Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) shakes hands with Toshihiro Nikai, Secretary General of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan and Chairman of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance.

During his trip to Japan to attend the coronation ceremony of Emperor Naruhito, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc received Toshihiro Nikai, Secretary General of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) of Japan and Chairman of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance (JVPA).

At the event, he congratulated Japan for successfully organising the coronation ceremony, and believed that the country will continue reaping further achievement in building a prosperous nation under the Reiwa era.

PM Phuc laid a stress on the sound Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership which has been developed in various sectors such as economy, trade, investment, and labour, among others.

Nikai, for his part, spoke highly of the results in the bilateral cooperative ties, particularly in parliamentary exchange, collaboration at the local level, and people-to-people exchange.

Both sides agreed to boost trade and investment cooperation in the time ahead, increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, boost cooperation at the local level, and enhance mutual understanding so as to make the relations of cooperation and friendship more practical and effective.

At a reception for representatives of the Vietnamese intellectuals in Japan, PM Phuc expressed his delight at the development of the Vietnamese community in the host nation, and called the Vietnamese nationals to promote their role in connecting youths, businesses and peoples of both nations, contributing to deepening the bilateral ties.

Professor Tran Van Tho, Chairman of the Vietnamese people association in Japan, affirmed that the Vietnamese community always works to promote solidarity, and stands ready to contribute more to the national development as well as the Vietnam-Japan relations./.

Azerbaijan looks to boost multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam

Vietnamese Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh (L) and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev

Azerbaijan considers Vietnam an important partner in Southeast Asia and hopes to strengthen multifaceted relations with the country, said Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.

Aliyev made the statement at a meeting on October 24 with Vietnamese Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh in Baku before the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit opens on October 25.

During their meeting, the Vietnamese official affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to developing and expanding the traditional friendship and all-around cooperation with Azerbaijan.

She suggested that the two countries increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, optimize the Vietnam-Azerbaijan Intergovernmental Committee for economic-trade and science-technology cooperation and bolster partnership between their localities, particularly in the fields of oil and gas, education-training and tourism.

Discussing international and regional issues, Vice President Thinh and President Aliyev reached consensus on the need to uphold the rule of law in international relations.

Regarding the recent complicated developments on the East Sea, the Azerbaijani President expressed support of the stance of Vietnam and ASEAN on addressing disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); respecting countries’ sovereignty, thus contributing to maintaining peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

In this spirit, the two sides agreed to enhance coordination at international forums and organisations, especially the UN and the NAM.

They shared the view on the need to improve the role and effectiveness of the NAM in preserving peace and stability in the world.

The same day, Vice President Thinh chaired a meeting with Azerbaijani friends on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s visit to Azerbaijan./.

Activities planned to mark 70th Day of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers, experts in Laos

Colonel Trinh Van Hung speaks at the press conference.

Many activities will be held to mark the 70th Day of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers, experts in Laos (October 30, 1949, 2019), the General Political Department under the Defence Ministry announced on October 24.

At a press conference on October 24, Colonel Trinh Van Hung, deputy director of the Popularisation and Training Department under the General Political Department, said the main event will be a commemorative ceremony slated for October 29 in Hanoi.

The ceremony will be attended by leaders of the Party, State and Vietnam Fatherland Front, and a high-level delegation of the Lao Party and State.

Hung said the Quan doi Nhan dan (People’s Army) newspaper has held a talk on the theme, and conferences have been organized in the northern, Central Highlands and southern regions on the anniversary, focusing on the formation, combat and development of the contingent of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers, experts in Laos./.

NA deputies to debate amendments to Law on Government Organisation

A discussion at the NA's eighth session

National Assembly (NA) deputies will have a plenary discussion on October 25 as part of their ongoing eighth session, focusing on the draft law on amendments and supplements to a number of articles of the Law on Government Organisation and the Law on Local Administration Organisation.

The bill was earlier debated at the NA’s seventh session and the 35th meeting of the NA Standing Committee.

