Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (fourth from left) and other leaders of ASEAN and Japan pose for a family photo at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN-Japan summit in Tokyo on December 17. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese PM attends ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit in Tokyo

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh joined leaders of other ASEAN countries and Japan at the opening ceremony of a commemorative summit marking 50 years of the friendship and cooperation between ASEAN and Japan in Tokyo on December 17.

Shortly after the opening ceremony, the leaders attended a plenary session to review and outline orientations for ASEAN-Japan cooperation amid regional and global changes.

Over the past half a century since the establishment of their diplomatic ties in 1973, ASEAN-Japan relations have developed comprehensively and dynamically in all fields, from politics and security to economy, trade, investment, culture, social affairs and development cooperation. Japan deeply engages in regional political-security cooperation mechanism, while strongly supporting ASEAN’s solidarity and central role, cited VOV.

Economic and investment cooperation between ASEAN and Japan is implemented through many different mechanisms, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP) and the ASEAN-Japan Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (AJCEP). Japan is also an active partner contributing to the implementation of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) and supporting efforts to narrow the development gap in ASEAN.

In 2022, Japan was the fourth largest trading partner and second largest FDI investor in ASEAN, with two-way trade turnover reaching US$268.5 billion. Total Japanese FDI into ASEAN hit US$26.7 billion, up 27.7% compared to the previous year.

In the face of new challenges and unpredictable developments regionally and globally, both ASEAN and Japan wish to strengthen cooperation and connectivity to respond to common challenges and develop together.

The ASEAN-Japan commemorative summit takes place after the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides. This is an opportunity for senior leaders of both sides to review the achievements of cooperation, and chart a new course for development in the new period.

Vietnam is an active and responsible member in ASEAN and in promoting Japan - ASEAN relations, especially after Vietnam assumed its role as coordinator of ASEAN - Japan relations in the 2018 – 2021 period.

Southern localities gear up for year-end tourism season

With diverse resources for tourism development, localities in the southern region are planning a wide range of cultural, sport and trade promotion activities associated with tourism in order to attract more visitors during the holiday season at the year-end and the Lunar New Year.

On December 4-10, the third Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Week was held with a host of tourism, sports and music activities, along with promotional programs to stimulate shopping and travel demand across the southern economic hub.

This year’s edition encouraged the growth of the tourism ecosystem, developed green and responsible tourism, created competitive advantages, and improved the quality of growth for the sector.

In the southernmost part of the country, the first-ever shrimp festival and a forum on OCOP (one commune-one product) products in the Mekong Delta region were held in Ca Mau province, according to VNA.

Foreign tourists visit Ba Ria - Vung Tau southern province (Photo: VNA)

Tran Hieu Hung, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that in addition to seminars and trade promotion activities to enhance the value of the shrimp industry and OCOP products, there were cultural and artistic tourism promotion.

Meanwhile, the first-ever Sa Dec Flower - Ornamental Festival 2023, themed "Love of Land - Love of Flowers", will take place in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap from December 30, 2023 to January 5, 2024.

The event aims to honor the art of cultivating flowers and ornamental plants in Sa Dec city, highlighting the economic value of floral and ornamental products. It seeks to stimulate the growth of the flower and ornamental plant industry in combination with agricultural tourism.

On this occasion, four new experiential tours will be launched, introducing agricultural experiences, traditional handicraft villages, and distinctive cultural heritage in several districts and cities in the province. The events promise to offer visitors a chance to explore the tranquil countryside, discover century-old traditional craft villages, or immerse themselves in cultural spaces that bear the imprint of time.

Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Nguyen Van Dung said that the committee has directed departments, sectors and localities to implement measures to speed up tourism recovery and development.

The city strives to effectively promote over 40 newly completed tourism products from the "one district, one product" programme, while expanding the application of information technology in tourism to introduce the city's typical destinations.

In the coming time, the city will continue to organize festivals and events that have attracted a large number of tourists in recent times such as the river festivals, international music festivals, and the Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditional gown) festival to create unique features to promote tourism, added Dung.

Google honors World Natural Heritage site Ha Long Bay

The Vietnamese homepage of tech giant Google changed its Doodle on December 17, celebrating Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

“On this day in 1994, Ha Long Bay was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site,” reads Google Doodle.

Ha Long Bay of Quang Ninh province was twice recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage in 1994 and 2000.

