Vietnam News Today (Jan. 21): Vietnam, Czech Republic Establish Strategic Partnership

	Vietnam News Today (Jan. 19): Prime Minister Receives Chairman of Czech - Vietnam Friendship Association
	Vietnam News Today (Jan. 20): Vietnam Attends ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat in Malaysia

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his spouse, and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam land at Zurich Airport on January 20 night (local time). (Photo: VNA)

PM arrives in Switzerland for 55th WEF meeting

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his spouse, and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam landed at Zurich Airport on January 20 night (local time), beginning a working visit to Switzerland, during which the leader will attend the 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos and conduct bilateral activities.

The trip, scheduled to run until January 23, is made at the invitation of WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab.

With the theme of “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age”, the forum gathers approximately 3,000 leaders from countries, international organizations, and leading corporations globally. It serves as a platform for discussions on development orientations and priorities, as well as opportunities Vietnam can offer to its partners.

While in Davos, PM Chinh is scheduled to preside over and attend many dialogues and discussions on various topics, including a plenary session on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), a national strategic dialogue between Vietnam and WEF, and a special dialogue between the WEF and the PM.

He will also chair seminars on such themes as trade and global development in the era of intelligence, high-tech investment in Vietnam, Vietnam in the digital age, digital infrastructure, and green energy, cited VNA.

The PM will hold meetings with leaders of various countries, international organizations, and multinational corporations, aiming to strengthen relations, attract investment, and promote trade.

He will convey important messages about Vietnam’s determination, aspirations, and vision for achieving strategic development goals over the next 20 years.

His trip marks the first multilateral diplomatic activity of Vietnam’s high-ranking leaders in 2025, reaffirming the country as a reliable partner and an active, responsible, and promising member of the international community.

The leader’s bilateral activities in Switzerland are expected to help enhance political trust and deepen the Vietnam-Switzerland relationship, elevating it to a new height.

Top legislator encourages Vietnam – Japan cooperation

Vietnam desires to closely cooperate with Japan to further deepen relations within the newly established Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, aiming to develop bilateral cooperation in a deeper, more substantial manner.

Top legislator Tran Thanh Man was speaking at a reception in Can Tho city on January 20 for Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki.

He praised the outcomes of a working session between the Ambassador and the leadership of Can Tho city, and expressed confidence that Japanese businesses would come to invest in the Mekong Delta region in general, and in Can Tho city in particular, including the upcoming AEON Mall project.

Top legislator Tran Thanh Man (R) shaking hands with Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki ahead of their meeting in Can Tho city on January 20.

Man requested that Naoki help to promote parliamentary cooperation, strengthen economic interconnections, ensure economic security, and advance investment, trade, and ODA partnerships between the two countries.

He expected that Japan would continue to support Vietnam in implementing the national industrialization and modernization strategy within the Vietnam-Japan cooperation framework for 2023-2030, and initiate new ODA loans, particularly for large-scale, key infrastructure projects between the two countries, with simplified and more favourable loan conditions. He also encouraged more Japanese investment in Vietnam, with a focus on high-quality, impactful, and technology-transfer projects.

Naoki for his part informed his host that over the past two days, the Ambassador and his delegation, including representatives from the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and several companies, conducted a survey of several locations in Can Tho City, held discussions with city leaders, and visited Can Tho University, according to VOV.

Through the discussions, he said, Can Tho city has significant potential in various fields, including economy, tourism, infrastructure development, implementation of JICA-funded projects, and educational cooperation.

Naoki also revealed that Japan plans to organize a symposium on climate change response with countries like the United States and Australia in Can Tho this year.

He proposed that the National Assembly of Vietnam improve legislation to support Japanese businesses to invest in the country.

Vietnam, Czech Republic establish strategic partnership

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Czech counterpart Petr Fiala declared the upgrading of the Vietnam-Czech relations to a strategic partnership during their talks in Prague on January 20.

The two leaders agreed to soon establish an action program to implement the Vietnam-Czech strategic partnership framework in a substantive and practical manner, in line with the cooperation framework between the two countries in the new context.

With this decision, the Czech Republic becomes the first Central and Eastern European country in the EU to have a strategic partnership with Vietnam.

