Vietnam News Today (Apr. 5): Top Legislator's Visit Significant to Vietnam – Armenia Ties

	Vietnam News Today (Apr. 3): Top Legislator Pushes for Closer Vietnam - Armenia Business Connectivity
	Vietnam News Today (Apr. 4): Vietnam Considers Japan as Top Important Partner

Armenian Ambassador to Vietnam Suren Baghdasaryan. (Photo: VNA)

Top legislator's visit significant to Vietnam – Armenia ties: Ambassador

Armenian Ambassador to Vietnam Suren Baghdasaryan has highlighted the significance of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man's official visit to Armenia, describing it as a symbol of strengthening diplomatic and political-economic cooperation between the two nations.

Granting an interview to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), the diplomat underscored that the visit marks a critical development step in the bilateral relations following President of Armenian National Assembly Alen Simonyan's trip to Vietnam in November 2024. It reflects both countries’ commitment to enhancing mutual understanding and cooperation, fostering closer ties at all levels.

“We are eager to move forward towards strengthening and deepening our cooperation and political dialogue in such crucial areas as high-tech industry, trade, educational exchanges, and people-to-people contacts. Vietnam is an important partner for Armenia in the ASEAN region,” he stated.

The diplomatic relationship between Vietnam and Armenia has developed steadily since Armenia gained independence. Over the recent past, the two countries have witnessed official visits by the President of Armenia to Vietnam, as well as visits by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam to Armenia. The official visit by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Vietnam in 2019 further strengthened the ties.

He underscored that the opening of a resident diplomatic mission in Hanoi in 2013 demonstrated the importance Armenia places on its partnership with Vietnam, cited VNA.

The diplomat said that parliamentary cooperation plays a crucial role in the relationship between the two countries. The Armenian delegation's visit to Vietnam last November, led by the President of the National Assembly, gave a new boost to high-level political dialogue between the two countries, which had been interrupted due to pivotal events in recent years, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and various regional and global developments. During this visit, various issues related to the bilateral relations, as well as regional and global issues of mutual interest, were discussed.

Over the past three decades, Vietnam and Armenia have continuously promoted effective cooperation at both bilateral and multilateral levels. Their diplomatic relations remain friendly and constructive, with exchanges of visits and cooperation in international forums such as the UN.

According to Baghdasaryan, trade and investment between the two countries have gradually increased, with Vietnam particularly seeing growth in exports to Armenia, including goods like electronics, textiles, and agricultural products. Armenia has also expressed interest in expanding its trade relations with Vietnam, particularly in the fields of technology and agriculture.

Meanwhile, cultural exchange and educational cooperation have become important pillars of the relationship. Vietnamese students have studied in Armenia and vice versa, fostering deeper people-to-people ties.

Other areas with potential for future cooperation include trade, high technology and investment, with Armenia’s strategic location in the South Caucasus region providing Vietnam with opportunities to access new markets.

The National Assemblies of Vietnam and Armenia have established a solid foundation for cooperation, with both sides committed to strengthening ties. Looking ahead, the parliaments of both nations plan to continue promoting mutual trust, understanding, and institutional development through legislative exchanges. The two sides aim to facilitate broader cooperation in economic, trade, and educational areas, ensuring that parliamentary engagement contributes to the overall enhancement of Armenia-Vietnam relations.

FDI attraction hits nearly US$11 billion in Q1

Of the figure, additional capital reached US$5.16 billion, and investment through capital contribution and share purchase totaled US$1.48 billion, showing significant growth of 407% and 83.7% respectively compared to the previous year.

However, newly registered capital decreased by 31.5%, amounting to just over US$4.33 billion, and the decline was mainly due to the absence of large-scale projects.

Foreign financiers pumped their capital into 18 out of 21 economic sectors, with industrial processing and manufacturing taking the lead by attracting more than US$6.79 billion, an annual rise of 26%, according to VOV.

Photo: VOV

Real estate ranked second with US$2.39 billion, followed by science and technology with US$591 million, and wholesale and retail with US$272 million.

Singapore topped the list of 73 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with over US$3 billion, followed by the Republic of Korea with nearly US$2.04 billion.

Moreover, foreign investors channeled their investments into 50 provinces and cities nationwide throughout the reviewed period. Bac Ninh made up the largest recipient with around US$1.9 billion, occupying 17.3% of the country’s total investment and representing a 2.1-fold rise from the same period last year. Others among the top five recipients were Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Dong Nai, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, and Ha Nam.

Also, over the past three months the disbursement of FDI capital reached US$4.96 billion, representing yearly growth of 7.2%.

Vietnam sets up task force to cope with US economic, trade policy shifts

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has signed a decision on the establishment of a special task force to strengthen cooperation and proactively adapt to changes in US economic and trade policies.

Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son will lead the task force, while Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien will serve as its deputy head.

