Director of the Hanoi Institute for Socio-Economic Development Studies Le Ngoc Anh from HISEDS noted that during the conference, specific groups of topics will be the focus of discussion and consultation, as follows:

1) Assessment of Hanoi's development conditions, including its potential advantages for capital development, cultural and civilization aspects, as well as available resources.

2) Examination of the current state of socio-economic development, land use, the urban and rural systems, technical infrastructure development, and environmental management and protection.

3) Formulation of principles for the effective implementation of the planning process; exploration of the ideology and philosophy underpinning capital development.

4) Deliberation on various perspectives concerning the capital's development, such as the general perspective, spatial organization, defense and security, infrastructure and urban connectivity, and resource utilization and environmental protection.

5) Definition of development goals for the capital; identification of three pivotal stages for achieving breakthroughs and two key areas for driving the Capital's development.

6) Establishment of directions for the development and spatial organization of various industries and sectors, including services, construction, agriculture, forestry, fisheries, culture, social domains, urban and rural systems, connectivity infrastructure, and national defense and security.

7) Discussion of planning solutions, covering aspects like organizing and overseeing planning implementation, mobilizing investment capital, developing human resources, addressing environmental concerns, promoting scientific science and technological innovation, devising mechanisms and policies for integrated development, and managing urban and rural development.

Anh expressed the hope that through this conference, valuable advisory insights will be gathered to enable timely enhancements and refinement of the Capital Planning for the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision extending to 2050.

Vietnam, China enhance communications work on special ties

Standing deputy head of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)’s Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education Lai Xuan Mon on September 24 received Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee and Minister of the State Council Information Office Sun Yeli.

At the reception, Mon stressed Vietnam always values the relations with China, which have been fostered by generations of leaders from both sides, adding Vietnam, on the basis of its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation, wants to promote the bilateral ties with stronger political trust, more effective and practical cooperation across the fields of mutual concern in the new stage.

He also briefed the Chinese guest on Vietnam’s achievements after more than 35 years of Doi moi (Renewal), and results of work in the first half of the tenure of the 13th Party Central Committee.

Sun said he is impressed by the achievements that Vietnam has attained under the leadership of the CPV, and expressed his hope that the Vietnamese Commission for Information and Education and the Chinese Publicity Department will enjoy more effective and practical cooperation in the time ahead.

The two sides discussed and highly valued the development of the relations between the two Parties, States and peoples over the past time, especially after the visit to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

They reached consensus on further coordination in communications work to raise public awareness of the special friendship between the two Parties, States and peoples as well as enhance the dissemination of information on socio-economic development and important political-cultural and external activities in each nation.

The two officials also agreed to step up cooperation in political theory, press-publication, and management of information on social networks, among others.

Besides, they concurred to soon exchange information and materials for communications work and facilitate direct exchanges of their units, and direct press agencies to highlight the Vietnam – China relations and their support for each other at the regional and international forums, as well as popularise the perceptions reached by Party and State leaders of both sides, making contributions to promoting and creating favourable conditions for development in each nation.

Vietnam attends quarterly meeting of ASEAN Committee in Geneva

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other international organisations in Geneva, attended a quarterly meeting of the ASEAN Committee in Geneva on September 23.

Permanent Representative of Indonesia Ambassador Febrian A. Ruddyard briefed participants of the outcomes of the 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summit which were organised from September 4-7 in Jakarta by Indonesia as ASEAN Chair in 2023. The summits saw the participation of about 2,500 delegates from 10 ASEAN member states, 12 partner countries, and nine international organisations. As many as 90 documents were passed, including several important ones such as the Chairman’s Statement of the 43rd ASEAN Summit, ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on the ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue. Indonesia handed the ASEAN chairmanship in 2024 to Laos.

At the meeting, Mai and the representatives of the missions of ASEAN countries discussed and agreed on the common activities and initiatives of the bloc and shared ideas of Vietnam and other ASEAN member states at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other multilateral forums in Geneva.

Mai also informed the participants about Vietnam’s decision to run for seats at a number of forums and proposed ASEAN member states and Timor Leste support Vietnam’s candidacy.

The participants agreed to increase coordination as well as culture, sport and culinary exchanges to enhance understanding and solidarity of the ASEAN community in Geneva, thereby  helping to popularise ASEAN’s identity on the international arena.

UNDP to increase support for disadvantaged groups in Vietnam: Resident Representative

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will focus on helping Vietnam in general and the labour, invalids and social affairs sector in particular in supporting disadvantaged groups, and extending cooperation to many new areas in the coming time, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam Ramla Al Khalidi has said.

Meeting Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung recently, Ramla Khalidi proposed the two sides coordinate in implementing new projects related to employment support for people with disabilities (PwDs) and bomb and mine victims, raise the voice of PwDs in public agencies and at political forums, and protect vulnerable persons such as workers who lose their jobs due to factory closures during the just energy transition process.

