Passengers get on a train from Hà Nội to HCM City.—VNA/VNS Photo Thành Đạt

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has assigned the Ministry of Transport to establish a steering committee for formulating a project on investment policies on the North-South High-Speed Railway and other national rail projects.

Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà will head the steering committee. Three ministers of Transport, Planning and Investment, and Finance will be deputy heads of the steering committee.

The members of the steering committee include Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Chairman of the Committee for Management of State Capital at Enterprises (CMSC); heads of the Party Central Committee's Economic Commission, the National Assembly’s Economic Committee, and the National Assembly’s Finance and Budget Committee.

The working group, which assists the steering committee, is no more than 15 people, including leading officials, experts and scientists in rail and transport fields.

The establishment of the steering committee comes after the proposal of the Ministry of Transport earlier this month.

Regarding the progress of implementing the North-South High-Speed Railway Project, the transport ministry said that it had sent a team to learn about countries with developed high-speed railway systems, such as countries in Europe and China, to supplement the project's pre-feasibility study report.

At the same time, it scheduled to mobilise experienced international consultants to research and complete the report in 2025, the ministry said.

It needed to establish the working group to help the Prime Minister study and develop mechanisms, policies and major solutions that are comprehensive and interdisciplinary to implement the project successfully, the ministry said.

It also required coordination among relevant ministries and localities in the process of developing the project, the ministry added.

At the end of February 2023, the Politburo issued Conclusion No. 49-KL/TW on the development orientation of Việt Nam's railway transport to 2030 with a vision towards 2045. In the conclusion, the Politburo identified the North-South High-Speed Railway as the backbone railway of the country.

The conclusion’s objective is to complete the approval of the investment policies of the North-South High-Speed Railway Project and start the construction of priority sections in 2026-30, including the Hà Nội - Vinh section and the HCM City - Nha Trang section.

According to the pre-feasibility report, the North-South High-Speed Railway Project will pass through 20 provinces. It has a length of 1,545 km, with a maximum operating speed of about 320 km per hour. The trains use distributed propulsion technology.

The total estimated investment of the whole project is about US$58.71 billion.

Art contest marking 50th anniversary of southern liberation launched

The HCMC People’s Committee launched a contest of art compositions marking the 50th anniversary of southern liberation and national reunification (April 30, 1975-2025) on July 13.

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Chairman of the HCMC People’s Committee Phan Van Mai expressed his sincere thanks to artists at home and abroad for their efforts and creativity in creating artworks that present the city’s development over the past time, and bringing abundant life for the city's residents.

He noted that the 50-year milestone is a very meaningful journey, a great inspiration for people to have an opportunity to look back on all efforts in building the city, the beauty of daily activities, and the people of the Saigon – Gia Dinh land and HCMC during the past 50 years through artworks.

The contest themed “HCMC- a pride of a 50-year epic” aims to look for artworks covering the fields of music, cinema, architecture, dance, fine arts, photography, stage, and literature honoring the historical value of the struggle for national liberation, the construction and development of a civilized, modern and humane city.

It also contributes to patriotic emulation movements and celebrates the 50th anniversary of southern liberation and national reunification (April 30, 1975-2025).

The competition is open for Vietnamese individuals and organizations, and foreigners who are living and working in Vietnam. Each participant can submit entries for different categories from now until April 30, 2024. The award ceremony is scheduled to be held in the second quarter of the next year.

Hanoi prioritizes investment in underground infrastructure

Hanoi has made significant investments in developing underground infrastructure to address the city's transportation challenges. These investments include the construction of underpasses, which will open up new development opportunities in previously disconnected areas of the capital.

Experts noted that since the 2000s, Hanoi had implemented various solutions for underground infrastructure, including pedestrian underpasses at Kim Lien, Thanh Xuan, and Trung Hoa intersections, underground parking lots, and basements in certain hotels and commercial centers.

However, the underground projects in the capital have primarily been individual works that serve specific purposes and are not connected to a network from a citywide or regional perspective.

Architect Dao Ngoc Nghiem, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Association for Urban Planning and Development, noted that in the past, Hanoi had proposed underground parking projects at Hang Dau Flower Garden, Thong Nhat Park, Quan Ngua Sports Palace, Thu Le Park, Friendship Cultural Palace, and Hanoi Opera House Square.

These projects faced several challenges and were not implemented.

He points out that Hanoi has recently devoted significant resources to developing underground infrastructure as a means of solving urban traffic problems. In particular, several underground projects have been implemented to connect different regions and facilitate the development of previously divided areas within the capital.

