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Vietnamese and Korean ministers at the signing ceremony for a MoU on public administration cooperation (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, RoK commit to stronger public administration cooperation

Vietnamese Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra and the Republic of Korea (RoK)'s Minister of the Interior and Safety Lee Sang-min agreed to strengthen cooperation in public administration between the two agencies during their working session in Seoul on July 15.

Between now and the year’s end, both sides plan to hold a seminar on government innovation in response to global challenges. The RoK will increase information sharing to assist Vietnam in administrative reform, state governance, and restructuring of local authorities.

Tra highlighted Vietnam's significant achievements despite an uncertain geopolitical landscape, saying that the country has maintained macro-economic stability, controlled inflation, ensured major economic balances, and achieved a 6.42% growth rate in the first half of 2024, cited VNA.

She noted substantial progress in Vietnam's strategic breakthroughs, including institutional building, administrative reform, and infrastructure development, particularly in transportation and digital infrastructure, stressing that these efforts have elevated Vietnam's prestige and position on the global stage.

According to her, both sides have actively shared information regarding public sector reform, good governance and government renewal; and organized ministerial-level roundtable discussions on civil service reform and training.

The Korean side has hosted numerous delegations from the Vietnamese Ministry of Home Affairs for short-term training courses, aiding Vietnam in promoting administrative and civil service reform, administration modernisation, digital transformation, and e-government.

Lee underlined the RoK's recent focus on public administration reform aimed at better serving citizens. To this end, the country has accelerated the application of information technology, enhanced digital transformation capabilities, and trained and improved the capacity of civil servants. The RoK has adopted numerous reforms at both central and local government levels, advancing digital transformation and raising the capacity of digital government.

During a working session with the Vietnamese Embassy in the RoK in the morning the same day, Tra expressed her hope that embassy will serve as a bridge to boost bilateral cooperation in the fields of the RoK’s expertise, such as digital transformation, e-government, state governance, smart city management models, and quality human resources training.

Travel+Leisure lists Hoi An among top 25 in World’s Best Awards 2024

Hoi An Ancient Town in Vietnam’s central Quang Nam province has been named among the top 25 destinations in the World’s Best Awards survey for 2024 conducted by magazine Travel+Leisure of the United States.

Travel+Leisure lists Hoi An among top 25 in World’s Best Awards 2024.

Accordingly, Hoi An ranked fourth in the list.

Travel+Leisure said that the coastal Vietnamese city which is a World Heritage site is ideal for foodies, with delicacies such as Banh Mi (baguette) and Cao Lau (Hoi An’s sacred noodle dish) being favorites with visitors. This can be seen through the preservation of its trading port and its architecture which reflects multiple styles through the ages.

It suggested that foreign visitors should fly into Da Nang International Airport before taking a bus or car to reach their final destination.

Rounding of the list of the top 25 was San Miguel de Allende of Mexico, Udaipur of India, Kyoto of Japan, Chiang Mai of Thailand, Florence of Italy, Bangkok of Thailand, Tokyo of Japan, Ubud of Indonesia, Oaxaca of Mexico, San Sebastián of Spain, and Marbella of Spain.

AIIB pledges continued support to Vietnam in implementing green infrastructure projects

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will continue supporting Vietnam in implementing green infrastructure projects towards the core goals of sustainability, innovation and connectivity, the bank's President Jin Liqun told Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Nguyen Thi Hong in Hanoi on July 15.

During his meeting with Hong to update the AIIB’s situations after its eight-year operation and the bank’s interest in potential projects in Vietnam in infrastructure and renewable energy, Jin spoke highly of Vietnam’s impressive socio-economic development achievements.

For her part, the SBV Governor spoke highly of achievements the AIIB has obtained over the past eight years, saying that its operational goals and missions such as green development, private capital mobilization, technology-supported infrastructure development are consistent with Vietnam’s development goals and compatible with the country’s infrastructure.

Controlling inflation and stabilizing the macroeconomy are the steadfast goals of the Vietnamese Government, she said, adding that towards sustainable development, green economic development is one of the tasks focused on by the Government, cited VNA.

