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PM Pham Minh Chinh (right) welcomes Liu Ning, Secretary of the CPC Committee of China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in Hanoi on August 28. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese PM asks for stronger infrastructure connectivity with China’s Guangxi

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Liu Ning, member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Secretary of the CPC Committee of China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in Hanoi on August 28, asking the Chinese side to enhance cooperation with Vietnam to boost the connectivity of transport infrastructure and soft infrastructure at border gates.

PM Chinh affirmed that the two Parties and countries attach great importance to locality-to-locality cooperation, and they support their localities, especially border ones, to advance friendship exchanges and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Liu, who is also Chairman of the Standing Committee of the regional People’s Congress, noted the Party organization, administration, and people of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region are determined to properly carry out the joint statement and common perceptions recently reached between the top leaders of the two Parties and countries while continuing to strongly promote the friendship and win-win cooperation with Vietnamese localities, thus practically contributing to general ties between the two Parties and countries.

At the meeting, both host and guest applauded the important strides in bilateral relations, including the extensive and effective cooperation between Vietnam and Guangxi, as seen in all-level mutual visits, the partnerships in economy, trade and investment, transport infrastructure connectivity, land border management, the opening and upgrade of border gates, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges.

Voicing his hope for bilateral cooperation to better match their potential and relationship, PM Chinh asked the two sides to keep fruitfully implementing the high-level common perceptions; step up exchanges and meetings between their all-level authorities, sectors, and people’s organizations to help each other develop; and protect and uphold the values of the two countries’ revolutionary relic sites, especially the ones linked with President Ho Chi Minh in Guangxi, to deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

He called for joint efforts to make new breakthroughs in cooperation fields, cited VNA.

The two sides should reinforce “hard connectivity” in terms of expressways and high-speed railway, particularly the Lang Son - Hanoi and Mong Cai - Ha Long - Hai Phong routes linking with Guangxi, while boosting the upgrade of “soft connectivity” in terms of smart customs and smart border gates, he said.

The Government leader suggested Guangxi continue creating favorable conditions for Vietnamese goods to enter this region to go more deeply into the Chinese market and to a third country, and encourage its capable businesses to increase investment in Vietnam, especially in the fields of green agriculture, clean energy, and sustainable development.

Both sides also need to actively study a cross-border economic cooperation zone model, work together to properly manage the land border, and coordinate to hold celebrations of 25 years since the signing of the land border treaty and 15 years since the signing of the three legal documents on land border between the two countries.

At the meeting, Liu highlighted the determination to bolster bilateral ties, expand and intensify friendship exchanges with Vietnamese localities, boost connectivity in terms of road, railway and sea transport on par with the scale of the two countries’ economic and trade links, and tap into the two sides’ special advantages so that via Guangxi, Vietnam can further connect with Chinese localities and third countries, and via Vietnam, Guangxi can connect with other ASEAN countries.

He suggested the two sides further scale up and improve the quality of trade and investment partnerships, improve the customs clearance efficiency by applying the “smart border gate” model, and carry out cooperation in seaport, electricity trading, digital economy, and digital connection.

The visiting official also proposed stronger collaboration in border management, crime fight, cross-border disease transmission prevention, tourism, people-to-people exchange, and education - training, thereby contributing to the China - Vietnam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to benefit both sides’ localities and people.

Also on August 28, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son held talks with the Secretary of the CPC Committee of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, who is on a visit to Vietnam from August 26 to 30.

Vietnam calls on UN to increase support for developing countries in energy transition

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN) has underlined the need to increase support for developing countries in their energy transition to ensure a fair global shift to clean energy.

His remarks were made during the UN Development Program (UNDP) Executive Board's dialogue with member states on actions to speed up the adoption of sustainable energy for development, which was held in New York on August 27.

The Vietnamese diplomat stated that energy transition plays a crucial role in enabling developing countries to harness innovation and technology, achieve climate goals, and shift towards more sustainable development pathways.

He outlined how the UN and UNDP can play a pivotal role in this process through concrete actions and better coordination. He therefore suggested that they strive to assist developing countries in accessing sustainable and concessional financing for energy projects without compromising the allocation of resources for other development initiatives, VOV reported.

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, speaks at the UNDP Executive Board's dialogue with member states on actions to accelerate the adoption of sustainable energy for development.

Furthermore, the UNDP should seek to engage in policy planning regarding the extraction of critical minerals for energy transition, taking into account the conditions and concerns of developing countries.

Vietnam is currently a member of the UN Secretary-General's Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals, which aims to establish a common, voluntary code of conduct for the extraction and use of these resources. The nation stands ready to collaborate with the UNDP as it helps countries to manage and sustainably exploit minerals, thereby contributing to the energy transition process, Ambassador Giang affirmed.

