President Vo Van Thuong and his spouse at Fiumicino airport in Italy. (Photo: VNA)

President concludes visits to Italy, Vatican

President Vo Van Thuong arrived in Hanoi on July 29 morning, concluding his State visit to Italy and his visit to the Vatican at the invitation of Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Pope Francis, respectively, from July 25-29.

The trip marks a new milestone in the 50-year diplomatic ties and the 10-year strategic partnership of Vietnam and Italy, while affirming Vietnam’s good will in strengthening cooperation with the Vatican.

During his stay in Italy, Thuong held talks with his Italian counterpart Mattarella, met with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and attended the signing ceremony of cooperation documents between the two countries.

At the talks, the leaders expressed their resolve to turn a new page in the strategic partnership, making it stronger and more effective, and contribute to common goals of sustainable development and addressing global challenges on the basis of balanced, mutual benefits, for the sake of their people, and for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Vietnam welcomed the Italian Parliament's ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) which took place at the same time with the President’s visit.

Italy acknowledged Vietnam’s efforts in seriously and fully implementing the European Commission (EC)’s recommendations in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, cited VNA.

The two sides agreed to closely coordinate for prosperity, and sustainable and inclusive development of both nations, and for peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world in line with basic principles of international law and the UN Charter.

The Presidents spoke highly of the signing of an agreement on extradition and another on the transfer of sentenced persons between Vietnam and Italy.

Thuong also had meetings with other Italian leaders, including President of the Italian Senate Ignazio La Russa, President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Lorenzo Fontana, and Mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri, and visited Italy’s Tuscany region.

President Thuong, his spouse and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation attended a national banquet hosted by the Italian President and his daughter, and a concert marking the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties.

Within the visit, the President also held separate meetings with leaders the Communist Party, the Democratic Party, and the Communist Refoundation Party, during which they affirmed wish to enhance cooperation between the Communist Party of Vietnam with the Italian political parties.

While in the Vatican, Thuong met with Pope Francis, and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Vatican, and visited the Sistine Chapel.

On the occasion of the visit by the Vietnamese President to the Vatican on July 27, 2023, with the desire to continue advancing bilateral relations, the two sides officially announced that the Vietnamese Government and the Holy See concluded the “Agreement on the Status of the Resident Papal Representative and the Office of the Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam”.

In a joint press release, both sides expressed their confidence that the Resident Papal Representative will fulfill the role and mandate given in the agreement, provide support to the Vietnamese Catholic community, and serve as a bridge to advance relations between Vietnam and the Holy See.

At the meeting with the Pope, Thuong stressed that the conclusion of the Agreement on the Status of the Resident Papal Representative and the Office of the Resident Papal Representative in Vietnam is an important step in the context of positive development in the bilateral relations, and the result of discussions in the spirit of mutual respect and understanding, and cooperation.

The leader said he hopes that Pope Francis will pay more attention to guiding the Vietnam Catholic Church and the Catholic community in the Southeast Asian nation to further fulfill the vocation of “accompanying the nation” and to be “good Catholics and good citizens.”

The State visit to Italy and the visit to the Vatican by President Thuong is the first delegation exchange at the head-of-state level between Vietnam, Italy and the Vatican over the past seven years.

The success of the two visits have further affirmed the foreign policy of the 13th National Party Congress on independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, helping promote and deepen cooperation between Vietnam and Italy and the Vatican.

Vietnam becoming Asia’s tourism hotspot: US journal

"Because Vietnam is an emerging tourist destination and doesn’t yet have the same huge footfall that many other Southeast Asian countries experience, much of its natural beauty is still incredibly well preserved," it reported.

Travel Off Path, one of North America's largest travel news websites has highlighted Vietnam as "Asia’s new tourism hotspot" saying the country is quickly becoming one of the most popular vacation destinations in Southeast Asia.

The US-based travel website has identified three reasons for Việt Nam being the new Asia tourism hotpot including the adjusted visa requirements, a well-preserved natural beauty and a focus on tourism growth.