Regarding the amendments and supplements to articles of the Law on Government Organisation, the deputies will give ideas on the framework regulation on the number of specialized agencies under the management of the provincial and district People’s Committees as well as criteria for the formation of administrative organisations.

They will discuss rules on the minimum number of public servants and the maximum number of leaders at the deputy head level at administrative organizations and public administrative units.

On the amendments and supplements to articles of the Law on Local Administration Organisation, the deputies will debate the decentralization and authorization, as well as the model of local administrationorganization and the number of vice chairpersons at provincial People’s Council, and the supporting units for local administrations, among others.

In the afternoon, the deputies will listen to a report explaining and adjusting the draft law on the amendments and supplements to a number of articles of the Law on State Audit before giving opinions on the bill.

The bill was debated at the NA’s seventh session. However, the deputies have yet to reach consensus on a number of contents, including some adjustments to make it coherent to the Law on Anti-Corruption, as well as regulations on the responsibilities of the State Auditor General on deciding and deploying measures to prevent corruption inside the State Audit organization in line with the Law on Anti-Corruption./.

Deputy PM hosts visiting RoK Deputy FM for Economic Affairs

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue (R) and Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Korea’s Foreign Ministry Yun Kang-hyeon

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue hosted a reception for visiting Deputy Minister for Economic Affairs of the Republic of Korea’s Foreign Ministry Yun Kang-hyeon on October 24.

Yun is Hanoi to attend the 17th meeting of the Vietnam-RoK Inter-Governmental Committee for Economic and Scientific-Technological Cooperation, which took place a day earlier.

Yun informed Hue of the results of the session and hailed the two countries’ bilateral relations which he described as thriving in all areas, particularly in investment, trade and tourism. Vietnam is expected to become the RoK’s third largest trade partner in 2020 with two-way trade reaching 100 billion USD, he said.

The Korean official said he hopes that the second Deputy Prime Ministers’ Dialogue between the two nations will be held in the central city of Da Nang next year.

Deputy PM Hue, for his part, said the two countries have engaged in mutiple exchange mechanisms and they held the Deputy Prime Ministers’ Dialogue for the first time in Seoul in June.

He highly spoke of the significance of the 17th meeting of the Vietnam-RoK Inter-Governmental Committee for Economic and Scientific-Technological Cooperation, saying it provided an opportunity to review what had been achieved in the implementation of commitments by top Vietnamese and Korean leaders in the first Deputy Prime Ministers’ Dialogue.

He also asked the Inter-Government Committee to propose breakthrough solutions to boost the bilateral trade and soon balance the trade as Vietnam has run trade deficit with the RoK.

At the 17th meeting of the committee, Vietnam and the RoK looked back at the first Deputy Ministers’ Dialogue on Economic Cooperation during which the two nations discussed and reached consensus on initiatives and cooperation contents in the spheres of trade and investment; finance – banking and development cooperation; infrastructure, construction and energy; industry, agriculture, science-technology and information and communications technology; and labour and healthcare.

The two sides outlined cooperation orientations for the coming time, and make preparations for PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to the RoK on the occasion of the ASEAN-RoK Commemorative Summit in November.

Vietnam and the RoK have witnessed robust development in their bilateral ties in the past year. The all-round cooperation has brought benefits, and enhanced mutual understanding and trust between their people.

Last year, the RoK was Vietnam’s third largest trade partner, just after China and the EU. It was also the fourth largest importer and second largest exporter of the Southeast Asian country. Vietnam exported 18.2 billion USD to while importing 47.5 billion USD worth of products from the RoK in 2018./.

Vietnam endorses ASEAN-Russia cooperation: Ambassador

At the conference themed “ASEAN-Russia relations: Vietnam’s role”

Vietnam always welcomes and supports the intensification of ASEAN-Russia cooperative relations, and appreciates Russia’s important role in maintaining regional peace and stability, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Ngo Duc Manh on October 23.

He made the statement while attending a conference themed “ASEAN-Russia relations: Vietnam’s role”, held by the Vietnamese Embassy in collaboration with the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO University)’s ASEAN Centre.

