Vietnam News Today (Apr. 5): Prime Minister Leaves Hanoi for Fourth Mekong River Commission Summit

PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Australian Governor-General David Hurley. (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister meets with Australian Governor-General

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh welcomed the first State visit to Vietnam by Australian Governor-General David Hurley, which is also the first trip by a senior leader of Australia after a four-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, at their meeting in Hanoi on April 4.

Highlighting the significance of the visit at a time when the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Australia diplomatic ties, PM Chinh congratulated Australia on its impressive achievements in economic recovery and development in the post-COVID-19 period, positively improving social security for people and carrying out important international commitments, including in response to climate change.

Governor-General Hurley spoke highly of Vietnam’s achievements in the fight against COVID-19, economic recovery and development with a GDP growth rate of over 8% last year, the highest level in the past 10 years.

PM Chinh said the Vietnam-Australia strategic partnership is growing strongly, with two-way trade rising by nearly 27% to roughly 15.7 billion USD last year, making Australia the 7th largest trade partner of Vietnam and Vietnam the 10th biggest trade partner of Australia.

He suggested Australia create more favourable conditions for Vietnam’s agro-aquatic products to enter the country to achieve more balanced trade between the two nations, cited VNA.

Vietnam welcomes Australian firms and major investment funds to invest in Vietnam in areas such as renewable energy, infrastructure, telecommunications, finance-banking, education, hi-tech agriculture, digital transformation, mining, aviation, tourism, among others, he said, proposing Australia offer support to Vietnamese enterprises operating in mining, agriculture, aviation and tourism.

Regarding national defence-security cooperation, PM Chinh proposed Australia continue assisting Vietnam in training, improving the capacity and English skills, and in the fight against transnational, terrorism, economic, drug and cyber crimes.

Governor-General Hurley, for his part, spoke highly of the PM’s proposals, adding that the two economies are highly supplementary to each other. Australia is in the process of expanding and diversifying its trade partners, with a priority given to countries in the region, he said.

Both sides need to propel cooperation in other areas such as education, tourism, agriculture, people-to-people exchange, he recommended.

As direct flights between the two nations have been resumed with 17 flights per week, they agreed to share experience in tourism development, particularly community, green, study and health tourism.

The Governor-General hailed the establishment of the Vietnam-Australia Centre at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, as well as Vietnam's creating favourable conditions for RMIT University to expand its operations in Vietnam.

About new cooperation areas such as climate change response and energy transition, he affirmed that Australia will help Vietnam achieve the target of net zero emissions by 2050 and partner with Vietnam and Laos to organise the ASEAN-Australia High-Level Dialogue on Climate Change and Energy Transition.

On regional and global issues, both host and guest highly evaluated the two countries' coordination and mutual support at regional and global forums, especially at the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, and ASEAN.

They were delighted at the development of the Australia-ASEAN relationship, including the upgrade of the ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in October 2021 and the plan to hold a special summit to commemorate the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Australia relations in 2024.

Australia supports ASEAN's stance on the East Sea issue, Governor-General Hurley affirmed, agreeing that all parties need to make greater efforts to maintain peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea; respect international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), seriously abide by the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and build an effective and efficient Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in accordance with international law.

On this occasion, PM Chinh asked the Governor-General to convey his invitation to the Australian PM to visit Vietnam at a convenient time this year.

Vietnam, Germany hold 7th Vice Ministerial Strategic Dialogue

Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang and Secretary of State at the German Federal Foreign Office Andreas Michaelis co-chaired the seventh Vietnam-Germany Strategic Dialogue at a vice-ministerial level on April 3 in Berlin to discuss measures to boost co-operation between the two countries and other regional and international issues of shared concern.

During the course of the meeting, the two sides were elated to see that after more than 10 years of establishing their strategic partnership, the mutual relationship is developing effectively and comprehensively across a variety of fields, in line with the global development trend and both nations’ interests.

Deputy FM Hang affirmed that the country always attaches importance on the strategic partnership with Germany, a country that plays a key role in the EU, expressing gratitude to the German Government and people for donating over 10 million doses of vaccines and many important medical equipment. Indeed, these donations contributed to the Vietnamese success in the fight against COVID-19.

Secretary of State Michaelis hailed Vietnamese development achievements over recent times and highlighted the country as an important partner of Germany in the Indo-Pacific region.

In order to strengthen and deepen the strategic partnership moving forward, the two sides agreed to increase the exchange of delegations, especially high-level ones, regularly maintain bilateral co-operation mechanisms, and ramp up ties in areas where the two countries have strengths and needs. This includes focusing on trade - investment, development cooperation, climate change response, labour, education - training, and people-to-people exchanges.