Dung said that the Vietnamese Government in general and his ministry in particular recognise and appreciate the support and cooperation of the UNDP Office in Vietnam in researching and perfecting mechanisms and policies on poverty reduction, building multidimensional poverty standards, assisting bomb and mine victims, and proposing the content of the National Target Programme for Sustainable Poverty Reduction for the 2021-2025 period.

He shared with the guest that in the coming time, Vietnam will focus on three strategic breakthroughs of reforming institutions, improving infrastructure, and developing high-quality human resources.

According to him, over the past 10 years, Vietnam has focused on social welfare, with special attention paid to the disadvantaged. In the next decade, the country will transform and develop social welfare policies that are comprehensive, inclusive, modern and sustainable.

Policies will be designed to take care of not only vulnerable groups, but also the whole society, with everyone receiving equal benefits, he stressed.

To that end, Vietnam will focus on developing an effective and sustainable labour market, solving poverty in ethnic-inhabited areas, and developing education and health, particularly in increasing the coverage of social insurance and health insurance, added Dung.

Hanoi delegation visits China’s Guangdong province

Dinh Tien Dung, Politburo member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, met with Huang Kunming, Politburo member of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Secretary of the Guangdong Party Committee, on September 25 as part of the Vietnamese official’s ongoing visit to China.

At the meeting, Dung stressed that his visit aims to further concretise and implement common perceptions reached by top leaders of the two Parties and countries during the visit to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong late October 2022, contributing to maintaining high-level exchanges and contacts, and fostering the friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between localities of the two countries, including Guangdong province and Hanoi capital city.

Vietnam always attaches importance to and backs comprehensive and substantive cooperation with Guangdong, he stressed.

Dung suggested promoting the mechanism to periodically review cooperation between Vietnam and Guangdong, increasing all-level delegation exchanges between Guangdong and Vietnamese localities under various formats, and stepping up the exchange of experience in Party building and socio-economic development.

He called on Guangdong leaders to facilitate the friendship between Hanoi and the province as well as its Guangzhou city.

The official also suggested the two sides beef up substantive collaboration in different areas, and noted his hope that Guangdong will further open its door for Vietnamese agro-aquatic products, and fruits, enabling them to join the global supply chain of Guangdong businesses more deeply.

Enhancing exchanges between residents of Guangdong and Vietnamese localities, including Hanoi, will contribute to creating a sustainable foundation for the Vietnam-China relations to grow further, he said.

For his part, Huang stressed that Guangzhou needs to learn from Hanoi’s experience in some aspects like construction and vehicle management.

Earlier the same day, Dung and his entourage attended a closing ceremony of a training class for Hanoi officials in Guangzhou.

Cuban delegation visits Vietnam-Cuba friendship hospital in Dong Hoi

A Cuban high-level delegation headed by President of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez on September 25 visited the Vietnam-Cuba friendship hospital in the central province of Quang Binh’s Dong Hoi city, which was built in 1973 following then President Fidel Castro's visit to the region.

Welcoming the delegation, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and head of the provincial delegation of NA deputies Vu Dai Thang highlighted Quang Binh’s appreciation of Cuba’s affection and assistance for the province and the liberated zone in South Vietnam during the fiercest days of the struggle.

Recently, as part of a visit by Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue to Cuba in late April, the provincial People's Committee signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation with the Cuban Ministry of Public Health and an intent letter with Santiago de Cuba province to establish cooperative relations.

Thang affirmed that in the near future, Quang Binh will continue to educate the young generation about the tradition of sound cooperation and friendship between the two countries’ Parties, States, and people. The province hopes that Cuba will continue sending medical experts to work at the hospital and that Cuban construction experts will further participate in supervising important projects in Vietnam.

Highlighting the hospital as a permanent symbol of the bilateral friendship and solidarity, Esteban Lazo Hernandez expressed his happiness in witnessing positive economic changes and improving social standards and quality of life in Vietnam, particularly Quang Binh. He noted that the Southeast Asian nation’s increasing political stature on the international stage, which has been recognised by international friends worldwide.

On the same day, the Cuban delegation laid a wreath to pay respects to Fidel Castro at his monument in the premises of the hospital. They also visited young patients under treatment at the pediatric ward, and engaged in conversations with the hospital's medical staff and doctors.

In September 1973, Fidel Castro visited the newly liberated areas of Quang Binh and Quang Tri despite numerous dangers. The leader decided to help Vietnam build a general hospital equipped with the latest equipment in Dong Hoi, offering treatment for not only local residents but also to neighbouring localities. The construction began in May 1974 and the 462-bed medical facility was put into operation in September 1981.

Now, the hospital accommodates more than 1,000 beds and creates close to 850 jobs.

