Vietnam News Today (Dec. 4): Vietnam And Japan to Promote Parliamentary Cooperation Substantively

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Quach Quang Dong, Deputy Director of the MoIT’s Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Development Department, at the workshop in Da Nang on December 3. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, RoK push for energy efficiency investment

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) held a workshop in the central coastal city of Da Nang on December 3, to promote investment in energy efficiency within Vietnam’s industrial sector.

In his remarks at the event, Quach Quang Dong, Deputy Director of the MoIT’s Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Development Department, stressed that ensuring energy security is present in all national policies.

The Vietnam Energy Efficiency Program for 2019 – 2030 (VNEEP3) aims to save between 8% and 10% of the country’s total energy consumption by 2030. Vietnam has also received significant assistance from the international community, notably the Republic of Korea (RoK) through a project on promoting energy efficiency investment in the industrial sector supporting Vietnam’s green growth action plan.

Dong said the project practically contributes to the realization of VNEEP3 goals in the sector and to Vietnam’s efforts toward achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, cited VNA.

According to Yang Seo Hyeon, Deputy Country Director at KOICA Vietnam, the agency and the MoIT began the project in 2021, in a bid to improve energy efficiency in Vietnam's industrial sectors. As part of its activities to promote energy efficiency investment, 20 major enterprises from energy-intensive industries – such as paper, steel, plastics, fertilizers, and cement – were selected for participation in energy audits in 2023 and 2024. As a result, 366 energy-saving solutions have been implemented, resulting in an estimated annual energy-saving potential of 144,000 TOE. Additionally, the project has developed and revised two energy consumption benchmarks for the paper and steel industries and disseminated five technical guidelines for energy efficiency in paper and pulp, textile dyeing, steel, cement, and beverage industries.

At the workshop, delegates listened to six presentations delivered by Vietnamese and Korean speakers. These dealt with various topics, including an overview of the project, its activities and outcomes, and examples of typical energy-audit models in the RoK. There was also information on developing and revising energy consumption benchmarks for the steel and paper industries, and an introduction to the Risk Sharing Fund managed by Saigon-Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SHB).

Boris Rhein hails Hesse-Vietnam cooperation potential as a role model

The Minister-President of the German state of Hesse, Boris Rhein, expressed positive remarks, emphasizing the close relationship and cooperation between Hesse and Vietnam, following his visit to Vietnam from November 26 to December 1.

Speaking in Wiesbaden, the capital of Hesse, after returning from Vietnam, Boris described the longstanding relationship between Hesse and Vietnam as a model for international cooperation.

Vietnam is not only Hesse’s most important trading partner within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) but also a key partner in education, research, and technology, he said.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) receives Hesse Minister-President Boris Rhein in Hanoi on November 28, 2028. (Photo: VNA)

According to him, more than 350 German companies are operating in Vietnam, creating 50,000 jobs for local people. He recalled that during trustworthy discussions with Vietnamese leaders, he had advocated for enhancing joint activities, particularly in recruiting skilled labor.

The website of the Hesse Minister-President's office quoted Rhein as saying since 2012, Vietnam and Hesse have been connected through a strategic partnership, encompassing cooperation in science, education, and economics.

Sharing this positive perspective, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hesse, who accompanied Boris on the visit to Vietnam, highlighted that Hesse has maintained a very close relationship with Vietnam for decades, which is now yielding benefits at multiple levels, according to VOV.

During his stay in Vietnam, Boris attended a graduation ceremony at the Vietnam-Germany University (VGU) in Ho Chi Minh City. In his remarks he stated that VGU is the fifth largest bilingual university in the world with German involvement, significantly contributing to the development of science and technology in Vietnam.

The government of the Hesse state is committed to promoting and consolidating VGU even further, he assured delegates.

Vietnam Coast Guard strengthens ties with Indian counterpart

The Vietnam Coast Guard Region 3 Command held a send-off ceremony for Ship CSB 8005 carrying its working delegation to India in Ba Ria- Vung Tau on December 3.

Headed by Colonel Nguyen Minh Khanh, Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Coast Guard Region 3 Command, the delegation will engage in exchange activities with their Indian counterpart, VNA reported.

Major General Ngo Binh Minh, Commander of the Coast Guard Region 3 Command (Photo: VNA)

Major General Ngo Binh Minh, Commander of the Coast Guard Region 3 Command, said the visit is an international cooperation activity of political and diplomatic significance, contributing to fostering and deepening the robust ties between Vietnam and India as well as between their law enforcement forces at sea.

The delegation’s agenda includes courtesy meetings with local Indian authorities and leaders of the Indian Coast Guard’s Western Region, as well as cultural and sports exchanges.

Both sides will engage in joint exercises covering search and rescue operations, firefighting, and oil spill response.

Vietnam and Japan to promote parliamentary cooperation substantively

A high-ranking delegation of the National Assembly of Vietnam led by top legislator Tran Thanh Man is scheduled to pay an official visit to Japan from December 3 - 7 at the invitation of Sekiguchi Masakazu, President of Japan’s House of Councillors.