Members of the task force include the Minister of Finance, the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam, and leaders of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs; National Defence; Public Security; Agriculture and Environment; Science and Technology; Construction; Health; and Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Government Office.

The task force has been assigned with assisting the PM in closely monitoring global and regional developments, particularly the adjustments in the US’s economic and trade policies. Its mandate includes advising the Government on flexible, timely, and effective responses to international developments and US policy changes to overcome challenges and seize opportunities while maintaining a peaceful, stable environment for national growth and development, reported VNA.

Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son will lead the task force. (Photo: VNA)

It is ordered to coordinate the efforts of various ministries, agencies and localities to fulfil the assigned tasks.

Operating on a part-time basis, the task force will uphold individual responsibility and function according to the Government’s working regulations and legal frameworks.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade will serve as the standing agency, coordinating with the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and related agencies to implement assigned tasks without increasing personnel. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will direct Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad to monitor situations closely and provide timely updates and recommendations. Member ministries and agencies will regularly review and provide information to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comprehensive reporting to the task force leader.

The task force will disband once its mission is completed.

This development follows US President Donald Trump's April 2 executive order imposing reciprocal tariffs on imported goods from various countries, including a 46% tariff on Vietnamese exports to the US. In response, PM Chinh immediately convened a meeting with ministries to address the situation. The Minister of Industry and Trade has also sent a diplomatic note to the US, requesting a delay in the implementation of these tariffs.

TasteAtlas names Vietnamese dishes among world’s Top 100 best soups

A number of Vietnamese delicacies have been named among the Top 100 best soups in the world by TasteAtlas, a website dedicated to discovering fresh ingredients, traditional dishes, and authentic restaurants.

Accordingly, Pho Bo (Noodles with Beef) was rated 4.5 out of five, ranking in ninth place on the list.

The website says the beef-based dish is prepared using assorted cuts and parts of beef. The broth is made from beef bones, shank, ox tail, and neck, while the toppings include thinly sliced fatty brisket (gau), flank, eye-round steak, tripe, cooked and raw beef (tai nam), tendon (gan), or beef balls (Pho Bo viên), although the latter version is not that popular in Vietnam.

It reveals that Pho Bo is usually flavoured with dried spices such as cinnamon, star anise, cloves, cardamom, and coriander. It is then served piping hot in a bowl along with rice noodles and is typically topped with cilantro, sliced onions, and chopped green onions, according to VOV.

Vietnamese Pho Bo (Photo: Shutterstock)

Other Vietnamese dishes also make TasteAtlas list, including Bun Bo Hue (Hue breakfast noodle soup), Bun Rieu (Tomato and Crab Noodle Soup), Bun Mam (Fermented Fish Noodle Soup), Bun Cha Ca (Fried Fish Cake Noodle Soup), Bun Moc (Pork Ball Vermicelli Soup), Bun Ca Sua (Rice Vermicelli with Jellyfish and Fish), Bun Ca Kien Giang (Kien Giang Fish and Shrimp Noodle Soup), and Bun Ca Long Xuyen (Smooth Rice Noodle Soup with Fish).

TasteAtlas is an encyclopedia of flavors, a world atlas showcasing traditional dishes, local ingredients, and authentic restaurants. The website has cataloged over 10,000 foods and drinks from across the world, with dozens of thousands still yet to be researched and mapped.

Vietnam and US officials tour war consequence remediation efforts in Quang Tri

On April 2, Vice Chairman of the Quang Tri People’s Committee Hoang Nam received US Ambassador Marc Evans Knapper, as part of the latter’s working visit to the north central province, one of the country’s most heavily war-impacted localities.

At the meeting, Nam expressed gratitude to the US government for its support for Vietnam in addressing war legacies, particularly through funding bomb and mine clearance programs in Quang Tri, WVR reported.

Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet and U.S. Ambassador Marc Knapper visited the site of the cooperation on mine clearance and the search for MIA in Huong Hoa, Quang Tri. (Photo: WVR)

He urged the Ambassador to advocate for greater efforts in locating information on US servicemen missing in action (MIA) in Vietnam while also strengthening cooperation in providing information and assistance in searching for the remains of missing Vietnamese soldiers. In addition, he called on the US to continue funding mine clearance projects through international non-governmental organisations to help the province achieve its goal of becoming “mine-safe” this year.

Ambassador Knapper affirmed the US Government will further assist Vietnam, especially Quang Tri, in overcoming the consequences of war, based on the principles of being honest about the past and looking toward a prosperous future.

As part of the visit, the US delegation and another led by Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet toured war consequence remediation efforts in Huong Hoa district. They observed the controlled detonation of cluster munitions in Huong Linh commune, conducted by PeaceTrees Vietnam, and heard reports on US-funded mine clearance programs in Quang Tri. They also visited an ongoing search site for US MIAs in Cop hamlet, Huong Phung commune.

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