Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen (left) and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen is leading a high-ranking delegation of the Cambodian Government on a two-day official visit to Vietnam from October 4 at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

This is PM Hun Sen’s second visit to Vietnam within one year since Cambodia established its sixth-tenure government in September 2018.

The Cambodian leader is accompanied by Deputy PM and Defence Minister Gen. Tea Banh; Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn; Senior Minister in charge of border affairs Var Kim Hong, and other high-ranking officials.

The visit takes place amidst the fruitful development of relations between Vietnam and Cambodia. It affirms Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations, with high priority given to preserving, cultivating and developing the fine neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability with Cambodia.

The trip is also set to reinforce economic, trade and investment ties, as well as collaboration in border affairs and transport between the two countries.

Vietnam and Cambodia share about 1,245km of land border. For the last nearly 50 years, they have organised many rounds of talks and signed a number of legal documents to recognise the achievements in the settlement of border issues, thereby helping to build a peaceful border of long-lasting stability, strengthen solidarity and friendship, and facilitate border residents’ lives.

Over the past years, bilateral trade has been on the rise, surpassing 4.7 billion USD in 2018 (up 24 percent year on year) and 3 billion USD in the first eight months of 2019.

Vietnam is among the five largest foreign investors in Cambodia with more than 200 projects worth over 3 billion USD, mainly in rubber plantation, telecom, finance, banking and energy.

The two sides inked a double taxation avoidance agreement, another on promoting bilateral economic and trade ties for 2019-2020, a strategy for transport cooperation with a vision to 2030, and a deal revising the road and waterway transport agreements.

Additionally, Vietnam has provided hundreds of scholarships in different fields for Cambodia each year. The two sides have also worked together to create conditions for Cambodian people to receive health examination and treatment in Vietnam with medical fees similar to locals’.

About 800,000 Vietnamese people visited Cambodia in 2017, and this figure reached 835,000 in 2018, making Vietnam the second biggest source of foreign tourists of the country./.

VN to hosts 12th Inter-gov Regional Environmentally Sustainable Transport Forum 

The 12th Intergovernmental Regional Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST) Forum in Asia themed "Achieving Smart and Resilient City through Low Carbon and Intelligent Transport System" will take place in Ha Noi from October 28-31.

The event will be co-organized by the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Construction, Ha Noi Municipal People's Committee of Viet Nam; Ministry of the Environment of the Government of Japan (MOE-Japan); the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN ESCAP); and the United Nations Centre for Regional Development of Division for Sustainable Development Goals/ UN DESA.

The Form will be supported by Asian Development Bank (ADB), Asia Society for Social Improvement and Sustainable Transformation, Asia Pacific Natural Gas Vehicles Association, Bus World Academy, Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute, Eco-Mo Foundation, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP), International Union of Railways (UIC), Liechtenstein Institute for Strategic Development, Research for Community Access Partnership (ReCAP), 100 Resilient Cities, SAFER-Vehicle and Traffic Safety Centre, Wuppertal Institute, United Cities and Local Governments Asia Pacific (UCLG ASPAC), University of Gothenburg, Union Internationale des Transports Publics (UITP), United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Walk21, WRI India, the World Bank (WB), among others.

In an era of unprecedented urbanization, many Asian cities are facing a range of socioeconomic and environmental problems, such as traffic congestion, air pollution and related health impacts, traffic accidents and fatalities, rising GHG emissions, and the growing impact of climate change and noise pollution, among others, which are often attributed to unsustainable urban planning, design and development.

The major challenge for Asian cities has been how to manage the enormous growth in demand for urban passenger and freight transport within the constraints of current infrastructure and city development.

There is a global consensus that the way the towns and cities are designed and how they function needs to be reconsidered in the context of achieving the SDGs, in particular SDG 11 -- make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

It will also be important to integrate transport and land development planning to unlock new opportunities for funding.

Efforts to achieve smart and resilient cities would not only improve the urban mobility but also could significantly contribute to the objectives of the inter-linked and mutually-reinforcing 2030 Agenda, the Paris Agreement, the New Urban Agenda, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Nairobi Mandate and the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (AAAA).