The visit aims to strengthen cooperative relations between the National Assembly of Vietnam and the Japanese Diet (parliament), while reaffirming Vietnam’s commitment to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and globally. It also provides an opportunity for the two sides to exchange information and parliamentary experiences, creating new momentum for the development of bilateral relations.

Since establishing diplomatic ties in 1973, Vietnam and Japan have progressively elevated their relationship, from a “Reliable, Long-Term Stable Partnership” in 2002 to “Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia” in 2009 and “Extensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia” in 2014, and most recently, a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World” in 2023.

The Vietnam-Japan relationship is built on strong foundations and shared interests, with broad consensus and support among Japan’s political parties. Political trust remains high through frequent visits and exchanges between the two countries’ senior leaders.

Economic and Trade Cooperation

Japan is Vietnam’s largest official development assistance provider, the second largest labor cooperation partner, the third largest investor, the third largest tourism partner, and the fourth largest trading partner. As of the end of fiscal year 2020, Japan had provided approximately US$27.5 billion in ODA loans to Vietnam, accounting for over 26% of the country’s total signed foreign loans.

By August 2024, Japan had 5,417 valid foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in Vietnam, with total registered capital exceeding US$79.3 billion, ranking third after the Republic of Korea and Singapore. Bilateral trade reached US$30.47 billion in the first eight months of 2024, a 5.07% increase year-on-year, with Vietnamese exports totaling US$16.1 billion (up 5.6%) and imports from Japan hitting US$14.37 billion (up 3.1%), cited VOV.

Tran Thanh Man, chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam.

Security and defense cooperation remains a vital pillar of bilateral ties, with efforts to promote technology transfer, provide maritime security equipment, and conduct joint training and exchanges alongside Japan and international forces. Cooperation in UN peacekeeping missions is also expanding.

Labor and education cooperation is growing, alongside robust local-level cooperation, with over 110 agreements signed between Vietnamese and Japanese localities. Notable pairings include Ho Chi Minh City-Osaka, Hanoi-Fukuoka, Da Nang-Sakai, and many others.

Japan and Vietnam have also signed and implemented medium- and long-term visions for agricultural cooperation and climate change responses, with Japan providing consistent ODA support for Vietnam’s climate initiatives.

Parliamentary Relations

Parliamentary cooperation between Vietnam and Japan has advanced in line with the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity in Asia and the World”. It has been strengthened through regular high-level exchanges, sharing of experiences among specialized committees and legislators, and effective implementation of agreements. The Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group and the Japan-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance have been pivotal in fostering collaboration in various fields.

During the December 3-7 visit, the two parliamentary leaders are expected to sign a cooperation agreement between the two legislative bodies, marking a significant milestone in bilateral parliamentary relations.

According to Deputy Chairwoman of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee Le Thu Ha, this visit reflects Vietnam’s foreign policy direction and enhances sustainable parliamentary cooperation. The agreements to be reached will provide a foundation for advancing bilateral relations at both bilateral and multilateral forums, contributing to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The visit is highly valued by both countries’ leadership and is anticipated to yield positive outcomes, creating new momentum for the robust growth of Vietnam-Japan relations.

Vietnam proposes joint working group with China on digital cooperation

Vietnam’s Ministry of Information and Communications and China’s National Data Administration have pledged to strengthen cooperation in digital economy and data sharing, aiming to boost development in both nations.

The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) of Vietnam has proposed establishing a Vietnam-China Joint Working Group to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on enhancing cooperation in the digital economy and data sector, signed earlier this year.

On December 3, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Bui Hoang Phuong hosted a meeting at the MIC headquarters in Hanoi with a delegation from China's National Data Administration (NDA), led by Deputy Director Shen Zhulin. The visit aims to advance bilateral cooperation and operationalize the MoU signed in December 2023.

The NDA oversees the establishment of fundamental data-related mechanisms in China, including data integration, sharing, development, and application. It also regulates public data authorization, cross-border data flow, and data transactions, as well as enforcing data ownership protection.

Deputy Minister Bui Hoang Phuong warmly welcomed the Chinese delegation, highlighting Vietnam’s recognition of data as a vital national resource. He noted that Vietnam’s leadership strongly supports data collaboration with China and other partners, VNN reported.

Deputy Minister Bui Hoang Phuong welcomes China’s National Data Administration delegation. Photo by Thao Anh.

The Deputy Minister also emphasized the importance of Vietnam’s newly passed Data Law, which provides a critical legal framework for digital data. With this foundation, specific cooperative activities between the two nations can soon be implemented.

Deputy Director Shen Zhulin expressed gratitude for the warm reception and reaffirmed China’s enthusiasm for expediting cooperation in the data sector with Vietnam.

Both sides discussed shared views on data management and governance, emphasizing the importance of data sharing and digital transformation to drive economic and social development. They also stressed the need for active participation by digital enterprises from both countries to ensure effective and practical collaboration.

To facilitate this, the MIC proposed the formation of a Vietnam-China Joint Working Group to oversee the implementation of cooperative initiatives outlined in the MoU.

Following the meeting, representatives from the MIC and NDA convened to finalize specific cooperative details to be presented to both nations’ leadership for approval and execution soon.

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