One notable example is the Le Van Luong-Khuat Duy Tien underpass, which required an investment of nearly VND700 billion (US$29.5 million) and has been open to traffic since late 2022.

This tunnel is part of a series of six key transport projects in Hanoi and has successfully reduced traffic congestion in the southwest of the city. In addition, Hanoi is actively building urban railways, many of which will run underground, with stations that will serve both transportation and commercial purposes.

Furthermore, Hanoi is prioritizing the construction of underground parking facilities. The city's General Planning for underground urban construction space until 2030, with a vision towards 2050 (approved in March 2022), includes the development of 78 underground parking lots across four districts. In the central areas of Hoan Kiem, Ba Dinh, Dong Da, and Tay Ho, there are plans to build underground parking facilities with up to five underground levels.

Exhibition on wildlife sends message of environmental protection

Accompanying the important seminars, an exhibition entitled "Into Wildlife" by two Vietnamese artists introduces the genre of art which is well-known internationally, promoting environmental protection.  

The exhibition features approximately 100 works by two artists Dao Van Hoang and Jeet Dzung, who carefully observes the natural beauty while painting precisely and methodically for scientific purposes and tells stories from many different points of view with a powerful, compassionate educational message.

Dao Van Hoang embarked on adventures in the tropical forests of Southeast Asia, Central Africa, and South America, living in the midst of nature, eating and sleeping in the company of wild animals hidden under branches and roots.  

For him, these long-awaited encounters, depicted in his paintings, are between the artist and the animal as two equals living in a shared environment. There is no relationship of violence or domination between man and animal, and neither side prevails over the other.

Meanwhile, Jeet Dzung describes the journey of discovering and bringing animals back to nature, restoring the inherent freedom of wild animals that humans have taken away.

Visitors to the exhibition would be reminded of a magnificent, enigmatic universe that man hasn't yet explored. By contemplating the artworks and learning more about the artists' diaries, viewers will approach wild nature in a closer, more romantic way.

At the same time, viewers will become more aware of the existence and necessity of another profession not well known in Vietnam: wildlife conservation.

The artworks will provide viewers with a new perspective to better understand the approaches or methods used by artists engaged in this subject to produce their works and the differences between traditional painters, scientific illustrators, and comic creators/graphic novelists.

The exhibition is open daily by reservation at the International Center for Interdisciplinary Science and Education (ICISE), Quy Nhon City, in the central province of Binh Dinh.

PM wants to integrate more data into VNeID app

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has requested relevant authorities integrate information of essential utilities into the VNeID mobile e-identification app, allowing residents to update and certify personal information.

During a national webinar on digital transformation, the PM highlighted the importance of including information related to educational qualifications, family relationships, driving licenses, bank accounts, electricity and water, and telecommunications in the VNeID app.

Provincial cities or towns, classified as Class-3 cities, have been assigned the task of studying and testing the integration of social management apps onto the VNeID. These apps may cover areas such as criminal reporting, fire fighting and prevention, traffic safety, environmental protection, and registration of temporary residence and absence.

The integration of other utilities, including judicial records, electronic health records, birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce certificates, banking services, and services for vulnerable groups, is also being considered for the e-identification app.

To expedite the implementation, PM Chinh called upon the Ministry of Public Security to accelerate the granting of level-2 electronic identification accounts. The goal is to have 20 million people using VNeID with at least 10 app services by the end of the year.

The ministry has also been tasked with studying the establishment of a national data center by the end of 2024, as well as a center responsible for coordinating the national population database for handling, certifying, searching, integrating, and sharing information.

The Ministry of Public Security will apply biometric technology to chip-based ID cards for healthcare services in hospitals and boarding procedures for domestic flights. The Ministry of Finance has been assigned the responsibility of synchronizing data and enabling citizen identity cards and e-identification to serve as personal tax codes and valid forms of identification in electronic transactions.

Ninh Thuan to grow more new forests

The south-central province of Ninh Thuan plans to grow 1,121ha of new forests to replace forest areas which are cut down in 2023-25.

The replacement forests include 500ha of special-use and 621ha of protective forests which are managed by the management boards of special use forests and the management boards of protective forests.

The province grows forests in vacant lands and bare hills, protects existing forests and develops new forests, according to Le Huyen, deputy chairman of the province People’s Committee.

