According to British researcher of Vietnamese politics and history Kyril Whittaker, Vietnamese culture is extraordinarily rich and diverse, likewise the Vietnamese people are extraordinarily creative and diverse.

The British researcher, who is a member of the Communist Party of Britain, said in the UK he has a poster with a quotation from Uncle Ho which he believes describes the variety of culture and people of Vietnam in an apt fashion: “Every person is a beautiful flower; Vietnam is a beautiful flower forest.”

He believed this shows the uniqueness of Vietnam, in that its culture is rich and diverse like a large flower forest, each unique flower contributing to the beauty of the garden.

According to him, Vietnam, first of all, is filled with a rich culture inherited from its history. This can be seen evident in its artistic and architectural designs in historic cities like Hue and Hanoi with their ancient temples, including the historic Temple of Literature and the One Pillar Pagoda, filled with history which is renowned and preserved beautifully for everyone to see and learn from.

Vietnam is also filled with a culture of industriousness and creativity, which can be seen through the existence of craft villages in many places across Vietnam. Crafted vases, colourful plates, bowls, ornamental pieces and other craft items seen in restaurants and in stores across the country, made by hard working family businesses with care, craft and attention, many of which have been carrying on their craft for generations, are a good example to other countries of how to preserve history and culture in a harmonious way, he said.

There are also many modern artistic movements which highlight the rich culture of Vietnam by building on previous artistic styles, such as the ‘Hoa Kim Sa’ movement in which enamel painting and metalwork are fused paying tribute to the traditional ‘Phap Lam’ artistic style in Hue’s mausoleums. Vietnam also has a thriving fashion and textiles scene, as well as world famous cuisine and a variety of cultural heritage sites.

Because of Vietnam’s deep history and its vibrant creativity, it is also a highly modern and ever-changing culture. Recently newer landmarks have become popular tourist attractions on social media such as the Golden bridge. The researcher said day to day culture in Vietnam is his favourite aspect, pointing out that history and creativity is paired alongside delicious street food, amazing coffee shops, fun family parties with karaoke and traditional forms of music, or floating markets and water culture festivals in the southwestern region.

Whittaker said after he lived in Vietnam for over a year and made many friends, particularly in Can Tho and Ca Mau and Hanoi, Vietnam has a deep place in his heart largely due to its unique culture and its amazing people. He has come to regard the country as his second home, saying Vietnamese people have always shown him a kindness and joy that he can never forget. To summarise the people of Vietnam in a few words, he would say: friendly, fun, industrious, creative, knowledgeable and culturally rich.

Speaking about the guidelines for cultural development set in the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, the researcher said cultural development is inseparable from the development of the country. In this regard, the guidelines set in the Resolution show a definitive goal for furthering the development of Vietnamese culture and preserving its richness. The 13th National Congress document discussed goals oriented towards improvement in economic growth, the reduction of poverty (which has decreased immensely), provision of healthcare and to continue to widely promote socialist democracy among many other things.

According to him, a happy and healthy society is the primary pre-condition for a rich culture and a happy people, and the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress carries on a long tradition of ensuring that this is the case in Vietnam. Vietnamese culture also takes in large part from the teachings of Uncle Ho, and this is evident not only more generally in Vietnamese society, but also reflected in the Resolution of the 13th Congress and congresses before. A major part of this is his teachings promoting thrift, uprightness and industriousness, and to shun wastefulness. This can be seen in effect throughout the Resolution in combatting corruption, putting the people as the base for all decisions, and maintaining the traditional spirit of solidarity that Vietnamese people are renowned for. The resolution states: “To tap into the virtues of the Vietnamese culture and its people, the spirit of solidarity and national pride in the cause for national construction and defence.”

Culture then is a driving force of the Vietnamese nation in that it represents a unique and treasured aspect of society which not only demonstrates to the world the uniqueness of Vietnamese arts, but also, its rich cultural tapestry. It is a driving force therefore in foreign policy, in economics, in day-to-day life. This can be seen reflected in Vietnam’s environmental policies with the 13th Congress declaring: “To proactively and effectively respond to climate change, mitigate natural disasters, prevent and fight against disease outbreaks… to resolutely eliminate projects which cause environmental pollution in order to safeguard the quality of the living environment and protect biodiversity and ecosystems; to build a circular green economy.”

Whilst at first glance this does not seem to directly impact culture, we can upon further examination see it most definitely does. Because of policies like this, changes have undergone in the culture of bustling cities like Hanoi with its metro serving the population with cheap, effective, safe and green public transport, as well as the conversion of buses to green technology. With environmental regulations like these, there are walking streets in Ho Chi Minh City, which allow for the reduction of pollution in some of the most historic and traditionally congested areas of the city, serving to preserve architecture for longer and allowing new daily routines for the city’s population, as a result new places for cultural expression are open. In rural areas it means the protection of habitats for farmers, fishermen and gardeners whose unique culture could be threatened if environmental protections were lax allowing for coastal erosion, plunging their villages into the sea, and pollution destroying the rich green heritage Vietnam’s countryside is famous for worldwide.

He believed this is another unique aspect of Vietnamese culture, in that it perceives the people at the heart. Cultural development therefore is inseparable from the development and wellbeing of the people, culture is not separate from the people. This is seen reflected further on in the resolution where it states when discussing culture: “…to develop a prosperous and happy country; to consider the talents, intelligence and qualities of Vietnamese people as the most important development goal and driving force of the country.”