The meeting between Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Nguyen Thi Hong and AIIB President Jin Liqun. (Photo: VNA)

Infrastructure development is also a priority of Vietnam, and the country aims to have 5,000km of expressways by 2030, Hong said.

According to the SBV Governor, the private sector is considered an important driving force for economic development.

As Vietnam’s development orientation is very close to the AIIB's goals and strategies, the country attaches importance to the relations with the AIIB, Hong affirmed.

The AIIB, headquartered in Beijing, is a multilateral development bank established in 2016 with 57 founding members, including Vietnam, aiming to promote sustainable economic development and infrastructure connectivity in Asia.

To date, the AIIB has funded 274 projects with a total value of over 53.5 billion USD for 37 members. In Vietnam, the AIIB has funded three projects with a total value of 223 million USD, focusing on COVID-19 pandemic response, solar energy development, hydropower and sustainable infrastructure.

During his stay in Vietnam from July 15-19, Jin is scheduled to have working sessions with leaders of ministries, sectors and localities to discuss potential projects in Vietnam.

Tropical depression makes landfall, causes heavy rain

The tropical depression that formed in the East Sea several days ago lost its strength after battering the central coast of Vietnam on July 15 afternoon.

In the evening, the tropical depression moved into the central coast from Quang Tri to Quang Nam provinces, packing winds of between 39-49 kph near its eye. It was traveling west and north-west at a speed of 10-15kph, VOV reported.

The tropical depression hits central Vietnam and loses its strength before moving into Laos.

The depression is forecast to lose its strength when it moves further inland at midnight, and its eye will be in Laos at around 7a.m. on July 16.

Though the tropical depression is degraded, it is bringing heavy rain to localities in the northern, central and southern regions in at least two coming days, with an average rainfall of between 60-120mm, or of even 200mm in some places.

Meteorologists warned that severe flooding, flash floods and landslides would occur in many areas, especially in low-lying and mountainous localities.

Significance of President To Lam's visits to Laos, Cambodia

President To Lam wrapped up his first foreign visits to Laos and Cambodia from July 11-13.

The visits churned out important and comprehensive results in all areas, contributing to further advancing the great Vietnam-Laos relations and the close ties between Vietnam and Cambodia for the practical benefits of the people of each country, said Minister of Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son.

These visits aims to implement the foreign policy adopted at the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), indicating the determination of the Vietnamese Party, State and people in continuously consolidating and promoting the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation with Laos, and the good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability with Cambodia.

The visits also helped strengthen the personal relations between President To and leaders of Laos and Cambodia, VGP reported.

The comprehensive results of the visits will create milestones for the new development period of the relations between Vietnam and Laos and Cambodia, as well as among the three countries, said Bui.

In Laos, the two countries agreed to implement the Vietnam - Laos cooperation strategy for the 2021-2030 period and the Vietnam - Laos bilateral cooperation agreement for 2021-2025.

Minister of Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son.

Regarding regional and international cooperation, the two sides pledged to continue close coordination and mutual support at regional and international forums, especially within the framework of ASEAN, the United Nations, and the Greater Mekong Sub-region. Laos' senior leaders appreciated Vietnam's support throughout its ASEAN Chairmanship Year.

President To Lam affirmed that Vietnam will continue active cooperation and support for Laos to successfully undertake international responsibilities in 2024, including the roles as the Chair of ASEAN and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).

During the visit to Cambodia, the two sides agreed to further promote economic - trade - investment ties, defense - security and border cooperation, collaboration in human resources development, and people-to-people exchanges.

Both sides agreed to actively support each other in building an independent and self-reliant economy while ensuring deep and effective international integration.

Within the framework of regional and international cooperation, the two sides agreed to promote cooperation in the Cambodia - Laos – Vietnam Development Triangle Area and the Greater Mekong Sub-region; support Laos to fulfill its roles as Chair of ASEAN and AIPA 2024; and boost the management and sustainable use of Mekong River water resources for the benefit of communities in the basin and in all the three countries.

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