Highlighting sound ASEAN-Russia relations, the Vietnamese diplomat said the two nations have enjoyed robust political ties, with delegation exchanges at all levels being maintained.

Regarding the security field, they are working together to fight traditional and non-traditional threats such as terrorism and transnational crimes, as well as settling issues related to marine security and freedom of navigation and aviation.

Both sides also support the implementation of the Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct of Parties in the waters, he added, affirming respect of international laws and principles and prevention of protectionism and unilateral acts are a solid foundation for the ASEAN-Russia strategic partnership in the field of politics-security.

Touching on economic-trade collaboration, Ambassador Manh believed that both sides need to make further efforts to develop potential in the field.

Anton Golubev, a representative from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spoke highly of Vietnam-Russia ties, noting the Southeast Asian country is playing a prominent role in promoting relations between ASEAN and Russia.

Grigory Lokshin from the Institute for Far Eastern Studies’ Centre for Vietnam and ASEAN Studies, said he supported Russia’s attempts to expand cooperation with ASEAN member states, especially in energy.

He stated that Vietnam-Russia cooperation in oil and gas has brought benefits to both nations.

As the East Sea issue develops in a more complicated manner, he called for relevant sides to obey international regulations, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), and settle conflicts by peaceful means.

Director of the MGIMO University’s ASEAN Centre Victor Sumski told Vietnam News Agency correspondents that mutual trust is the highlight of the ASEAN-Russia strategic partnership, and both sides should enhance trade cooperation via breakthrough economic projects.

Experts at the conference also discussed challenges to cooperation across economy and trade, investment, education and culture between Vietnam and Russia, hoping competent agencies of both sides will work to remove bottlenecks so bilateral cooperation can develop in line with traditional relations formed over the past seven decades.

Scholars described the conference as an important event as it marked one year since ASEAN and Russia set up their strategic partnership, and in the context that ASEAN member states and Russia share many mutual benefits and face emerging challenges that need coordination for effective resolution./.

Vietnam treasures ties with China’s Yunnan province: Deputy PM

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue (R) receives Deputy Secretary of Yunnan province’s Party Committee Wang Yobo in Hanoi on October 23.

The Vietnamese Government has attached much importance to relations with Yunnan province, and agreed to increase the exchange of high-level delegations and step up bilateral cooperation in tourism, culture and science-technology, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue said.

Receiving Deputy Secretary of Yunnan province’s Party Committee Wang Yobo in Hanoi on October 23, Deputy PM Hue stressed the Vietnamese Party and Government always treasure the friendship and practical cooperation with their Chinese counterparts.

Vietnam wants to join hands with China to carry out high-level agreements and perceptions, enhance political trust, deepen cooperative ties and properly settle existing issues on the basis of legal regulations and respect for each other’s legitimate benefits, he said.

Wang said as Yunnan has targeted to become a China’s gateway to South Asia, the province always treasures its relations with Vietnam, and wants to enhance multifaceted cooperation with the nation.

He expected that trade value between the two sides would be higher than the figure of 4.2 billion USD in 2018, accounting for only 2.8 percent of Vietnam-China trade revenue in the year.

Yunnan stands ready to purchase Vietnamese farm produce in the time ahead, and wants to develop the Hekou free trade area and help Vietnam’s Lao Cai province become a cross-border cooperation area between the two nations, Wang said, suggesting the two sides permit self-driving tours to boost tourism.

Deputy PM Hue agreed with Wang’s proposals in bolstering two-way trade, pointing out that Vietnamese exporters are facing a lot of difficulties while shipping farm produce to China through Thanh Thuy border gate in Ha Giang province and Tan Thanh border gate in Lang Son province, and urging leaders of Yunnan to help address the matters./.

UN a priority in Vietnam’s foreign policy: Deputy PM

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh (R) shakes hands with UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Kamal Malhotra.

Vietnam always takes the United Nations (UN) as a top priority in the country’s foreign policy, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh said on October 23.