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in his speech at the National Cultural Conference discussed this link in further detail, noting that culture is often seen through the lens of “entertainment”. However it is rich with depth and substance. The Party chief also discussed the need to preserve cultural sites, give more consideration to the access to culture across the country and improving the access of Vietnamese culture abroad.

According to Whittaker, in the few years since the 13th Congress and Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s speech, many of these things have been implemented.

Discussing the role of Vietnamese culture in the course of national construction and international integration, he stressed that in recent years Vietnam’s cuisine, music and crafts have made headlines around the world and become familiar sights in people’s day to day lives outside of Vietnam. Following on from Doi Moi and the easing of restrictions, Vietnam has flourished in showing its unique culture to the world. With the goals of the 13th Congress and continued work by the party and people, Vietnam is becoming increasingly able to show the world its rich history, politic, arts and cuisine.

The researcher said through its growing ability to show the world its unique culture, Vietnam has also been able to increase national construction in multiple ways. First, as cultural diplomacy increases so does the knowledge in other countries of its unique cultural products and innovations, this leads to economic growth. Second, through cultural diplomacy, Vietnam has been able to increasingly show the world its rich history, its people and its day-to-day life, these have enabled more people to see Vietnam in a more honest light. Many people in the past had misinterpretations about Vietnam, and many still do, however cultural diplomacy acts as a way to show Vietnam and make more international friends as a result. Cultural diplomacy also leads Vietnam to be at the forefront in contributing to organisations preserving cultural heritage around the world, particularly in Southeast Asia.

Whittaker also viewed Vietnam’s policy of “Bamboo Diplomacy” as a unique cultural aspect to the country. Bamboo diplomacy, based upon the principle of strong roots, strong stems and flexible branches, shows the Vietnamese commitment to the hand of friendship, trade and cooperation to all, whilst maintaining its own identity, preserving its national independence and adhering to the principles of the defence policy “four no’s”.

The researcher pointed out culture has the people as the roots, and it is seen as such in Vietnam, an essential aspect of the culture which is formulated chiefly from Marxist-Leninist principles and Ho Chi Minh Thought. Because of this, culture is developed with a people-centred attitude, not for profit, but for simultaneously development in the creation of new culture, and at the same time preservation of rich historical cultural traditions. This way culture is both vibrant and respectful, it is modern and equipped with means of conveyance never before seen using innovative technologies, and yet traditional encompassing the rich history of the country, he said, citing as an example the night tour which 3D mapped the Temple of Literature and projected onto it a dazzling show of educational and historical aspects of Vietnamese culture to do with the temple and Vietnamese history.

He believed Vietnamese culture has much to offer the world, saying many are starting to eat Vietnamese dishes and listen to Vietnamese music, admire Vietnamese art, and buy Vietnamese products. He hoped to have more access to Vietnamese culture abroad, believing it is the periodicals, magazines and newspapers which best convey Vietnam’s rich culture.

Australian Ambassador optimistic about cooperation potential with Vietnam

On the opening days of 2024, Vietnam News Agency conducted an interview with Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski on the opportunities and potential to advance bilateral cooperation in fields of the countries’ respective strengths.

Ambassador Goledzinowski also shared his views on Vietnam’s diplomatic achievements over the past year, saying that 2023 was a “big year” for the country.

“It’s been particularly because the 50th anniversary, there has been a huge number of visitors to Vietnam, which also reflects the importance of Vietnam. Vietnam is emerging as one of the most important countries in Asia and in the world,” he noted.

The Ambassador cited visits by high-ranking Australian officials to Vietnam last year, including the Governor-General, Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Trade Minister, and Defence Minister.

“We also know that Vietnam elevated its bilateral relationship with some very important countries, Korea, Japan and the United States, which I think was an important statement of Vietnam’s perspective on the world,” said the Ambassador.

He went to mention the visit by Chinese President to Vietnam, saying that China will always be an important country for Vietnam due to economic, cultural, historical, and geographical reasons.

He spoke highly of Vietnam’s foreign policy of diversifying its relationships and building resilience in the national interest. The Ambassador also expressed optimism about the prospects for Vietnam-Australia diplomatic ties to be elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2024.

According to Ambassador Goledzinowski, one year after the two countries forged bilateral relations in 1973, the first Vietnamese students came to Australia on scholarships, and Australia became one of the earliest investors in Vietnam.

“We built the first bridges over the Mekong, the first university was RMIT, the first law firm, the first bank, the first ATMs, the first telecommunications links were put in place by Australian companies. So that was really good. We’re looking forward to strengthening our investment profile here even more,” the Ambassador said.

He also revealed that the Embassy will recruit five new staff members in Ho Chi Minh City and two new staff members in Hanoi with the specific aim of increasing Australian investment in Vietnam.

“That’s new and it’s very important. And there are a few areas where we particularly want to focus,” he continued.

“I’m speaking with the Education Minister about making some adjustments to ensure that Vietnam is an attractive place for education investment. Because I would like to see more Australian universities come to Vietnam to establish themselves,” the Ambassador added.

Ambassador Goledzinowski told VNA about two more potential fields of cooperation - mining and telecommunications.

The Australian side has been working with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to share its knowledge and support Vietnam in reviewing its mining law, as mining is a major industry in Australia and boasts “incredible potential for wealth to be created” in Vietnam. Australia also expects to help Vietnam in building “trusted cables that connect Vietnam to the world,” he said.

Another pillar of cooperation in bilateral ties he mentioned was “green energy transition”, a field that has been increasingly intensified between Australia and Vietnam in recent times.