At the same time, the Paris Agreement on climate change calls for intensifying actions and investments in a sustainable and low-carbon future to limit the average global temperature rise to well below 2 degrees Celsius by the end of this century.

The aim of the Forum is to provide policy, technological, and institutional insights into how Asian EST member countries and cities can advance low carbon and intelligent transport system development in achieving the international agendas and agreements by bringing transformational changes in urban development./.

Industry 4.0 Summit 2019 continues with high-level discussion

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam (centre) speaks at the high-level discussion

The Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission and relevant agencies co-organised a high-level discussion within the framework of the Industry 4.0 Summit 2019 in Hanoi on October 3.

Speaking at the event, themed “Vietnam’s policy and action programme to proactively join the fourth Industrial Revolution”, head of the commission Nguyen Van Binh said the Vietnamese Party and State have directed relevant agencies and sectors to step up the application and development of technologies and innovation.

However, Binh stressed that the country’s proactive participation in the fourth Industrial Revolution remains low.

He pointed out a series of shortcomings such as unsynchronised institutions for the digital economy, sharing economy, and innovation activities, while the quality and structure of human resources have yet to meet requirements, and the digital economy remains small.

According to the official, in that context, the Politburo had assigned the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission to build a project on policy to proactively joining the fourth Industrial Revolution. Based on the outcomes of the project, the Politburo on September 27 issued Resolution 52 mapping out a number of guidelines and policies on participating in the fourth Industrial Revolution.

Binh also emphasized the importance to bring the resolution into the life to help Vietnam catch up with the region and the world in the fourth Industrial Revolution.

The Industry 4.0 Summit 2019 is taking place in Hanoi on October 2 and 3 with the participation of about 1,500 domestic and international delegates. The summit aims to explain key polices of the Party and State on Vietnam’s participation in the fourth Industrial Revolution, pool domestic and foreign experts’ recommendations for such engagement, and connect international investors in the field with the Vietnamese business community.

It features a high-level discussion, five symposiums, an exhibition on modern technologies, and a business matching event.

Some 85 percent of industrial enterprises in Vietnam still lag behind the revolution, and only 13 percent are at the beginner level, according to Nguyen Duc Thanh, Director of the Vietnam Institute for Economic and Policy Research.

In a draft national digital transformation plan, Vietnam targets emerging as one of the top four countries in ASEAN in terms of digitalisation by 2025 with 80,000 digital technology companies./.

Hanoi welcomes Finnish firms’ investment in waste treatment

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen The Hung (R) and Finnish Ambassador to Vietnam Kari Kahiluoto

Hanoi is willing to facilitate investment by Finnish enterprises in waste treatment projects in the capital city, stated Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen The Hung on October 3.

The leader made his pledge while working with a visiting business delegation from the northern European nation. He noted that the local authorities will introduce suitable locations and offer best possible conditions in terms of paperwork, transport connectivity, and land clearance for the quick and effective implementation of such projects.

According to Hung, Hanoi needs to handle about 8,000 tonnes of waste on a daily basis and the figure is forecast to rise in line with population growth and production development. He underlined a big challenge for the city at present which is the sorting of waste at discharge sources, adding that only industrial and medical waste has been sorted. The city has started to apply the waste-to-energy solution.

The official lauded technological solutions for waste treatment of Finnish firms, saying they are effective and suitable to Hanoi’s conditions, as the city has a big volume of organic waste that can be treated to produce biogas as fuel, while non-organic waste can be used to produce electricity.

Finnish Ambassador to Vietnam Kari Kahiluoto said Finland is willing to share its urban waste treatment experience with Hanoi.

Participating Finnish firms, meanwhile, took the occasion to offer their recommendations on waste treatment solutions best suited to Hanoi./.

Lao press highlights PM Thongloun Sisoulith’s visit to Vietnam

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (left) and Lao PM Thongloun Sisoulith at the welcome ceremony for the Lao leader

Many Lao newspapers carried stories and photos on their front pages describing the official visit to Vietnam by Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith from October 1-3 as a significant contribution to the sound friendship and special solidarity between the two nations.

