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State President Luong Cuong (R) welcomes Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali in Hanoi on April 16. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam a trustworthy friend of Ethiopian people: Ethiopian PM

State President Luong Cuong on April 16 welcomed Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali who is paying an official visit to Vietnam and attending the 4th Partnership for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit.

At the meeting, President Cuong expressed his confidence that PM Abiy's visit will usher in a new chapter of more substantive and effective friendly cooperation between the two countries.

He noted his admiration for Ethiopia as the oldest independent nation in Africa and praised its recent achievements, highlighting Ethiopia's position as an economic growth model, the largest economy in East Africa, and its growing position and reputation in Africa and worldwide.

Sharing Vietnam's development journey, President Cuong recounted how the country has transformed itself from a war-torn nation into the world's 32nd largest economy, maintaining diplomatic relations with 194 countries. He underscored Vietnam's determination to become an upper-middle-income country with modern industry by 2030, and a developed, high-income nation by 2045.

PM Abiy, for his part, stressed that Vietnam has been a trustworthy friend of the Ethiopian people, expressing his impression on the country's comprehensive and great achievements in socioeconomic development and growing international standing, cited VNA.

He briefed President Cuong on Ethiopia's socio-economic progress and emphasised that his visit demonstrates Ethiopia's determination to strengthen and develop multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam.

To leverage both countries' potential, the leaders agreed to increase high-level delegation exchanges across all channels and effectively implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms.

President Cuong suggested relevant agencies actively negotiate to promptly sign agreements and complete the legal framework facilitating the bilateral cooperation, particularly in such promising areas as agriculture, mining, electronics, telecommunications, and digital transformation.

PM Abiy highly valued Vietnam's agricultural strengths, hoping that Vietnam will share experience and support Ethiopia in this sector, contributing to the country's sustainable food security.

President Cuong welcomed Ethiopian Airlines’ plan to launch a new route from Addis Ababa to Hanoi in July.

The two sides concurred to bolster coordination, cooperation, and mutual support at multilateral forums, especially at the UN and developing countries' forums, while promoting relations with important organisations where they are members, such as ASEAN and the African Union.

On this occasion, President Cuong asked PM Abiy to convey his invitation to Ethiopian President Taye Atske Selassie to pay an official visit to Vietnam.

Vietnam earns international praise for energy transition efforts

At the opening ceremony of the fourth P4G Summit on April 16, Ani Dasgupta, President and CEO of the World Resources Institute (WRI), commended Vietnam’s efforts to promote clean energy transition, especially the goal of enabling 50% of households and businesses to use solar power.

Vietnam is demonstrating a strong national consensus between its policy directions and practical actions. This is the driving force behind its energy transition, he stressed.

However, he also pointed out that the global energy transition is still falling short of expectations, even though available technologies can deliver abundant, affordable clean energy. Challenges vary by each country and include capital shortages, lack of infrastructure, fragmented policies, and land constraints.

Dasgupta shared a success story from Kenya, where a public-private partnership in electric transportation helped shift policies, mobilize US$25 million, and spark an electric vehicle revolution.

“This is the kind of partnership we must scale up,” he said, while affirming WRI’s commitment to supporting countries like Vietnam in pursuing a transition that benefits people, nature, and the climate.

At the same event, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali emphasized the urgent need to adopt practical and inclusive climate action to support the most vulnerable groups suffering from climate change impacts. He noted Ethiopia’s ambitious roadmap to achieve net-zero emissions and build climate resilience by 2050, as outlined in its 2013 Sustainable Development Agenda and the African Union’s 2033 Agenda.

As the host of the fifth P4G Summit in 2027, he reaffirmed Ethiopia’s long-term commitment to joint climate action and sustainable development, urging regional coordination and more ambitious goals for COP30 in Brazil, according to VOV.

Ani Dasgupta, President and CEO of the World Resources Institute hails Vietnam’s efforts to promote clean energy transition.

Also speaking at the event, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed highlighted Vietnam as a leading nation in clean energy,” noting its strong shift away from coal and commitment to just and sustainable development.

She also pointed to the country’s robust inflow of foreign direct investment worth billions of US dollars each month as evidence of its vast potential in inclusive green growth.

Mohammed called on governments to accelerate their national climate plans (NDCs), invest in clean energy, and enhance climate-resilient infrastructure. Businesses and financial institutions, she added, should innovate and collaborate to turn climate challenges into opportunities for sustainable development.

As a founding and key partner of P4G, Vietnam has consistently played a proactive and responsible role in advancing the Forum’s mission, not only through policy alignment but also via cooperative projects that attract valuable resources to support economic development, green growth, and green transition in the country.

The summit is expected to adopt two key documents, including the “Hanoi Declaration on Sustainable, People-Centered Green Transition” and a “Statement on Enhanced Cooperation between P4G and Multilateral Mechanisms to Promote Green Transition and Sustainable Development.”

Vietnam and China stage joint naval patrol in Gulf of Tonkin

On the morning of April 16, the naval task force comprising Ship 015-Tran Hung Dao and Ship 016-Quang Trung (from Brigade 162, Naval Region 4) and a delegation from the Vietnam People’s Navy, led by Colonel Do Minh, Deputy Commander of Naval Region 4, left Beihai Military Port (Beihai City, Guangxi Province, China) to participate in the 38th joint patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin with the Chinese Navy.

The Chinese Navy assigned two frigates, numbered 628 and 630, commanded by Colonel Zhao Yan Wu, Squadron Commander of the Chinese Navy’s frigate squadron, to join the joint patrol.

Before departure, Colonel Do Minh and Colonel Zhao Yan Wu reported online to the Ministers of National Defense of both countries. The ministers were attending the 9th Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. The report included results from recent exchanges in Beihai City and preparations for the joint patrol mission, VNN reported.