Vietnamese NA General Secretary meets with Bulgarian counterpart

National Assembly (NA) General Secretary and Chairman of the NA Office Bui Van Cuong, who is accompanying NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on an official visit to Bulgaria, had a working session with Secretary General of the Bulgarian NA Stefana Karaslavova on September 25 (local time).

Cuong said he was very impressed with the beauty and peacefulness of Bulgaria as well as friendly and hospitable Bulgarian people.

He said that Vietnam attaches great importance to relations with European countries, including traditional friends like Bulgaria, and always remembers the support that Bulgaria has given Vietnam.

For her part, Karaslavova expressed her pleasure at the positive development of partnership between the two NAs over the years, including cooperation between the Vietnamese NA Office and the Bulgarian NA Secretariat. There are many areas where the two agencies can learn from each other, she said.

Agreeing with Karaslavova, Cuong said that the NA Chairman Hue’s visit is the first paid by a top Vietnamese legislator after 15 years, and expressed his belief that the visit will be an important milestone in the relations between the two countries and their parliarments.

During this visit, the top legislators of the two countries will sign a new memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation between the two legislatures, which includes updated contents to suit the current situation.

Cuong and Karaslavova are also scheduled to sign an MoU, enabling their agencies to share experience and better perform their tasks.

At the working session, the two sides discussed specific cooperation areas after the signing of the MoUs. They pledged to work hard together to effectively realise the outcomes of NA Chairman Hue’s visit as well as the MoU between the two NAs.

Cuong also took the occasion to invite Karaslavova to visit Vietnam.

HCM City delegation provides health check-ups for needy people in Cambodia

The State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (SCOVA) and the Union of Friendship Organisations in Ho Chi Minh City have visited, provided health check-ups and medicines, and presented gifts to Cambodians and those of Vietnamese origin in difficult circumstances in the neighbouring country.

The annual programme, which took place from September 22-26, has benefited 750 households in Phnom Penh capital city, and Kampot and Takeo provinces of Cambodia.

Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Huy Tang emphasised the significance of the programme, which, he said, has contributed to tightening the friendship and traditional relationship between the two countries.

Dinh Thi Phuong Thao, head of the delegation, who is also Vice Chairwoman of the SCOVA’s HCM City chapter, said the programme has been carried out over the past 10 years, aiming to provide health care for Vietnamese in Cambodia.

Unlike the previous years, the 2023 programme has offered necessities and food to people in the country, she continued.

Within the framework of the event, the delegation presented a Vietnamese bookshelf worth 5 million VND (204 USD) to Cambodia-Vietnam friendship primary school in Takeo.

Vietnamese politics academy welcomes new RoK Ambassador

Politburo member and President of the Ho Chi Minh Academy of Politics (HCMA) Nguyen Xuan Thang hosted a reception in Hanoi on September 25 for Choi Youngsam, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea (RoK), who has just begun his term in Vietnam.

Appreciating Choi's appointment as RoK Ambassador to Vietnam, Thang said he believed that the diplomat, with his capacity and experience, will excel in his position and make important contributions to further promote and deepen the Vietnam - RoK comprehensive strategic partnership.

Relations between the two countries have developed very well, especially since they established a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2022.  Cooperation between the HCMA and Korean partners has also been thriving, he said.

Thanks to funding from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), the academy and RoK partners have effectively carried out many cooperation programmes and projects in training and research, he continued.

To strengthen and promote cooperative activities between the two sides in the coming time, Thang suggested the Ambassador and the Embassy continue supporting the implementation of joint research programmes and projects, such as building a set of evaluation indicators on government performance, as well as coordination to organise bilateral and regional forums on topics of mutual interest.

For his part, Ambassador Choi Youngsam expressed his honour to be appointed ambassador to Vietnam at a time when Vietnam-RoK relationship is at its best ever.

Sharing Thang's proposals, the Ambassador affirmed that the most important task during his term in Vietnam is to consolidate and enhance the political trust between the two countries. He pledged to do his utmost to successfully implement cooperation programmes with the HCMA in the coming time.

Vietnam-Netherlands diplomatic ties anniversary celebrated in Can Tho

The Union of Friendship Organisations in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho and the Dutch Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City jointly organised a ceremony on September 25 to mark the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between Vietnam and the Netherlands (1973-2023).

Addressing the function, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thuc Hien reviewed developments of the bilateral relations over the past 50 years, saying Can Tho has organised diverse activities to celebrate the anniversary.

The comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and the Netherlands as well as cooperation between Can Tho and Dutch localities will grow further for the sake of the two countries, and for peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world at large, he said.

Professor Ha Thanh Toan, Rector of Can Tho University, highlighted cooperation between the university and the Netherlands, thus contributing to the bilateral friendship.

The university and its Dutch partners have conducted 15 joint projects with total funding of 395,030 EUR (420,225 USD), and signed six memoranda of understanding and agreements on collaboration in education and training, and scientific research, he added.

