Review on external affairs from Dec.12-18: Prime Minister successfully concluded European trip; Vietnam Day in India 2022

WVR - Review on a number of news headlines on external affairs from December 12-18 by The World and Vietnam Report.

Minister of the Government Office Tran Van Son and officials of the Government Office welcomed Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at Noi Bai airport. (Photo: VGP)

Leaders’ activities

On December 13, receiving Head of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP)’s Commission for Propaganda and Training Khamphan Pheuyavong, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed that Vietnam strongly and fully supports Laos’ renewal and national development. He believed that under the leadership of the LPRP, the Lao people will continue reaping greater achievements and successfully realize the Resolution adopted by the LPRP’s 11th National Congress. Pheuyavong praised the success of the recent ninth theoretical workshop between the two Parties as well as activities held during the 2022 Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year marking the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Amity and Cooperation.

On December 17, on the occasion of the 144th anniversary of the National Day of Qatar (December 18, 1878 - 2022), President Nguyen Xuan Phuc sent a congratulatory message to Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al. Thani, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent a congratulatory message to Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Khalid Bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani. National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue sent a congratulatory message to Shura Council President Hassan Bin Abdulla Al -Ghanim. On the same day, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son sent a congratulatory message to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani.

On December 14, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc received Mr. Seong Ghi-hong, President and CEO of the Korean Yonhap News Agency, who was on a working visit to Vietnam. Also attending the meeting was General Director of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Vu Viet Trang.

On December 16 afternoon, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh arrived in Hanoi, concluding a successful trip to Europe during which he attended the Commemorative Summit to celebrate 45 year of ASEAN-EU relations, and paid official visits to Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium from December 9-15, 2022.

The Prime Minister engaged in more than 60 bilateral, multilateral and community activities. In addition to talks and meetings with almost all leaders of Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium, he held 14 meetings with leaders of the European Union, as well as ASEAN and EU member states. He also attended business and investment forums, received leaders of leading European enterprises, and spent time meeting and talking to the Vietnamese communities in Europe.

On December 16, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent a message of congratulations to Mette Frederiksen on her appointment as Prime Minister of Denmark. The same day, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son sent his congratulatory message to Lars Lokke Rasmussen on his appointment as Foreign Minister of Demark.

On December 14, Standing Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man received Chairman of the Committee for Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation under the Indonesian People’s Representative Council Fadli Zon, affirming that Vietnam wants to strengthen and further develop its strategic partnership with Indonesia towards the 10th founding anniversary of the strategic partnership next year. He expressed his belief that Indonesia will successfully assume its role as ASEAN Chair and Chair of the 44th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-44) in 2023.

Activities of the Foreign Minister

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son gave an interview on the outcomes of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visits to Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Belgium, attendance in the ASEAN - EU Commemorative Summit, stressing the trip “highly successful”.

According to the Foreign Minister, leaders from Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium affirmed the wish to work with Vietnam in promoting cooperative ties in an increasingly substantive and effective manner, sustainably developing the economies after the pandemic, effectively dealing with international issues, and responding to global challenges. Up to 30 cooperation agreements were signed between ministries, sectors, research institutes, and businesses of Vietnam and the three nations. Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium also pledged to assist Vietnam in terms of finance, technology, human resources training, and regulation perfection to boost the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, energy transition, and sustainable development. The Prime Minister’s visits to the three European countries reaped all-round successes and were important milestones in Vietnam’s relations with the countries.

With regard to the Commemorative Summit marking the 45th anniversary of ASEAN - EU relations, an outstanding outcome was that the Summit issued a joint statement which emphasized that ASEAN and the EU attach importance to each other’s role and standing; pledge to further solidify their strategic partnership on the basis of international law and equitable and mutually beneficial cooperation; and will bolster cooperation in economy, trade, supply chain stabilization, maritime security, connectivity, healthcare capacity building, digital transformation, natural disaster management, environmental protection, climate change response, energy transition, and green and sustainable development.

EU considers Vietnam among most important partners in Indo-Pacific: Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son had a meeting with High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Vice-President of the European Commission (EC) Josep Borrell. (Photo: VNA)

On December 13, on the occasion of the ASEAN-EU Commemorative Summit in Belgium, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son had a meeting with High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and Vice-President of the European Commission (EC) Josep Borrell. Foreign Minister Son suggested EU member states soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to open up new opportunities for EU businesses to invest in the Vietnamese market; further effectively implement the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA); and actively consider and soon remove the ‘yellow card’ warning on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing against Vietnamese aquatic products.

Bilateral activities

On December 12, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang received Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Jiri Kozak on the occasion of a working visit to Vietnam from December 12-13. Deputy Foreign Minister Hang spoke highly of the visit by Czech Deputy Foreign Minister Jiri and the Czech pharmaceutical medical business delegation which she said helps boost the two countries’ relations, particularly in the pharmaceutical industry. She emphasised that Vietnam always pays attention to boosting relationship with traditional partners and the Czech Republic is one of its prioritised partners in Central and Eastern Europe.

