Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Belarusian counterpart Roman Golovchenko witnesses the signing and handing over of cooperation documents between the two nations.

Vietnam, Belarus exempt visas for ordinary passport holders

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Belarusian counterpart Roman Golovchenko witnessed the signing and handing over of cooperation documents between the two countries on the morning of December 8 after the conclusion of their talks.

In line with this, the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus signed an agreement between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Republic of Belarus regarding the transfer of people sentenced to prison to continue serving their sentences.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belarus also signed an agreement relating to visa exemption for ordinary passport holders.

Representatives of the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam and the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Belarus signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Radiation and Nuclear Safety under the Ministry of Science and Vietnam and the Department of Radiation and Nuclear Safety under the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Belarus on co-operation and the exchange of information in the field of nuclear safety and radiation protection.

As part of the occasion, the two Government leaders also witnessed the signing of a collaboration agreement on the official dissemination of Vietnamese national standards in Belarusian territory between the Center for Information and Communication of Quality Measurement Standards under the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality under the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam and State Center for Accreditation under the State Committee for Standardization of Belarus.

The same day, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Belarusian counterpart Roman Golovchenko visited Hanoi Flag Tower, an iconic relic in the capital, and enjoyed Vietnamese coffee, cited VOV.

The Vietnamese Government leader briefed his guest on the history and significance of the flag tower, along with several other cultural and historical works and the Vietnamese people’s nation building and safeguarding tradition.

The historical site was built at the beginning of the 19th century and is now located on Dien Bien Phu street. To date, the national cultural and historical relic site has become a destination appealing to both domestic and foreign tourists.

The two PMs then enjoyed Vietnamese coffee at a shop located at the foot of the flag tower.

During his stay in Vietnam, PM Golovchenko is set to meet Vietnamese Party and State leaders to compare notes on ways to reinforce the bilateral relationship moving forward as a way of making it more intensive, extensive, practical, and effective, along with other issues of shared concern.

The Belarusian PM is expected to visit several Vietnamese localities during the visit.

NA Chairman receives leaders of Thai Chamber of Commerce, leading Thai firms

Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue received Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) Sanan Angubolkuk and executives of several leading businesses of Thailand in Bangkok on December 8 as part of his ongoing official visit to the Southeast Asian country.

NA Chairman Hue hailed the TCC’s effective coordination with Vietnamese agencies in preparing for a Vietnam-Thailand forum in Bangkok to discuss policies and laws to promote bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation, as well as the chamber’s contributions to trade and investment collaboration outcomes between the two countries.

He thanked the Thai side for supporting the establishment of a Vietnam Chamber of Commerce in Thailand (VietCham Thailand), and asked the TCC to coordinate with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and relevant agencies in Vietnam to further boost trade and investment ties between the two countries.

For his part, Angubolkuk said that the TCC is working closely with the VCCI to facilitate partnership between Vietnamese and Thai business communities, contributing to increasing two-way trade.

NA Chairman Hue stressed that the goal of US$25 billion in two-way trade is only for the near future, and the two sides should strive for a higher figure in a balanced and sustainable manner, matching the potential of each country and the sound political and diplomatic relations between the two countries.

At a meeting with leading Thai firms that are investing in Vietnam, including Central Group, SIAM Cement Group (SCG), Kasikorn Bank, Charoen Pokphand (CP) and WHA, NA Chairman Hue thanked the Thai companies for choosing Vietnam to invest, and lauded their effective operations in Vietnam.

He said he hopes the firms will continue to expand their production and business in Vietnam following the cooperation trend of the two countries, according to VNA.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (front, right) receives Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce Sanan Angubolkuk. (Photo: VNA)

The Vietnamese top legislator took note of opinions of the Thai businesses, saying that the NA and Government of Vietnam are reviewing and completing the legal system to provide the best possible conditions for domestic and foreign investors, including those from Thailand.

Vietnam always considers the success of foreign investors as its own, he stated.

Representatives from the Thai firms thanked Vietnamese agencies, including the NA for providing optimal conditions for them to operate in Vietnam.

They pledged to continue to expand their business and production in Vietnam and make more contributions to the development of local communities.

RoK, Vietnam enhance links in trade, industry, energy

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Bang Moon-kyu co-chaired the 13th meeting of the Vietnam-RoK Joint Committee for Trade, Industry and Energy Cooperation and the seventh meeting of the Joint Committee for the implementation of the Vietnam-RoK free trade agreement on December 7 in Seoul.

The meetings were designed to review and evaluate the outcomes of bilateral cooperation in trade, industry, and energy since the two countries upgraded their relations to that of a comprehensive strategic partnership in December, 2022.

Participants outlined orientations and plans aimed at further bolstering collaboration in these fields towards achieving the goal of US$150 billion in two-way trade by 2030.

At the 13th meeting of the Vietnam-RoK Joint Committee for Trade, Industry and Energy Cooperation, the two ministers agreed upon a range of measures and new collaboration mechanisms in the fields under their management, while also offering mutual support at bilateral and multilateral cooperation frameworks as a mean of boosting economic recovery and development in each country, VOV reported.

Both sides will strive to carry out comprehensive measures which seek to promote two-way trade in order to fulfill the target of US$150 billion by 2030, including optimizing the Korea Plus in Vietnam and Vietnam Plus in the RoK mechanisms; focusing on dealing with obstacles facing the business communities of the two countries; facilitating their partnerships in trade, business, and investment; and fostering mutual support at multilateral cooperation frameworks.

Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Bang Moon-kyu witness the exchange of cooperation deals.