It promotes the environmental protection of forests, secures water resources, copes with climate change proactively and effectively, prevents erosion and desertification, and protects natural resources and biodiversity, he said.

It also provides diversified forest environment services, creates jobs and incomes for local people, and aims to increase the forest coverage rate to 49% in 2025.

To reach the targets, the province People’s Committee has asked its Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Forest Protection Sub-department, forest owners and localities to check land funds and identify areas for growing replacement forests on vacant land and areas that cannot grow into forests naturally.

Of the 1,121ha of replacement forests, 400ha will be planted this year, 401ha next year and 320ha in 2025.

The province will mobilise human resources from forest protection forces and hire people from communities and households in areas which will plant the replacement forests between September and November every year.

The province has had policies to encourage organisations and individuals to invest in the forestry sector to protect and develop forests.

It aims to exploit the maximum value of forests through combining agriculture and forestry development, growing medicinal plants, and developing forest environment services.

The province has more than 196,800ha of forests and forestry land for growing special-use, protective, and commercial forests. It planted nearly 1,000ha of new protective and special-use forests last year.

Ninh Thuan has a forest cover of 47.1%.

Vietnam attends UN High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development

A Vietnamese delegation led by Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung attended the United Nations High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in New York on July 14.

In his speech, Minister Dung presented the Voluntary National Review (VNR) on Vietnam's implementation of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) in 2023, emphasising that the process of preparing Vietnam's second VNR was conducted through 10 steps to mobilise the participation of all relevant parties from the beginning and ensure the showcase of their roles and voices.

The entire political system and society have made efforts to implement SDGs with the core principle of "leaving no one behind" and have gained certain achievements in the process, affirmed the minister.

He highlighted six solutions for Vietnam to successfully implement these goals in the remaining half of the journey, namely placing people at the centre of all decisions, enhancing the quality of human resources, strengthening the management and efficient use of resources, protect the environment, mobilising and effectively utilising financial resources for the work, and further improving the availability of data to serve the monitoring and evaluation of the SDGs implementation.

The official took the occasion to highlight Vietnam's commitment to continue playing its role as a responsible member of the international community and actively contributing to joint efforts so that no individual or nation is left behind in this process.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by UN member states in September 2015, with the focus on 17 SDGs. The VNR is considered a mechanism for monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the agenda and SDGs on a global scale. Vietnam first developed and presented its VNR in 2018.

Can Tho proposes WB’s assistance in building 16 new rural residential areas

Chairman of the Can Tho People's Committee Tran Viet Truong has proposed the World Bank (WB) support the Mekong Delta city to build 16 rural residential areas serving the resettlement for households affected by the development of projects in the locality.

He made the proposal at a working session with a WB high-level delegation on July 14, which aimed to review the progress of constructions under the Can Tho Urban Development and Resilience Project and enhance the city’s capacity to utilise related WB loans. The 16 areas are set to span 1,150 ha in total, with their construction costing approximately 12 trillion VND (507.56 million USD).

Regarding the progress, the municipal authorities affirmed their determination to mobilise all available resources to achieve its objectives. So far, 61.3% of the workload has been completed.

Anna Wellenstein, Director for Sustainable Development in East Asia and the Pacific at the WB, stated that the bank has been involved in various activities across cities in Vietnam and the world, with an aim to invest and provide technical support to generate employment opportunities, promote local development, and ensure sustainable livelihoods for people affected by climate change.
 
WB Country Director for Vietnam Carolyn Turk said new projects will be launched in the coming months.

The Can Tho Urban Development and Resilience Project costs over 9.1 trillion VND and is scheduled for completion in June 2024, aiming to protect the city’s centre (Ninh Kieu and Binh Thuy districts) from the risk of flooding while improving connectivity with newly developed urban areas and key traffic infrastructure.

FM meets with foreign counterparts on sidelines of AMM-56

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son met with his foreign counterparts on the sidelines of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-56) and related meetings in Jakarta, Indonesia, on July 14.

At a meeting with Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Papua New Guinea James Marape, Son affirmed that Vietnam wants to strengthen relations with South Pacific island countries, including Papua New Guinea, saying ample room remains for the bilateral cooperation, especially in economy, trade, agriculture and fisheries.

For his part, Marape said Papua New Guinea welcomes Vietnamese businesses to invest in fisheries, agriculture, and oil and gas, and that the country will send delegations of officials and businesses to the Southeast Asian nation to explore cooperation opportunities.

