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Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang holds phone conversation with her couterpart Abakirov Meder. (Photo:baoquocte.vn)

Vietnam treasures friendship with Kyrgyzstan

Vietnam has always placed great importance on enhancing friendly ties with its traditional partner countries, including Kyrgyzstan, affirmed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang during her meeting on February 17 with her Kyrgyzstan counterpart Abakirov Meder.

Over recent years, the two nations have made great strides in their relationship, paving the way for deeper bilateral cooperation across a variety of fields, the Vietnamese diplomat said.

In response, Deputy Minister Abakirov Meder thanked Vietnam for its fine sentiments towards Kyrgyzstan, sharing his satisfaction with the positive developments in bilateral ties. He reiterated his readiness to collaborate with the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs to explore new avenues and measures to further strengthen their traditional friendship and all-around cooperation.

Building on this spirit, Hang proposed that both foreign ministries intensify exchanges at all levels, particularly high-level visits, ensuring their substance and effectiveness. These visits would strengthen political trust, provide a solid foundation, and create fresh momentum to boost cooperation in areas where both countries have strengths and potential.

Abakirov Meder fully agreed with Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang’s suggestion, committing to close collaboration with the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies to ensure the successful preparation of upcoming delegation exchanges between the two countries.

The two officials highlighted the importance of economic and trade relations within the broader context of bilateral ties, agreeing to push for the effective implementation of the FTA between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), of which Kyrgyzstan is a member, cited VOV.

They also pledged to support ministries, agencies, localities, and businesses in both countries to establish direct relations, exchange ideas, and resolve issues of mutual concern, including negotiating and signing documents and agreements that provide a favorable legal framework for sustainable cooperation in specific areas.

During the meeting, Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang invited Deputy Minister Abakirov Meder to visit Vietnam for political consultations, direct discussions on bilateral relations, and further preparations for high-level exchanges. Deputy Minister Abakirov Meder expressed his appreciation and hopes to visit Vietnam soon to engage in direct talks with Vietnamese Foreign Ministry leaders.

Vietnam, Armenia hold huge potential to boost collaboration: official

There remains ample room for Vietnam and Armenia to strengthen their relations in all areas, especially in economy and trade, in order to meet the development needs and goals, and aspirations of their people, according to Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang.

Receiving Armenian Ambassador to Vietnam Suren Baghdasaryan on February 18, Hang spoke highly of the positive developments in the bilateral relations across all areas in recent times, reflected through frequent exchanges and meetings at various levels, with the most recent being the official visit to Vietnam by National Assembly President Alen Simonyan in November 2024, as well as close and effective coordination at multilateral forums and international organisations.

Notably, two-way trade recorded a year-on-year rise of over 40% to nearly 500 million USD in 2024, she stressed.

To deepen bilateral relations, the official proposed both sides continue to step up all-level delegation exchanges, especially those at the high level; and review, negotiate, and sign cooperation agreements to create a legal framework for bilateral ties.

She also recommended that the ambassador work closely with relevant units of the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs to carefully prepare for high-level delegation exchanges in 2025, according to VNA.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (R) receives Armenian Ambassador to Vietnam Suren Baghdasaryan (Photo: VNA)

Regarding economic cooperation, Hang proposed both sides work together to effectively utilise and take advantage of the benefits of the Vietnam-Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Free Trade Agreement, to which Armenia is a member. She highlighted the need to support and promote connections between agencies, organisations, and businesses, establish direct relationships and expand trade and business ties, while encouraging the ambassador and the embassy to help promote the image of both countries, as well as their investment and business environments to their business communities and citizens.

For his part, Ambassador Suren Baghdasaryan affirmed that Armenia considers Vietnam a key partner in Southeast Asia, and agreed to work closely with relevant agencies of the two foreign ministries and other ministries to promote and prepare for high-level visits in the coming time.

He committed to effectively acting as a bridge to help make bilateral cooperation more substantive, especially in areas which are the countries' strengths and meet their aspirations and interests.

Guangxi, Vietnamese localities boost mutually beneficial ties

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam hosted a reception on February 18 in Hanoi for Chen Gang, member of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Regional People’s Congress of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (China), who is on a visit to Vietnam.

Welcoming Chen Gang’s visit to Vietnam soon after assuming the position of Guangxi Party Secretary, To Lam congratulated China on its tremendous and comprehensive achievements since the 20th National Party Congress.

He reaffirmed that Vietnam consistently considers the development of relations with China an objective necessity, a strategic choice, and a top priority in its independent, self-reliant, and multilateral foreign policy. He expressed confidence that, under the strategic direction and leadership of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee, with General Secretary and President Xi Jinping as the core, and under the leadership of Secretary Chen Gang, the Guangxi Party Committee, government, and people will continue to achieve great accomplishments, building a prosperous and developed Guangxi with improved living standards for its people.

