Vietnamese nation, people, economic potential introduced in Uruguay

Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina and Uruguay Dang Xuan Dung talks to students from the Catholic University of Uruguay 

Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina and Uruguay Dang Xuan Dung has introduced the nation, people and integration process of Vietnam as well as the Vietnam-Uruguay relations to students from the Catholic University of Uruguay on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Ambassador Dung said that Vietnam, overcoming devastating wars, has been on the way of development with many promising areas. He also highlighted famous landscapes of Vietnam as well as friendly and hospitable people.

He noted that Vietnam has pursued the “doi moi” (reform) cause since 1986. After over 30 years, the country has recorded many important achievements with stable economic growth, improved people’s living conditions and enhanced position in the world arena.

Vietnam is now one of the leading economies in Southeast Asia with a GDP growth of 6.8 percent, inflation of 3.16 percent, and trade revenue of 400 billion USD in 2017.

The diplomat affirmed that Vietnam persists external policy of multilateralisation, diversification, proactively integrating into the world on the basis of equality, mutual respect and win-win partnership.

Vietnam’s top priorities are to maintain peace and stability, to create a peaceful environment for development, and to safeguard national independence and sovereignty.

Vietnam now enjoys diplomatic relations with 180 countries around the world, including strategic partnership with 16 countries and comprehensive strategic partnership with 10 others. At the same time, the country has so far signed 12 bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements.

The ambassador also underlined the sound relations between Vietnam and Uruguay since the two sides set up diplomatic relations in 1993, stating that Vietnam always wishes to further promote the ties.

He noted that the two countries have built many effective cooperation mechanisms, including the organisation of the first meeting of the Joint Committee on Economic, Trade and Investment in Uruguay’s capital of Montevideo. 

In recent years, bilateral economic and trade partnership has been improved, but still remains modest at 117.5 million USD in 2017, he said, adding that the governments of both sides have determined to further strengthen links between the two business communities to accelerate economic and trade ties.

During the working trip to Uruguay, the Vietnamese Embassy delegation held a seminar to introduce the trade and investment cooperation prospects between the two countries with the participation of many local firms.

The diplomat took the chance to highlight the open economic policies and potential of the Vietnamese market. Fostering ties with Vietnam also helps Uruguay firms access ASEAN markets, he said.

Uruguay businesses also explored promising exports of Vietnam such as garment and textile, footwear, computer, electronics and accessories, rubber, rattan and sedge products, rug, steel, plastics, ceramics, and fibre.

The Vietnamese side proposed that Uruguay continue increasing its exports to Vietnam such as wooden products, materials for garment and textile, leather, pharmaceuticals, milk, aquatic products and animal feed.

ASEAN, China hold first-ever maritime exercise

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China launched the first-ever maritime exercise off the coast of Zhanjiang city, southern Guangdong province on October 22.

The joint exercise, co-organised by the navies of China and Singapore, the chair of ASEAN in 2018, involves eight naval ships and about 1,200 personnel from 11 countries. The week-long drill includes joint search and rescue operation.

At the opening ceremony attended by all ten ASEAN nations and China, Singapore’s navy chief Rear Admiral Lew Chuen Hong emphasised the East Sea’s importance to the region, and affirmed that the regional prosperity is only possible if the sea is stable and secure.

According to Lew, it is important to have a set of common rules and understanding to allow the stable and collective use of a shared space. He gave the examples of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) agreed by ASEAN and regional powers last year.

Chinese Defence Minister General Wei Fenghe said in a meeting with heads of the ASEAN delegations on October 21 that the exercise not only marks a significant milestone in the history of China – ASEAN relations but also demonstrates the confidence and determination of both sides to maintain regional peace and stability.

The drill will run through October 28, including joint search and rescue operation.

It was proposed by China in 2015 and agreed to be held at a meeting between Wei and ASEAN defence ministers in February last year.

A similar exercise will be held between ASEAN and the US next year.

Vietnam enhances policy enforcement on management, use of foreign loans

Checking a machine at the Thai Binh 1 thermal power plant, a project built with Japanese ODA 

The Standing Committee of the National Assembly (NA) has recently issued a resolution on promoting law enforcement on the management and use of foreign loans.

The issuance of Resolution 582/NQ-UBTVQH 14 is based on a report of the NA Standing Committee’s inspection team on the management and use of foreign loans in 2011-2016.

The resolution said the legal system has been improved in line with policies of the Party and State and basically meets the requirements in the use and management of foreign loans. 

Over the years, the use of this capital source has been effective with prompt disbursement. Meanwhile, inspection and auditing of the use of foreign loans have been strengthened, raising the efficiency of projects funded by foreign loans.

The NA Standing Committee asked the Government to review the legal system and the implementation of regulations on foreign loans, while continuing to perfect regulations on the mobilisation, management and use of official development assistance  and foreign preferential loans.

