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UN Deputy Secretary-General Atul Khare addresses the event.

UN Deputy Secretary-General hails Vietnam's peacekeeping contributions

The 80th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) (1944 - 2024) and the 35th anniversary of the All People’s Defence Festival (December 22, 1989 - 2024) were celebrated by the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN) and the Vietnamese Military Attaché Office at the UN in New York on December 9 under the chair of Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, head of Vietnam's Permanent Mission to the UN.

Those in attendance at the event include Atul Khare, deputy secretary-general of the UN; Martha Pobee, assistant secretary-general of the UN; and nearly 200 guests, including ambassadors, mission heads, and military advisors from UN member states, cited VOV.

In his speech, Ambassador Giang highlighted that over the past eight decades, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and with the support of the Vietnamese people as well as the assistance of international friends, the VPA has grown significantly.

It has achieved remarkable landmarks, including the 1954 Dien Bien Phu victory and the 1975 Ho Chi Minh Campaign, both of which significantly contributed to securing national independence and unity. The VPA has also made practical contributions to regional peace, stability, and humanitarian efforts.

The Ambassador reaffirmed the nation’s “four no’s” defence policy, along with a foreign policy of independence and active international integration. The country has engaged in numerous bilateral and multilateral defence co-operation mechanisms, reinforcing strategic trust and contributing to global peace, security, and development. Over the past decade, the country has deployed more than 800 personnel, including a high percentage of women, to UN peacekeeping missions, leaving a positive impression on the international community and earning high regard from both the UN and global partners.

Khare used the occasion to praise the VPA for its historic achievements and its vital role in Vietnamese development.

He underscored the importance of peacekeeping as a pillar in the Vietnam-UN partnership and praised the nation’s outstanding contributions, particularly through its Level-2 Field Hospitals and engineering team missions taking place in Africa.

On this occasion, he expressed gratitude to Vietnamese soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the cause of national liberation, as well as international peace and security, including Lieutenant Colonel Do Anh, who fell in the line of duty while serving in the Central African Republic peacekeeping mission.

Vietnam, China celebrate signing of land border treaty and documents

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son attended a ceremony in Beijing on December 10 marking 25 years since the signing of the Vietnam-China Land Border Treaty and 15 years since the signing of three legal documents on the land border between the two countries.

The three legal documents are the protocol on border demarcation and marker planting, the agreement on border management regulations, and the other on border gates and regulations on the management of border gates.

The ceremony, jointly held by the two countries’ foreign ministries, formed part of the Vietnamese official’s ongoing visit to China, where he also co-chaired the 16th meeting of the Vietnam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation.

It also saw the attendance of Politburo member, Director of the Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee's Commission for Foreign Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Wang Yi.

In his speech, Son emphasised that the signing of the treaty and the three legal documents marked a historic milestone, opening a new chapter in the bilateral relations and contributing significantly to upholding the principles of international law, according to VNA.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)

Since the implementation of the three legal documents, the Vietnam-China land border situation has remained basically stable, with the borderline and boundary markers well maintained. Social order in border areas has been ensured, while the opening and upgrade of border gates and traffic connectivity, and the implementation of initiatives to promote development cooperation in border areas have received due attention from both sides, he said.

Son expressed his hope that the two countries’ border management forces would continue to work closely, especially in enhancing infrastructure and transport links across the border, particularly the railway connectivity, to turn the land border into a bridge linking China with ASEAN countries.

Wang, for his part, said as 2025 marks the 75th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the Year of China-Vietnam Humanistic Exchange, both nations need to thoroughly realise important common perceptions regarding the “six major” directions that leaders of both Parties have agreed upon, and work to step up the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future in an intensive and substantive manner.

He stressed that China and Vietnam will jointly strive to build a clear and stable borderline for mutual prosperity, and suggested both sides continue to settle issues at sea through bilateral dialogues and negotiations for mutually acceptable solutions.

As part of the ceremony, Son and Wang visited an exhibition showcasing 40 photos that highlight major milestones over the past 25 years since the two countries signed the Vietnam-China Land Border Treaty.

Vietnam fully and responsibly adheres to UNCLOS 1982

A ceremony was held in Hanoi on December 10 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the entry into force of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

The event attracted the participation of 100 delegates from the UN, representative agencies in Vietnam, ministries and agencies.

Addressing the event, Assistant to Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu emphasized the value and role of the Convention as the "Constitution for the Oceans".

He described it as a comprehensive and complete international legal document that regulates all maritime activities and is widely recognized by the international community.

In particular, the Convention has established a solid foundation for defining maritime zones, thereby determining sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction over these areas, as well as serving as the basis for conducting maritime activities, said Nguyen.

It also provides a relatively comprehensive dispute resolution mechanism to peacefully address disputes arising between countries regarding the interpretation and application of the Convention, VGP reported.

A ceremony to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the entry into force of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), Hanoi, December 10, 2024 - Photo: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

As a coastal nation and a responsible member of the international community that upholds international law, Vietnam consistently affirms the importance of the Convention and fully adheres to and responsibly implements its provisions, the official highlighted.

According to Nguyen, the nation is committed to resolving maritime disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with international law, including UNCLOS. In fact, Vietnam has applied the Convention in addressing maritime boundary issues with its neighboring countries.

Besides, the country actively and increasingly participates in the mechanisms established under the Convention, demonstrating its sense of responsibility and respect for the rule of law that has been recognized and highly praised by the international community, noted Nguyen.