Hosting a reception for UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Kamal Malhotra and representatives of the UN in the country on the occasion of the UN Day (October 24), Deputy PM Binh stressed that the UN has been a dear friend of Vietnam since the times of hardships after the war, and the country attaches much importance to the cooperative ties with the UN.

Binh stressed Vietnam’s stance of supporting UN’s efforts to reform its development network to boost the efficiency of the development cooperation among countries across the world, assist member states’ development priorities, as well as successfully implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

He held that the Resident Coordinator should focus resources for the goal of supporting socio-economic development, thus realising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly poverty elimination.

The Deputy PM held high expectation that the coordinator will work to connect all UN organisations in implementing entrusted missions while ensuring autonomy and comparative advantages of each agency.

He took the occasion to ask the UN organisations to forecast and update new trends and possible crises in the region and the world and their impact on Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Government will continue its cooperation activities with the UN, and create favourable conditions for the UN organisations so that they can carry out projects and programmes in the country in the most effective fashion, he said.

He asked the Government Office, the Ministries of Planning and Investment, Finance, and Foreign Affairs to coordinate with competent ministries and sectors to review and outline measures to simplify ODA management and reception procedures, as well as approve non-refundable aid projects to take advantage of the international support.

On behalf of the UN organisations in Vietnam, Kamal Malhotra congratulated Vietnam on its achievements and prestige in the international arena. He thanked the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry for its coordination to organise the Meeting on the UN Development System Reform, and hoped that Vietnam will be a leading contributor to the system.

The UN will accompany Vietnam on the way to achieve all the SDGs and ensure that no one is left behind, he said, stressing it will support the Southeast Asian country in policies to improve labour capacity and competitiveness to avoid the mid-income trap./.

Symposium highlights Vietnam-Laos combatant alliance

The Quan Doi Nhan dan (People’s Army) daily and the Association of Vietnamese Soldiers and Experts in Laos held a symposium in Hanoi on October 23, stressing the inevitability and the need of the Vietnam-Laos combatant alliance.

The event, attended by representatives of the Lao Embassy in Vietnam, was held on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Traditional Day of Vietnamese Volunteer Soldiers and Experts in Laos.

Maj. Gen. Pham Van Huan, Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper, said the function created a chance to review major achievements, military exploits and contributions by Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts in Laos to the revolutionary causes of the two Parties and peoples.

In his letter to the participants, former Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu affirmed that over the recent years, the relations of traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries have been continuously nurtured, consolidated and strengthened into an invaluable asset and a rule for successes in the national construction and development of each country.

The former leader also expressed his hope that the generations of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts in Laos will continue bringing into full play their fine tradition to help consolidate and strengthen the friendship and special solidarity between the two Parties, States, peoples and armies.

Participants at the symposium affirmed that in the stages of the revolution, the Communist Party of Vietnam’s leadership and President Ho Chi Minh’s ideology that helping friends means self-help have always served as a compass for the military scientific way of thinking and revolutionary methodology of volunteer soldiers and experts helping the Lao revolution.

The bilateral relations are not only special but also exemplary for international conducts in the new era, they concluded./.

PM wraps up Japan trip for Emperor’s coronation ceremony

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and Japanese Emperor Naruhito

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his entourage on October 23 concluded the Japan trip to attend the coronation ceremony of Emperor Naruhito.

The PM’s participation at the event reflects Vietnam’s attachment of importance to the extensive strategic partnership with Japan, its top important economic partner, the largest supplier of official development assistance, the second largest investor and the fourth largest trade partner. The two countries are also members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Together with heads of state and high-level leaders of over 190 countries, territories and international organisations, PM Phuc joined solemn rituals at the Imperial House of Japan.

The Vietnamese leader also attended a banquet hosted by the Japanese Emperor and Empress.

Meeting the Japanese Emperor, he expressed his belief that under the sound leadership of the Emperor and Empress, Japan will enter a new era of prosperous development.

