US President Joe Biden.

World leaders keep extending condolences to Vietnam over Party leader’s passing

US President Joe Biden and many other world leaders extended their condolences to Vietnam and the family of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong over the Party leader’s recent passing.

In his telegram, US President Joe Biden emphasized that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was the leader who contributed to building a deep relationship between the US and Vietnam.

He recalled Trong’s historic visit to the White House in 2015, describing it as an important milestone in bilateral relations. Thanks to the vision of the General Secretary, the US and Vietnam lifted their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership during Biden’s visit to Hanoi in 2023.

Biden appreciated Trong’s commitment to healing and building a better future, for peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world, cited VOV.

In his telegram, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida noted that the exchanges of opinions with Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong during previous meetings have become unforgettable memories for him. He expressed his deepest gratitude for Trong’s great contributions to promoting the Vietnam - Japan relationship.

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin in his telegram expressed his admiration for the Vietnamese leaders’ important and exemplary contributions to the country’s development, as well as to strengthening relations between Thailand and Vietnam. He also recalled the General Secretary’s historic visit to Thailand in 2013 when the two countries upgraded their ties to the strategic partnership.

General Secretary of the Korean Workers’ Party Kim Jong Un affirmed in his telegram that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has devoted his entire life to the struggle for the development of the Party and State of Vietnam and the happiness of the Vietnamese people.

Kim acknowledged Trong’s effort in strengthening and developing friendly and cooperative relations between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Vietnam, in accordance with the spirit of the agreement reached through the March 2019 summit talks in Hanoi.

The legacy of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong will remain forever in the revolutionary history of the Vietnamese people and the friendly relations between the two countries, he emphasized.

In his telegram, President Yoon Suk-yeol of the Republic of Korea wrote that the Vietnamese people have just lost a respected leader. The achievements and wishes of the General Secretary for the brilliant development of Vietnam and to deepen the friendly cooperative relationship between Vietnam and the RoK will forever be in the minds of the people of the two countries.

Australian Governor General Sam Mostyn, Senate President Sue Lines and House Speaker Milton Dick, in their telegrams, appreciated the General Secretary’s contributions to the relationship between Australia and Vietnam, especially to the upgrade of the relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in early 2024.

They emphasized that Trong’s great contributions to building and developing a peaceful and prosperous Vietnam will always be remembered by the international community. They also affirmed that they would continue to attach importance to cultivating the strategic trust in the Australia - Vietnam relationship as desired by the Vietnamese leader.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, President of the United Nations General Assembly Dennis Francis, Indian President Droupadi Murmu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, also extended their condolences to Vietnam and the family of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong over the passing of the Party leader.

Argentina, Vietnam should expand economic cooperation: Argentine FM

Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino told Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina Ngo Minh Nguyet on July 19 that the two countries should strengthen exchanges to expand bilateral economic cooperation.

Mondino said that her country is working to speed up the reform of the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) towards opening up the market and negotiating free trade agreements (FTAs) with other countries, including Vietnam.

Argentina will also strive to promote the negotiations and signing of a double taxation avoidance agreement with Vietnam, she stated.

The Argentine FM underlined that her country will continue to share experience and strengthen technology sharing with Vietnam in the field of high-tech agriculture, especially rice production and the farming of some kinds of plants.

Argentina hopes to promote satellite cooperation projects for farming and expand defense cooperation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding on defense cooperation with Vietnam, which covers the area of bomb and mine clearance, she said.

For her part, Ambassador Nguyet welcomed recent new economic policies of Argentina, holding that economic expansion will benefit both countries.

She said that in order to expand and deepen bilateral relations, Vietnam will continue to increase visits at high and all levels across all fields in the future, according to VNA.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina Ngo Minh Nguyet (R) and Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino at their working session in Buenos Aires on July 19 (Photo: VNA)

The diplomat revealed that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh plans to pay an official visit to Argentina this year, adding the two countries will exchange many visits and meetings through the Party, parliament, and locality-to-locality channels in 2024.

Ambassador Nguyet thanked FM Mondino for making many positive statements supporting Vietnam and Indonesia in negotiations with the MERCOSUR for an FTA at the bloc's summit in Paraguay.

She said she hopes the two countries will negotiate for and sign the bilateral double taxation avoidance agreement, and organize the 8th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee on bilateral cooperation and the deputy foreign minister-level Political Consultation this year.

Vietnam and Argentina have enjoyed traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation in all fields, with regular high-level visits.

The two sides have agreed to maintain close coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums and international organizations in the future.

