Chargé d’affaires a.i. of Vietnam in Thailand Bui Thi Hue.

Vietnam keen to promote strategic partnership with Thailand

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son’s official visit to Thailand from April 10 to April 12 is of great significance for the overall enhancement of the two countries’ strategic partnership, as well as their foreign ministries’ co-operation, thus creating a solid premise for taking bilateral ties to new heights.

Bui Thi Hue, chargé d’affaires of Vietnam in Thailand, made the statement in a recent interview granted to a VOV correspondent ahead of the Vietnamese diplomat’s visit.

During this visit, FM Son will also co-chair the fifth meeting of the countries’ Joint Committee on Bilateral Cooperation.

Regarding the significance of the Minister’s visit to Thailand, Hue said that both nations marked the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership back in 2023. Over recent years, bilateral relations have been strengthened and grown both fast and practically in a multitude of fields, with profound political trust and bilateral cooperation occurring in economics, trade, investment, and security – defense, thereby showing the bright spots in overall ties.

Concerning the development of mutual relations in recent times, Hue said both sides have worked out an action plan for implementing the enhanced strategic partnership, established back in 2015 for the 2022 to 2027 period that serves as a solid foundation for fostering ties across all key fields, cited VOV.

Thailand desires to continue expanding linkages and friendship with the country, which could be seen in the maintenance of high-level meetings and important co-operation mechanisms. It also respects the Vietnamese role in ASEAN and supports many initiatives put forward by Vietnam at regional and international forums, Hue went on to say.

Thailand is currently the country’s biggest trade partner in ASEAN, with bilateral trade reaching approximately US$19 billion in 2023. Having poured over US$14 billion into 750 projects, it ranks ninth among the 144 foreign investors and second among ASEAN investors in the Vietnamese market, statistics show.

Furthermore, connections in other fields such as security - defense, culture, and education have also obtained practical results, she said.

At the fifth meeting of the Joint Committee on Bilateral Cooperation, the diplomat added that the two sides will discuss measures aimed at fostering ties across the board, from politics - diplomacy, economics - trade - investment to security - defense, on the basis of the action plan for carrying out the enhanced strategic partnership in the 2022 to 2027 period.

They will also look into the implementation of the “Three Connections” initiative to ensure mutual benefits, with a specific focus on digital transformation, green transition, and the circular economy to boost the two economies’ connectivity.

Moreover, the meeting will also discuss preparations for a forthcoming official visit to Vietnam by Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, who will also co-chair the fourth joint cabinet meeting during the trip, Hue added.

Vietnam elected to UN Women’s Executive Board for 2025-2027

The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) on April 9 (US time) elected Vietnam to the Executive Board of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) for the 2025-2027 term.

With this election, from January 2025 to the end of 2027, Vietnam will participate in coordinating the building and implementation of major orientations of the UN Women and ensuring that the agency’s strategies and activities are consistent with the UN's overall goals and policies on promoting gender equality and women's empowerment.

As a member of the Executive Board, Vietnam will also take part in the process of approving the agency's plans and programs as well as its administrative, financial and budgetary decisions, according to VNA.

ECOSOC meeting (Photo: VNA)

The consensus of all ECOSOC members to elect Vietnam to the UN Women Executive Board demonstrates the international community's recognition and appreciation for the country's policies and achievements in promoting gender equality and efforts to boost international cooperation in this field as well as the belief that Vietnam will make positive contributions to the management of the UN Women in the coming time.

Established in July 2010, the UN Women is the UN entity dedicated to gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Foreign Minister meets Vatican Secretary of State

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son met with Arbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Vatican Secretary of State, in Hanoi on April 9.

Bui welcomed Arbishop Gallagher's first visit to Vietnam, expressing his belief that the visit would contribute to strengthening the fine relations between Vietnam and the Vatican.

The visit will also be a chance for Gallagher to witness Vietnam's dynamic development as well as the rich and vibrant religious life of the Vietnamese Catholic community, Bui added.

He emphasized that Vietnam has consistently pursued the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multi-lateralization and diversification, being a trusted partner and responsible member of the international community.

Vietnam wishes to advance relations with countries around the world based on the principles of equality, mutual respect, win-win cooperation in accordance with international law, Bui affirmed.

The Southeast Asian country has been keen on its policy of respecting and ensuring freedom of belief and religion of all people, and underscored the importance of the national solidarity bloc, in which religion is one of the resources contributing to national construction and development, he said.