In the industry area, they concurred to work together on an action plan which seeks to implement the memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a Vietnam-RoK key mineral research center which was signed on June 23.

The RoK will support the nation in building policies in the fields of minerals, rare earth, research, exploitation, processing, and human resources training.

In terms of energy, the two sides recognised the results of positive cooperation in developing LNG power plants and oil and gas exploitation in Vietnam, as well as exchanging information on green energy. The two sides also agreed to facilitate Korean investors’ engagement in energy projects in the country.

The RoK side went on to agree to support the nation to build new energy development policies whilst promoting the energy transition process in Vietnam towards meeting the net-zero emission target by 2050.

At the seventh meeting of the Joint Committee on the implementation of the Vietnam-RoK free trade agreement, the two sides noted that throughout eight years of implementing the deal, two-way trade has skyrocketed to reach US$87 billion in 2022 from US$36.5 billion in 2015. The RoK’s investment in the Vietnamese market doubled to US$84 billion in 2023 from US$43.7 billion in 2015.

The two ministers consented to orientations which seek to implement areas of collaboration, including creating favorable legal corridors for the implementation and optimisation of the Vietnam-RoK free trade agreement.

Concluding the meetings, the two ministers signed the minutes of the 13th meeting of the Vietnam-RoK Joint Committee for Trade, Industry and Energy Cooperation and the joint statement of the seventh meeting of the Joint Committee on the implementation of the Vietnam-RoK free trade agreement. They witnessed the exchange of two cooperation deals in the area of minerals and rare earth.

Vietnam committed to international cooperation to combat transnational organized crime

Vietnam is committed to collaborating with the international community to timely and effectively address increasingly complex threats posed by transnational organized crime, Minister Counsellor and deputy head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to the UN Nguyen Hoang Nguyen has affirmed.

Making his statement at an UN Security Council open debate on “Transnational organized crime, growing challenges and new threats” in New York on December 7, the Vietnamese diplomat said the crime poses multidimensional threats to security, exploiting modern technologies to infiltrate sovereign States, incite conflicts and sabotage progress. By providing weapons and logistical support to armed groups, the scourge also prolongs and exacerbates cross-regional conflicts, cited VNA.

Minister Counsellor and deputy head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to the UN Nguyen Hoang Nguyen speaks at the debate. (Photo: VNA)

Such a challenge requires international cooperation that addresses the underlying causes of conflict and poverty, he noted. To that end, border control and cyberspace must be assured, and efficient information channels must be established to facilitate experience- and data-sharing.

Vietnam has strengthened legislation to counter drug trafficking, money-laundering and other illicit activities, which are providing a more effective response to counter transnational organized crime, he said. In addition to the development and enforcement of domestic laws, Vietnam places a strong emphasis on enhancing bilateral and multilateral cooperation at both regional and international levels.

At the debate, many opinions assessed that the threats from organized crime are increasingly serious to regional and international peace and security, with sophisticated and complex methods and tactics. Addressing this challenge requires strong political commitments and coordinated actions from the international community, they said.

Vietnam needs huge amount of investment capital for energy transition

Vietnam needs a huge amount of financial resources to achieve its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, an official from UNDP said.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) Dao Xuan Lai, Head of Climate Change and Environment at the UNDP Vietnam, said Vietnam has released specific and ambitious targets since its announcement of climate commitments at the COP26.

The Southeast Asian country should shift its entire economy towards a green, circular, and low-carbon one. This process requires a huge volume of capital, said Dao, adding that Vietnam needs around US$134,5 billion for development of renewable energy alone by the end of this decade.

At the COP28, Vietnam and international partners group (IPG) announced the launch of Resource Mobilization Plan (RMP) to implement the Political Declaration on establishing the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), which is expected to help accelerate transition to green, circular and digital economy.

However, the commitment by IPG and Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero (GFANZ) to help Vietnam mobilize US$15.5 billion only constitutes a small part of the required capital volume.

Dao suggested Vietnam should strengthen investment in and foster advanced technology transfer to offshore wind power, solar panel, carbon storage and use, and hydrogen projects.

Vietnam should also invest more heavily in the development of a high-quality workforce for green economy, renewable energy while stepping up institutional reform to create a transparent and attractive environment for international business giants to invest in green, circular, low-carbon, and high-tech economies.

In a recent interview with VGP, UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam Ramla Khalidi said Vietnam should prioritize a just energy transition, accelerated by the implementation of its JETP.

Remarkably, the nation should focus on measures to ensure that the transition does not disproportionately affect vulnerable populations and workers in the fossil fuel industry, while promoting equitable access to new job opportunities in the renewable sector, and offering retraining and reskilling programs so the social protection measures are in place to account for any disruption, she suggested.

The role of the Government as the startup investor in essential physical infrastructure and as the guardian of an attractive regulatory environment that fosters renewables is key, stated Ramla Khalidi.

The Government can act as a start-up investor placing essential investment in physical infrastructure as well as making sure that the regulatory framework is attractive and able to attract renewable energy investments across the sector, she recommended.

Meanwhile, the nation should maintain its leadership in the renewable energy sphere and that can really support it to reduce emissions to really capitalize on economic benefits and reduce its dependency on coal.

Besides, Vietnam should not only enhance efforts to maintain and increase forest coverage, which currently represents more than 41 percent of the country's total land, but also to improve the quality of forests and preserve natural and native forests, which are critically important for biodiversity, and play a vital role in carbon sequestration and storage.

The UNDP official suggested Vietnam continue to promote and scale up nature-based solutions for the dual benefits of strengthened resilience to climate change and emissions reduction.

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