Vietnam is a strategic trade partner of Argentina with two-way trade reaching US$3.5 billion last year, with Vietnam's exports of US$1.4 billion.

Tropical depression likely to gain strength into storm

A tropical depression that formed in the East Sea on July 19 is gathering steam and is likely to strengthen into a storm, said the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting in a forecast on July 20.

At 07:00a.m. the tropical depression was about 420km east and southeast of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago of Vietnam, with winds gusting 61kph near its center.

In the next 24 hours, the tropical depression will be moving west and northwest at a speed of between 10-15kph, and is likely to gain further strength into a tropical storm, VOV reported.

The tropical depression is forecast to strengthen into a storm in coming hours.

The tropical depression will cause rough seas of 2-4m high waves, said the National Center for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.

This is a complicated tropical depression and the center is closely monitoring its track to release timely warnings, it said.

With El Nino fading away and La Nina coming, the stormy season this year is anticipated to be complicated.

It is expected that between 6 and 8 tropical depressions/tropical storms will form in the East Sea, with 2-4 of them expected to batter the mainland of Vietnam from now till October 2024.

"Living Fully in Vietnam" held in Israel to mark diplomatic ties

The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel on July 19 hosted a cultural exchange themed "Living Fully in Vietnam”, as part of a series of events celebrating the 31st anniversary of Vietnam-Israel diplomatic ties (July 12).

Nearly 50 guests attended the event, including local residents with a fondness for Vietnam, international friends, embassy staff, and representatives of the Vietnamese community living and working in Israel.

They were treated to video presentations showcasing Vietnam's stunning and diverse landscapes, its renowned cuisine, and the warm hospitality of its people, VNA reported.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung (Photo: Vietnamese Embassy in Israel)

Vietnamese Ambassador Ly Duc Trung further enriched the experience by providing insights into Vietnam's socio-economic achievements under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam. He highlighted Vietnam's attractiveness to investors and its potential as a potential trade partner of foreign businesses.

He saw this event as an opportunity to step up people-to-people diplomacy and tourism exchange, adding that several firms already engaged in business and trade activities with Vietnam will continue to serve as a bridge connecting with even more potential partners interested in exploring opportunities there.

Vietnam shines at European Physics Olympiad with multiple medals

Vietnam continues its streak of success in international science competitions, claiming silver and bronze at the EuPhO 2024.

Vietnam's young physicists have once again demonstrated their prowess at the European Physics Olympiad (EuPhO) 2024, bringing home 1 Silver and 3 Bronze medals - a commendable achievement on the international stage.

This year's team, selected by the Vietnam Physics Society from top performers in the national competition for excellent students during the 2023-2024 academic year, consisted of five talented students.

Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Cao Khang, head of the Vietnamese delegation and a lecturer at Hanoi National University of Education, proudly reported that four of the five team members were medalists at the event.

The standout performer, Phan Quang Triet, an 11th-grade student from Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted in Nghe An province, clinched the Silver medal. His achievement underscores the rigorous training and dedication inherent in Vietnam's approach to nurturing young scientific talent, cited VNN.

From right to left: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Cao Khang (team leader); Vu Anh Duy (Thai Binh High School for the Gifted, Thai Binh province); Nguyen Cong Vinh (Bac Ninh High School for the Gifted, Bac Ninh province); Nguyen Ngoc Phuong Anh (Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, Hanoi); Phan Quang Triet (Phan Boi Chau High School for the Gifted, Nghe An province); Ho Dinh Hoang Hai (Le Quy Don High School for the Gifted, Ninh Thuan province); and two accompanying teachers.

The Bronze medals were awarded to three gifted students: Nguyen Ngoc Phuong Anh from Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, Vu Anh Duy from Thai Binh High School for the Gifted, and Nguyen Cong Vinh from Bac Ninh High School for the Gifted. Their success at the EuPhO highlights the broad-based excellence and competitive spirit among Vietnam's young physicists.

This marks the fifth consecutive year of Vietnam's participation in the EuPhO, with the team showing strong performances each year. The previous year, the Vietnamese team excelled with 1 Gold, 3 Silver, and 1 Bronze medal, indicating a consistent high level of achievement in this prestigious competition.

The European Physics Olympiad is a significant event in the international academic calendar, held annually for high school students across Europe and select invited countries, including Vietnam. Recognized alongside other prestigious competitions like the International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) and the Asian Physics Olympiad (APhO), the EuPhO challenges participants with a rigorous five-hour theoretical exam and a five-hour practical exam.

The 2024 event took place in Georgia from July 15 to July 19, gathering over 400 students from 55 countries and territories around the globe, providing a platform for young talents to showcase their skills and exchange knowledge.

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