Son proposed the two sides study the establishment of appropriate cooperation mechanisms and implement the already-signed memorandum of understanding on fishery cooperation, including the formation of a joint technical committee. He also suggested promoting negotiations and signing relevant documents in other key areas, which will serve as a basis for further collaboration.

Speaking highly of Papua New Guinea's contributions as ASEAN’s special observer, Son stressed that the two sides should continue their close coordination and mutual support at regional and international forums, especially within ASEAN-led mechanisms, the United Nations, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.      
  
Meeting with Canadian FM Mélanie Joly, the two ministers highly valued the positive development of the Vietnam-Canada comprehensive partnership over the past years, agreed on the need to put forth new orientations that match the regional and international situation as well as the level of their relations.  
 
Son lauded the Canadian government’s Indo-Pacific Strategy that highlights ASEAN’s centrality, and agreed that the implementation of the strategy will open up new cooperation opportunities between Canada and ASEAN in general, and Vietnam in particular.

For her part, Joly affirmed that Vietnam is one of Canada's top three priority partners in the region, saying the two sides will promote all-level delegation exchanges, further tap their economic and trade potential through the materialisation of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and consider expanding cooperation in such spheres as green energy and clean energy, and maritime collaboration.

Son suggested Canada create more favourable conditions and provide more scholarships for Vietnamese students, while supporting Vietnamese citizens to live, study and work in the country, thus contributing to the development of Canada as well as the bilateral friendship.

On this occasion, Son also had a meeting with Turkish FM Hakan Fidan, during which the two ministers consented to step up all-level delegation exchanges, effectively implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms, better optimise cooperation potential, and enhance cultural and people-to-people exchanges.

He called on Turkish firms to increase investments in Vietnam, especially in the reciprocal fields.

Fidan said Vietnam’s dispatch of forces to aid Turkey following the devastating earthquake last February vividly demonstrated their friendship, noting both sides consider this an important premise to boost their relations in the time ahead.

The two ministers also compared notes on regional and international issues of shared concern.

At a meeting with Sri Lankan FM Ali Sabry, the two ministers affirmed they treasure the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Sri Lanka.

They agreed to take measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation in different fields in the coming time.

Son proposed the two sides increase the exchange of all-level delegations and further promote economic- trade-cultural ties and people-to-people exchanges.

Sabry urged Vietnam to support Sri Lanka to join regional economic cooperation frameworks, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

The two ministers concurred to soon resume bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the political consultation at the deputy foreign minister level.

On July 13, Son had a brief meeting with Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt, during which they agreed to increase all-level delegation exchanges and closely coordinate in promoting the bilateral trade and investment ties.

Huitfeldt said Norway stands ready to help Vietnam in energy transition and climate change response.

They also agreed to enhance coordination at regional and international mechanisms and forums.

NA Standing Committee’s 24th session wraps up

The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee wrapped up its 24th session in Hanoi on July 14.

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said that the session completed its agenda after two and a half days of working.

He asked for thorough preparations for the upcoming sessions of the NA Standing Committee in August and September as well as a session on lawmaking, and the legislature’s sixth plenary session.

Earlier, deputies had reviewed the NA’s fifth plenary session, and discussed initial preparations for the sixth one.

NA General Secretary and Chairman of the NA Office Bui Van Cuong said that in the sixth plenum, the legislative body will consider and approve nine draft laws, and opine on eight others.

The legislature plans to spend 11 days for legislative work; 11 days for important matters, and one and a half days for the opening and closing ceremonies, and passing laws and resolutions. The opening session of this plenum is scheduled for October 23, 2023.

France’s National Day celebrated in Hanoi

French Ambassador to Vietnam Nicolas Warnery hosted a ceremony in Hanoi on July 14 marking the 234th anniversary of the European country’s National Day (July 14, 1789 - 2023).

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang and representatives of Vietnamese ministries and agencies attended the event.

In her remarks, Hang extended her congratulations to the French leaders and people on their National Day, and used the occasion to thank, on behalf of the Vietnamese Government and people, the French Government for its donation of 5.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Vietnam.

France is a leading important partner of Vietnam, she said, speaking highly of cooperation between the two sides, bilaterally, regionally and globally, particularly their dialogues and delegation exchanges from late 2021 to early 2023.

The official noted her belief that with the core values of the Vietnam-France relationship, and the resolve and efforts by leaders and people of the two countries, the bilateral strategic partnership will soon be enhanced in the time ahead, especially after the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is implemented effectively and the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) is approved.  