Both sides consented to enhance cooperation within the newly-established strategic partnership framework, including signed agreements between the two countries, promote cooperation in traditional areas such as defence - security, trade - investment, science - technology, education - training, culture - tourism, and people-to-people exchange, while also expanding cooperation into new growth-driving fields such as renewable energy, innovation, digital transformation, green economy, circular economy, information technology, health care, mining, energy, and food security.

They affirmed the commitment of the high-ranking leaders of both countries to further step up cooperation in areas where both sides have strengths and needs, with the spirit of what has been said will be done, and what has been committed will be fulfilled, for the benefit of the two countries' people, and for peace, stability, and sustainable development in the regions and globally.

Regarding trade and investment, both sides agreed to continue implementing existing economic cooperation mechanisms, encouraging Czech enterprises to increase investment in Vietnam, especially in sectors where the Czech Republic has strengths, such as automotive supporting industry, renewable energy, machinery manufacturing, mining and processing of minerals, chemicals, and food processing. They will work together to effectively implement the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

The Vietnamese PM urged the Czech Government to hasten the remaining EU countries to ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and to advocate for the European Commission (EC) to soon lift the yellow card warning on Vietnamese seafood exports, given Vietnam's serious efforts to fully implement the EC's recommendations on sustainable fishing development, as well as the interests of Czech and EU consumers. Both sides agreed to support each other in serving as gateways for their goods into the ASEAN and EU markets.

During the talks, PM Chinh emphasized that the Vietnamese people always remember the noble, sincere, and selfless support that the Czech Republic has provided to Vietnam during its struggle for national liberation in the past, as well as the current national construction and development.

He affirmed that Vietnam highly values and wishes to strengthen its relationship with the Czech Republic, a traditional friend and a top priority partner for Vietnam in Central and Eastern Europe.

The two PMs talked about the socio-economic situations of their respective countries, bilateral cooperation, and regional and international issues of mutual concern, agreeing that there is still significant potential for developing their ties.

They expressed pleasure at the positive developments in the bilateral relationship, particularly in the areas of politics, diplomacy, security, defence, trade, investment, and education. Both sides agreed to enhance the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially high levels through Party, State, Government, and National Assembly channels.

PM Fiala congratulated Vietnam on its impressive socio-economic achievements, particularly in the post-COVID-19 era. He described Vietnam as one of the Czech Republic’s most promising markets in the Asia-Pacific region, noting the growing interest of Czech businesses in expanding investment and trade activities in the Southeast Asian nation.

He agreed on the need to enhance bilateral cooperation in areas such as food industry, manufacturing, and mining and mineral processing. He also agreed with the Vietnamese PM's proposal to establish a direct flight route between the two countries to facilitate people-to-people exchanges and tourism.

Fiala praised Vietnam's decision to waive visas for Czech citizens in 2025, calling it a significant boost for tourism and people-to-people exchanges. He also suggested the Vietnamese government support the establishment of a Czech cultural centre in Vietnam, viewing it as a vital platform to strengthen mutual understanding between the two countries' people.

The leaders instructed their respective ministries and agencies to make thorough preparations for the 8th Vietnam-Czech Republic intergovernmental committee meeting on economic cooperation.

Chinh expressed gratitude to Fiala and the Czech government for their support to the Vietnamese community in the European country. He urged continued favourable conditions for the community in the coming time so that they can act as a bridge for friendship and cooperation between the two peoples.

The host leader appreciated the vital role of the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic, considering it an important bridge between the two countries, pledging further support for them in the future, cited VNA.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (left) and his Czech counterpart Petr Fiala inform the results of their talks at a joint press conference in Prague on January 20. (Photo: VNA)

Both leaders emphasized the importance of all-people, global and comprehensive approaches in addressing challenges in an ever-changing world. They reaffirmed their commitment to close cooperation and mutual support at multilateral forums and international organizations, thus promoting peace, security, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Regarding regional and international issues of mutual concern, including the East Sea issue, the two sides agreed that disputes and conflicts in the world should be resolved through peaceful means, on the basis of the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), contributing to maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, freedom of navigation and overflights in the regions and the world, for global cooperation and prosperity.

The leaders highlighted the importance of defence - security cooperation, pledging to enhance collaboration in UN peacekeeping operations, military trade, defence industry, and pilot training as well as increase delegation exchanges to share experience, and boost coordination in combating organised, transnational and hi-tech crimes, illegal migration, and drug trafficking.