“When my Prime Minister was here in Vietnam in June, he announced a new partnership worth 105 million AUD, which we’re calling ‘Aus for growth’. But it will largely be around the green energy transition to assist in Vietnam’s efforts to make sure that your supply chains green, because that’s what will be necessary to trade in the future economy,” said Ambassador Goledzinowski.

He also cited the Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s trip to Vietnam in August, where she announced 95 million AUD for climate change adaptation and particularly for the Mekong Delta region.

“I was down there a week or two ago and the Mekong faces very particular challenges. And so we hope that that project will help to ease the transition to sustainable economic models in the Mekong area,” the Ambassador said.

According to him, Australian companies are interested in working with Vietnam in this field. Specifically, he mentioned one Australian company that is “very keen to build offshore wind farms” because “Vietnam is very prospective for offshore wind in particular.”

“There’s a lot that’s going on, and Australia will be playing a small but we hope an important role in Vietnam transition,” the Ambassador affirmed.

VSS extends insurance coverage ahead of Tet

The Vietnam Social Security (VSS) has presented social insurance books and health insurance cards to those in difficult circumstances ahead of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival, with an aim to expand the coverage of social welfare.

This annual endeavour, conducted at both central and local levels, aligns with the goal of providing all people with social and health insurance set forth in resolutions 20-NQ/TW and 28-NQ/TW of the Party Central Committee.

Besides, the agency will also deliver gifts to poor patients with health insurance who receive treatment in hospitals during the Tet holiday. 

To fund this initiative, the VSS has so far raised over 22 billion VND (916,000 USD) in both cash and in-kind contributions from businesses and philanthropists nationwide.

Last year, it handed over 267,000 social insurance books and health insurance cards, with a total value of 79.4 billion VND. The entire sector granted 3,881 gifts worth over 2.3 billion VND to patients with health insurance who were under treatment at central, provincial, and district-level hospitals.

Vietnam – Bangladesh friendship to brings practical benefits: Bangladeshi PM

The Vietnam - Bangladesh friendship, which went through many ups and downs of the history, will continue to be strengthened, bringing many practical benefits to both countries' people, said Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina.

PM Hasina made the statement during a meeting on January 9 with Vietnamese Ambassdor to Bangladesh Nguyen Manh Cuong, who came to cogratulate her over the success of the 12th General Election, and the victory of the Awami League (AL) party led by PM Sheikh Hasina.

Ambassdor Cuong expressed his belief that under the leadership of PM Hasina, the Government of Bangladesh will continue to obtain many great achievements in socio-economic development, ensuring a prosperous and happy life for the people.

The diplomat highlighted that the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries have been developed fruitffuly, especially in economics and trade.

He hoped that PM Hasina will support and create favourable conditions for opening a direct air route between the two countries, thus creating new motivations for the bilateral cooperative relations, and contributing to expanding trade and tourism connection and people-to-people exchange in the coming time.

Ambassador highlights Vietnam-India cooperation prospects

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang’s ongoing visit to India and his attendance at the 10th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit from January 9-12 hold significance to bilateral ties, underscoring Vietnam’s policy of treasuring its ties with India, supporting initiatives and forums led by India that match interests of both nations and the global community, said Vietnamese Ambassador to India Nguyen Thanh Hai.

During an interview recently granted to the Vietnam News Agency in New Delhi, Ambassador Hai said the visit aims to enhance interactions with leaders the Indian business community, and promote opportunities for trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and Gujarat state specifically, and between Vietnam and India as a whole.

The summit, initiated by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his tenure as Governor of Gujarat state, has been held biennially since 2003 to create a business networking forum, facilitate knowledge sharing, and establish cooperative relationships for inclusive growth and sustainable development.

According to the Ambassador, Deputy PM Quang is the first high-ranking Vietnamese leader to attend the event, marking the first high-level exchange between the two nations this year. This presents an opportunity for the Deputy PM to engage with leaders of India and Gujarat on measures and strategies to further boost ties between Vietnam and India, and between their localities, with the goal of achieving a two-way trade volume of 20 billion USD in the coming time.

The diplomat revealed that the Vietnamese leader will deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony, address the Vietnam business forum and hold working sessions with leading Indian firms such as Adani, Zydus, SMS Phamaceutical, UNO Minda.

He is also scheduled to meet with heads of delegations from various participating countries. Members of the Vietnamese delegation will actively join discussions on various topics at the summit.

During these meetings and working sessions, the Deputy PM will introduce Vietnam's socio-economic development policies, emphasising incentives for investment, trade and tourism. He will also highlight the potential of cooperation between Vietnam and India, and with Gujarat specifically; and share Vietnam’s policy-making experiences concerning the fourth industrial revolution, technology and innovation, and sustainable development, Hai said.

To further bolster bilateral economic and trade ties, he suggested enhancing more meetings between leaders and actively realising signed agreements, including those reached at the 18th meeting of the Vietnam-India Joint Commission in October 2023, and the framework agreement on agricultural cooperation.

Additionally, Vietnam and India should create favourable conditions for their goods to penetrate each other's markets, he said, adding that Vietnam should encourage Indian enterprises to invest in fields of its strength such as information technology, infrastructure, seaports, renewable energy, processing industry, high-tech agriculture, and pharmaceuticals.

Another key measure is to increase the frequency of direct flights between the two countries, thereby promoting tourism and people-to-people exchange, ultimately establishing a solid foundation for bilateral relations, he concluded.

PM asks railway sector to modernise

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh required that the railway industry optimise existing assets, finance and human resources to modernise its operation, contributing to developing transport and realising the strategic breakthrough of transport infrastructure set in the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress.