For his part, Warnery affirmed that France attaches importance to the bilateral strategic partnership, and stands ready to foster the relationship, making it more intensive and extensive.

Regarding the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam-France diplomatic ties in 2023, the diplomat said it is a chance for the two countries to honour their friendship, with many high-level visits and meetings.

Lao Cai promotes Bac Ha into unique tourism area

With unique cultural characteristics and numerous historical, cultural relic sites, Bac Ha district has been known as an attractive tourism destination of the northwestern mountainous province of Lao Cai.

After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism in the “white plateau” has seen a strong recovery, becoming a unique tourism area of the province.

Nguyen Duy Hoa, Secretary of the Bac Ha district Party Committee, highlighted that the locality has distinctive, intriguing characteristics, and necessary factors to become a tourism magnet of the province in particular and the northwestern region in general.

Notably, Bac Ha market is a special cultural feature in the province which has been selected by Serendib magazine of Sri Lanka as one of Southeast Asia’s 10 most famous markets.

Another famous tourism site attracting tourists to the locality is the ancient mansion of Hoang A Tuong, a delicate combination between Asian and European architectural styles, showing the clear East-West cultural interference. The work was designed and supervised by two architects from different cultures - France and China.

Bac Ha is also home to hundreds of relic and heritage sites, including a heritage of humanity such as the Tay ethnic people's tug of war ritual in Trung Do village, Bao Nhai commune, four national heritage sites and four national historical relic sites.

Besides natural factors, many tourists have been thrilled to festivals in the locality such as Gau Tao Festival (Say Nan) of the Mong ethnic people; Tay ethnic people's field festival with the Xoe dance which has been recognised as a national intangible heritage, among others. In an attempt to recover tourism, the district has planned to organise a series of tourism events throughout the year to lure back holiday-makers. 

In addition, the completion and operation of the Hanoi - Lao Cai expressway intersection has shortened travel distance by more than 20km, creating more favourable conditions for visitors coming to the “white plateau”.

In order to create an important highlight to stimulate tourism demand in Bac Ha 2023, the Bac Ha White Plateau Summer Festival was held from June 3-11, 2023. At the event, along with visiting historical and cultural relics, tourists also experienced many unique cultural features and enjoyed local specialties.

According to statistics from the district culture office, during the nine-day event, Bac Ha welcomed 63,000 visitors, about 12% of the total to the locality in 2023.

The district is currently building 10 groups of unique tourism products associated with the "white plateau" brand, including a typical cultural space of the Mong, Dao, Tay and Nung ethnic groups in the direction of uniqueness, sustainability while ensuring benefits of the local communities in order to contribute to sustainable poverty reduction.

At the same time, the district has planned to preserve and promote traditional cultural spaces of ethnic groups associated with the development of local community tourism.

Vietnam, US beef up cooperation in innovation, investment, hi-tech

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung on July 14 met with representatives of the US government agencies, organisations, businesses, investment funds and large corporations to promote cooperation in innovation and technology; research, exchange experiences and attract resources to building an international financial centre; and promote and attract investment to high-tech projects in Vietnam.

At the meeting with the New York Economic Development Organisation (NYCEDC), the two sides exchanged experiences and discussed cooperation possibilities in the fields of innovation, technology research and development, and startup business ecosystem development.

The minister suggested that the NYCEDC continue to support Vietnam in the socio-economic development. He also had a working session with a representative of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) about the NYSE's experiences in developing capital, stocks, bonds, and derivatives markets to support Vietnam in the building of a financial centre.

Dung also had a meeting with Andrew Spinler, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Financial Services Volunteers Group (FSVC), during which the two sides discussed in-depth expertise on the experience of building financial centres in Vietnam and the next steps for Vietnam to realise its important goal in the short and long terms.

On the same day, he met representatives of large enterprises and corporations that are members of the Business Council for Promoting International Relations (BCIU), expressing his hope that US’s businesses will continue to promote investment cooperation, increase contributions to Vietnam's socio-economic development and comprehensive partnership between the two countries in the coming time.

Corporations showed their interest and belief in Vietnam's business investment environment, and committed to continue to expand investment in the Southeast Asian country in the coming time.

Minister Dung and Patrick Santillo, Vice President/CEO of BCIU, chaired the Roundtable on orientation and investment cooperation opportunities between Vietnam and the US.