Appreciating the positive results achieved in economic linkages, in which Germany has for many years retained its position as the nation’s largest trading partner in the EU with an annual average trade growth rate of over 10%, reaching more than US$12 billion in 2022, both sides consented to collaborate to effectively exploit the benefits brought by the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and further facilitate Vietnamese and German goods’ access to each other's markets.

As part of the occasion, FM Hang asked Germany to support the European Commission (EC) in order to soon remove the "yellow card" placed against Vietnamese seafood, while taking into account recent Vietnamese efforts in seriously and fully implement the EC recommendations on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

As a way of improving the efficiency of bilateral investment co-operation, Deputy FM Hang suggested that the German Foreign Ministry encourage German businesses to invest and expand production in the Vietnamese market in areas of Germany’s strengths. This can be done through focusing on the Vietnamese side’s development priorities, whilst at the same time promoting the German Parliament's ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

Deputy FM Hang suggested that the German Government continue to support the country in priority areas such as environmental protection, energy and vocational training, in accordance line with the nation’s own sustainable development goals.

Sharing the assessments and proposals to strengthen bilateral ties put forward by Deputy FM Minister Hang, Secretary of State Michaelis stated that amid complicated developments in the world and region, as well as the shifting investment trends, the German Government wishes to support and incentivise businesses to diversify markets and partners, including Vietnam, a country with many advantages in terms of markets, labour resources, and investment environment.

On the basis of the effective co-operation achieved by the two sides, the German diplomat assured of the Central European nation’s readiness to assist Vietnam in accessing capital, technology, and human resource training within the framework of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) to implement the commitments made by Vietnam at the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of Parties (COP26) on reducing emissions to zero by 2050.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (R) and State Secretary of Germany’s Federal Foreign Office Andreas Michaelis.

Secretary of State Michaelis highly appreciated the potential for co-operation that exists between the two sides in the field of labour and vocational training. In the context the German Government currently carrying out many policies to attract skilled workers, the two sides can expand ties in this field, he added.

Welcoming the positive results in mutual ties at regional and multilateral forums, the two sides affirmed their desire to continue to closely co-ordinate and support each other in shared frameworks such as ASEAN, the EU, and international organisations, especially as the two countries are both members of the UN Human Rights Council for the 2023 to 2025 term, according to VOV.

In the exchange of regional and international issues of mutual concern, the two sides underscored the importance of maintaining peace, stability, and security, including maritime security in the region and the world. They support the settlement of disputes by peaceful means, in compliance with international law, especially the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

The two sides also compared notes on recent developments and situations occurring in regions around the world.

During the course of the Dialogue, the two sides approved the Vietnam - Germany Strategic Action Plan for the 2023 to 2025 period with orientations and co-operation activities in all fields, including politics - security. security, economy, climate - energy, science - technology, culture, and people-to-people exchanges.

Within the framework of her working visit to Germany, Deputy FM Hang had an exchange with German Presidential Advisor Wolfgang Silbermann, as well as holding a working session with the Vietnamese Embassy in Germany and other agencies.

Vietnam’s economic growth to reach 6.5% this year: ADB

After a strong performance in 2022, Vietnam’s economic growth is expected to moderate at 6.5% this year and further expand at 6.8% in 2024, according to Asian Development Outlook (ADO) released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on April 4.

Vietnam’s economic growth will be constrained in 2023 by the global economic slowdown, continued monetary tightening in advanced economies, and spillover from global geopolitical tensions, said ADB Country Director for Vietnam Andrew Jeffries.

However, he held that Vietnam’s growth support policy with monetary easing, a large amount of public investment to be disbursed in 2023, and the reopening of the China will help the country counter these headwinds.

The ADO highlighted that global economic slowdown deepened in the fourth quarter of 2022 and will likely continue in 2023. Falling global demand is expected to weigh on industrial growth, it said, adding that agriculture output is expected to grow by 3.2% this year on revived domestic demand and the reopening of China, which accounts for 45% of Vietnam’s export of fruits and vegetables.

Tourist arrivals from China starting March 15 is expected to benefit the tourism and services in Vietnam, with the sector forecast to grow by 8.0% this year, VNA reported.

Vietnam’s economic growth is expected to reach 6.5% this year. Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

Public investment will be another key driver for economic recovery and growth in 2023 and 2024, spurring construction and other related economic activities. Along with the move to monetary easing in March 2023, public spending is expected to generate substantial multiplier effects, creating strong growth stimulus for the economy.