Dutch Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Daniel Stork said he is proud of the close solidarity and friendship between the two countries, noting both nations have been aware of upgrading their relationship, and working together to address global challenges such as climate change and those regarding sustainable agriculture and water resources management.

The diplomat expressed his belief that the cooperation between the Netherlands and Vietnam in general and Can Tho particular will grow more fruitfully and intensively in the time ahead.

Vietnamese, Cambodian border guards forces coordinate in border management

The Border Guard Command of the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai and representatives from the three border protection forces of Cambodia's Ratanakiri province discussed measures to ensure security, protect and manage border areas and combat cross-border crimes during their talks on September 25.

The two sides discussed the border security situation and border management recently, while proposing orientations and measures to jointly manage and protect the border in the coming time, towards a common borderline of peace, friendship, and cooperation for mutual development between the two countries.

The two sides agreed to continue implementing the memorandum of understanding among the border protection forces, focusing on maintaining coordination and border protection management in accordance with agreements, protocols, and press releases of the two governments, as well as related agreements.

They will also strengthen the exchange of information related to border protection and management tasks, and effectively prevent crimes, especially drug and human trafficking, violations of border regulations, and illegal immigration and border crossing.

Speaking at the talks, Major General Tran Tien Hai, Commander of the Border Guard Command of Gia Lai province, stated that in the coming time, the agency will continue to direct local border posts to proactively develop plans to collaborate with Cambodian border protection forces, increase the frequency of joint patrols along demarcated border sections. This contributes to maintaining border security and stability, preventing conflicts and disputes; and strengthening friendship and cooperation between the two countries,  Hai stressed.

On this occasion, the Border Guard Command of Gia Lai presented 50,000 USD to the representatives of the three Cambodian border protection forces to help them build command offices, and purchase necessary equipment for their work.

Vietnam, Cuba news agencies forge cooperation

General Director of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Vu Viet Trang held talks with President of Cuban news agency Prensa Latina (PL) Luis Enrique Gonzalez Acosta in Hanoi on September 25.

Welcoming the PL leader and his entourage, Trang briefed the guests on the VNA’s role as a key multimedia news agency in Vietnam as well as its bold steps to accelerate digital transformation.

She expressed her delight at the practical and effective cooperation between the two news agencies over the past years, which has accompanied the development history of the Vietnam – Cuba special friendship.

She said she wishes that the two sides will maintain their collaboration, while affirming the VNA will work closely with the PL to preserve and develop cooperative ties, which have been treasured by generations of leaders of both sides in the past six decades.

For his part, Gonzalez Acosta said that the cooperation with the VNA is strategic, developed on the basis of the time-tested relations between the two countries.

He said with effective coordination, both agencies completed the book “Fidel Castro – Nuestra Sangre Por Vietnam” (Fidel Castro: Our Blood for Vietnam) on time to mark the 50th anniversary of the Cuban leader’s first visit to the Southeast Asian country; and jointly organised a photo exhibition on the bilateral ties.

At the talks, Gonzalez Acosta and Editor-in-Chief of the VNA’s Vietnam Pictorial Nguyen Thang signed a cooperation agreement on printing and issuing the Spanish-version of the Vietnam Pictorial.

Under a cooperation deal signed on April 18, 2023, both agencies have exchanged news in English, French, and Spanish. The VNA has provided the PL with video news in Spanish and photos with captions in English.

The PL has sent its experts to the VNA every year to support the latter to produce Spanish news and train VNA sub-editors as well as printing and circulating the Spanish-version of the Vietnam Pictorial.

Besides, they have supported each other’s correspondents, with the VNA providing parts of operation costs for the PL office in Hanoi, while the PL always stands ready to support the VNA correspondents in Havana.

Da Nang promotes cooperation with Lao localities

A delegation from the Lao National Assembly (NA)’s Ethnic Affairs Committee led by its chairman Khamchanh Sotapaserth has had a working session with leaders of the central city of Da Nang, as part of its working trip to Vietnam.

At the event, Luong Nguyen Minh Triet, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the municipal Party Committee and Chairman of the municipal People’s Council briefed the guests on the city’s socio-economic development post COVID-19 pandemic.

Currently, tourism is one of the development strengths of Da Nang. Since the beginning of this year, the city has welcomed nearly 5.4 million tourists, including 1.5 million foreigners, he said on September 22.

Da Nang city is prioritising the development of fields of its strength such as seaports, logistics, information technology, communications, electronics and telecommunications and focusing on developing the digital economy, the official noted.

Triet said that the city has cooperative relations with seven localities in Laos, elaborating that the two sides have enjoyed comprehensive cooperation in all fields and regularly maintained the exchange of delegations to help realise collaboration.

Da Nang city always pays attention to and appreciates the cooperation with localities in Laos, he continued.