He wished that the Emperor would support the development of the Vietnam – Japan ties for the benefit of the two peoples, contributing to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

While in Japan, the PM met bilaterally with PM of the Czech Republic Andrej Babis, President of Bulgaria Rumen Radev and President of Albania Ilir Meta, and received Governor of Kanagawa prefecture Yuji Kuroiwa, President and CEO of Nikkei Group Naotoshi Okada, and Chairman and CEO of SoftBank Masayoshi Son.

Meeting with countries’ leaders, PM Phuc discussed measures to deepen bilateral ties, towards the 70th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year.

Leaders of the three countries agreed to strengthen bilateral friendship and debated ways to enhance mutual support with Vietnam at regional and international forums, especially when Vietnam becomes ASEAN Chair in 2020 and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020 – 2021 tenure.

They also highlighted the importance of maintaining peace, stability, maritime security and safety in the East Sea, and supported the settlement of disputes by peaceful means in line with international law./.

Vietnam – Czech Republic’s leading important partner in Southeast Asia

At the meeting between Politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Quoc Vuong, and First Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD) Jan Hamáček.

Senior leaders of the Czech Republic affirmed that the European country considers Vietnam its leading important partner in Southeast Asia while receiving Politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Quoc Vuong in Prague on October 23.

Vuong paid a visit to the Czech Republic from October 22-24 at the invitation of Vojtěch Filip, Vice Chairman of the Czech Parliament’s Chamber of Deputies and Chairman of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM).

He met with Jan Hamáček, First Deputy Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Czech Social Democratic Party (CSSD); and Karel Havlíček, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade. He also held talks with KSCM leaders to promote traditional friendship between the two countries more practically and effectively.

At the meetings, the two sides shared their views on the unceasing development of friendship and collaboration between Vietnam and the Czech Republic over the recent past, with regular high-level political dialogues.

Vietnam wishes to enhance cooperation with the Czech Republic through Party channels and people-to-people diplomacy, Vuong said.

The hosts, for their part, said the Czech Republic wants to develop the friendship and cooperation with Vietnam, especially in economy-trade and defence-security, and agreed to join hands with the Vietnamese side to organise activities celebrating the 70th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties in 2020.

Vuong and Jan Hamáček discussed measures to step up bilateral collaboration, particularly in crime combat and citizen protection.

Vuong called on the Czech Republic to facilitate the travelling of Vietnamese and Czech citizens in order to boost tourism development, people-to-people exchanges and trade links between the two countries.

Hamáček said the Czech Republic will roll out a more open policy on visa grant to foreigners, including Vietnamese.

Regarding the East Sea issue, Vuong thanked the Czech Republic for its support for Vietnam’s stance on settling East Sea disputes by peaceful measures, in line with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS), and ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the waters.

At a meeting with Karel Havlíček, the two sides looked into measures to boost cooperation in economy, trade, education and defence equipment procurement.

Vuong rejoiced at the fruitful bilateral ties over the past time, with two-way trade reaching nearly 1.2 billion USD. However, he said, the economic-trade cooperation has yet to match their potential and strength.

Havlíček told his guest that the Czech Republic wants to sign a cooperation agreement with Vietnam in geological survey, mining; scientific research, education; high-tech production and transfer, and defence-security.

At the meeting with Vojtěch Filip as well as talks with KSCM First Deputy Chairman Petr Simunek and Deputy Chairman Vaclav Ort, the sides also sought specific measures to enhance bilateral relations, covering the Party channel.

Vuong said Vietnam wishes to strengthen the time-honored friendship with the Czech Republic in all channels, especially with the KSCM, while developing cooperative ties with parties in the ruling alliance and other parties that hold important roles in the Czech political arena to create a firm political foundation for more comprehensive bilateral cooperation.

The hosts expressed their wish that the CPV and the KSCM will regularly exchange information about the two Parties, countries and the global political situation to strengthen their cooperation.

Also on October 23, Vuong visited the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy. On October 22, he attended the ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the Vietnamese Association in the country./.