According to the ADO, the Vietnamese government is committed to disbursing 30 billion USD in the year, of which 90% had been allocated to disbursing ministries and provinces as of January 2023. Foreign investment, however, will still be hampered by the global economic slowdown. Newly registered and disbursed FDI fell by 38% and then 4.9% year on year in the first two months of 2023.

The prolonged pandemic, however, exposed structural issues that are among the main downside risks to the economy, said the report.

Nguyen Minh Cuong, Principal Country Economist for Vietnam, said that the fiscal deficit in 2023 could exceed the target, which is 4.4% of GDP. He said that Vietnam should continue reform to make its finances more sustainable, significantly reducing dependence on unsustainable revenue sources such as land and oil.

The ADB forecast that on the demand side, domestic consumption will continue to rebound in 2023. Revived tourism, new public investment and stimulus programmes initiated in January 2022, and a salary increase effective in July 2023 are expected to keep domestic consumption on the rise, though higher inflation may hamper its recovery.

Weakening global demand will continue to dampen trade in 2023. Exports in the first two months of 2023 decreased by 10.4% year on year, while imports dropped by 16%, it said.

Both imports and exports are forecast to shrink by 7% this year and next. Slowing trade could create a current account deficit that equals 1% of GDP this year before moving back into surplus in 2024.

Prime Minister leaves Hanoi for fourth Mekong River Commission Summit

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh left Hanoi on April 4 for the fourth Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summit in Vientiane, Laos. His attendance is made at the invitation of the Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone.

Laos will host the fourth MRC Summit and its International Conference in the capital from April 2-5. The MRC International Conference, which attracts global and regional experts in the fields of water and related resources, energy, food, transport, transboundary rivers, river basin management, governance, and development, will discuss the latest knowledge and innovative solutions to issues facing the Mekong and other river basins.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

The MRC, an intergovernmental organisation established in 1995 following the Mekong Agreement between Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam, serves as a regional platform for Mekong-related cooperation and knowledge sharing, cited NDO.

The Vietnamese delegation to the summit also includes Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung; Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan; Deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Duy Ngoc; Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh; Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet; Vice Chairman of Government Office Nguyen Xuan Thanh; Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Xuan Sang; Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Hoang Giang; and Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung.

Human Rights Council adopts resolution drafted by Vietnam

The UN Human Rights Council (HRC) adopted a resolution on April 3 proposed and drafted by Vietnam to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the 30th anniversary of the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action (VDPA).

The resolution was approved by consensus and duly co-sponsored by 98 states as of the end of the afternoon of April 3 (Geneva time), including the 14 co-authors Vietnam, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Fiji, India, Panama, Romania, South Africa, and Spain.

This marks a highlight for the nation in its first HRC session as an HRC member in the 2023 to 2025 tenure, VOV reported.

At a high-level meeting opening the HRC’s 52nd regular session in Geneva on February 27, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang put forth an initiative relating to the commemoration of the UDHR’s 75th anniversary and the VDPA’s 30th anniversary. This included a resolution of the council to reaffirm and augment efforts and actions to achieve major and inclusive targets and values of the two declarations, as well as the international community’s common commitments relating to human rights for all.

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, WTO and other international organisations in Geneva, Switzerland, attends the HRC meeting on April 3. (Photo: VNA)

The resolution focuses on the importance of the UDHR and the VDPA while repeating their fundamental principles on human rights. It also serves to reflect countries’ broad attention to the commemoration of the two declarations and to the improvement of the stature, role, and efficiency of the HRC and UN human rights mechanisms as a whole. It stresses the leading role played by countries in ensuring human rights, the recognition of women’s participation, the role of international co-operation and solidarity, as well as the respect for diversity and inclusiveness as part of efforts promoting and protecting human rights and in taking part in HRC activities.

The resolution also asked the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to carry out activities aimed at marking the UDHR and VDPA’s anniversaries, including a UN high-level event on human rights in December and a report on the celebrations to be submitted to the HRC’s 56th session in early 2024.

The UDHR, adopted by the UN General Assembly on December 10, 1948, is not an international legal document, but instead serves as the foundation for building the international human rights law, documents on human rights of regional mechanisms, and laws of countries. It represents one of the most important documents of the 20th century, with the date December 10 later being designated as the Human Rights Day.

Meanwhile, the VDPA was adopted by UN member states at the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna in 1993, reaffirming the UDHR’s values and clarifying that the protection and promotion of human rights must be the top priority of each country and the international community moving forward.

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