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong is in the European country to seek to increase cooperation in agriculture, the diplomat said in an interview granted to Vietnam News Agency occasioned the nations’ celebration of the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

He expressed his delight at the development of bilateral cooperation since ties were set up in 1973.

The two countries have held high-level meetings and visits regularly, while supporting each other at international forums.

Economic and trade cooperation has played a key role in bilateral ties. In 2017, two-way trade reached nearly 2.5 billion USD. Belgium is currently running more than 60 projects worth about 600 million USD in Vietnam.

Connectivity between the two countries’ localities has been expanded in numerous fields, ranging from education and training, agriculture, cultural heritage preservation, to climate change and clean energy.

The ambassador said that Vietnam and Belgium have opportunities to lift their relations to a new height this year as they are celebrating their 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

The agencies of the two countries are working on the upgrade of bilateral ties to strategic partnership in some specific sectors and fields, he noted, adding that the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), once signed and ratified, will open up more opportunities for Vietnamese and Belgian businesses to intensify links and cooperation.

This will help increase Belgium’s investment in Vietnam, especially in fields of Belgium’s strength such as shipbuilding, agriculture, high technology and clean energy, contributing to promoting Vietnam’s green and sustainable growth.

The diplomat said that the two countries’ goods, especially agricultural products, do not compete, but complement to each other, an advantage for the two countries to strengthen collaboration in trade and investment intensively.-

Vietnam, Russia intensify cooperation in military security

Lieut. Gen. Le Hien Van  (R) and Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nikolay Petrovic. 

Lieut. Gen. Le Hien Van, deputy chief of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), hosted a reception in Hanoi on March 20 for Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nikolay Petrovic, head of the Department for Military Counterintelligence Service of the Federal Security Service of Russia.

At the meeting, Lieut. Gen. Van thanked the Russian people and army for their support to the Vietnamese people and army in the past struggle for national defence as well as the current process of national construction. 

The General Department of Politics highly valued an earlier working session between the Department for Military Counterintelligence Service and Vietnam’s Department of Military Security Protection, he said. 

The officer believed that the two sides will beef up cooperation in military security protection, contributing to the enhancement of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia. 

In reply, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Petrovic said at the working session with the Department of Military Security Protection, his department pledged to assist Vietnam in personnel training, and enhance cooperation with the VPA in professional issues.

Vietnam, France forge defence ties

Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Phuong Nam (R) and Rear Admiral Denis Bertrand

Defence cooperation between Vietnam and France has been consolidated over the years with significant achievements in many areas, according to senior Vietnamese and French officers. 

Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Phuong Nam, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) and Rear Admiral Denis Bertrand, Joint Commander Armed Forces in French Polynesia and Commander of the French Polynesian and Pacific Maritime Zones, agreed that bilateral defence ties have been enhanced in training, military medicine, peacekeeping missions and defence industry. 

During a meeting in Hanoi on March 20, the officers stressed that the two countries boast substantial potential for defence collaboration, expressing their hope for more pragmatic defence affiliation in the future. 

Lauding the outcomes of working sessions between Rear Admiral Denis Bertrand  and representatives of VPA’s agencies and units, Nam said the VPA’s General Staff will create the best possible conditions for exchanges and meetings between the two sides. 

Rear Admiral Denis Bertrand pledged to contribute more to enhancing defence ties between Vietnam and France, especially via navies. 

On March 19, the Rear Admiral visited the Vietnam People’s Navy in the northern port city of Hai Phong where he was received by Rear Admiral Hoang Hong Ha, Deputy Commander of the Navy. 

Ha noted his hope that the Vietnamese and French naval forces will intensify delegation exchange and further cooperation in training, rescue operations at sea and natural catastrophic aid, as well as issues of shared concern in Asia and globally. 

Rear Admiral Denis Bertrand said his visit aims to materialise the defence cooperation plan between Vietnam and France in 2018 adopted at the second Vietnam-France Defence Policy Dialogue at the deputy defence ministerial level, while seeking ways to boost friendship and cooperation between the two defence ministries.

Seminar on East Sea, Asia-Pacific security in Poland

A seminar on the East Sea and Asia-Pacific regional security recently took place in Warsaw, Poland, attracting Polish diplomats and Vietnamese nationals living in the country. 