The Pasaxon and Laophattana newspapers posted the full text of the Joint Statement between Vietnam and Laos, as well as detailed reports on the talk between PM Thongloun Sisoulith and his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc, hailing the signing of eight important cooperation documents in the fields of economy, trade, investment, education, finance, banking, energy and aviation.

The Pasaxon underlined that Thongloun Sisoulith’s second official visit to Vietnam in the role of PM of Laos is a vivid illustration of the close friendship, special solidarity and mutual trust between the two Party, States and peoples.

The PathetLao affirmed the signed deals would help promote cooperative ties between the two countries.

Meanwhile, the Vientiane Times, the only English newspaper in Laos, on October 3 run an article titled “Laos, Vietnam ink deals to broaden cooperation”, emphasizing the two PMs had agreed at their talk on October 1 to work together to enhance the traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation.

They were also unanimous in encouraging ministries, branches, sectors and localities to enhance collaboration, and supporting each other to develop socio-economy, ensure security, stability and order, as well as handling arising issues in a timely manner, the article wrote.

According to the newspaper, the two PMs laid stress on the necessity to maintain peace, stability and security, and the rule of law to ensure safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea. They affirmed all disputes in the waters must be handled peacefully in line with international law.

The Lao press on October 3 also carried stories and photos about PM Thongloun Sisoulith’s activities in Vietnam as well as Vietnam’s warm welcome for the Lao high-ranking delegation./.

Top leaders congratulate Germany on Unity Day

Vietnam’s top leaders have sent congratulations to their German counterparts on the occasion of the 29th Day of German Unity (October 3, 1990 – 2019).

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Committee and President Nguyen Phu Trong sent a congratulatory message to President of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc extended congratulations to Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh also took the occasion to congratulate German Minister of Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas./.

PM Hun Sen’s visit to further drive Vietnam-Cambodia relations forward

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen at the third Mekong River Commission Summit in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on April 4, 2018

The official visit to Vietnam from October 4 – 5 by Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen is expected to continue driving the bilateral relations forward in the coming time.

It will be the second trip to Vietnam by PM Hun Sen within one year since Cambodia set up its sixth-tenure government in September 2018.

With the diplomatic relationship founded on June 24, 1967, the two neighbouring countries boast a long-standing solidarity and friendship which have been nurtured by generations of their leaders and peoples.

Fruitful cooperation in multiple spheres

Many strides have been recorded in bilateral cooperation in recent years.

Delegation exchanges have been maintained at all levels to further enhance mutual trust between the countries’ leaders and peoples.

Since the sixth general election and the formation of the new government in Cambodia, many high-raking visits have been exchanged. They include the trips to Cambodia by Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong (February 25 – 26, 2019) and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan (January 2019). Meanwhile, Vietnam also welcomed Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni (December 19 – 21, 2018), PM Hun Sen (December 6 – 8, 2018), and National Assembly Chairman Heng Samrin (May 28 – 30, 2019).

The two PMs have also frequently met each other at multilateral forums.

Under security – defence cooperation plans, Vietnam and Cambodia have held annual defence policy dialogues; regularly exchanged high-ranking defence delegations between their military regions, services and units; and coordinated well in the search for and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers in Cambodia. They have also organised border friendship exchanges and joint patrols at sea.

Besides, security cooperation has been enhanced with stronger ties in fighting crimes and keeping stability, security and order in border areas.

The two countries have also worked closely together at international and regional forums, including the Cambodia – Laos – Vietnam (CLV) Development Triangle, the Cambodia – Laos – Myanmar – Vietnam (CLMV) cooperation, the Ayeyawady – Chao Phraya – Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia – Europe Meeting (ASEM), and the United Nations, thus helping to improve each country’s prestige and stature in the region and the world.

Over the past years, bilateral trade has been on the rise, surpassing 4.7 billion USD in 2018 (up 24 percent year on year) and 3 billion USD in the first eight months of 2019.

Vietnam is among the five largest foreign investors in Cambodia with more than 200 projects worth over 3 billion USD, mainly in rubber plantation, telecom, finance, banking and energy.

The two sides inked a double taxation avoidance agreement, another on promoting bilateral economic and trade ties for 2019-2020, a strategy for transport cooperation with a vision to 2030, and a deal revising the road and waterway transport agreements.