For his part, Sotapaserth praised Da Nang’s recovery and development in the post-COVID-19 pandemic. He also took the opportunity to thank the city’s administration for facilitating cooperation with Lao localities.

The visit will help connect and promote tourism and socio-economic development between the two sides, he said.

Parliamentary diplomacy - crucial link in France-Vietnam relations: parliamentarian

Parliamentary diplomacy is an important link in the cooperation between France and Vietnam, said President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Group (FVFPG) Anne Le Hénanff.

In a recent interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency’s correspondent in France, Hénanff highlighted the fruitful development of the strategic partnership between Vietnam and France, saying that since upgrading their relationship to a strategic partnership in 2013, the two countries have enjoyed flourishing relations.

The goal of the strategic partnership is to strengthen bilateral cooperation across fields, especially in economics, culture, education, and defence, she stressed.

According to the parliamentarian, diplomatic relations have been marked by the exchange of many high-level delegations, contributing to renewing the strategic partnership. The most recent significant event was Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s visit to France in November 2021. On this occasion, both sides issued a joint statement on further deepening the strategic partnership.

Regarding the issue of climate change, as one of the priorities mentioned in the joint statement, France has been committed to joining hands with Vietnam to implement the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) signed between Vietnam and partners from the Group of Seven (G7).

This partnership will support Vietnam's ambitious goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and speeding up the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy, Hénanff said.

As part of this partnership, through the French Development Agency (AFD), France has committed to mobilising 500 million EUR (531.3 million USD) in 3 - 5 years to develop projects that expedite the ecological transition.

Cooperation between the two countries in other areas such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure, has also witnessed notable results.

The potential for cooperation between Vietnam and France is immense and built upon the foundation of long-standing relations, she said, affirming that there are many reasons to be optimistic about bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

The two governments have repeatedly demonstrated a strong political will to promote bilateral cooperation. Vietnam and France have maintained regular dialogue channels between relevant agencies in terms of economics, strategy, and defence. The bilateral relations are also based on the close ties between Vietnamese and French localities, and decentralised cooperation forums, she said, noting that friendship parliamentary groups, including the FVFPG, play a central role in the relation.

Hénanff underlined the need for the two countries to prioritise maintaining high-level exchanges and strengthening cooperation in the fight against climate change, digital technology and security.

Cooperation in culture and teaching of the French language should be top priorities in the bilateral relationship because they contribute to promoting mutual understanding and solidarity among nations, as well as exchanges between the two countries, she added.

Two million helmets to be presented to first graders in this school year

As many as 2 million helmets will be presented to first graders nationwide in the 2023 - 2024 academic year under a programme launched by the National Traffic Safety Committee, the Ministry of Education and Training, and Honda Vietnam on September 25.

Addressing the launch at the Phu Do Primary School in Hanoi, General Director of Honda Vietnam Koji Sugita said the company pledges to take every possible measure for realising Honda’s global target of no traffic deaths related to Honda motorcycles and automobiles by 2050, and the Vietnamese Government’s target of no deaths related to road accidents by 2045.

He noted wearing qualified helmets is a practical and important solution to protect motorcyclists and their families. It is crucial for helping first graders, who are in an important age group of awareness formation, adopt the habit of wearing qualified helmets on a motorcycle.

A broader target that Honda Vietnam aims at is to promote the habit of wearing helmets among motorcyclists in the country, he went on, adding that it will continue providing traffic safety training for students and their parents and improving traffic safety awareness via public relations activities.

The programme was previously carried out nationwide by the three abovementioned parties from 2018 to 2020. After a hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Honda Vietnam resumed this programme in Hanoi, Can Tho, and Ho Chi Minh City in the 2022 - 2023 academic year.

The 2 million helmets to be presented in this year’s programme will raise the total so far to nearly 8.6 million.

Khuat Viet Hung, Vice Chairman of the National Traffic Safety Committee, said though traffic accidents in Vietnam have decreased considerably, the numbers of related deaths and injured persons remain excessive.

National statistics reveal that about 7,000 people in the country, including 600 - 700 children, lose their lives to traffic accidents every year. Meanwhile, 100 - 150 children sustain life-long injuries due to traffic accidents annually.

The Party and State always view reducing traffic accidents and easing the pain caused by the accidents as a highly important political task, Hung noted. He called on parents to lead good examples for their children to follow and teachers to constantly remind students to wear helmets when traveling by motorcycle or electric bike.

Vietnam to host fourth P4G Summit in 2025

Vietnam has attended the third Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit in Bogota, Colombia, and received the right to host the fourth summit in 2025.

Addressing the third summit, held on September 22 - 23, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Dang Quoc Khanh thanked other P4G members for supporting Vietnam to host the next event.

He affirmed that Vietnam will exert all-out efforts and hopes to receive experience and assistance from Colombia and other countries so that it can fulfill its role.