At the event, Achim Steiner, administrator UNDP, underscored the importance of switching to clean energy for sustainable development, noting that this process requires coordination at global, regional, and national levels.

However, he said that these measures should not impose additional financial and technical burdens on developing nations, which are already facing numerous challenges in achieving their sustainable development goals.

Vietnam, RoK promote measures boost trade

Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN) has underlined the need to increase support for developing countries in their energy transition to ensure a fair global shift to clean energy.

His remarks were made during the UN Development Program (UNDP) Executive Board's dialogue with member states on actions to speed up the adoption of sustainable energy for development, which was held in New York on August 27.

The Vietnamese diplomat stated that energy transition plays a crucial role in enabling developing countries to harness innovation and technology, achieve climate goals, and shift towards more sustainable development pathways.

He outlined how the UN and UNDP can play a pivotal role in this process through concrete actions and better coordination. He therefore suggested that they strive to assist developing countries in accessing sustainable and concessional financing for energy projects without compromising the allocation of resources for other development initiatives.

Furthermore, the UNDP should seek to engage in policy planning regarding the extraction of critical minerals for energy transition, taking into account the conditions and concerns of developing countries, VNA reported.

National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh ( right) receives visiting Minister of Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises and Startups Oh Young Joo of the Republic of Korea. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam is currently a member of the UN Secretary-General's Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals, which aims to establish a common, voluntary code of conduct for the extraction and use of these resources. The nation stands ready to collaborate with the UNDP as it helps countries to manage and sustainably exploit minerals, thereby contributing to the energy transition process, Ambassador Giang affirmed.

At the event, Achim Steiner, administrator UNDP, underscored the importance of switching to clean energy for sustainable development, noting that this process requires coordination at global, regional, and national levels.

However, he said that these measures should not impose additional financial and technical burdens on developing nations, which are already facing numerous challenges in achieving their sustainable development goals.

Vietnam-Australia forum shares vision for prosperity

The second annual Vietnam-Australia Forum with the theme of “Enhancing Economic Engagement, a Shared Vision for Prosperity” was recently held in Hanoi.

Co-hosted by the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA), the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Australian Embassy in Vietnam, the event was an initiative of the Vietnam-Australia Centre which was established at the behest of the two countries’ Prime Ministers.

In his opening speech, Nguyen Xuan Thang, Politburo member, director of HCMA, and chairman of the Central Theory Council, hailed the event's significance as it was held following the two countries elevating their bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which is a milestone marking five decades of concerted efforts, aligned with the shared needs, interests, and aspirations, cited VOV.

Photo: VOV

According to him, both sides are writing a new, impressive, profound, and exemplary "story" of friendship woven from sincerity, trust, goodwill, mutual understanding, and respect, as well as a shared vision and belief in a stable, peaceful, and prosperous East Asia - Pacific - Indian Ocean region.

Australian Senate President Sue Lines, for her part, likened the My Thuan bridge built with Australian ODA in the Mekong Delta to a vivid symbol of bilateral friendship. She said that over the past half a century, both countries have built numerous friendship bridges and the newly-established comprehensive strategic partnership will enable them to continue building more sustainable bridges of friendship.

Senate President Lines highlighted the vibrant community of 300,000 Vietnamese Australians and over 33,000 Vietnamese students in Australia as one of the bridges connecting the two nations.

She applauded the collaboration with the HCMA through the Vietnam-Australia Centre, deeming it to be a remarkable emblem representative of the close relationship.

Australia is very proud that, through the Vietnam-Australia Centre, both countries are supporting each other in tackling contemporary challenges, from climate change response, adaptation to the rapidly evolving global economy, to digital transformation and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, she said.

Throughout the day, delegates delved into discussions on the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, strong and inclusive governance, economic relations, and the nation’s four decades of renewal. The forum's outcomes and recommendations will therefore be presented to both governments, contributing to policy-making and dealing with common regional challenges.

Int’l passengers soar by over 32% in eight months

Vietnamese airports handled more than 27 million international passengers in the first eight months this year, a year-on-year increase of 32.4 percent.

During January-August, the number of air passengers decreased by 4.3 percent to 75,852,267, making up 66.6 percent of the initial whole-year target, according to the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), reported VGP.

Photo: VGP

Of which, there were 48,379,606 domestic passengers, down 17.3 percent compared to the same period in 2023.

In the reviewed period, there were 460,135 flights, a decrease of 7.9 percent against the same period last year. Of the figure, the number of international flights reached 170,362, up 22 percent.

As many as 63 airlines conducted 160 international air routes connecting Vietnam with other countries.

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