Delegates heard reports by such prestigious Polish politicians and researchers as Chairman of the Poland – Vietnam Friendship Association Prof. Dr. Tadeusz Iwinski, expert of international politics at Warmia Mazury University; Director of the Centre for International Studies at the University of Lodz Malgorzata Pietrasiak, military expert Pawel Behrendt, and expert on Vietnamese studies at Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan Jakub Krolczykn. 

They discussed disputes in the East Sea, especially recent developments in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes, saying that China has conducted massive militarisation activities and changed the status quo in the East Sea over the past five years. 

Such moves indicate that China could continue strengthening its influence in the East Sea – one of the most important navigation routes in the world, they said.

On the European Union and Poland’s stance on the East Sea issue, experts said the EU always calls for minimising disputes in respect for international law and objecting to the construction of artificial islands in the East Sea. 

Prof. Pietrasiak said countries involved in the East Sea disputes need to respect international law, including the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague that refuted historic evidence of China. 

According to him, the Polish President and government also declared that every dispute should be settled in line with international law and powerful countries’ use of or threat to use of forces against smaller ones is unaccepted. 

The event, the second of its kind, was co-hosted by the Centre for Poland – Asia Studies and the Colegium Civitas University.-

Vietnam, US cooperate to address post-war aftermath

Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh had a meeting in Hanoi on March 19 with Kelly McKeague Director of the Defence Prisoner of War/Mission in Action Accounting Agency (DPAA) under the US Department of Defence.

Host and guest affirmed that cooperation in dealing with war aftermath is among prioritised cooperation areas of Vietnam and the US as well as a motivation for defence affiliation between the two countries.

They underlined that search for missing servicemen in action is of humanitarian significance, contributing to creating trust and strengthening partnership between the two countries.

Vietnam’s Defence Ministry welcomes all appropriate initiatives to raise the efficiency of search and cooperation activities between the two countries in overcoming war consequences such as Agent Orange/dioxin detoxification and the clearance of wartime bombs, mine and explosives, stated Vinh.

He also expressed his hope that the two sides will continue promoting communications to help people of both countries understand difficulties and achievements in efforts to surmount war consequences in Vietnam over the past years.

Hanoi promotes cooperation with Peru’s capital city

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung has expressed his hope that the newly-accredited Peruvian Ambassador to Vietnam, Augusto Morelli Salgado, will help connect the two countries as well as the two capitals in particular.

Hosting the diplomat on March 19, Chung said that Vietnam and Peru hold numerous similarities in history and cultural tradition, adding that there remain much potential for bilateral cooperation which has yet to be tapped fully.

Ambassador Augusto Morelli Salgado affirmed that the Embassy of Peru is willing to collaborate with Hanoi.

He also vowed to do his utmost to develop the friendship between the two countries and the capital cities as well.

Both Vietnam and Peru are members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The two countries established diplomatic ties on November 14, 1994.

Two-way trade exceeded 350 million USD in 2016, tripling that in 2010.

HCM City seeks Japan’s support for science city construction project

A delegation of Ho Chi Minh City high ranking officials led by Politburo member, Secretary of HCMC Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan has paid a visit on March 19 to Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono.

Professor Kyosuke Nagata(R), Principal of Tsukuba University offers a presents to Secretary of HCMC Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan. (Photo: Sggp)

At the meeting, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono expressed heartfelt condolences over the passing away of Vietnam's former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai.

For his part, Secretary Nguyen Thien Nhan expressed his thanks to Mr. Taro Kono for the deep sympathy and showed his delight at the growing partnership between the two countries in all fields.
He affirmed that the Vietnamese Government always considers Japan as an important, long-term and leading partner.

HCMC Party Leader Nguyen Thien Nhan also expressed his sincere gratitude to the Government of Japan for the Official Development Assistance (ODA) projects over the past 25 years. Japanese investment projects have made huge contribution to supporting Ho Chi Minh City in the upgrade of urban infrastructure and improvement of quality of people's life, he added.

Mr. Nguyen Thien Nhan also met and expressed his wish at meetings on March 19 with Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Hiroshige Seko, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Keiichi Ishii and President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Shinichi Kitaoka.

He appreciated the Vietnam-Japan relations as well as the ties between HCM City and Japanese localities and highlighted the assistance of Japan for Vietnam and the southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City.

Mr. Nhan hoped that JICA and Japanese ministries will continue to assist Ho Chi Minh City to cope with the urban renewal matters, and provide supports to the improving residents' lives, promoting investment cooperation and infrastructure construction.

On the same day, he visited Tsukuba science city and Tsukuba University.