Bui reassured that the State of Vietnam always pays attention to and creates favorable conditions for religions, including Catholicism, to operate and develop in line with the country's Constitution and laws, VGP reported.

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (right) meets with rbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Vatican Secretary of State at the Headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ha Noi, April 9, 2024.

He appreciated and wished that the Vietnamese Catholic community will continue promoting the fine moral values of Catholicism, actively participate in patriotic movements and health, education, vocational training, social security, and poverty reduction activities in a bid to contribute to the development and prosperity of the nation.

Foreign Minister Bui spoke highly of the recent developments in the Vietnam-Vatican relations, as evidenced by the two sides' decision to upgrade their ties to the level of Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam. He suggested both sides continue to maintain high-level exchanges and contacts and dialogue mechanisms while promoting the role of the Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam.

Arbishop Gallagher said he was impressed with and congratulated on Vietnam's socio-economic and diplomatic achievements.

He was glad to witness the Vietnamese Catholic Church's growth and engagement in social activities, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, expressing his belief that the Vietnamese Catholic community would make greater contributions to Vietnam's development.

Arbishop Gallagher expressed his hope that Vietnam will continue creating favorable conditions for the Holy See's Resident Representative to undertake his role in Vietnam. He also expressed his belief that the ties between Vietnam and the Vatican will continue to develop.

During his six-day tour to Vietnam, Arbishop Gallagher will meet with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, have a working session with Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra, and visit Archdioceses of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Hue.

Tourism activities expected to bustle in upcoming holidays

The upcoming National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day (May 1) holidays are expected to be a “golden chance” for travel firms to start a bustling summer tourism season.

This year, the holidays are expected to last for five days following the proposal of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, prompting travel service suppliers to design long tours with attractive promotion policies.

Saigontourist has offered more than 200 domestic and foreign tours that are expected to attract more than 110,000 visitors. A representative from the firm said that many tours have been fully booked, reaching 80% of its plan, cited VNA.

Tourists in ancient Hoi An city. (Photo: VNA)

Meanwhile, STtourist has provided 63 summer tours with the number of tourists for each tour limited at 20 to ensure service quality.

The Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival 2024 (from April 4-7) and the Vietnam International Travel Mart slated for April 11-14 in Hanoi are likely to “heat up” the tourism industry on the thresholds of the long holidays.

According to insiders, the recent domestic air fare hikes have prompted tourists to turn to outbound tours, especially those to nearby destinations such as Thailand, Singapore, China and the Republic of Korea.

Many experts held that with the completion of many sections in the North-South Expressway, the flexible combination of many means of transportation in a tour will help optimize travel cost and increase tourists’ experiences.

This year’s summer is likely to continue to see a boom in self-sufficient travel, especially in the domestic market thanks to the increasing car owning trend. To meet this group of tourists’ demand, many travel firms have offered room and entertainment combos.

Homestays are also a popular choice for tourists this summer, with high booking rates seen in the destinations of Cat Ba, Van Don, Sam Son, Sa Pa in the north and Vung Tau and Mui Ne in the south.

The railway sector has also braced for the peak tourism season by increasing trains and offering promotions for various priority groups.

Meanwhile, many coastal localities have planned sea tourism festivals to lure visitors in the holidays.

Vietnam asked to bolster co-operation in important UN processes

The Cuban Ambassador has proposed that the two countries continue to exchange and closely coordinate efforts in upcoming important processes at the UN.

Newly appointed Ambassador and head of the Cuban Delegation to the UN Ernesto Soberon Guzman paid a courtesy visit to Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, permanent representative of Vietnam to the UN.

At the meeting the Cuban Ambassador expressed appreciation for the traditional friendship and close co-operation between the two countries within the bilateral framework and at the UN.

In particular, the diplomat thanked the Vietnamese side for its support in calling for the lifting of the embargo on Cuba and regularly making substantive contributions to the UN Secretary General's report on this issue, cited VOV.

Photo: VOV

Ambassador Guzman proposed that the two countries continue to exchange and closely coordinate in upcoming important processes at the UN.

In response, Ambassador Giang expressed Vietnamese solidarity with Cuba, affirming that the nation will always stand alongside and support Cuba in all circumstances and will continue to cultivate and strengthen the faithful friendship that exists between the two countries, especially at the UN.

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