Vietnamese and Chinese naval forces report online to the Ministers of National Defense of both countries.

As planned, in addition to conducting the joint patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin, the two navies will also engage in joint drills, including search and rescue operations and signal light communication exercises.

The official activities under the framework of the 9th Vietnam-China Border Defense Friendship Exchange began on the morning of April 16.

This annual exchange program takes place in border provinces of both countries. It is a politically significant initiative, widely supported by national leaders, embraced by the people, and closely followed by the international community.

With each exchange, Vietnam-China defense cooperation continues to progress positively, contributing to the deepening of relations between the two nations and their militaries.

Vietnam ranks among top five destinations for Russian tourists

Vietnam has been named one of the five most popular international destinations for Russian tourists, according to the Association of Tour Operators of Russia (ATOR).

Artur Muradyan, ATOR Vice President, noted that the number of Russians traveling abroad during the upcoming May holidays is expected to rise by 30% compared to 2024. This increase is driven by a stronger ruble, improved flight availability to popular destinations, and the launch of direct flights to Vietnam.

According to an ATOR report, the top five outbound destinations by market share of tour sales from April 28 to May 12 are: Turkey (45%), Egypt (20%), the United Arab Emirates (11%), Thailand (5.5%), and Vietnam (4%).

Other destinations seeing high demand include the Maldives, Abkhazia, China, Belarus, Georgia, Uzbekistan, and international cruises, VOV reported.

Nha Trang city in south-central Khanh Hoa a popular destination among Russian tourists.

The ATOR representative highlighted that air services to Nha Trang in the south-central province of Khanh Hoa are currently available from 14 Russian cities. These routes are operated by major tour companies such as Anex, Pegas Touristik, Coral Travel, Intourist, and Fun&Sun.

Notably, about 80% of outbound holiday packages offered by ATOR-member companies for the May holidays have already been booked.

The report also indicated that Russian tourists are opting for six- to eight-night tours to destinations like Turkey, the UAE, and Egypt, while choosing longer trips of 10 to 12 nights for Southeast Asian countries.

WB, ADB provide loans, grants for three projects in Vietnam

A ceremony for signing loan and grant agreements worth nearly 400 million USD between Vietnam and the World Bank (WB) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for several socio-economic development projects in southern and central localities was held in Hanoi on April 16.

Accordingly, the WB will provide low-interest loans worth 5.35 trillion VND (230.76 million USD) and 2.49 trillion VND (107.67 million USD) for a project to improve water environment in the southern province of Binh Duong, and a waterway and logistics corridor development project in the southern region, respectively.

The project in Binh Duong, which has a total investment of 7.21 trillion VND, aims to improve the environmental pollution caused by urban wastewater in Thuan An, Di An, and Tan Uyen cities, improve the wastewater management capacity of Binh Duong, and strengthen water security for the downstream areas of the Saigon and Dong Nai rivers.

The second project, Southern Waterway Corridors and Logistics Development Project, has a total investment of 3.9 trillion VND, with nearly 2.5 trillion VND as loan from the WB's International Development Association.

The project will improve infrastructure, reduce congestion and accidents, and lower waterway freight transport costs by upgrading the East–West and North–South transport corridors, linking the Mekong Delta with the Cai Mep - Thi Vai port cluster. It will also facilitate connection to the future Can Gio International Transshipment Port, boosting socio-economic development and ensuring national defence and security in the Mekong Delta and Southeast regions.

The third project, Climate Resilient Inclusive Infrastructure for Ethnic Minorities Project II in the central provinces of Phu Yen and Quang Tri, has a total investment of 1.8 trillion.

ADB provides a loan of about 29 million plus an additional 1 million as grant for the Phu Yen sub-project (39.4 million), while the rest is counterpart funding from Phu Yen.

For the Quang Tri sub-project (39.7 million in total), ADB brings a loan of 30 million USD and the rest is counterpart funding.

Mariam J. Sherman, World Bank Director for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, stated that these two projects represent strategic investments in Vietnam’s future.

"Upgrading southern waterways will ease port congestion, lower transport costs, and make trade more efficient by shifting freight from road to water, reducing emissions while boosting competitiveness. At the same time, expanding wastewater treatment in Binh Duong will protect vital resources and improve living conditions for hundreds of thousands."

The projects will "boost activity, strengthen regional connectivity, and lay the groundwork for more resilient and inclusive development," the WB official for the three Indochinese noted, adding that WB "stands ready to support their effective implementation and to partner with the Government on even more ambitious and transformative investments that deliver lasting impact."

WB and ADB are long-standing strategic development partners of Vietnam, having supported the country’s poverty reduction, infrastructure development, governance, and sustainable development goals for decades, VNA reported.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (centre) witnesses the signing of agreements. (Photo: VNA)

The WB is among the largest multilateral ODA and concessional loan providers to Vietnam, meeting about 35% of the Government’s external financing needs. As of April 2025, the WB has committed over 180 projects (loans, grants, and technical support) worth about 26 billion USD, with signed loan agreements totalling around 23 billion USD. Its financing has focused on key infrastructure, transport, energy, education, health, water, environment, and agriculture.

Since 1993, the ADB has committed over 18 billion USD in loans and grants to Vietnam, focusing on transport infrastructure, clean energy, vocational training, rural development, and climate change resilience—especially in disadvantaged and ethnic minority regions.

Beyond financial support, both the WB and ADB also served as advisory partners for the Vietnamese Government through technical assistance, project preparation, policy advice, and capacity-building.

This signing ceremony was part of the sidelines of the P4G Summit (Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030) in Vietnam, further enhancing the country’s international reputation and reaffirming the Government’s strong commitment to sustainable development.

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