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President To Lam (R) meets with Chairwoman of the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Association Samdech Men Sam An.

State leader meets Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Association Chairwoman

Vietnamese President To Lam held a meeting with Samdech Men Sam An, chairwoman of the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Association, on July 13 within the framework of his state visit.

She applauded the fraternity and neighborliness that exists through many ways which cannot separate the strategic and traditional friendship between the peoples of Vietnam and Cambodia. She also pledged to further collaborations with the association's other leaders to strengthen the friendship, solidarity, and people-to-people exchanges in a bid to protect and preserve friendly ties between the two peoples.

In response, President To Lam hailed Sam An's contribution to fostering the positive relations between the two countries, emphasizing that the cooperation efforts have been ceaselessly enhanced and developed in recent times, with senior leaders maintaining regular contact whilst holding effective exchanges and bilateral cooperation mechanisms.

Both sides have cooperated closely within multilateral and sub-regional frameworks, contributing to peace, stability, and development in the region and the world, he continued.

The Vietnamese State leader said he hoped that with her deep sentiments towards the country and people of Vietnam, Sam An, who is no longer a cabinet member, will continue to make positive contributions to reinforcing the friendship and comprehensive collaboration that exists between the two countries, cited VOV.

He suggested the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association intensify people-to-people exchanges, especially between the youth, as well as striving to strengthen education and communication work so that people from all walks of life, particularly the young, have a deep understanding of the importance and responsibility for further preserving and cultivating bilateral ties.

The Vietnamese President asked the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association and the Cambodia - Vietnam Friendship Association to continue to promote and replicate the friendship incubation movement that they have been implementing.

He voiced his hope that Sam An and other leaders of her association will support the removal of difficulties faced by people of Vietnamese origin in Cambodia, especially in legal documents, helping them to stabilize their lives and integrate into the local community.

He also proposed the association support and offer optimal conditions for Vietnamese investors and enterprises conducting business in the Cambodian market.

Vietnam attends 14th annual East Sea conference in US

A Vietnamese delegation led by Vice President of Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam Nguyen Hung Son attended the 14th annual conference on the East Sea (also known as South China Sea) held by the Washington DC-based Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on July 11.

The hybrid conference saw the participation of policy makers and officials from the US administration, along with experts and scholars from the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, India, Japan, Indonesia, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam and Taiwan (China). They included congressman Darrell Issa, who is also a member of the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and US Assistant Secretary of Defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs Ely Ratner, according to VNA.

Vietnamese flag is seen at Sinh Ton Dong (Sin Cowe East) island, part of Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago in April, 2023. (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

The conference offered an opportunity for scholars, diplomats and researchers around the world to discuss and evaluate the recent situation in the East Sea, new developments from geopolitical, legal, political-diplomatic and environmental aspects and impacts on the East Sea situation. They also made recommendations and suggestions for coordination between relevant parties to respond to challenges and promote cooperation in all fields to keep the East Sea situation peaceful and stable.

According to Dr. Nguyen Hung Son, at the conference, Vietnam highlighted the importance of the East Sea to peace and stability in the region in general. Maintaining peace in the waters benefits not only the East Sea coastal countries but also the international community.

In addition, the Vietnamese representative also shared the importance of complying with international law, especially in the context of many acts of disobedience to international law not only in the East Sea but also in other regions around the world. Vietnam also upholds the responsibility of relevant countries for coordinating in building trust, promoting cooperative measures, jointly controlling the risks of conflict, and ensuring long-term peace and stability in the East Sea.

The conference was made with the support from the Foundation for Environmental Security and Sustainability (FESS), the Embassies of Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom.

Vietnamese President concludes Cambodia visit with great success

President To Lam departed Phnom Penh on July 13 afternoon, successfully concluding his two-day state visit to Cambodia at the invitation of King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni.

The President and his delegation were seen off at Phnom Penh Airport by Senior Minister in charge of General Affairs of the Ministry of the Royal Palace Kuy Sophal, Minister of Tourism Sok Soken, Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam Chea Kimtha, and other Cambodian officials, along side Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Huy Tang.

This is Lam’s first visit to Cambodia after he took office. His visit is of great significance and is viewed as a milestone for the bilateral ties to grow more intensively and extensively under the motto of “good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability.”

During his stay, the Vietnamese State leader met King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, held talks with President of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and President of the Senate Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Prime Minister Samdech Moha Bovor Thipadei Hun Manet, and had a meeting with President of the National Assembly Khuon Sudary.

King Norodom Sihamoni greatly valued the visit, saying it demonstrates the importance the Vietnamese Party and State, and the President himself attach to the bilateral relationship, reported VOV.

Photo: VOV

At the meetings, the two sides showed their elation at the comprehensive, effective and practical development of the Vietnam-Cambodia cooperation over the past years, bringing benefits to their people.

They applauded mutual support, solidarity and sacrifice the two countries granted to each other during their past struggles for national liberation, as well as the current national construction and development process.

Hun Sen praised Vietnam for its support and sacrifice to the Cambodian people during their past struggle against the Pol Pot genocidal regime, and their revival efforts.