Additionally, Vietnam has provided hundreds of scholarships in different fields for Cambodia each year. The two sides have also worked together to create conditions for Cambodian people to receive health examination and treatment in Vietnam with medical fees similar to locals’.

About 800,000 Vietnamese people visited Cambodia in 2017, and this figure reached 835,000 in 2018, making Vietnam the second biggest source of foreign tourists of the country.

Building peaceful border of long-lasting stability

Vietnam and Cambodia share about 1,245km of land border. For the last nearly 50 years, they have organised many rounds of talks and signed a number of legal documents to recognise the achievements in the settlement of border issues, thereby helping to build a peaceful border of long-lasting stability, strengthen solidarity and friendship, and facilitate border residents’ lives.

By December 2018, they had built 315 of the 371 main border markers. As of September 2019, they had completed field border demarcation and compiled records on 1,045km of borderline.

So far, about 84 percent of the border demarcation and border marker planting workload has been completed.

The official visit by PM Hun Sen takes place amidst the countries’ flourishing relations. It will help reiterate Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance and diversification and multilateralisation of foreign relations, with high priority given to the sound neighbourliness, traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Cambodia. The trip is also set to help reinforce connections in economy, trade, investment and border issues./.

Hai Duong launches gov’t service platform, portal

At the launch ceremony

The northern province of Hai Duong recently launched its Local Government Service Platform (LGSP) and public services portal.

The LGSP is hoped to enhance connectivity and data sharing between departments, agencies and district and communal people’s committees in the province, creating a connection among the agencies in performing their tasks.

The province’s LGSP has been successfully connected to the National Government Service Platform (NGSP) of the Ministry of Information and Communications. It has also linked the province’s public services portal with the national information system on business registration, helping local firms track progress of their registration on the portal.

The portal will also help local people register public services and receive results online, thereby increasing transparency in handling administrative procedures. To date, up to 1,840 administrative procedures have been accessible via the portal.

As of September 27, it had received more than 174,500 documents and handled about 166,380 of them, with the rate of documents settled on time reaching 94.6 percent.

Director of the provincial Department of Information and Communications Nguyen Cao Thang said the operation of the LGSP is set to boost local administrative reform and improve business climate, thus raising the Provincial Competitiveness Index and the Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) Index of Hai Duong.

The department will closely work with relevant agencies in the coming time to bolster connection with database of the country and other sectors, as well as upgrade functions of the provincial LGSP and portal.

This year, Hai Duong ranked 19th out of 63 localities in the ICT Index, up seven places compared to 2018./. 

Việt Nam, Australia to promote women’s empowerment in the foreign service

Experts discuss a number of issues at the forum. — Photo Courtesy of the Australian Embassy

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) on Thursday committed to further strengthening cooperation in enhancing the understanding of gender norms and behaviours for male and female officers in foreign services.

The announcement was made at the Forum on Women’s Empowerment in the Foreign Service in the Digital Age in Hà Nội.

During the forum, participants examined strategies to help women develop leadership skills set in diplomacy, and promote women’s meaningful participation and voice in all decision-making and management as a means of achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth.

They looked at the issues facing women diplomats in both countries and reviewed where efforts to empower women have worked and the challenges that lie ahead.

Those taking part also exchanged views on how to harness opportunities and respond to the challenges associated with digitalisation for women in the foreign service, sharing experiences on how to provide women with the skills sets needed to thrive in the digital era in the 21st century.

MOFA and DFAT committed to continue building stronger networks and strengthening ties between female diplomats. Both sides look forward to further promoting women’s empowerment in the Foreign Service, deepening bilateral ties and to closer cooperation in multilateral fora on gender equality and other issues of common concern, especially when
Việt Nam takes on the role of ASEAN Chairmanship 2020.

The forum took place amid an era of accelerated realisation of gender equality and women’s empowerment, as part of the on-going global efforts to fight inequalities and not leave anyone behind.

The year of 2020 marks the 75th year of the Charter of the United Nations, the first international agreement to affirm the principle of equality between women and men and the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a historic roadmap for the empowerment of women and girls.

As part of this global movement, the forum provided a platform for both sides and partners to share experiences in achieving gender equality, tackle prevailing gender bias, identify the policies needed and set priorities for actions to promote women’s empowerment in the foreign service in the digital age.