Addressing a conference to launch production and business plans and tasks in 2024 of the Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR) on January 9, the PM underlined the crucial role played by the railway sector in developing the national transport infrastructure.

He applauded efforts made by the sector to overcome difficulties and obstacles to gain remarkable achievements in 2023, which is the first year after the COVID-19 pandemic the sector has posted profit. 

He, however, pointed to problems that the sector should address, including cumbersome apparatus, low level of mechanisation and information technology application, outdated infrastructure, and limited budget investment in railway infrastructure development. 

The PM required the sector to apply modern administration methods suitable to the country's circumstances and its functions and task; restructure the apparatus for more effective use of existing assets and financial and human resources; promote digital transformation and green transition; and shift to circular and sharing economy, and knowledge economy.  

The VNR should serve as an important actor in implementing the National Railway Transport Development Strategy to provide a safe and convenient form of transportation for people and businesses, he said, adding that the corporation must urgently complete a plan on its restructuring to 2025 to submit to the PM for signing and issuance.

PM Chinh asked relevant ministries, sectors and localities to closely coordinate with the sector to effectively implement approved policies, resolutions, projects and railway development plans.

The same day, PM Chinh made an inspection trip to the Hanoi Railway Station, and the Hanoi-Da Nang high-quality train (SE19).

The VNR manages a railway system with a total length of 3,143 km, with five main routes, including two international inter-modal routes connecting with Chinese railway.

The sector transported 4.6 million tonnes of goods and 6.1 million passengers in 2023. Its total revenue from production and business activities topped 8.5 trillion VND (nearly 349 million USD), equal to 101.7% of the year plan. The firm’s after-tax profit in the year hit 94.8 billion VND.

ICAV Chairwoman: Culture serves as bridge among nations

Culture always serves as a bridge between nations, fostering closer connection among them, Chairwoman of the Argentina-Vietnam Culture Institute (ICAV) Poldi Sosa Schmidt told Vietnam News Agency in a recent interview in Buenos Aires.

Known as a great friend of the Vietnamese people, Poldi Sosa has dedicated 27 years since the establishment of ICAV to passionately introduce and popularise Vietnam's history, culture, and people to the Argentinean people.

In 1967, Poldi Sosa went to work in the UK where she first learned more about the war in Vietnam. Later, she actively joined movements protesting the war in Vietnam, alongside young people and students in the UK and France. Despite spending many years in Europe, Chile, Cuba, and eventually returning to her homeland in Argentina, she always keeps the impression of the indomitable spirit of the Vietnamese people's struggle against foreign invaders.

Visiting Vietnam for the first time in 1997, she was invited by the Vietnam Women's Union to attend its eighth Congress to honour her contributions to the solidarity movement with Vietnam and Vietnamese women in particular.

Upon her return from Vietnam, she established the ICAV on December 18, 1997, with 25 members who shared a deep affection for the Southeast Asian country. The mission of ICAV is to introduce the Argentinean culture to Vietnam and vice versa.

Having made nearly 30 trips to Vietnam with Argentine friends at the invitation of Vietnamese leaders and mass organisations, she expressed delight at witnessing firsthand the rapid and miraculous transformation in Vietnam over the past three decades under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

While highlighting the significance of disseminating Vietnam's images, people, and culture, Poldi Sosa affirmed that alongside political, economic and trade diplomacy, cultural and people-to-people diplomacy play a crucial role in strengthening solidarity and friendship among nations.

She was awarded the Friendship Order by the Vietnamese State during an official visit to Argentina in April 2023 by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

According to the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations, ICAV arranged visits to Vietnam for 21 delegations comprising parliamentarians, doctors, lawyers, and university professors and social activists from Argentina during 1997-2019 to gain insights into its history, culture, and socioeconomic development.

Bulgarian NA Speaker wraps up official visit to Vietnam

Speaker of the National Assembly of Bulgaria Rosen Dimitrov Jeliazkov and his entourage left Hanoi on January 9 afternoon, concluding their five-day official trip to Vietnam at the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

This was the first visit by a Bulgarian NA Speaker in over a decade, and was billed as a reciprocal visit following the official Bulgaria visit by the Vietnamese top legislator in September 2023.

Jeliazkov's visit was to cultivate sound political relations between the two countries via Party, State, parliament, Government and people-to-people exchange channels. It offered a good opportunity for the two sides to discuss regional and international issues of mutual concerns, bolster bilateral relations and cooperation in a practical and effective fashion, especially in the areas of their strength.

Bulgaria sees Vietnam as an important partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), while Vietnam views the visiting delegation as an important link to a strategic Eastern European partner.

During his stay, Jeliazkov had extensive meetings with a host of Vietnamese leaders.

Leaders of the two countries commented the positive development progress in the bilateral cooperation across various areas, and agreed to continue enhancing visits and contact at all levels via all channels as well as effectively roll out bilateral cooperation mechanisms and agreements.

Amidst the economic downturn across the globe, two-way trade revenue topped 200 million USD. Both sides eyed 500 million USD a year in the bilateral trade exchange by promoting trade and investment cooperation, particularly in the fields of their strengths such as hi-tech agriculture, pharmaceuticals, IT, tourism, culture, aviation, among others.

Vietnam called on Bulgaria to influence the European Commission’s consideration of removing the “yellow card” warning against Vietnamese seafood. Additionally, the country appreciated the Bulgarian NA’s ratification of the EU – Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), which will help Bulgarian enterprises access the Vietnamese market as well as reach the ASEAN market. The group asked the Bulgarian side to accelerate the ratification by the remaining member parliaments of the EU so that the EVIPA could take effect at the early date.