The Government was also asked to study revisions to Law on Public Investment to make it align with the Constitution and related laws, and submit the revised bill to the NA. 

In addition, the Government was tasked with devising a strategy for foreign loan mobilisation, in line with the country’s socio-economic development strategy and step by step adjusting the ratio of foreign debts in public debts. 

The resolution said foreign loans should be mainly used for purposes and tasks decided by the NA and major projects in fields of importance such as climate change adaption, clean energy, transport and irrigation. 

It required the Government to adhere to the cap on investment from State budget at under 2,000 trillion VND (85.32 billion USD) in the 2016-2020 and safety limits of public debt as set by the NA, particularly the limit regarding the Government’s foreign debt.

Party official hosts Romanian trade minister

Head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Nguyen Van Binh (R) and Romanian Minister of Business Environment, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship Stefan Radu Oprea 

Politburo member and head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Nguyen Van Binh has said Vietnam and Romania boast great potential for future cooperation. 

During a working session in Hanoi on October 23 with Romanian Minister of Business Environment, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship Stefan Radu Oprea, Binh spoke highly of the two countries’ bilateral friendship over the past seven decades, reflected in the exchange of visits by agencies and localities. 

He said Romania has experience and technologies in energy, mining, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, wood processing, agriculture and food processing. Meanwhile, Vietnam could export seafood, tropical fruits, apparel, coffee and pepper to the European country. 

The host asked the Romanian minister to urge the Romanian Government to push for the early ratification of the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement. 

He requested to hold the 16th meeting of the Vietnam-Romania Inter-Committee on Economic Cooperation shortly. 

Oprea, for his part, wished to carry forward the practical and effective development of bilateral ties and lift them to a greater height, connecting the two economies together.

Hanoi and Shanghai exchange experience in people’s council operations

Hanoi and Shanghai share many similarities, including facing challenges in traffic congestion and environmental pollution.

Delegates of Hanoi People's Council held a seminar with a delegation of the Shanghai People’s Congress (China) in Hanoi on October 22 to exchange experience in people’s council operations.

Standing Deputy Chairman of the Hanoi People's Council Nguyen Ngoc Tuan said that the seminar affirmed the long-term cooperation between Hanoi and Shanghai. 

He emphasized the similarities between the two localities in terms of population density, development objectives or urgent issues such as traffic congestion and environmental pollution.

For his part, Vice Chairman of the Standing Board of the Shanghai People’s Congress Xu Zezhou made questions to the delegates of the Hanoi People's Council about some experience in contacting with voters or in the process of appointing officers in the constituency committee, in order to understand and learn from each other in dealing with similar issues.

The two parties were interested in attracting and holding talent in the context of increasing international competition. While Shanghai views talent as an important factor in building and developing its science and technology hub, Hanoi also highly values the potential of human intellect. 

Tuan said attracting talents and promoting the role of the People’s Council deputies is one of the top priorities for building a modern and sustainable city, adding that Hanoi has always attached great importance to cooperating and learning from other cities’ experiences around the world, including Shanghai.

He expressed his desire to promote bilateral cooperation between Hanoi and Shanghai in the time ahead, contributing to strengthening the relationship between Vietnam and China.

Ambassador seeks enhanced ties between Vietnam and Ulyanovsk

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Ngo Duc Manh (centre) visits the Ho Chi Minh monument in Ulyanovsk Oblast. 

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Ngo Duc Manh visited Ulyanovsk Oblast, Russia from October 21 – 23 to seek enhanced ties between the region and Vietnam.

Manh had a meeting with Governor of Ulyanovsk Sergey Morozov, during which both sides expressed delight with the growth of Russia-Vietnam relations via regular high-level visit exchanges, particularly the visit of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong to Russia in September.

Morozov took the occasion to recall his memories of a beautiful, friendly and dynamic Vietnam when he visited the central province of Nghe An, the oblast’s sister province. He also lauded important steps Ulyanovsk and Nghe An have taken to strengthen their ties, reflected by the opening of a Ho Chi Minh monument and a high school named after Vietnam’s late President in Ulyanovsk last year. 

He noted the Vietnamese society in Ulyanovsk has helped expand relations between the two localities, praising them as hard-working and enthusiastic people.

The governor also said he expects major Vietnamese enterprises like TH Group will invest in the oblast and committed to providing them with top incentives. He handed Manh a list of proposed joint events for the two sides to foster cooperation in 2019, including a Vietnam – Ulyanovsk business forum, a student exchange  between Nghe An and Ulyanovsk and celebrations of the birthday of President Ho Chi Minh.

Ambassador Ngo Duc Manh, for his part, reiterated that Vietnam attaches importance to developing ties with Russia.