Vietnam will work to ensure the next summit’s agenda matches the P4G countries’ priorities and global concerns, including food security and poverty reduction, management and sustainable use of cross-border water resources, the building and operation of early warning systems and the monitoring of climate change impacts, finance for efforts towards net zero emissions and just energy transition, carbon smart agriculture, and a circular economy for plastics, the official noted.

During the third P4G Summit, Khanh had bilateral meetings with a deputy minister for development cooperation and global climate policy of Denmark, a deputy minister of environment of the Republic of Korea (RoK), the President and CEO of the World Resources Institute, and the P4G Executive Director.

The partners highly valued Vietnam’s proactiveness and sense of responsibility when it proposed to be the venue of the fourth P4G Summit in 2025. They also pledged to coordinate with Vietnam to successfully organise the event while improving the effectiveness and maximise the role of P4G in helping countries to carry out climate actions and targets.

Members of the Vietnamese delegation also took part in the summit’s group discussions about energy transition and sustainable cities. They had working sessions with the P4G Secretariat and P4G coordinators of Colombia and the RoK to share experience in holding P4G events.

The third P4G Summit, held by the Colombian Government, saw the presence of about 500 delegates from 12 countries and partner organisations. Themed “Transformative Alliances for Sustainability: Actions towards green growth and life”, it focused on biodiversity, energy transition, and sustainable cities.

The event reaffirmed the role of green growth in economic recovery and the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It also called on countries to create conditions for the private sector to further bring into play their role in promoting technological solutions, innovation, finance for green transition and sustainable development, and create new jobs in green industries.

P4G, whose predecessor is the Global Green Growth Forum (3GF), took shape in 2017 at the initiative of the Danish Government. It currently has 12 member countries, namely Denmark, Chile, Mexico, Vietnam, the RoK, Ethiopia, Kenya, Colombia, the Netherlands, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and South Africa. It is also participated by over 90 other countries, international organisations, and businesses.

Vietnam is one of the seven founding members and an official partner of P4G.

P4G is considered a leading forum in the world in promoting public - private partnership and connecting governments, businesses, and socio-political organisations in devising breakthrough solutions about green growth to help achieve the SDGs. Its summits are held every two years.

President welcomes leader of National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba

 President Vo Van Thuong has welcomed President of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez’s visit to Vietnam to attend a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Cuban leader Fidel Castro’s trip to the liberated zone in Southern Vietnam.

At a reception for Hernandez in Hanoi on September 25, Thuong said this is a special occasion to review the tradition of cooperation and solidarity between the two countries and to reminisce the sentiments of Fidel Castro, the State and people of Cuba for the Vietnamese people's struggle for national liberation, construction and development.

Vietnam has consistently supported Cuba's cause of national construction and development and stayed ready to share difficulties and challenges caused by sanctions, natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic with Cuba, he said, adding that at many global and regional forums, Vietnam always conveyed messages calling for the end of the blockade against Cuba.

Thuong proposed the two countries continue working closely together to make the bilateral comprehensive cooperation increasingly practical through the effective implementation of high-level agreements and existing cooperation mechanisms, bring into full play the good results of dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, and promote parliamentary diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges.

Congratulating Cuba on successfully hosting the G77+China Summit with the Havana Declaration, which showed Cuba's positive contributions to global issues and its growing position in the international arena. 

While affirming that Vietnam always exerts its utmost efforts to support and collaborate with Cuba, Thuong agreed with Hernandez’s proposals to encourage Vietnamese businesses to invest in Cuba, boost two-way trade and create favourable conditions for goods of the two nations to access each other's markets.

Hernandez, for his part, conveyed the regards of Gen. Raúl Castro Ruz and First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel to President Vo Van Thuong.

Cuba always treasures and wants to deepen the special traditional relationship and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam, he said.

Cuba hopes to learn from Vietnam's experiences in organising and managing small-sized enterprises and also looks forward to Vietnamese firms investing more strongly in Cuba in the coming time, he added.

VUFO President pays courtesy call to leader of Cuban legislature

A delegation from the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) led by its Vice President Nguyen Ngoc Hung paid a courtesy call to President of the National Assembly of People's Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez in Hanoi on September 24.

Hernandez will represent leaders of the Cuban Party and State to attend a ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of leader Fidel Castro’s trip to the liberated zone in Southern Vietnam.

Informing Hernandez about the results of the implementation of the friendship and cooperation agreement for the 2020-2025 period between VUFO and the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP), Hung said despite difficulties caused by COVID-19 pandemic over the past three years, the two sides have actively held rallies, meetings and information exchanges on the occasions of both countries' national holidays and important historical events, both in-person and online formats.