The two legislators concurred that both sides should continue formalising the new Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the two parliaments signed in September 2023 in a swift, active and effective manner, and in line with the spirit that parliamentary cooperation forms an important pillar of the two countries’ relations.

Besides, cooperation between the two parliamentary friendship groups will help the Vietnamese and Bulgarian NAs work together to supervise the implementation of their plans and agreements right from 2024.

The two sides said they will also maintain high-level mutual visits between NA leaders, agencies, and parliamentary friendship groups. They also plan to increase sharing information and experience in parliamentary activities, coordinate cooperation agreements between the two Governments, and maintain mutual support at multilateral parliamentary forums as well as in regional and international issues of shared concern.

Regarding international and regional issues of mutual interest, the two sides welcomed the support that they have given to each other at international forums and organisations such as the United Nations, International Parliamentary Union and Asia-Europe Meeting.

They expressed their belief that the Vietnam – Bulgaria traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation will be unceasingly consolidated and developed in the time ahead, towards the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of the bilateral relations (February 8, 1950-2025).

Deputy defence minister calls for promoting Vietnamese army's image on int'l stage

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien has called for stepping up external news service to showcase the activities and image of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) on the international stage this year.

During a hybrid conference in Hanoi on January 9, convened to evaluate the Defence Ministry’s 2023 global integration and defence external activities, Deputy Minister Chien asked agencies and units to point out shortcomings and their root causes, draw lessons from experiences and demonstrate a strong determination to fix them.

They were assigned to build a qualified contingent of personnel responsible for defence external affairs that meet requirements in the new context. Additionally, they were instructed to continue following foreign affair guidelines outlined in the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, along with other relevant resolutions, conclusions and directives of the Politburo, the Central Military Commission and the ministry. They were also requested to actively monitor global and regional developments to offer strategic counselling, and effectively fine-tune legal regulations around the efforts.

He also urged a proactive launch of major foreign affair activities this year, with a focus on a series of events to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory, the 80th founding anniversary of the VPA, the 35th anniversary of the All-People’s National Defence Day and the second Vietnam International Defence Expo.

Deputy Director of the VPA’s General Department of Politics Sen. Lieut. Gen Trinh Van Quyet reported that numerous notable achievements were attained in global integration and defence external affairs in the past year. Major global and regional events, both bilateral and multilateral, were successfully held, contributing to reaffirming the VPA’s responsibility, quality, mettle and human resources.

He credited this success to the collective efforts of all agencies and units throughout the entire army that fully adhered to the general foreign affair guidelines outlined in the resolutions of the 13th National Party Congress and the 11th Congress of the VPA’s Party Organisation.

Delegates at the conference concurred that the Central Military Commission and the Defence Ministry had effectively led and directed the implementation of global integration and defence external affairs in line with the Party and State's foreign policies and guidelines.

The comprehensive achievements on both bilateral and multilateral fronts have further solidified defence and external affairs as pillars in the Party State and people-to-people diplomacy, they said.

Indonesian President’s State visit to help deepen strategic partnership: diplomat

The state visit to Vietnam by Indonesian President Joko Widodo from January 11-13 will be an opportunity for the two countries to discuss measures to deepen their strategic partnership and tighten their traditional friendship nurtured over the past nearly 70 years, according to Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Ta Van Thong.

Talking to Vietnam News Agency reporters in Jakarta, Thong said that this will be the second state visit to Vietnam by the President, after the first in September 2018.

The diplomat said that during this visit, the two sides can exchange views on fields of shared concern such as promoting trade and investment, and cooperating in energy transition and development of green and digital economy, electric vehicle manufacturing, and hi-tech agriculture.

As the world situation is experiencing big developments in terms of geopolitics, security and economics, the two sides will have many issues to be discussed to boost cooperation and coordination at regional and international forums, said Thong.

Together with fine political relations, bilateral trade cooperation has enjoyed impressive growth in recent years, increasing from 8.2 billion USD in 2020 to 14.17 billion USD in 2022.

Last year, Indonesia became Vietnam’s third biggest export market, and second largest import market in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Regarding the target of 15 billion USD in two-way trade by 2028, the diplomat said that the goal is reachable.

To that end, the two countries are coordinating to soon organise their eighth economic and trade joint committee, he said, adding that the Vietnamese Government has issued a strategy to develop the Halal industry to boost exports to Muslim markets, including Indonesia.

As both Vietnam and Indonesia have made strong commitments to cutting carbon emissions, demonstrating their responsibility in contributing to the global effort to respond to climate change, they can cooperate closely in the fields of energy transition, carbon storage, development of renewable and green energies, and sustainable green economic development.

It is necessary to consider the signing of a new agricultural cooperation agreement to carry out specific collaboration projects to increase farmers' livelihoods, ensure food security and promote trade and economic development of each country, said Thong.

Regarding aquatic products and fisheries, the two sides can continue to promote recent exchanges on commodity groups such as lobster, tuna, and seaweed. The can also strengthen cooperation between businesses, associations and fishermen to develop fisheries in a sustainable way.

Tourism is also a promising field to promote collaboration between the two countries, he said. The resumption of direct flights after a period of disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the opening of new Ho Chi Minh City – Jakarta and Hanoi – Jakarta routes by the Vietnamese budget carrier, Vietjet, are favourable conditions for the two sides to cooperate in developing specific tourism products, connecting destinations, and creating new products in a green and sustainable direction, he assessed.