From December 12-14, in New Delhi, India, the “Vietnam Days in India 2022” programme took place on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties. The program includes the Magical Night Art Performance (December 12), Vietnam Cultural Space event (December 13), Vietnam Tourism Forum in India (December 14).

The Vietnam Day Program in India 2022 was the last activity in the series of Vietnam Days Abroad 2022 hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

This is the second time the Ministry has chosen India as the destination of the programme series, after the first in 2018.

Multilateral activities

On December 15-16, Special Ministerial Meeting of the G77 Group and China took place at the United Nations Headquarters (New York, USA) at the initiative of Pakistan, the G77 Presidency in 2022. Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang, Head of the Vietnamese delegation, has called on G77 countries to join hands to overcome current difficulties and challenges, propel post-pandemic socio-economic recovery and sustainable development in the spirit of upholding multilateralism, solidarity and international cooperation. She highlighted the driving role of trade and investment in promoting economic growth, sustainable and inclusive development, and fulfilling the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Vietnam, as a founding member of G77, has actively joined its activities, contributing to ensuring common interests of developing countries, promoting South-South cooperation.

On December 14, at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)’s open debate on the topic "Maintaining international peace and security: New orientations for reforming multilateralism”, on behalf of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Vietnam affirmed the bloc’s priority and commitment in promoting multilateralism.

In his speech, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, highlighted ASEAN's priority and commitment to the respect and promotion of multilateralism for a more peaceful, prosperous, and fair world. The bloc recognizes a need for reformed multilateralism in response to today's challenges. The Ambassador emphasised the common view of ASEAN that reforming multilateralism must be accompanied by a commitment to pursue a multilateral approach, in accordance with international law and the UN Charter, to promote common interests, create a favourable environment for dialogue and cooperation, and avoid actions that intensify tension. ASEAN supports reforming the Security Council, enhancing representation, democracy, transparency, effectiveness, and efficiency.

On December 14, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung chaired a meeting of ASEAN Committee in Washington (ACW) and working lunch between ACW and representatives of the National Security Council and the US Department of State.

From December 12-14, in Geneva, in the hybrid format, the Effective Development Cooperation Summit was jointly held by the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation (GPEDC) and the host country of Switzerland to promote development sustainability. Vietnamese delegates attending the event included Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, Head of the Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and other international organizations in Geneva. Participants discussed measures to promote cooperation between international organisations and ASEAN countries as well as among ASEAN members on development issues such as response to natural disasters, epidemics, humanitarian, ODA/FDI investment attraction, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises.

On December 12, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the United Nations Agency for Gender Equality (UN Women) held a ceremony to announce the Guidelines for staff of Vietnamese Representative Missions abroad on providing support in person or online for Vietnamese citizens who are victims from gender-based violence or being trafficked.

MOFA marks International Human Rights Day, launches UPR cycle IV - Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc said that Vietnam has developed and implemented policies on the protection and promotion of the rights. (Photo: WVR)

On December 12, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) held a ceremony to mark the International Human Rights Day and launch the Fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process.

Addressing the event, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc said that Vietnam has developed and implemented policies on the protection and promotion of the rights, achieving outstanding results recognised and appreciated by the international community. As a result, Vietnam was recently elected to the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2023-2025 tenure. The nation had to date completed 82.6 per cent of recommendations from the 3rd cycle of its UPR process and was to complete the workload and launch the preparations for the building of the national report on the 4th cycle in 2023.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson

On December 15, at the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responding to reporters' questions about the news that the United States announced that it would put Vietnam on a special watch list on religious freedom, Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang said that the US’s decision to put Vietnam in the special watch list on religious freedom is based on unobjective assessment and inaccurate information regarding the situation of freedom of religion and belief in Vietnam.

Also at the press conference, Deputy Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang informed about Vietnam's response to the Global Gateway Strategy between the European Union (EU) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on December 14; Vietnam, the Group of leading industrial countries (G7) and other international partners to establish the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).

Other activities

On December 16, at the Government Guest House, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang hosted the annual meeting with correspondents and press assistants of foreign press agencies, along with cultural and press attachés of foreign representative missions in Vietnam on the occasion of the new year of 2023. Deputy Minister Hang thanked them for bringing Vietnam, its country, people and culture to the world.

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang thanked them for bringing Vietnam, its country, people and culture to the world. (Photo: WVR)

On December 15, the Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism co-hosted a conference to promote tourism cooperation between Vietnam and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The event was held in hybrid format, attracting over 250 delegates and more than 100 travel agencies and hospitality providers from both sides. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Quang Hieu and Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Doan Van Viet co-chaired the conference.

On December 12, speaking at the opening of the Seminar "Cashew trade cooperation with Africa and solutions to ensure the supply of raw cashew nuts for Vietnam", Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu emphasized cooperation in cashew nut production and processing is one of the important cooperation contents between Vietnam and African countries in the coming time.