VUFO always takes the initiative and stays ready to cooperate with ICAP and the Cuban Embassy in Hanoi to hold solidarity and friendship activities, thus further fostering the close relations between the Parties, Governments, and people of the two countries. At the same time, it stands shoulder to shoulder with the Cuban people in their just struggle for the removal of the US' blockade against Cuba, he said.

Hernandez, for his part, affirmed that cooperation activities between the two countries’ friendship organisations have contributed to further tightening the special solidarity between their Parties, States and people.

He said the Cuban legislature has been studying Vietnam’s experience during its renewal process with a view to applying them in the process of social development and the building of laws in Cuba in particular.

According to him, his Vietnam visit is another contribution to the friendship between the two countries, Parties and States. He affirmed that the 50th anniversary of Castro’s visit to the liberated zone in South Vietnam is an occasion to commemorate the historic moment that will live forever in the hearts of the people, marking the development of the special and rare relationship between the two countries.

Hanoi seminar looks to reinforce tourism links with France

A seminar was held by the Vietnam - France Friendship Association of Hanoi on September 23 to seek ways for fostering tourism ties between the two countries.

It was part of activities marking the 50th anniversary of the countries’ diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership.

Nguyen Thai Dung, Vice Chairman of the friendship association, said Vietnam’s tourism sector has actively participated in many international cooperation activities, including in tourism, with France and obtained encouraging results.

The seminar was an occasion for travel companies to review tourism cooperation results, explore the countries’ tourism potential, examine obstacles to tourism development, and propose policies for fostering tourism links, thereby helping make breakthroughs in economic partnerships and popularise images of the two countries and their capital cities among businesses in the sector, he noted.

Vice Chairman of the Hanoi Tourism Association Le Ba Dung said the number of visitors from France, an important market of Vietnam’s tourism, to the Southeast Asian country as well as Hanoi has been increasing. However, the growth in the tourist number has yet to match the countries’ potential and advantages.

To enhance Vietnam and Hanoi’s attractiveness to French holidaymakers, more effective promotion measures are needed, he opined, recommending new tourism products be created, traditional communications channels maximised, digital technology and social networks applied, cooperation with tourism partners and airlines fostered, and support for tourists increased.

To Vietravel Hanoi, the strong connections between Vietnam and France provide good conditions for tourism development, job creation, and the expansion of tourism companies, hotels, restaurants, and other firms in both countries.

Le Thuy Nhung, a representative of Vietravel Hanoi, said travel between Vietnam and France doesn’t simply mean the movement between the two countries but promises experiences of the diversity and uniqueness of their cultures, cuisine, nature, and histories. It will enable tourists to not only see but also experience, learn, and connect with people in each other’s countries, helping tighten bilateral friendship and cooperation.

UNDP to increase support for disadvantaged groups in Vietnam: Resident Representative

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will focus on helping Vietnam in general and the labour, invalids and social affairs sector in particular in supporting disadvantaged groups, and extending cooperation to many new areas in the coming time, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam Ramla Al Khalidi has said.

Meeting Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung recently, Ramla Khalidi proposed the two sides coordinate in implementing new projects related to employment support for people with disabilities (PwDs) and bomb and mine victims, raise the voice of PwDs in public agencies and at political forums, and protect vulnerable persons such as workers who lose their jobs due to factory closures during the just energy transition process.

Dung said that the Vietnamese Government in general and his ministry in particular recognise and appreciate the support and cooperation of the UNDP Office in Vietnam in researching and perfecting mechanisms and policies on poverty reduction, building multidimensional poverty standards, assisting bomb and mine victims, and proposing the content of the National Target Programme for Sustainable Poverty Reduction for the 2021-2025 period.

He shared with the guest that in the coming time, Vietnam will focus on three strategic breakthroughs of reforming institutions, improving infrastructure, and developing high-quality human resources.

According to him, over the past 10 years, Vietnam has focused on social welfare, with special attention paid to the disadvantaged. In the next decade, the country will transform and develop social welfare policies that are comprehensive, inclusive, modern and sustainable.

Policies will be designed to take care of not only vulnerable groups, but also the whole society, with everyone receiving equal benefits, he stressed.

To that end, Vietnam will focus on developing an effective and sustainable labour market, solving poverty in ethnic-inhabited areas, and developing education and health, particularly in increasing the coverage of social insurance and health insurance, added Dung.

Vietnam attends quarterly meeting of ASEAN Committee in Geneva

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other international organisations in Geneva, attended a quarterly meeting of the ASEAN Committee in Geneva on September 23.

Permanent Representative of Indonesia Ambassador Febrian A. Ruddyard briefed participants of the outcomes of the 43rd ASEAN Summit and Related Summit which were organised from September 4-7 in Jakarta by Indonesia as ASEAN Chair in 2023. The summits saw the participation of about 2,500 delegates from 10 ASEAN member states, 12 partner countries, and nine international organisations. As many as 90 documents were passed, including several important ones such as the Chairman’s Statement of the 43rd ASEAN Summit, ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on the ASEAN Human Rights Dialogue. Indonesia handed the ASEAN chairmanship in 2024 to Laos.