According to the diplomat, the traditional and trusted friendship is a solid foundation for the Vietnam-Indonesia strategic partnership to look toward the future, and become more substantive and effective in all fields, and the two countries still have huge potential to be tapped and a lot of advantages to supplement each other.

2023 marks success of Vietnamese-Hong Kong relations: Consul General

Vietnamese Consul General in Hong Kong (China) Pham Binh Dam emphasised achievements in relations between the two sides for 2023, in a recent interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency.

A highlight was Hong Kong’s relaxation of visa rules for Vietnam from October, which, the diplomat said, has facilitated the operation of Vietnamese businesses.

Delegation exchange activities, whose number rose to an unprecedented level, also demonstrated the success in bilateral relations, Dam continued, noting breakthroughs in cultural ties.

Through recent tourism events, Hong Kongers expressed their great impression of the culture, land, and traditions of Vietnam, he added.

For economic cooperation, he said, the Consulate General assisted seven delegations of Hong Kong to scope out investment opportunities in the Southeast Asian nation last year.

According to the diplomat, the participating businesses expressed their wish to open factories and invest in Vietnam.

Dam said the Consulate General will step up the exchange of delegations between ministries, agencies and localities, as well as high-level visits between Vietnam and Hong Kong this year.

The two sides are reciprocal in education, labour, investment, and finance-banking, and cooperation agreements in these fields are expected to be signed in the time ahead, he said.

About specific solutions to strengthen the bilateral ties in culture, education and economy, Dam suggested the two sides step up communications and delegation exchange, and support visa policy relaxation with cooperation in tourism.

Vietnam should diversify tourism promotion methods to attract Hong Kong holidaymakers, and seek cooperation with Hong Kong in education, he said, elaborating that apart from scholarships for students, the collaboration would be expanded to research and the exchange of lecturers.

The diplomat also laid an emphasis on the importance of the Vietnamese Association in Hong Kong to promoting the people and culture of Vietnam, and strengthening solidarity within the Vietnamese community there.

Bulgarian NA Speaker calls on young Vietnamese to seize chances to develop bilateral ties

Speaker of the Bulgarian National Assembly (NA) Rosen Dimitrov Jeliazkov on January 9 called on students of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU) and young people in general as future politicians, managers, and scientists to grasp the world’s opportunities to continue developing relations between the two countries.

He made the call while visiting and delivering a policy speech at the VNU, part of his official visit to Vietnam.

In his remarks, Jeliazkov noted that Bulgaria provided educational assistance for thousands of Vietnamese students during post-war years of reconstruction. More than 35,000 Vietnamese citizens have studied and worked in his country, he said, describing them as a bridge helping the two countries become closer.

Bulgaria was one of the first countries in the world to recognise Vietnam’s independence. In 2025, the two countries will celebrate the 75th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations, he noted, saying Bulgaria and Vietnam are important factors for ensuring stability in each region, maintaining constructive ties with neighbouring countries, and actively participating in different forms of regional cooperation.

In today’s world, Bulgaria and Vietnam are becoming closer to each other. The two are located in different continents but connected with each other in historical, physical, and digital terms. Both are jointly engaging in the climate change fight, ensuring supply chain sustainability, surmounting mixed threats, and developing technology and artificial intelligence.

They are promoting positive political dialogue at the highest level and expressing the shared wish to elevate bilateral ties, according to the visiting leader.

In recent years, Vietnam has sustained high and impressive economic growth in a region with highly dynamic development in Southeast Asia. Bulgaria has continued to strongly support the EU’s relations with such priority partners as Vietnam on the basis of their traditional friendship, practicality and trust, and Bulgaria's benefits from the EU membership, the ASEAN membership of Vietnam, and Vietnam’s growing role in Southeast Asia, Jeliazkov went on.

He held that with the signing of the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), new opportunities are being opened up for bilateral relations. These two deals set the EU and Vietnam’s ambitious trade targets based on common commitments to trade liberalisation and open, equal, and rules-based integration.

For many years, the two countries have struggled for many important national targets. Their young people nowadays have a big mission of building a better world, he remarked.

He expressed his belief that education, knowledge, and innovation will be the topics of future meetings between young Bulgarians and Vietnamese, forming the start of new friendships that help to tighten bilateral ties.

VNU Director Prof. Dr. Le Quan said the VNU is one of the leading universities in Vietnam. Comprised of many colleges, research institutes, and service supplying centres, it serves as a core institution in Vietnam’s educational system. The university has obtained a number of achievements in different areas and secured high positions in international university rankings.

The VNU and its member schools have established cooperative ties with more than 300 universities, research institutes, and educational organisations in the world, including those of Bulgaria, he continued, noting that many generations of VNU students have been learning in the European country.

Also on January 9, Speaker Jeliazkov visited the Vietnam - Bulgaria high-quality kindergarten in Hai Ba Trung district of Hanoi. The school was established in 1981 as a gift from the Bulgarian women’s union to Vietnamese children.

Hanoi’s general planning a locomotive for regional development: Minister

The general planning of Hanoi capital city for the 2021-2030 period with a vision to 2050 is expected to serve as a development locomotive for not only in the capital area but also the Red River Delta, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said at a conference held in Hanoi on January 9.

Although the general planning was made in a very short period of 12 months, it was carried out meticulously and in line with the legal regulation on planning work, he said, adding the capital city held consultation with 21 ministries and central agencies, 15 cities and provinces in the region, experts, scientists, individuals, and organisations.