He also worked with KKR Investment Fund, one of the world's leading large investment funds. KKR committed to continuing to promote investment cooperation, strengthen Vietnam's connection with international partners and businesses, and bring in experiences and experts to support Vietnam in building and developing an international financial centre.

Dung affirmed that relationship between Vietnam and the US is in a good period. This is an important foundation for promoting economic, investment and trade cooperation, bringing benefits to both sides.

He said he hopes that in the coming time, Vietnam will attract high quality project from US investors in order to improve Vietnamese enterprises' capacity to participate in the global value chain.

Vietnam attends 30th ASEAN Regional Forum

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son reaffirmed Vietnam’s approach in which dialogue, consultation and trust building have been taken as the main tools in settling disagreements and differences while addressing the 30th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) in Jakarta, Indonesia, on July 14.

The process of building ASEAN's common stance on the East Sea issue demonstrates consultation efforts and achievements, and affirms and promotes fundamental principles like peaceful settlement of disputes, and respect for international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS), Son said.

The minister emphasised the need to ensure ASEAN's centrality, uphold objectives and principles of the ARF, form substantive agendas, promote the responsibility of member nations, and maintain a balanced and inclusive approach.

The culture of dialogue and consultation should be maintained and enhanced with ASEAN at the centre, thereby contributing to peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the region, he continued.

Son noted that over the past 30 years, through consultation, ASEAN has successfully built a common stance on the East Sea, with principles such as restraint, peaceful resolution of disputes, and respect for international law and the 1982 UNCLOS.
 
While committing to fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), ASEAN and China are working together towards a substantive, effective, and legally binding Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with international law, including the UNCLOS, he said.

At the meeting, the participating countries reviewed the ARF’s operation in 2022-2023, and orientations in the time ahead, and exchanged views on regional and international issues of shared concern.

They affirmed the importance of the ARF as the leading forum in the region in promoting dialogue and cooperation in political-security issues, contributing to joint efforts in building trust and preventive diplomacy.

Given the complex, unpredictable situation, the minister agreed to step up the forum’s operation, and carry forward its values, vitality and adaptability to both opportunities and challenges at present and in the future.

The countries agreed to maintain cooperation in maritime security, disaster relief, cybersecurity, the fight against terrorism and transnational crimes, non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and disarmament, national defence, and peacekeeping.

They also approved a list of activities for 2023-2024. Vietnam will co-chair several ARF activities regarding the implementation of the 1982 UNCLOS, and the fight against terrorism, transnational crimes, and chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological terrorism.

On this occasion, Son announced that Vietnam will co-chair the ARF Inter-Sessional Meeting on Disaster Relief for the 2024-2026 term with Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

The meeting adopted a joint statement commemorating the 30th anniversary of the ARF, with Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Australia, and Canada as co-sponsors. The documents reaffirmed the leading role of ASEAN in the regional architecture, and commitments to promoting constructive dialogues, enhancing cooperation, and ensuring the active and full participation and contributions of member countries to the forum’s development.

The meeting took place within the framework of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-56). At the end of AMM-56 and related meetings, foreign ministers approved nearly 40 documents, including the AMM-56 joint communique.

Former Chairman of Dong Nai People’s Committee gets disciplinary measures

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang on July 14 signed a decision on disciplinary measures against Dinh Quoc Thai, former Chairman of the People's Committee of the southern province of Dong Nai.

Specifically, Thai’s status as Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee for the 2011-2016 and 2016-2021 terms was removed for his violations in his work.

Earlier, the Party Central Committee's Secretariat had also imposed disciplinary measures against him.

On December 16, 2022, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong chaired a meeting of the Party Central Committee’s Politburo and Secretariat to consider disciplinary measures against Thai, who was also former Vice Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, and former Secretary of the Party delegation to the provincial People's Committee.

After considering the proposal of the Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission, the Politburo and the Secretariat found that Thai showed degradation in political ideology, morality and lifestyle; received bribes; violated the Party's regulations and the State's laws in performing his assigned duties and tasks; infringed on the regulations on what a Party member is not allowed to do and the responsibility of setting an example, resulting in very serious consequences that are unfixable, causing great losses to State property, stirring public outrage, and adversely affecting the reputation of the local Party Organisation and authorities.

Therefore, the Secretariat decided to dismiss him from the Party, and asked relevant agencies to take administrative disciplinary measures against him.

Portal of Vietnam-Nepal Friendship Association debuts

The Vietnam-Nepal Friendship Association held a ceremony on July 14 to debut its portal.

Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of the association Maj. Gen Bui Thanh Ha said it will post information about the association’s activities, popularise the images, articles and information about Vietnam to the people of Nepal, the internal and external policies of the Vietnamese Party and State, and the friendship between the two peoples. It will also publish images of Nepal's landscapes and its people to give the Vietnamese people an insight into the country.

The portal also serves as a platform to connect members of the association, he said.

Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), said it is the third portal of VUFO at the central level, contributing to its communication and information dissemination efforts.

She wished that the portal will ensure contents in line with regulations and connect with VUFO’s portal, thus bringing more information on Vietnam to friends around the world.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son busy at AMM-56

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son joined officials of other ASEAN member countries and its partners at the 13th East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) with the US, within the framework of the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM-56) in Jakarta on July 14 morning.

In his remarks at the EAS meeting, Son said through consultations, the EAS has contributed to promoting cultural dialogue and cooperation, increasing similarities, narrowing differences, and enhancing trust among its member countries.

He spoke highly of the commitment and support by partners towards ASEAN, stressing that these commitments should be translated into actions through active participation and effective contributions to ASEAN-led mechanisms.

Applauding the positive cooperation between ASEAN and the US, the official underlined the priority to promoting cooperation in trade, and science, technology, and innovation as key areas and motivations for the ASEAN-US cooperation.

It is necessary to strengthen coordination to ensure a sustainable future for the people of the two sides through cooperation in health care, education, human resources development, green transition, and sustainable development, he said.

Son suggested the two sides pay more attention to and provide effective support for the development of sub-regions, contributing to inclusive, equitable, and sustainable growth in the region.

He proposed that ASEAN’s partners should demonstrate respect for and support the central role played by ASEAN, and work together with the group to promote dialogues and consultations, build trust, address common challenges, and develop an inclusive, transparent, and rules-based regional structure.

The official affirmed ASEAN's principled stance on the East Sea and called on ASEAN’s partners to continue supporting and responsibly contributing to ASEAN-led efforts in ensuring peace, security, and stability in the sea; and in building a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS).

At the meetings, delegates engaged in extensive exchanges of views on international and regional issues. They reviewed cooperation and set out orientations for expanding connections in the future, and discussed the preparation for the upcoming high-level meetings in September in Indonesia.

ASEAN’s partners affirmed their support for the bloc's efforts, balanced and objective approaches, and common stance on these issues.

At the ASEAN PMC with the US, ministers affirmed that they will continue to promote cooperation, towards further fostering the ASEAN–US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

ASEAN welcomed the US’s proposal in implementing the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP). On this occasion, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the establishment of the ASEAN-US Centre to support these efforts.

Vietnamese Consulate General presents gifts to Souphanouvong University of Laos

The Vietnamese Consulate General in Luang Prabang and the Vietnamese Business Association in Northern Laos on July 14 presented gifts to lecturers and students of the Vietnamese language section of the Souphanouvong University.

Consul General Kieu Thi Hang Phuc congratulated the Lao university on its achievements over the past nearly two decades, helping train high-quality personnel for the country.

The organisers presented one computer, 15 headphones and one bluetooth speaker to the university, along with scholarships to students with outstanding academic achievements in the 2022-2023 year, with total funding of 17.2 million LAK (897 USD).

Dr. Soulideth Keoboualaphet, vice president of the university, thanked the Vietnamese Party, State, the Consulate General and the business association for their support, pledging that the university’s teachers and students will make greater efforts to contribute to preserving and promoting the friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Nam Dinh’s first seasonal workers come to RoK’s Jeju island

The first seasonal workers from the northern province of Nam Dinh arrived at the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Jeju island on July 13 under a cooperation agreement between the two local authorities.

The Jeju authorities said that 14 seasonal workers from Nam Dinh province entered the RoK through Jeju International Airport under the Seasonal Worker Programme of the Korean Ministry of Justice.

Upon their arrival, they received training on how to respond to emergencies, prevent human rights violations, and fight crimes against foreign workers.

They then will work for local farms that are also trained on regulations that they must comply with when employing foreign workers under the provisions of the programme.

On March 29, Jeju signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Vietnamese province to address its labour shortage.

This year, Jeju needs 867 foreign seasonal workers, and the number it has signed with Nam Dinh is 264.

Green development, energy transition are inevitable trends: PM

Green development, energy transition, and emissions reduction are inevitable and irreversible trends that Vietnam cannot stand aside, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said on July 14.