In an article published on Sunday, Travel Off Path praised the country to be famous for its breathtakingly beautiful scenery, a huge coastline that stretches for an incredible 3,260km, and energetic cities.

"When people think of travelling to Southeast Asia, Thailand is usually the first destination that comes to mind. But if you want to avoid the crowds of tourists in Thailand, then there is an emerging force for tourism in the region that is ripe for exploration — Vietnam" it said.

According to a Google Destination Insights report, between March and June, Vietnam was the seventh most searched destination in the world and the only country in Southeast Asia to make the top 20 list.

"Vietnam is quickly becoming one of the most popular vacation destinations in Southeast Asia," according to Travel Off Path.

The article also looked deeply into analysing the three reasons that make the country more and more well-known among regional and international tourists.

For the adjusted visa requirements, it said, visiting Vietnam will be easier than ever for citizens of many countries with the visa application being "straightforward and affordable."

The news site also praised the country for preserving its natural beauty.

"Because Vietnamis an emerging tourist destination and doesn’t yet have the same huge footfall that many other Southeast Asian countries experience, much of its natural beauty is still incredibly well preserved," it reported.

The website pointed out that the country is budget-friendly, although those on a tight budget should still consider their itinerary to ensure it is affordable.

Impressive tourism figures in Vietnam three big cities of Hanoi, Da Nang and HCM City. Infographic: VNS

Compared to the Southeast Asian tourism hub of Thailand, it said, Vietnam is an affordable destination, although both can cater to travellers on a budget.

"But Vietnam is considered to be one of the best budget options in the region. Accommodation, food, and transportation are all cheaper in Vietnam than they are in Thailand, especially if you travel to rural parts of the country.".

The article also highlighted the Vietnamese Government in promoting and focusing on encouraging more tourists to visit and growing the tourism figures this year.

Vietnam originally set a target of attracting eight million visitors in the rest of 2023, but the figure is predicted will grow to 10 million by the end of the year, VNS reported.

"The Vietnamese Government wants to turn the country into Asia’s new tourism hotspot. And so far, so good. Their plan is working, and now is the perfect time to explore this incredible and beautiful country." the site concluded.

Earlier in March, the Travel Off Path listed Vietnam among the top five international destinations to visit this summer.

Along with Japan, New Zealand, France and Italy, the country is recognised as one of the places with a significant hike in searches and bookings.

The travel news website also assessed it as one of the more affordable Asian destinations in addition to Malaysia and Thailand in the context that airfares in Asia continue to rise.

More popular among US tourists

It found the country is becoming a more popular destination for US holidaymakers, with more than 215,000 Americans visiting the country last year, ranking second behind South Korea in terms of arrival numbers.

Vietnam fully reopened for tourism in the middle of March 2022, becoming one of the first in the region to ease COVID-19 travel restrictions and welcome foreign visitors, including US travellers, regardless of vaccination status.

Demand for quality tourism has since increased dramatically. The famous online travel agency Kayak even considered the country the top destination in Southeast Asia for 2023.

The US travel website said Vietnam is a culturally-rich country, and it is a newborn country still finding its footing in a fast-changing world.

Many adventurous Americans find Hanoi and HCM City impossible to resist as they are ‘a complex maze of narrow, unplanned streets prospered with trade, vibrant flea markets, old colonial buildings, and ancient temples’.

“If the busy city life doesn't seem appealing and its bucolic, rolling rice terraces etched into green hills, quaint villages, and remote pagodas set against dramatic backdrops you're after, you'll soon realize Vietnam is brimming with them, from the Sa Pa heartland to the pilgrimage sites of the Ninh Binh Province,” it continued to describe Vietnam.

If visitors love to explore architecture or old ruins, there are numerous jaw-dropping imperial palaces to entertain them. One of those places introduced by Travel Off Path is Hue, a historical city in the central region, home to the stunning Forbidden Purple City, the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty, sumptuously-decorated temples, and a monumental moated citadel.

For many, a trip to Vietnam is not complete without visiting and staying at pristine beaches. According to the website, the country is packed with paradisiacal beaches boasting postcard-perfect turquoise waters and lined with luxurious resorts.