He asked experts and scientists to make further recommendations for the planning so that work will be continued to complete it for early examination and adoption in accordance with existing laws.

Under the planning, Hanoi is envisaged to make fast, sustainable, creative and inclusive development, and become a growth pole able to lead and promote the development in the region.

The settlement of the environmental issues is described as an urgent mission of the capital city, with the focus given to reviving polluted rivers and handling inundation. Besides, green development and circular economy will be put at the centre with a view to realising the net-zero emissions target.

Hanoi sets a target that the digital economy will make up 40% of the city’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP), and eyes on a sweeping 65-75% urbanisation rate.  

Pillars that will shape up the city’s development are culture and heritage; green transition, digital transformation and circular economy; uniformed and modern infrastructure; digital society, digital economy and smart urban areas; and science-technology and innovation.

According to former Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Cao Viet Sinh, low proportion of industry in GRDP and simple services could not spur the capital city’s growth.

Hanoi should pay due attention to digital transformation and innovation if the city targets fast growth, he said, adding big investment should be made in underground transport to remove transport infrastructure bottleneck.

Agreeing with Sinh’s viewpoint, Minister Dung said that it is necessary to adjust the proportion of industry in the capital city’s GRDP, and to outline a roadmap so as to do away with old vehicles and fossil fuels that do not meet environmental standards during the transport infrastructure development process.

Vietnamese artists perform in Pakse to celebrate anniversary of Lao People’s Army

The Military Music and Dance Theatre coordinated with the Vietnamese Consulate General in Pakse and the Military Command of Champasak province of Laos to organise an art performance in Pakse city on January 8 night to celebrate the 75th founding anniversary of the Lao People's Army (January 20, 1949 - 2024).

More than 30 artists from the theatre entertained the audience with performance items praising the love for the homeland, traditional ties between the two countries' armies as well as late  Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Kaysone Phomvihane who laid the foundation for the great Vietnam-Laos relationship.

According to the event organisers, the programme did not only help foster the growing special solidarity and friendship between the two armies but also contributed to spreading the image of Vietnam and the significance of the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos to local people.

President presents appointment decisions to ambassadors, heads of representative agencies abroad

President Vo Van Thuong on January 9 handed over appointment decisions to 26 ambassadors and heads of Vietnamese representative agencies abroad for 2024-2027, and assigned tasks to them.

Addressing the hand-over ceremony, Thuong asked the diplomats to follow instructions of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the 32nd National Diplomatic Conference last December to fulfill their tasks.

He also asked them to carry forward significant achievements the diplomatic sector made in 2023, reminding them of both opportunities and challenges ahead.

Stressing the importance of the 2024-2027 tenure to implementing resolutions adopted at the 13th National Party Congress, Thuong said the ambassadors and representative agency chiefs need to keep a close watch on the situation at home and in host countries to provide consultations for the Party and the State in building foreign policies and enhancing external relations.  

Foreign relations should serve economic development, he said, highlighting cultural diplomacy should be prioritised as it plays a crucial role in promoting the image of Vietnamese land and people.

The leader also requested the diplomats to promote multilateral diplomacy, actively and responsibly participate in regional and international mechanisms and forums, and well perform their important task of citizen support.

Deputy PM calls for expanding int’l cooperation in martyrs’ remains identification

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has called for expanding international cooperation in the search for, collection and identification of remains of fallen soldiers.

At a meeting held in Hanoi on January 9 by the national steering committee for search, collection, repatriation, and identification of fallen soldiers’ remains (National Steering Committee 515), Deputy PM Ha, who is also head of the committee, asked ministries, agencies, committees, units and localities to continue thoroughly grasping the Party and State's viewpoints, policies and guidelines on this crucial mission.

Relevant agencies should complete the data system concerning martyrs and their graves, optimise technology to improve the identification process of fallen soldiers. This includes establishing effective information channels to support war veterans and their families, he said.

He outlined the committee's forthcoming focus on searching for graves in areas rich in information about martyrs and their graves, and continuing to identify unknown fallen soldiers buried in cemeteries, with a particular emphasis on improving the capacity of DNA testing facilities and gene database storage centres.

Looking ahead, the committee plans to enhance inspection over arising issues and offer timely commendation to organisations and individuals making exceptional contributions to this endeavour.

Last year saw the collection of 1,328 sets of martyrs' remains, including 559 inside the country, 247 in Laos, and 522 in Cambodia. Notably, the identity of 9 out of 124 samples of remains was determined using DNA testing method, while 251 sets of remains were identified through forensic technique.

Pilot safe in Quang Nam’s military aircraft crash

A military aircraft crashed in Dien Ban township, the central province of Quang Nam, at noon on January 9, with the pilot on board successfully parachuting out.
 
No ground casualties were reported from the accident.

The Su-22, based in neighbouring Da Nang city, encountered an accident during a routine training session, the cause of which was initially determined as a loss of control.
Further investigations are underway.

Korean educational organisation provides free health checks in Long An

Nearly 70 medical staff and volunteers from the Wonkwang Education Foundation, the Republic of Korea, have been offering free health checks to people in the southern province of Long An.

The event taking place from January 7-10 aims to promote the friendship and cooperation between the Korean foundation and Long An province’s health sector.

In addition to medical services, the event also features activities that allow locals to experience the Korean culture such as K-beauty (hairdressing, nail care), wearing Hanbok and taking photos.

Director of the Long An  Health Department Huynh Minh Phuc thanked the foundation for providing the free medical checks and sharing experiences with the local health sector in fields, especially high-tech medicine, which contribute to improving healthcare work in the province.