There is plenty of room to expand cooperation between Vietnam and Ulyanovsk as many Vietnamese products, like farm produce and clothing, have limited access to Ulyanovsk, while the oblast’s products are not popular in Vietnam, he said. He suggested the two sides step up exchange of information and hold more business forums to help their investors seek opportunities.

He also urged the government of Ulyanovsk to participate in events within the framework of Vietnam Year in Russia in 2019. He thanked Morozov and his government for having facilitated Vietnamese people to live, study and work in Ulyanovsk. With support from local authorities, the ambassador hoped that the Vietnamese community would further contribute to local development.

During his stay in Ulyanovsk, Manh also met with several other senior officials and leading businesses in the oblast and visited the Ho Chi Minh monument and high school. 

Second working day of National Assembly

National Assembly deputies cast secret ballots on October 23 morning to elect a new State President 

The National Assembly discussed in groups the candidate for the election of the President of the country in early morning of October 23 before gathering for a plenary session at 8:30 am under the chair of Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. 

At the plenary session in the morning, the NA listened to a report of the NA Committee for Financial and Budgetary Affairs assessing the Government’s report on mid-term implementation of the NA’s Resolution 100/2015/QH13 on investment in national target programmes in 2016-2020. 

Minister-Chairman of the Government’s Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs Do Van Chien presented a report on the three-year implementation of policies supporting socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. 

The NA’s Council of Ethnic Affairs presented its assessment of the Government’s report. 

NA Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong then reported to the NA the outcome of group discussions on the candidate for the election of the President of the country. 

The NA deputies cast their vote to elect the President.  

Following the voting, the NA heard the draft law on amending, supplementing laws related to planning, and the NA Economic Commission’s evaluation of this draft law.

[Photos: Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong elected as State President]

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc submitted a proposal asking the NA to approve the removal of Truong Minh Tuan from the position of Minister of Information and Communication. 

The proposal was then discussed in groups. 

The afternoon session started with group discussions on the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and State budget in 2018 and in the first three years of the 2016-2020 plan. The socio-economic plan and State budget estimates and allocation for 2019 were also under scrutiny along with the national financial-budgetary plans for 2019-2021. 

The NA deputies looked into the mid-term assessment of the implementation of the economic restructuring plan, the five-year public investment and national financial plans for 2016-2020, the NA resolution on investment in national target programmes for 2016-2020 and the three-year enforcement of policies supporting socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous regions. 

At 15:00, the NA convened a plenary session. After hearing the announcement of the vote counting result, the NA passed a resolution on the election of the President.

The newly-elected President Nguyen Phu Trong was sworn into office and delivered his inaugural speech in a ceremony broadcast live on national television and radio. 

Following the ceremony, the NA heard the draft law on amending, supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Public Investment, and a report of the NA Committee on Financial and Budgetary Affairs assessing the draft law. 

Also in the afternoon, the NA voted on the removal of Truong Minh Tuan from the post of Minister of Information and Communication. After the vote counting result was announced, the NA passed a resolution on the removal with a majority of approval. 

PM Phuc then presented a proposal on the appointment of a new Minister of Information and Communication. 

The NA spent the remaining of the day discussing the proposal in group. The proposal is expected to be approved in the morning of October 24.-

Vietnam urges continued reform of UN development system

At the event

Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy, head of the Vietnam Mission to the United Nations, called for the continued reform of the UN development system based on national priorities at a debate of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly’s Economic and Financial Committee (Second Committee) in New York on October 22. 

On behalf of the ASEAN nations, Quy welcomed the progress in reforming the UN development system and spoke highly of the ASEAN-UN development partnership with positive outcomes, especially in fields under the ASEAN-UN Action Plan for the 2016-2020 period, and contributing to implementing the ASEAN Vision 2025 and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. 

The cooperation mechanism between the ASEAN Secretariat and the UN Secretariat has been increasingly promoted, he said. 

Quy shared the concern of several countries over the decline in resources and urged the UN and member states to continue supporting South-South and trilateral cooperation.  

Participants shared the view that future reform efforts, including the reform of the UN Resident Coordinator system, development support framework, and national-level UN agencies, need to be made via close consultation with member states.

Activities to mark 25th anniversary of Vietnam-Israel ties

A performance of Israeli singer Noa in Hanoi earlier this year to celebrate the 25th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Israel diplomatic ties (Source: embassies.gov.il)

A series of activities are to be held on October 27 to celebrate the 25th founding anniversary of the Vietnam-Israel diplomatic ties (1993-2018), announced the Embassy of Israel in Vietnam on October 23.

The events, to be held by the embassy in collaboration with the Hanoi People’s Committee, aims to bolster solidarity and friendship of the two nations and between Israel and Hanoi in particular, the office said.

An art programme featuring traditional music and dance of Israeli artists is set to be held at the Ly Thai To Statue Square by Hoan Kiem Lake in the heart of Hanoi, along with other activities introducing cultural traits of the two countries.