Participants agreed that expanding women’s empowerment and embedding gender equality were critical to the success of, and economic growth in, both countries.

They assessed the impacts of digital economy as well as the new requirements of digital diplomacy.

The forum commended the two sides for their efforts and achievements in bridging the gender gap and promoting women’s empowerment over the years.

On 12 June 2019, Phạm Bình Minh, Deputy Prime Minister of Việt Nam, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Hon Marise Payne, Senator of Australia, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, signed the Memorandum of Understanding on the empowerment of women in the foreign service for comprehensive and extensive international integration in the digital age, thus strengthening cooperation between the two Ministries and contributing to deepened Strategic Partnership between Việt Nam and Australia. 

HCMC focuses on resolving civil matters

Secretary of HCMC Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan (R) shakes hands with delegates at the meeting (Photo: SGGP)

Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan emphasized on solving civil matters in the city while chairing the 32nd meeting of the 10th-tenure municipal Party Committee yesterday.

He requested to termination of long delayed projects, stagnant projects including new zoological and botanical garden and northwest urban area project in Cu Chi District.

To projects temporarily delayed because of inspection including Thu Thiem urban area, Mr. Nhan asked to check and resolve difficulties for enterprises to go on.

Regarding to the year’s historic high tide and flooding and air pollution in the city, the Party Chief asked the city People’s Committee, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Department of Health to give information of long-term anti-flooding solutions and air pollution.

When it comes to specific solutions, he required a determined implementation of administrative reforms in connection with the smart city building as well as focus on carrying out the National Assembly’s Resolution 54.

Ho Chi Minh City will insist on the government’s approval of an additional industrial park and the city’s suggestion on land reclamation, site clearance and compensation to ensure city dwellers’ rights.

Last but not least, Mr. Nhan stressed the conference highlight is solutions for socio-economic matters in the last months of the year to finish its goal. The result will pave the way for the 11th-tenure municipal Party Committee meeting.

Regarding the city’s socio-economic development in first nine months of the year, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Tran Vinh Tuyen reported that the city’s economic growth in the first nine months of 2019 reached 7.81 percent (whereas it was 7.89 percent last year).

In nine months, the State budget revenue topped VND287 trillion, fulfilling nearly 72 percent of the yearly projection. The total retail sales of goods and services rose 11.9 percent over the same period last year.

However, the city is also facing some challenges such as low growth of commerce, tourism, realty, education and training plus low disbursement in public investment ( just at 36 percent).

HCM City pledges favourable conditions for British investors

Ho Chi Minh City promises to create favourable conditions for foreign enterprises, including those from the UK, to make long-term investment in the city, a municipal official said on October 3.

While receiving Conor Burns, MP, Minister of State at the UK’s Department for International Trade, Vice Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem rejoiced at the positive development of relations between the city and the UK, and acknowledged the performance of British investors in the southern largest economic hub.

HCM City will host a roundtable next month in order to create conditions for British firms to directly discuss with local leaders, thus removing difficulties hindering their investment and business operations in Vietnam, he said.

Liem thanked the UK for its support in implementing the smart urban building project, and pledged to facilitate the implementation of the project’s components.

HCM City stands ready to promote educational cooperation with the UK, he said, highlighting coordination between the two sides in organsing an exhibition on educational equipment and technologies in the city in early 2020.

For his part, Burns affirmed the British Government’s resolve to enhance trade ties with Vietnam in general and its localities in particular, including HCM City, helping to deepen the relationship between the two countries.

British investors highly valued HCM City’s development potential, the official stressed, expressing his impression for the city’s dynamic development.

According to Burns, HCM City and the UK still boast a lot of cooperation potential in the spheres of finance, banking, renewable and clean energy. Besides, British enterprises hope to boost collaboration with HCM City in people-to-people exchange, education and smart urban building.

The UK is now HCM City’s biggest trade partner with two-way trade reaching 761 million USD in 2018. The UK ranks 11th among 106 countries and territories investing in the city, with 147 projects worth over 600 million USD.

HCM City and the British Consulate General are joining hands in a project to develop a smart ticket system for the city’s public transport network./.