On this occasion, Chinh invited Fiala to visit Vietnam soon and his invitation was accepted with pleasure.

After their talks, the two PMs witnessed the signing of several cooperation agreements in education and aviation.

Later, they held a joint press conference to announce the outcomes of their talks during which Fiala highlighted the significance of Chinh’s visit, which coincides with the 75th anniversary of bilateral relations. The two sides agreed to elevate the Vietnam-Czech Republic relationship to a strategic partnership, showing the Czech Republic's appreciation of Vietnam’s role and position as its most important partner in Southeast Asia.

Acknowledging that ample room remains for Vietnam-Czech Republic cooperation, Fiala said he believes that the two countries will seize opportunities and make efforts to advance ties through concrete programs and projects.

PM Chinh stressed the importance of renewing traditional areas of collaboration and exploring new fields for the benefits of both nations and their people as well as for peace, cooperation, and development in the regions and the world.

Cold to intensify ahead of Lunar New Year festival

A strong cold spell is expected to affect northern Vietnam right before the Lunar New Year festival (Tet) and last for several days during the festive season, according to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.

The cold spell is projected to begin influencing the region on February 5-6, around the 27th-28th days of the 12th lunar month and last through the days leading up to the holiday, said meteorologists.

Due to the cold air mass, the Red River Delta region, including Hanoi, may see temperatures drop to 10-13°C, while some mountainous areas may experience temperatures below 5°C.

High-altitude areas such as Mau Son (Lang Son), Sa Pa (Lao Cai), and Fansipan Mt. could face frost and freezing conditions.

Meteorologists warn severe cold conditions are expected in many areas, especially at night and early in the morning. Light rain or mist may occur in the plains and coastal areas, VOV reported.

Northerners will celebrate the Lunar New Year festival lasting from January 25 to February 2 in cold conditions.

According to meteorologists, during the Tet holiday lasting from January 25 to February 2, additional cold spells may hit Vietnam, but their intensity would not match the January 26 cold wave.

From January 29 to 31, northern Vietnam will maintain relatively low temperatures, with possible light rain or drizzle, followed by more stable weather in early February.

Meteorologists say February will experience strong cold spells, leading to severe and extreme cold conditions, particularly in northern mountainous provinces.

Vietnamese spring rolls named among the world’s best fried dishes

Nem ran (Vietnamese fried spring rolls) has been ranked 42nd in Taste Atlas’s list of the "100 Best Fried Dishes in the World," reaffirming its global culinary acclaim.

Taste Atlas, a renowned food and gastronomy guide, describes nem rán as a dish made of minced pork and shrimp, wrapped in soft rice paper, then fried to golden perfection.

The crispy, thin outer layer encases a savory filling of pork, shrimp, glass noodles, wood ear mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and vegetables. The unique combination of ingredients creates a rich and irresistible flavor, as noted by the site.

Photo: Saigaeatery

This is not the first time nem ran has received international recognition. In May 2023, Taste Atlas also included Vietnamese spring rolls in its list of the "100 Best Appetizers in the World." Additionally, CNN once ranked nem ran among the "50 Best Foods in the World."

A celebrated dish on the global culinary map

Taste Atlas, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Zagreb, Croatia, is known for cataloging traditional dishes worldwide.

According to Matija Babić, the platform’s founder, the rankings are based on evaluations and reviews from culinary experts and critics to ensure the reliability and prestige of their selections.

Vietnamese spring rolls, with their iconic blend of texture and flavor, continue to affirm their place as a standout in global cuisine, representing the rich culinary heritage of Vietnam.

Vietnam News Today (Jan. 16): Ambassador Joanna Skoczek Confident of Growing Poland – Vietnam Relations Vietnam News Today (Jan. 16): Vietnam, China prioritize strengthening bilateral ties; Ambassador Joanna Skoczek confident of growing Poland – Vietnam relations; Vietnam to waive visas ...

Vietnam News Today (Jan. 18): Vietnam, Italy Convene Sixth Deputy Ministerial-level Political Consultation Vietnam News Today (Jan. 18): Vietnam, Italy convene sixth deputy ministerial-level political consultation; Polish Sejm to soon ratify investment deal between EU and Vietnam; Vietnam ...