An exhibition on water and agriculture technologies of Israel will also be held on the day, with a wall of rice spanning about 100 sq.m. as the centrepiece. It features future technology that helps change the look of urban areas and improve cultivation capacity right in cities across the world. 

At the exhibition, Watergen, a unique and advanced technology which extracts fresh water directly from the air, will also be put on show.

Israeli Ambassador Nadav Eshcar noted that the activities manifest the close bonds between the two countries in reform, creativity and vision, as well as education collaboration, high technology, agriculture and science. 

He also expressed his belief in the huge potential in Israel’s cooperation with Vietnam in the coming time.

Vietnam, Romania seek to boost economic links

Economic, trade, and investment ties between Vietnam and Romania remain modest and have yet to match their full potential, as heard at a seminar introducing the Romanian market in Hanoi on October 22. 

This limited relationship is attributable to the lack of cooperation agreements on banking, customs, and tourism, as well as the limited marketing of businesses on both sides. 

Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Doan Duy Khuong lauded the Romanian Government and businesses for their efforts so far in promoting economic ties between the two nations. 

From 2010-2018, bilateral trade between Vietnam and Romania grew rapidly, reaching nearly 300 million USD at its annual maximum. Of this figure, about 80-90 million USD was from Vietnam’s exports, mostly in robusta coffee beans, computers and components, televisions and electronics, tra and basa fish, natural rubber, suitcases, footwear, and apparel and textiles. 

Meanwhile, the European country exported steel sheets and billets, plastic, chemicals and pharmaceuticals into Vietnam. 

Khuong said Romania is the largest market in Southern Europe with a population of 21 million and the seventh largest nation in Europe in terms of surface area, serving as a gateway to the EU with its over 500 million consumers. 

Lying in a location convenient for maritime transportation and in the hub of three European economic corridors, Romania holds strengths in oil and gas, petrochemicals, construction, healthcare, and farm produce processing. The country is also a member of many global multilateral economic cooperation institutions. 

He said Vietnam’s signing of various free trade agreements (FTAs) and new-generation FTAs will open the door to connecting with major markets in the region and around the world. 

Vietnam also has political stability and an improved workforce quality, Khuong said, adding that it will continue to seek measures to promote socio-economic ties and people-to-people exchanges with Romania. 

Romanian Minister for Business Environment, Commerce and Entrepreneurship Stefan Radu Oprea said there remains room to lift the bilateral partnership and hoped that there will be many opportunities for the two governments to balance out the trade deficit. 

Vice President and Secretary General of the Vietnam-Romania Friendship Association Bui Trong Dinh said that as of the late 2017, Romania poured 1.2 million USD into two projects in Vietnam, ranking 93rd out of 125 countries and territories investing in the country. At the same time, there are 216 Vietnamese companies working in Romania with a total registered capital of nearly 2.1 million EUR. 

Several Vietnamese firms are conducting surveys to decide on investing in construction and labour in the European country. 

In order to improve the efficiency of bilateral economic ties, Dinh suggested stepping up negotiations for the signing of cooperation agreements on banking, tourism and, customs, while revising agreements on investment encouragement and protection, as well as double taxation avoidance, and realising an agreement on maritime transportation signed from 1994-1995. 

Dinh stressed the need to hold trade promotion seminars, making it easier for enterprises to learn about each other’s market and popularise products.

Vietnam supports ASEAN-EU partnership in gender equality

Participants at the dialogue

Vietnam, as an active and responsible member of the ASEAN community, strongly backs the cooperation in promoting gender equality and female empowerment between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the European Union (EU).

The statement was made by Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha at an ASEAN-EU dialogue on gender equality and empowerment for women and girls held in Hanoi on October 22 by the ministry, the ASEAN Secretariat, and the EU delegation to Vietnam.

Ha expressed her view that the dialogue will offer a chance for countries in the two regions to share experience and intensify collaboration in gender equality, thus helping them achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs) and ensure no one is left behind during the development process.

Kung Phoak, ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, said that the bloc pledges to achieve the target of gender equality and empowerment for women and girls as mentioned in the ASEAN Vision 2025 as well as its main documents.

Last year was a successful one for ASEAN in terms of honouring women and girls, he affirmed.

Henriette Geiger, Director for People and Peace at the European Commission and Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development, stated that the EU will continue to promote gender equality within its territory as well as in its relations with its partners, especially in development cooperation activities.

During the dialogue themed “Implementing SDG 5: Gender Equality at Work,” delegates discussed challenges and factors in improving the implementation of SGDs related to gender equality at national and regional levels. They also highlighted the importance of gender equality and empowerment for women in the workplace, going on to define specific cooperative points in this field for the future. 

They also made recommendations on gender mainstreaming measures and how to step up coordination activities between the two regions in this field.