Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang speaks at the reception marking 74 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China, held at the Chinese Embassy headquarters in Hanoi on January 18. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam prioritizes developing comprehensive strategic partnership with China

Vietnam considers developing relations with China the strategic choice and top priority in its foreign policy, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang said at a reception hosted by the Chinese ambassador marking 74 years of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and China.

He said the stable and sustainable development of bilateral relations is in line with the practical interests of the two peoples and is beneficial to cooperation and prosperous development of the region and the wider world.

Quang noted that the Vietnam - China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership developed positively and recorded great achievements of historical significance following the historic visit to China in late October 2022 by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

In addition, both countries agreed to further deepen and elevate the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and build a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance during the December 2023 visit to Vietnam by General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, cited VOV.

This is an important milestone in the development of Vietnam-China relations, a new positioning that brings relations between the two Parties and the two countries into an even better stage of development, stressed the Deputy PM.

Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo affirmed China is ready to work with Vietnam to realize common perceptions of the two countries’ senior leaders so as to further foster the Vietnam – China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and to bring practical benefits for the two countries’ peoples.

He recalled the results of the talks between Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping, saying the two sides vowed to develop bilateral relations in a new phase with higher political trust, more solid security cooperation, deeper mutually beneficial cooperation, stronger popular support, closer multilateral coordination, and better handling of differences.

Korean, Singaporean businesses seek investment opportunities in Can Tho

Secretary of the Can Tho municipal Party Committee Nguyen Van Hieu on January 18 met with representatives from the Republic of Korea’s SK Energy Co., Ltd. and Singapore’s Vietnam Draco Environment Co., Ltd. who are seeking investment opportunities in the Mekong Delta city.

At the meeting with the SK Group delegation, Hieu emphasized that the formation and development of a green hydrogen ecosystem by SK Group in the city is suitable because Can Tho is located in the heart of the Mekong Delta region, adding that its infrastructure for green hydrogen production in Can Tho will create a premise to attract investment to the city and the entire region, according to VNA.

Representatives of Can Tho city and SK Group at the meeting. (Photo: VNA)

The city strongly supports SK Group's investment ideas and will create favorable conditions for the group to implement its projects in the city, he affirmed.

Lee Dong-uk, the group’s senior advisor, briefed the host on the role of green hydrogen, the global green hydrogen market outlook, and the use of hydrogen in building a clean energy economy in the future.

He said as SK Group plans to gradually expand to agricultural products, it wants to invest in a wholesale agricultural product center in Can Tho city, affirming this will be the first model that combines wholesale agricultural products and the use of clean, environmentally-friendly energy.

Meanwhile, at a meeting with representatives from the Singaporean company, Hieu said that the city is calling for investments in areas like water treatment and supply for daily activities and wastewater treatment plants in new industrial zones and clusters, especially in the Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Park in Can Tho (VSIP Can Tho). He called on the company to study and invest in water treatment and supply – one of its strengths.

For his part, Director of Vietnam Draco Environment Co., Ltd Lim Chuan Hui that the company is seeking investment opportunities in wastewater treatment and clean water supply projects.

Besides, the company has coordinated with other enterprises to invest in other areas, he said.

Vietnam and Hungary vow to take comprehensive partnership to new heights

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban during their talks in Budapest on January 18 discussed major orientations and specific measures to raise the Vietnam-Hungary Comprehensive Partnership to new heights, in which economic-trade-investment cooperation is an important pillar.

Orban affirmed that Vietnam is always Hungary’s most important partner in Southeast Asia, while Chinh who arrived in Budapest on the same day for an official visit said Vietnam always values and wishes to strengthen relations with Hungary, Vietnam’s first comprehensive partner in Central Eastern Europe.

The two sides agreed to continue to increase reciprocal visit exchanges at all levels and through different channels to further enhance political trust and mutual understanding, creating a foundation to promote and expand bilateral cooperation in all fields, VOV reported.

Concurring that economic-trade-investment cooperation is an important pillar in bilateral relations, the two sides stressed the need to further spur existing cooperation mechanisms, including the Meeting of the Vietnam-Hungary Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation. They agreed to early hold the 10th meeting of this committee, and encourage businesses of the two countries to fully and effectively implement the European Union – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Chinh proposed that Hungary create favorable conditions for Vietnamese products, especially agro-forestry-fisheries items, to penetrate its market. He affirmed that Vietnam acts as a gateway for Hungarian products to enter its market and the larger and lucrative market of ASEAN.