Both sides consented to renew and diversity communications methods to raise public awareness, especially among young generations, of the traditional friendship, closeness, solidarity, and all-around cooperation between the two nations.

Quang Binh's national park, caves highlighted by Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet has introduced Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Son Doong Cave, Tu Lan Cave, and Thien Duong Cave as must-see attractions in Vetnam’s central province of Quang Binh.

The world largest and prestigious travel guide book publisher wrote: "Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003, the remarkable Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park contains the oldest karst mountains in Asia, formed approximately 400 million years ago.

"Riddled with hundreds of cave systems – many of extraordinary scale and length – and spectacular underground rivers, Phong Nha is a speleologists’ heaven on earth, and a real treat for anyone who appreciates the sight of nature at its most raw.

"The caves are the region's absolute highlights, but the above-ground attractions of forest trekking, the area's war history and rural mountain biking means the park has enough going on to warrant stays of up to three days."

Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park offers magnificent landscape, biodiversity, and karst-specific geomorphology. (Photo: VNA)

The park’s landscape is formed by limestone plateaux and tropical forests, covering a total surface area of 123,326ha. It contains and protects over 300 caves and underground rivers. A variety of cave types including: dry, terraced, suspended, dendritic and intersecting caves.

Typical ones should be gigantic En, little wonder Toi, spiral-shaped Tien and gorgeous Va.

Son Doong (Mountain River), located in the heart of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, is known as the world's largest cave.

Lonely Planet says it is one of the most spectacular sights in Southeast Asia and also one of the most exclusive.

This enormous cave was discovered quite recently and only confirmed as the world’s biggest cave by British explorers in 2009.

The cave (more than 5km long, 200m high and, in some places, 150m wide) is big enough to accommodate a battleship. Sections of it are pierced by skylights that reveal formations of ethereal stalagmites that cavers have called the Cactus Garden.

Some stalagmites are up to 80m high. Cavers have also discovered colossal cave pearls measuring 10cm in diameter, which have been formed by millennia of drips, fusing calcite crystals with grains of sand. Magnificent rimstone pools are present throughout the cave, plus rivers that are ideal for swimming.

The Tu Lan cave system is located in the primeval forest and limestone mountains with an area of more than 650ha. The area, explored in 1992, covers eight different valleys and mountain ranges connected by an underground river and more than twenty wet and dry caves, which are thought to be between three and five million years old.

Huge caverns, underground rivers and vast dangling stalactites make the caves a big draw for spelunkers while and the stunning landscape captures the Hollywood's attention. Tu Lan was picked to be a backdrop in blockbuster Kong: Skull Island in 2017.

Surrounded by forested karst peaks, staggering Thien Duong (Paradise) cave system in Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park extends for 31km, though most people only visit the first kilometre.

"The scale is breathtaking, as wooden staircases plunge into a cathedral-like space with vast alien-looking stalagmites and stalactites illuminated by large flood lights. Get here early to beat the crowds, as during peak times (early afternoon) tour guides shepherd groups using megaphones," Lonely Planet said.

It is the first time that a locality of Vietnam has made it into a must-see in Lonely Planet.

Previously, the website ranked Phong Nha-Ke Bang one of five dream destinations for 2019.

UN Human Rights Council adopts resolution co-proposed by Vietnam

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has adopted 25 resolutions at the end of its 56VNth regular session in Geneva, including one on climate change and human rights drafted and proposed by VN, Bangladesh, and the Philippines.

The session, which took place from June 18 to July 12, featured five thematic panel discussions, debates and dialogues on 37 special procedures and human rights mechanisms of the UN, as well as consultations on draft resolutions.

The UNHRC also completed the procedural adoption of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) reports of 14 countries in Cycle IV.

At this session, the Vietnamese delegation, led by Ambassador Mai Phan Dung, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international organizations in Geneva, actively participated in the development and introduction of the council's resolutions.

This reflected its efforts in promoting and protecting human rights as well as responding to climate change, while also contributing to the implementation of its foreign policy of being proactive and responsible for common issues of the international community, cited VNS.

Ambassador Mai Phan Dung (left), head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations, the World Trade Organization (WTO), and other international organisations in Geneva, Switzerland. Photo: VNA

The resolution on climate change and human rights has been actively introduced annually by Vietnam, Bangladesh, and the Philippines for the council’s consideration and approval since 2008, with a different theme for each year.

On July 10, the UN Human Rights Council unanimously adopted the 2024 resolution on climate change and human rights with the theme of just transition. This is a success of the three missions from proposing and drafting content to consulting and lobbying countries to ratify it.

The Vietnamese delegation actively delivered speeches in various sessions and discussions on human rights and rights to health care and education, extreme poverty, and discrimination against women and girls, as well as at sessions approving UPR reports of countries. Along with ASEAN countries, it also made a joint statement on technical cooperation.

The delegation actively joined exchanges and consultations with representatives of other countries and co-sponsored many initiatives in the spirit of dialogue and cooperation, demonstrating Vietnam's consistent views, policies and achievements in promoting and protecting human rights.

It also affirmed Vietnam’s message of “Mutual Respect, Dialogue and Cooperation, Ensuring All Human Rights, for All” for its three-year membership at the UNHRC (2023-2025).

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