At the meeting, Mai and the representatives of the missions of ASEAN countries discussed and agreed on the common activities and initiatives of the bloc and shared ideas of Vietnam and other ASEAN member states at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other multilateral forums in Geneva.

Mai also informed the participants about Vietnam’s decision to run for seats at a number of forums and proposed ASEAN member states and Timor Leste support Vietnam’s candidacy.

The participants agreed to increase coordination as well as culture, sport and culinary exchanges to enhance understanding and solidarity of the ASEAN community in Geneva, thereby  helping to popularise ASEAN’s identity on the international arena.

Vietnam, China enhance communications work on special ties

Standing deputy head of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)’s Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education Lai Xuan Mon on September 24 received Deputy Director of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee and Minister of the State Council Information Office Sun Yeli.

At the reception, Mon stressed Vietnam always values the relations with China, which have been fostered by generations of leaders from both sides, adding Vietnam, on the basis of its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation, wants to promote the bilateral ties with stronger political trust, more effective and practical cooperation across the fields of mutual concern in the new stage.

He also briefed the Chinese guest on Vietnam’s achievements after more than 35 years of Doi moi (Renewal), and results of work in the first half of the tenure of the 13th Party Central Committee.

Sun said he is impressed by the achievements that Vietnam has attained under the leadership of the CPV, and expressed his hope that the Vietnamese Commission for Information and Education and the Chinese Publicity Department will enjoy more effective and practical cooperation in the time ahead.

The two sides discussed and highly valued the development of the relations between the two Parties, States and peoples over the past time, especially after the visit to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

They reached consensus on further coordination in communications work to raise public awareness of the special friendship between the two Parties, States and peoples as well as enhance the dissemination of information on socio-economic development and important political-cultural and external activities in each nation.

The two officials also agreed to step up cooperation in political theory, press-publication, and management of information on social networks, among others.

Besides, they concurred to soon exchange information and materials for communications work and facilitate direct exchanges of their units, and direct press agencies to highlight the Vietnam – China relations and their support for each other at the regional and international forums, as well as popularise the perceptions reached by Party and State leaders of both sides, making contributions to promoting and creating favourable conditions for development in each nation.

Vietnam - Cuba relations far beyond all diplomatic, political levels: official

The relations between Vietnam and Cuba are very special, far beyond all diplomatic and political levels, said Secretary General of the National Assembly (NA) of People’s Power and the Council of State of Cuba Homero Acosta Alvarez.

He made the remark during an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of a visit to Vietnam from September 24 to 28 by Politburo member and President of the NA of People's Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernandez, who will also represent the Cuban Party and State leaders to attend a ceremony marking 50 years since Cuban leader Fidel Castro visited the liberated zone in South Vietnam in September 1973.

He noted that Cuba has diplomatic ties with many countries, but its relations with Vietnam are far beyond all diplomatic and political levels. They are the relations between two fraternal nations forged in the heat of their struggles against capitalism and the building of socialism.

With the fraternal solidarity founded by President Ho Chi Minh and leader Fidel Castro, the two countries can exchange opinions in an extremely straightforward and transparent manner that can hardly be seen in their relations with any other international partners, Alvarez said.

Cuba has learned much from Vietnam’s experience and appreciates Vietnam’s cooperation with it during trying times, he went on, adding that at bilateral meetings, the Southeast Asian nation has also shared similar feelings towards the Latin American nation.

During Vietnam’s resistance war against the US, Cuba set up the Committee for Solidarity with South Vietnam, helping promote international support for Vietnam’s revolutionary cause. Many years have passed, but the special solidarity between the two countries continues to be solidified and nurtured, the Secretary-General continued.

The official said that the Cuban people still keep in mind the image of Fidel Castro visiting the liberated zone in Quang Tri in September 1973. There, the Cuban leader passed Parallel 17, the provisional military demarcation line between North and South Vietnam, and held aloft the flag of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam. It was a significant event in the traditional fraternal ties between the two countries and also marked a stride in the rare special bilateral relations.

According to him, the trip by President of the Cuban NA Esteban Lazo is another contribution to the friendship between the two peoples, Parties, and States, following many mutual visits by the countries’ leaders.

During the trip, the Cuban NA President will have meetings with key leaders of Vietnam so as to seek ways for keeping strengthen legislative ties, along with economic and trade cooperation which should be elevated on par with political relations.

In addition, biotechnology, agriculture, fisheries, sports, and culture are also fields in which both sides boast fruitful cooperation in, Alvarez remarked, recommending that the immediate task is to consolidate what the countries have had and continue to further promote cooperation for the sake of the two peoples.

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