On September 16, 2023, Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago (Hai Phong City) was recognized as a World Natural Heritage by UNESCO. This is Vietnam’s first inter-provincial UNESCO-listed world heritage site.

With majestic landscapes and thousands of large and small islands, Ha Long Bay is the destination of millions of domestic and foreign visitors every year, reported VOV.

Google Vietnam changes its doodle honouring Ha Long Bay on its recognition as UNESCO World Heritage site on December 17, 1994. (Photo: Google).

“Its limestone pillars and emerald green waters attract millions of bucket-list visitors each year, making it one of Vietnam’s national treasures. Many delve down into the depths of Sung Sot Cave, the largest cave in the bay, while others enjoy more nautical adventures like fishing, snorkeling, kayaking, and scuba diving,” according to Google.

On November 11, 2011, Ha Long Bay was recognized by the New7Wonders Foundation as one of the seven natural wonders of the world, alongside Amazon Rainforest (Brazil), Jeju island (Korea), Iguazu Falls (Argentina – Brazil), Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park (the Philippines), Komodo Island (Indonesia), and Table Mountain (South Africa).

Vietnam Airlines Group adds over 100,000 seats for 2024 Lunar New Year

Vietnam Airlines Group has announced an additional capacity of over 100,000 seats, equivalent to nearly 550 flights, for the peak Lunar New Year season from January 25 to February 24, 2024.

Vietnam Airlines Group comprises Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and Vietnam Air Services Company. The group said the additional figures bring its totals to 2.1 million seats and 10,700 flights during the period.

The additional flights will mostly be operated on routes connecting Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to Vietnam’s popular tourist destinations, including Da Nang, Hue, Da Lat, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc. cited VNA.

Photo: nld.com.vn

Notably, passengers tend to book flights with earlier departure dates compared to previous years.

The Tet ticket prices are based on market conditions, with diverse pricing levels and compliance with domestic price ceiling regulations.

Vietnam seeks Japan's ODA for North-South high-speed railway project

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held summit meeting with his Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio in Tokyo, Japan, on December 16.

This is the sixth meeting between the pair over the past two years and the second in 2023.

Pham, who is now in Tokyo to attend the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit, suggested Japan continue new-generation official development assistance (ODA) loans for strategic infrastructure projects, such as the North-South high-speed railway project, metro line projects, supporting industries, new industrial zones, climate change adaptation, digital transformation, green transition, and health care.

He sought Japan's assistance for Vietnamese businesses to join the global supply chains of Japanese enterprises, particularly in the fields of automobile, electronics, health care and apparel; and streamline inspection procedures to open the market for Vietnamese pomelos and Japanese grapes.

The Vietnamese Prime Minister suggested Japan relax entry requirements, and move towards visa exemption for Vietnamese citizens entering Japan.

Prime Minister Kishida, for his part, asserted that Japan will continue assisting Vietnam in industrialization and modernization, and building an independent, self-reliant economy that deeply integrates into the global community.

The host vowed to strengthen collaboration with Vietnam in promoting energy transition and reducing emissions via the Asia Zero Emission Community Initiative (AZEC) launched by Japan.

The two leaders pledged to direct ministries and agencies to realize the contents of the Joint Statement on the elevation of the Vietnam-Japan relations to a Comprehensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia and the world, which was adopted by senior leaders of the two countries in late November.

They underlined the need to strengthen political trust, increase high-level exchanges and meetings through the Party, Government and National Assembly channels while enhancing practical and effective defense cooperation via the effective implementation of signed cooperation agreements.

Both leaders spoke highly of the positive progress in numerous key economic projects between the two countries in recent years, VGP reported.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) holds talks with his Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio in Tokyo, Japan, December 16, 2023. Photo: VGP

They pledged to foster connectivity of the two economies, ensure economic security, and establish a joint coordinating group between the two governments to step up the progress and efficiency of economic projects underway, including the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Complex.

The two Prime Ministers agreed to expand cooperation in green transition and climate change adaptation through practical projects and further enhance workforce training collaboration, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, locality-to-locality cooperation, and tourism.

They underscored the importance of stepping up close coordination on regional and international issues of mutual concerns, thus making positive contributions to the maintenance of peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.

On this occasion, the two leaders witnessed the exchange of cooperation documents between the two countries.

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