Hanoi looks to boost educational cooperation with UK

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung (R) and Trade Envoy of the British Prime Minister Edward Vaizey

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung has highly evaluated the UK’s education and training environment and hoped to expand cooperation with the European country in the field.

In his working session with a delegation from British education establishments led by Trade Envoy of the British Prime Minister Edward Vaizey in Hanoi on October 3, Chung said the city is planning to make foreign languages, mainly English language, and Informatics, compulsory subjects at all schools.

However, Hanoi is facing difficulties due to low English proficiency of many teachers, Chung said, expressing his hope that the city will be supported by the UK to build a standard foreign language training programme for teachers.

This will be a foundation for the city to successfully realise its foreign language universalisation programme, thus targeting further goals such as becoming a smart city or a startup and creative city in the context of increasing international integration, he said.

For his part, Vaizey showed his good impression for Hanoi’s development, saying that the UK has been interested in cooperation, research and investment in education and training with countries around the world, including Vietnam.

He hoped that the UK would have more opportunities to connect and set up education-training partnership with Hanoi in the near future.

As one of the countries with the oldest education in the world, the UK can share its experience with Vietnam in general and Hanoi in particular, in operating international standard schools as an inevitable development trend of the globe, he said./.

Vietnam, Australia cooperate in empowering women in foreign service

Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade co-organised a forum in Hanoi on October 3 to promote women’s empowerment in the foreign service in the digital age.

This is the first activity of the two sides to implement a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on June 12, 2019, on increasing the role and contributions of women in the foreign service to serve deep-and-wide international integration in the digital era.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie said the forum created an excellent opportunity for the two countries to enhance cooperation and strengthen friendship between diplomats.

He shared Australia’s women leadership strategy 2015 and practical policies of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to support female diplomats to assume managerial roles.

Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son underlined the importance of the forum, especially when gender equality is a top priority of the global agenda and a main driving force for sustainable and inclusive growth.

He said over the past 75 years, Vietnamese female diplomats have made remarkable contributions to the cause of national independence and unification as well as comprehensive reform.

They are an indispensible force in implementing diplomatic tasks for peace, stability, development and international integration, he added.

This forum not only helped embrace links between Vietnamese and Australian female diplomats but also contribute to global efforts to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment as well as further deepen the relations between the two foreign ministries and the strategic partnership between the two countries, he said.

During the forum, participants shared experience in implementing policies on promoting gender equality and increasing the role and contributions of women in the field.

The two foreign ministries adopted a joint statement on bilateral cooperation in empowering women in the foreign service in the digital age.

A training course on gender standards at the workplace will be held on October 4 for Vietnamese young diplomats as part of the forum./.

Lao PM visits Eastern gateway city of East-West Economic Corridor

Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee Vo Cong Tri (left) welcomes Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith to the central city of Da Nang on October 2, 2019. Photo: VGP

Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith visited the central city of Da Nang on Wednesday as part of his ongoing three-day official visit to Viet Nam.

He was welcomed by Deputy Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee Vo Cong Tri who briefed the guest about recent socio-economic achievements and future development orientations of the city.

Tri said the city has actively signed a number of cooperation programs with Lao partners, including the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with five Lao localities, namely Attapeu, Sekong, Salavan, Champasak and Savannakhet.

Under the MoU, Da Nang has offered assistance for Laos in such fields like education, agriculture, school building, urban planning, Tri added.

Regarding education, nearly 750 Lao students have come to study in Da Nang since 2002. In the 2018-2019 academic year, the city provided 86 scholarships to students from Savannakhet, Attapeu, Salavane and Champasak provinces.

On economic cooperation, Da Nang sent a number of business delegations to attend trade, investment and tourism events with an aim to boost cooperation among localities of 4 countries in the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC).

Dang Nang is the biggest city and the economic nucleus in central Viet Nam. It is also the Eastern gateway of the EWEC spanning from Myanmar, Thailand, Laos to Viet Nam.

With international airport and seaport, transport connectivity between the Northern region of Thailand and Laos helps facilitate trade exchanges between the two countries and the rest of the world as the EWEC is the shortest way connecting Indian and Pacific Oceans.