He thanked Hungary for supporting Vietnam in negotiations towards signing the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and ratifying the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hold talks in Budapest on January 18 during the latter's official visit.

Orban for his part assured his guest that as the rotating EU President for the second half of 2024, Hungary would encourage the remaining EU member states to ratify the EVIPA. He also acknowledged Chinh’s proposal regarding the European Commission’s removal of its illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) warnings against Vietnamese seafood exports to the bloc.

Orban said Vietnam is one of Hungary’s most potential markets in Asia-Pacific and more and more Hungarian businesses are keen to expand investment and business in the Southeast Asian nation.

He welcomed the organization of a joint business forum during Chinh’s visit, and affirmed Hungary’s readiness to facilitate Vietnamese businesses’ operation in potential fields such as information technology and automobile industry in the country.

With regard to education and training, both sides welcomed the positive results recorded in such cooperation in recent times. Chinh thanked the Hungarian Government for granting 200 scholarships to Vietnam every year, the largest number of scholarships offered by an EU member state.

They appreciated the close and fruitful cooperation mechanism between the two countries’ universities, as evidenced in a series of cooperation documents to be signed between Vietnamese and Hungarian educational institutions during the visit.

The two sides agreed to further enhance cooperation in other traditional fields, such as culture, sports, tourism, labor, science - technology, natural resources - environment, agriculture, and water management. They also underscored the importance of expanding cooperation in new fields, such as circular economy, innovation, green finance, renewable energy, and digital transformation, among others.

Orban highly appreciated the Vietnamese community in Hungary making positive contributions to the local socio-economic development. Meanwhile, Chinh proposed that the Hungarian Government create more favorable conditions for the community to integrate more deeply into the host society, contributing to promoting traditional friendly relations between the two countries.

Exchanging views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, the two PMs affirmed their support for resolving disputes by peaceful means, in accordance with international law and the United Nations Charter.

After the talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing of three cooperation documents in the fields of security, diplomacy and culture.

Hanoi – world’s 144th most liveable city: ECA

Hanoi moved up 16 places to 144th in a global ranking of the world's most liveable cities.

According to global mobility specialist ECA International in its annual location rating report, Singapore has maintained its position as the most liveable city in Asia for foreigners. Japan’s Tokyo and Osaka ranked second and fifth respectively.

Mark Harrison, ECA general manager for Asia, said that with excellent infrastructure and facilities, low crime rates and little exposure to socio-political tensions, Singapore remains a very attractive location for expatriates. However, other regional locations have improved, and the gap between Singapore and other locations has fallen.

In Southeast Asia, there have been small but significant improvements in transport infrastructure, health services and recreational facilities in several locations. These cities have become more attractive to expats, for example, Jakarta (Indonesia) moving up from 213th to 196th spot, Phnom Penh (Cambodia) from 200th to 184th and Hanoi from 160th to 144th, cited VNA.

Illustrative photo (Photo: hanoimoi.vn)

The ECA's Location Ratings evaluate cities worldwide to assess the overall quality of living for expats in over 500 locations across the globe. The ranking is based on various liveability factors, including availability of health services, housing and utilities, access to a social network, recreational and leisure facilities, infrastructure, climate, personal safety, socio-political tensions and air quality.

Hanoi prepares for grand fireworks on Lunar New Year’s Eve

The fireworks will last for fifteen minutes from 12:00 AM on February 10.

To celebrate the Year of the Dragon, Hanoi will launch fireworks at 30 sites across the capital, with nine of these sites having high-altitude fireworks, VNS reported.

High-altitude fireworks above Hoan Kiem Lake. Photo: VNA

These nine selected sites are: the Hanoi Post Office and the Hanoi Moi newspaper headquarters in Hoan Kiem District; the Lac Long Quan Garden in Tay Ho District; the F1 Hanoi Circuit in Nam Tu Liem District; Thong Nhat Park in Hai Ba Trung District; Van Quan Lake in Ha Dong District; Son Tay citadel in Son Tay District; Tam Hiep balancing lake in Thanh Tri District; and Dong Anh Sports Center in Dong Anh District.

The fireworks will last for fifteen minutes from 12:00 AM on February 10.

The Hanoi People's Committee urges localities to use funding from businesses and organizations for firework displays, and ensure strict security and safety at and around fireworks sites in the capital.

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