Delegates to the event reviewed the process of the formation and entry into force of the UNCLOS, the Convention's values over the past 30 years, and its practical role at present, especially in the context of emerging non-traditional challenges related to the seas and oceans.

UNCLOS was adopted on December 10, 1982, and officially came into force on November 16, 1994. Vietnam was one of the first 107 countries to sign and ratify the Convention.

Vietnamese students strengthen connectivity in UK

The Vietnamese Students Association in the UK (SVUK) will strengthen connections, further intensify student activities in the host country, especially volunteer activities, encourage student talents, while promoting the digitalisation of work processes to improve the group’s operational efficiency.

This commitment was made by Cao Quoc Dung, new chairman of the SVUK, at the 10th congress of the SVUK for the 2024 to 2026 term which took place in London on December 7 and December 8.

The congress evaluated the performance of the SVUK in the 2022 to 2024 term, in which the association achieved plenty of encouraging results, maintaining connections, whilst supporting and encouraging the development of the Vietnamese student community in the UK through communication channels and its network of 46 affiliated student associations (Vietsoc) at universities and colleges across the UK.

The congress also set out some of the key directions and tasks for the 2024 to 2026 term, with a focus on maintaining and expanding student-oriented activities, intensifying activities, and raising awareness and skills for students. It also elected the executive committee for the 2024 to 2026 term, consisting of 17 members, headed by Dung as the new chairman of the group.

It set up a five-member advisory board of five members in support of the new executive committee in orienting and operating the association's activities, cited VOV.

Photo: VOV

In his speech, Vietnamese Ambassador Do Minh Hung to the UK emphasized that the SVUK needs to promote innovation in its activities towards the nation’s rising era, as put forth by Party General Secretary To Lam.

The Ambassador updated the activities aimed at stepping up educational and training co-operation between Vietnam and the UK, affirming that the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK always values ​​and supports student activities.

Joining the event online, Ho Hong Nguyen, permanent chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Student Association, affirmed that the Party and State always put their full trust in the young generation, considering them to be the core force in shaping the future and destiny of the nation.

She emphasized that in the new term, SVUK needs to promote academic activities and scientific research whilst encouraging students to participate in research and building a network of young intellectuals.

At the congress, Dung pledged to devote himself to building a more cohesive and developed Vietnamese student community, thereby indirectly contributing to the homeland.

SVUK is the official organisation representing more than 14,000 Vietnamese students living and working in the UK, connecting Vietsocs nationwide.

Since 2014, SVUK has been officially recognized as a member of the Vietnam Student Association. In 2018, SVUK received a certificate of merit from the Minister of Foreign Affairs for its contributions to student affairs.

PM calls on US firms to invest in semiconductor, AI, cloud computing

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception in Hanoi on December 10 for a delegation of the US Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) led by its Chairman John Neuffer.

The delegation included leaders of technology giants such as Intel, Ampere, Marvell, Cirrus Logic, Infineon, and Skyworks.

PM Chinh applauded Neuffer and the SIA for their proactive role in connecting member companies, including NVIDIA, AMD, Cadence, Marvell, ARM, Qorvo, and LAM Research, with promising business opportunities in Vietnam.

Innovation, particularly in the semiconductor industry, is defined as a new and crucial pillar of the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, he said, adding that Vietnam’s socio-economic development strategy has set a breakthrough focus on science -technology, innovation and digital transformation.

Vietnam continues to maintain macro-economic stability, a peaceful environment, uphold independence and sovereignty, ensure national defence-security and social order. At the same time, it is pushing forward with three strategic breakthroughs regarding institutional and administrative reform, infrastructure and human resources to improve the business climate. This aims to create new development spaces, reduce time and costs, facilitate investments, enhance the competitiveness of goods, and ensure that investors can cooperate with Vietnam confidently and sustainably, the PM stressed.

He also affirmed Vietnam’s incentives for investors in science-technology, innovation and semiconductor chips in the spirit of “harmonising interests and sharing risks” among the State, businesses and citizens, VNA reported.

PM Pham Minh Chinh (L) and SIA Chairman John Neuffer (Photo: VNA)

"Together, we listen and understand, share visions and actions, work together, win together, enjoy together, develop together, and share in the joy, happiness and pride”, he said.

The PM urged the SIA to encourage US companies to invest more effectively in Vietnam's semiconductor, artificial intelligence and cloud computing, particularly helping Vietnamese firms join the global supply chain, promoting investment in infrastructure, and establishing training facilities and R&D centres for semiconductors.

On the occasion, he also suggested the SIA to prompt the US Government to further promote its relations with Vietnam in a more intensive, extensive, practical and effective manner, recognise Vietnam as a market economy, and lift restrictions on high-tech product exports to the country.

Neuffer, for his part, lauded Vietnam as a prime investment destination, with initiatives and efforts in developing the semiconductor industry.

He highlighted Vietnam's progress in diversifying and developing its supply chain as well as its advantages, such as an abundant and diligent workforce, alongside modern electricity, water, telecommunications and data centre infrastructure and several internationally renowned technology companies like Viettel.

SIA members and US enterprises are interested in the US-Vietnam relations and will continue to support Vietnam's efforts to develop the semiconductor industry and strong supply chain, he said.

Members of the delegation also reaffirmed their strong commitments to the Vietnamese market, and shared updates on their operations and plans to expand investment in the near future.

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