Cambodian PM Samdech Techo Hun Sen (lef) chaired an official welcome ceremony for his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh in Phnom Penh. Photo: VNA

Vietnam-Cambodia relations deepened: Ambassador

2022 is an important year for Vietnam and Cambodia with a lot of activities held to mark the 55th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties, Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam Chay Navuth has said.

Since the beginning of the year, the two countries have exchanged many high-level delegations, he said in an interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

This year Cambodia has also held the rotating ASEAN Chairmanship, so many senior Vietnamese leaders have come to Cambodia to attend regional events hosted by the country, cited VNA.

The ambassador highlighted a number of significant events in terms of diplomacy between the two countries in 2022, including an official visit to Cambodia by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in November. It was followed by a visit by National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue also in the month.

A total of 11 memorandums of understanding in many fields such as agriculture and labour were signed by the two sides during the Vietnamese PM’s trip to Cambodia while NA Chairman Hue’s visit helped boost the relationship between the legislatures of the two countries.

Recalling PM Chinh’s official visit to Cambodia at the invitation of his counterpart Samdech Techo Hun Sen, the ambassador said the two leaders co-chaired a trade and investment promotion forum in Phnom Penh.

Many Vietnamese investors were interested in learning about Cambodia's new Investment Law to consider doing business in the country, he noted.

Another important milestone in the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2022 was that Cambodian PM Hun Sen on June 20 arrived at the border area between the two countries to celebrate the 45th anniversary of his visit to Vietnam to seek the help of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers to liberate Cambodia from the Pol Pot genocidal regime. At the event, the Vietnamese and Cambodian PMs gave historic speeches, emphasising the significance of solidarity and friendship between the people of the two countries.

A solemn ceremony to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Cambodia was also held in Hanoi on June 24 with the participation of senior leaders of the two countries, the ambassador said.

He also said that efforts of the Cambodian and Vietnamese governments in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic have created favourable conditions for diplomatic activities and cultural exchanges, contributing to the success of the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2022.

Vietnam to stop 2G services in 2024 for 5G services development

The Ministry of Information and Communications plans to stop providing 2G services by September 2024 at the latest to pave the way for 5G services.

September 2024 is the right time as it marks the termination of the license for mobile telecommunications services and the license for radio frequency bands to be consistent with the orientation of radio frequency planning, the Telecommunications Department under the Ministry of Information and Communications explained in a statement.

Photo: VOV

The ministry requested mobile service providers deploy solutions to encourage subscribers to use 4G / 5G services, striving to reduce the number of 2G subscribers to less than 5% by the end of 2023.

It will take measures in 2023 to ensure every citizen owns one smartphone in order to achieve the common goal of turning off 2G services and speeding up national digital transformation, according to VOV.

The ministry will also support businesses to stop 2G mobile technology according to the roadmap, increase 4G coverage and deploy 5G services. It will enhance the quality of 4G coverage and improve the quality of 5G services.

Although the number of smartphone users has begun to increase sharply in the past few years, the number of feature phone users is still relatively large, at 11.7 million.

Vietnam has deployed 5G services on a trial basis in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang.

Ho Chi Minh City sets growth target of 7.5-8% for 2023

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council has passed a resolution on socio-economic development tasks in 2023, aiming to achieve economic growth of between 7.5%-8% next year.

The city also plans to ensure labour productivity growth of 7% and maintain the proportion of services in its economic structure at above 60%.

It targets to disburse 95% of approved public investment capital and spend on average 1% of its GDP on science and technology.

The southern largest economic hub also set a target to welcome 4.5-5 million foreign visitors and generate tourism revenue of 120 trillion VND (5 billion USD) next year.

To fulfill such targets, the city will continue stepping up administrative reforms, improving public service delivery, enhancing the business environment, and addressing obstacles relating to investment, VNA reported.

Ho Chi Minh City sets growth target of 7.5-8% for 2023. Photo: VNA

The city will accelerate the progress of key infrastructure, transport, and urban projects, and create breakthroughs in digital transformation and developing a knowledge-based economy.

In particular, the city will focus on addressing inadequacies, and violations, and settle complaints related to compensation, support, and resettlement for Thu Thiem New Urban Area.

HCM City will call for more investment and mobilise resources to complete the construction of the new urban area, making it a modern area, a regional financial hub, and a highly interactive and creative urban area in the eastern region.

In 2022, the city’s economy is expected to grow by 9.03%, surpassing the set target of 6-6.5%. The city’s revenue is estimated at 457.5 trillion VND (19.4 billion USD).

Total tourism revenue has reached about 120 trillion VND, marking a year-on-year increase of 171.2%. The city has received 3.5 million foreign visitors so far this year.

Vietnam economic forum examines ways to deal with global turbulence in 2023

The fifth Vietnam Economic Forum took place in Hanoi on December 17 to examine ways to stabilize the macro-economy, ensure major balances, and firmly overcome challenges in 2023.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will attend and chair the forum.

Initial statistics show Vietnam has stabilized the macro-economy, and ensured the major balances of the economy this year.

By the end of 2022 year, the Vietnamese economy is projected to expand by 8% - the highest growth rate since 2011 and the highest in the region.

About 14 out of 15 economic targets have been met while the country’s foreign trade has exceeded the US$700 billion mark for the first time.

The number of newly established businesses and those returning to operation has increased. Inflation has been kept at an average of about 3%.

At the event. Photo: VNA

Many international organisations and financial institutions have highly appreciated the country’s economic development gains in 2022, VOV reported.

Vietnam has promulgated many important guidelines to set orientations and policies for economic development in the medium and long terms, creating a new driving force for economic growth in 2023 and beyond.

In 2023, the world economy is predicted to fall into recession. In addition, other global complications, including changing geopolitical landscape, strategic competition between major powers, energy crisis in Europe, the protracted Russia-Ukraine conflict are likely to exert a big impact on development policies and financial markets as well as energy and food security of countries, including Vietnam.

The fifth Vietnam Economic Forum will discuss and clarify challenges faced by the national economy, and introduce solutions to stabilize the macro-economy, ensure major balances, and firmly overcome those challenges in 2023 and beyond.

2022 RoK Culture and Tourism Days kicks off in Hanoi

The 2022 Republic of Korea (RoK) Culture and Tourism Days kicked off at the Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square in Hanoi on December 17 to mark the 30th anniversary of RoK-Vietnam diplomatic ties.

Hosted by the RoK Tourism Organisation, the two-day festival features 24 booths arranged into various topics.

Accordingly, the K-info booths provide general information about Korean culture, tourism and people, while the K-Culture booths offer visitors a range of experiences related to K-pop music and drama movies as well as Korean food, crafts and traditional games.

In addition, the K-Brand booths are displaying products from major RoK brands such as Lotte, CGV, Woori Bank and Visang, cited NDO.

A performance at the opening ceremony. Photo: icd.gov.vn

The K-Tour (K-Tour) booth is a place for leading travel companies in Vietnam such as Vietravel, Hanoitourist, Flamingo Redtours, and Saigontourist to advertise assorted tours to the RoK to visitors.

The K-Local booths allow visitors to take photographs in spaces that simulate prominent tourist landmarks in the RoK such as the Busan Sky Capsule, Manhyujeong Pavilion, the romantic harbour city of Mokpo, and the hundred-year-old Hanok Village.

There are also performances by K-pop groups Momoland, BLANK2Y and Lapillus as well as a star cast of dance crews and local artists, including singer Noo Phuoc Thinh and rapper Phao.

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