Emphasizing Guangxi’s deep-rooted ties with Vietnam, To Lam greatly valued Guangxi’s pioneering role in promoting friendly and practical cooperation with Vietnam. He welcomed the effective implementation of the Spring Meeting program between provincial Party Secretaries from both sides and supported the innovative idea of inviting Hai Phong City to join this annual mechanism.

Regarding future cooperation, To Lam urged Guangxi and Vietnamese localities to closely follow high-level common perceptions, intensify friendly exchanges and mutual understanding, and effectively implement mutually beneficial cooperation in key areas, particularly in economy-trade, infrastructure, science and technology, innovation, and artificial intelligence (AI). He called for the acceleration of a pilot smart border gate model to facilitate goods clearance, especially for Vietnam’s agricultural exports to China, as well as cooperation in effective land border management.

The Vietnamese Party chief also expressed his hope that both sides would work together to successfully organize the “Vietnam-China People-to-People Exchange Year 2025” to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and enhance people-to-people exchanges across multiple fields, VOV reported.

Party leader To Lam (R) welcomes Chen Gang, Secretary of the Party Committee, and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

For his part, Chen Gang emphasized that Vietnam is a close and important neighbor and a top priority partner for Guangxi. He affirmed that the Guangxi Party Committee and government, along with himself personally, highly value the friendship and cooperation with Vietnamese localities. Guangxi will continue to take the lead in comprehensively and effectively implementing the highest-level common perceptions of the two Parties and countries, further deepening the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership, and building a Vietnam-China community with a shared future of strategic significance.

Chen Gang expressed his desire to further promote key areas of cooperation, including strengthening exchanges and delegation visits at all levels, and expanding mutually beneficial collaboration in trade, investment, education, and science and technology, particularly in AI and big data development. He also underscored the need to speed up the construction of pilot smart border gates, boost road and rail connectivity, facilitate trade and travel between China, Vietnam, and ASEAN member states, foster people-to-people exchanges, mutual understanding and friendship between Guangxi and Vietnamese localities.

Vietnamese businesses to join world's leading beverage trade fair in Germany

Through Drinktec, the Vietnamese beverage industry can update digital techniques and technologies as well as green and circular technology transformations, while strengthening connections with partners and expanding the markets.

The fair is expected to attract exhibitors from 60 countries and territories worldwide, cited VNA.

Chairman of the Vietnam Beer, Alcohol and Beverage Association (VBA) Nguyen Van Viet speaks at a press conference to introduce Drinktec2025. (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at a press conference in Hanoi on February 18, Chairman of the Vietnam Beer, Alcohol and Beverage Association (VBA) Nguyen Van Viet said that Drinktec, held every four years, is a prestigious event that introduces the latest technologies in the beverage sector. Therefore, this is a very good opportunity for Vietnamese enterprises to access the world's leading technologies.

Through Drinktec, the Vietnamese beverage industry can update digital techniques and technologies as well as green and circular technology transformations, while strengthening connections with partners and expanding the markets, Viet said.

According to a report by the Machinery and Equipment Manufacturers Association (VDMA), a German association of 3,600 German and European mechanical and plant engineering companies, the total global beverage consumption output is expected to increase by 16% to 972 billion litres by 2028.

Meanwhile, according to Euromonitor International, beverage sales in Asia will increase by 22% to 294 billion litres by 2028. Vietnam ranks 8th in the top 10 largest beverage markets in Asia.

Fierce competition from the supply side, along with increasing incomes and a young population from the demand side are driving sales in the non-alcoholic beverage market in Vietnam. The total beverage consumption output in Vietnam reached nearly 6 billion litres in 2024 and the figure is forecast to increase by 28% by 2028.

Vietnam emerges as fastest-growing food delivery market in Southeast Asia

Vietnam was the fastest-growing food delivery market in ASEAN in 2024, with a growth rate of 26 percent.

The above finding was highlighted in Momentum Works' fifth annual "Food Delivery Platforms in Southeast Asia" report.

It was estimated that the size of Vietnam's food delivery market increased to US$1.8 billion in 2024 from US$1.4 billion in 2023.

The report noted that the growth is contributed by factors of expanded customer segments, service areas and synergies with other business of the platforms, VGP reported.

Photo: VGP

In Vietnam, Grab took the lead, holding 48 percent of the market share. ShopeeFood came behind with 47 percent of the market share. Together, the two leading players are holding 96 percent of Vietnam's food delivery market.

The remaining share belongs to BeFood (4 percent) and Gojek (1 percent). However, Gojek officially pulled out of the Vietnamese market in September 2024.

The report pointed out that after two years of subdued 5 percent growth, Southeast Asia's food delivery sector rebounded in 2024 with a 13 percent on-year increase, reaching a total GMV of US$19.3 billion.

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