Fishermen’s awareness improves, Tien Giang records no IUU fishing cases

The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang has recorded no violations related to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in 2023 and several previous years, thanks to the administration's efforts to raise fishermen’s awareness of consequences of IUU practices.

Nguyen Trong Tuy, Director of the Fisheries Division under the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the unit has called on ship owners and fishermen to avoid infringing on foreign waters, and warned those who disconnect the vessel monitoring system (VMS).

The department has also coordinated with the provincial border guard force and other units to encourage ship owners and fishermen to strictly follow regulations of Vietnamese and international laws related to fishing.

Units of the provincial border guard force have intensified patrols to closely monitor and grasp the situation at sea.

At present, 100% operating fishing vessels in Tien Giang are equipped with the VMS device.

RoK students experience daily life, educational activities in Hanoi

Teachers and students from ChungcheonBuk province of the Republic of Korea (RoK) have participated in educational activities and experienced daily life along with students in Hanoi under a week-long cultural and educational exchange programme in the 2023 – 2024 academic year between the two localities, which was disrupted for three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a working session with a delegation of Korean teachers and students on January 8, Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training Tran The Cuong said Hanoi always takes the lead in general and specialised education, with numerous students winning national and international awards.

To achieve the goal of comprehensive education and training global citizen development, Hanoi’s students are equipped with knowledge in foreign languages and computer science, he said.

Attention has also been paid to enhancing international integration and exchange with countries in the region and the world, the official said, adding that the department has signed  memorandums of understanding (MOU) on education and training cooperation with many partners from Japan, Singapore, the UK, Australia, and the RoK.

Cuong expressed his belief that the activities in the programme will contribute to strengthening the friendship between the two countries’ people in general, and fostering relationships among students and schools in Hanoi and ChungcheongBuk in particular.

Kim Kyong Hui, a manager from the Education Department of ChungcheonBuk, emphasised close relations between the two localities’ departments of education and showed her hope that exchange activities in the school year will continue to nurture the relationship, helping teachers and students get insights into Vietnamese and Korean cultural traditions.

In November last year, a delegation of students and teachers from Hanoi also joined a similar programme.

Plenty of room for Vietnam, Sweden to promote ties: Ambassador

There is plenty of room for Vietnam and Sweden to boost cooperation in many areas, especially those of each other’s strength and demand, stated Vietnamese Ambassador to Sweden Tran Van Tuan.

Firstly, the two sides boast high collaboration potential in climate change and environmental protection, as Sweden is a world leader in the field and Vietnam one of the countries hardest hit by climate change, the diplomat said in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of the Vietnam-Sweden diplomatic relations.

Secondly, science-technology is also a promising area for bilateral cooperation, especially in the fields where Sweden has a lot of experience such as carbon capture technology and waste treatment, digital transformation, energy transformation, financial management, and public health care, he said. And

Thirdly, the two countries have high potential in labour, trade and investment partnership, held the ambassador, explaining that with a population of about 100 million, stable political situation and impressive growth rate, Vietnam has been an attractive and promising market for Swedish businesses.

During a meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on the sidelines of the 28th UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in the UAE, Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson highly valued Vietnam’s stance on peaceful settlement of international disputes, and expressed his belief that the country will continue to make positive contributions to promoting ASEAN’s central role and dealing with common problems of the international community.

Tuan said he believes that with high mutual political trust, Vietnam and Sweden will continue to effectively coordinate at multilateral forums, especially in coping with global issues.

Highlighting achievements of the Vietnam-Sweden cooperation over the past 55 years, Tuan said that the two countries have enjoyed fruitful partnership in all fields.

Along with strong political trust and friendship, Sweden and Vietnam have shared sound economic cooperation, he said, noting that Sweden was the biggest North European provider of non-refundable aid to Vietnam in the 1967-2013 period. Since late 2013, the two sides switched their relations to win-win partnership.

Two-way trade hit 1.5 billion USD in 2022, and 1.2 billion USD in the first 11 months of 2023 despite impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from Statistics Sweden (SCB) released in December 2023 showed that Sweden was Vietnam's largest trading partner in North Europe and Vietnam Sweden's largest import partner in Southeast Asia.

At the same time, Sweden helped Vietnam train many experts and engineers in the fields of forestry, paper, energy, biology, medicine, and journalism in the past through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency. Meanwhile, cultural and art exchange activities between the two sides have also been fostered.

However, Ambassador Tuan held that the partnership between Vietnam and Sweden in some areas have been modest, noting that as of June 2023, Swedish firms had invested 680.49 million USD in Vietnam.

The diplomat said that in the time to come, the Vietnamese Embassy in Sweden will focus on conducting activities to foster bilateral cooperation in politics, diplomacy, trade, investment, and science and technology.

On the occasion of the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, the embassy will organise some activities to promote Vietnam’s culture, trade and tourism in Sweden, while assisting the signing of cooperation agreements between agencies of the two countries and providing favourable conditions for the businesses of the two sides to explore each other’s market.

Along with assisting Vietnamese and Swedish firms to strengthen import-export activities between the two countries, the embassy will advocate for Sweden to open its door for highly qualified Vietnamese workers to work in the European country, especially in the fields of information technology, education, health care, and elderly care.

The embassy is working to hasten the opening of a direct air route and a direct maritime route between the two countries, the diplomat said, adding that it will strengthen cultural diplomacy, people diplomacy and education-training cooperation between the two countries.

Source: VNA/SGT/VNS/VOV/Dtinews/SGGP/VGP/Hanoitimes