They are also opportunities to develop and restructure the economy towards a green and sustainable direction, PM Chinh told the 4th meeting of the national steering committee for implementing Vietnam's commitments at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).

Green development must be sustainable, inclusive and comprehensive, and ensure no one is left behind, he said, adding that ministries and sectors at all levels, people and enterprises must act together with greater determination, greater efforts, and more drastic and effective actions.

PM Chinh, who is also head of the steering committee, pointed to several key issues that need to be done, including perfecting institutions, mechanisms and policies; mobilising all resources, especially international ones, green financial flows and technology transfer; stepping up research, development and technology transfer for equipment production and development to serve the renewable energy industry; perfecting management methods suitable and effective for green development; and training human resources.

Ministries and sectors should soon complete concerted mechanisms, policies and legal documents to remove difficulties and obstacles, and mobilise the participation of the entire society in the implementation of Vietnam's commitments at COP26; attract resources to respond to climate change and step up energy transition; encourage domestic and foreign organisations and individuals to participate in climate change response and energy transition; and mobilise enterprises to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save energy and develop environmentally friendly production models.

The PM also requested relevant ministries and sectors to strongly take part in the implementation of a project carrying out the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) Declaration, develop a plan to mobilise resources for the implementation of the JETP; actively discuss with the International Partners Group, the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) and stakeholders.

The Government leader ordered the Ministries of Industry and Trade; Construction; Transport; and Agriculture and Rural Development to urgently issue documents detailing the response to climate change under the provisions of the 2020 Law on Environmental Protection; promulgate sector-level greenhouse gas emissions reduction plans; organise the assessment of greenhouse gas emissions of enterprises and establishments in order to attach their responsibility for implementing emissions reduction in accordance with Vietnam's commitments at COP26.

Ministries, sectors, localities and businesses need to continue promoting communication activities to create high determination and unified action, and maintain momentum in implementing Vietnam's commitments at COP26 and just energy transition.

At the event, the steering committee announced the Prime Minister's decision on the establishment and debut of the Secretariat for the Implementation of the Political Declaration on Establishing the JETP. The Secretariat is chaired by Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh.

Australia to provide 530-million-USD development aid for ASEAN

Australia on July 13 unveiled its plans to provide 775 million AUD (530 million USD) in development assistance to Southeast Asian nations, including Timor-Leste, as it seeks to bolster ties with ASEAN, according to Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong.

Wong made the announcement during a meeting with her ASEAN counterparts in Jakarta.

The Australian government has invested an additional 470 million USD in development assistance for Southeast Asia over four years, she said, adding that the country will contribute 775 million AUD to all regional countries this year.

Australia aims to increase its official development assistance (ODA) to 1.24 billion AUD in 2023-2024 as part of its strategy to deepen its engagement with Southeast Asia, Wong said.

According to the official, stronger ties with ASEAN have become a priority for the Australian government, particularly from an economic and security standpoint.

The Australia-ASEAN two-way trade amounted to 127 billion USD in 2021, Wong said, adding that there remained huge room for growth in the ASEAN-Australia trade.

Australia will soon release the Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, which will set out a practical pathway to strengthen Australia’s economic engagement with Southeast Asia, Wong said.

Exhibition honours friendship between Vietnamese patriotic figure, Japanese doctor

An exhibition on the friendship between Vietnamese patriotic figure Phan Boi Chau and Japanese doctor Asaba Sakitaro as well as the Vietnam- Japan friendship opened on July 14 at the memorial site of the Vietnamese scholar in Hue city.

This is one of the activities marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan (1973-2023) and the 118th anniversary of the Dong Du (go East) movement launched by Chau (1867-1940).

A total of 67 images and documents are displayed at the exhibition which is expected to promote patriotic tradition and revolutionary struggle, raise national pride among people of all strata, and consolidate the friendly and cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Japan.

In response to the movement, hundreds of Vietnamese students went to study in Japan in the hope that they could help reform the country in return. When the movement faced difficulties in 1908, Chau received whole-hearted support from the Japanese doctor and the people in Fukuroi.

After leaving Japan, Chau continued his activities in several countries in the world. In 1918, he returned to Japan and learned that his friend had passed away nine years ago. Chau and the people in Fukuroi raised funds for a memorial stele of the late doctor near his tomb.

Although the movement failed and those students had to go home, what Asaba and Fukuroi residents had done for Chau and his followers remains forever in the Vietnamese people’s hearts.

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