Last but not least, middle-income Americans choose to visit the country because it is incredibly cheap coupled with the lower cost of living, enabling them to access luxuries they wouldn't be able to afford in their country.

Trade surplus reaches 15.23 billion USD in seven months

Vietnam recorded a trade surplus of about 15.23 billion USD in the first seven months of this year, an increase of 1.34% over the same period last year, according to data released by the General Statistics Office of Vietnam (GSO) on July 29.

In the period, the total import-export turnover of goods hit 374.23 billion USD, posting a year-over-year decrease of 13.9%. Specifically, export value fell by 10.6% and import value 17.1%.

In the period, there are 30 items with export turnover of over 1 billion USD, accounting for 91.6% of the total export turnover at 194.7 billion USD. Particularly, five items posted an export turnover of more than 10 billion USD, accounting for 57.6%.

Meanwhile, import turnover was estimated at 179.5 billion USD, decreasing by 17.1% over the same period last year including 64.1 billion USD from the domestic economic sector and the remaining 115.4 billion USD from the foreign-invested sector.

Regarding the structure of imported goods in the past seven months, production materials accounted for 93.8% of total import value with 168.3 billion USD. Consumer goods accounted for only 6.2% (11.2 billion USD), cited VNA.

Containers of goods for import and export at Hai Phong Port. (Photo: VNA)

The US was Vietnam's largest export market with an estimated turnover of 52.4 billion USD, and China was Vietnam's largest import market with an estimated turnover of 58.6 billion USD.

In the last seven months, Vietnam's trade surplus with the US was estimated at 44.3 billion USD, down 24.1% over the same period last year while its trade surplus with the EU was 16.4 billion USD, down 11.9%. Vietnam posted a trade deficit of 0.9 billion USD with Japan.

According to a GSO representative, many key export products of Vietnam are facing difficulties because of the sharp decrease in global market demand. A large trade surplus that the economy continued to post has raised concerns that industrial production and exports will continue to face difficulties in the coming time. As Vietnam's economy depends heavily on imported raw materials, the decrease in imports shows that enterprises are still short of orders, so there is no need to import input materials.

In the coming time, to further improve import and export efficiency, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will focus on renewing and promoting trade promotion activities targeting new markets and potential ones such as India, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Eastern Europe as well as those less affected by inflation like ASEAN countries.

In addition, exporters also need to effectively take advantage of free trade agreements (FTAs), and facilitate and enhance digital transformation in the granting of preferential certificates of origin.

Director of the Trade Remedies Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade Trinh Anh Tuan said that in the context of international economic integration, domestic manufacturing and exporting industries must constantly improve their competitiveness, improve production organisation to be able to compete equally with imported goods in the domestic market.

The ministry has been coordinating with relevant associations and units to closely monitor the production and import situation to promptly take appropriate measures to protect domestic manufacturers' legitimate rights and interests, he said.

BC Card: Vietnamese tourists are biggest spenders in RoK

Data released by Korean credit card issuer BC Card on July 28 shows that the number of transactions made by Vietnamese tourists in the Republic of Korea (RoK) during the first half of the year saw the sharpest growth among other visitors, increasing by 468% on-year.

BC Card noted that this strong growth in Vietnamese tourists' transactions stood significantly higher compared to those of all other foreign tourists, which stood at 358%.

Vietnamese travellers visit a popular tourist destination in RoK.

It shared that by region, Seoul, Jeju Island, Gyeonggi province, Busan, and South Jeolla province all witnessed a surge of over 300% in the number of transactions by Vietnamese tourists.

“It showed that Vietnamese tourists travel widely across the country, underscoring their potential to spur consumption nationwide,” BC Card stressed.

In terms of retail sectors, BC Card noted that those which recorded the highest increase rate were fashion accessories and clothing, which jumped by 984% and 696% from last year, respectively.

According to information given by koreaherald.com, having signed a major partnership deal with NAPAS last year in order to promote non-cash payments by Vietnamese tourists in the RoK, BC Card has proactively established payment networks in an effort to enable Vietnamese tourists to use their local NAPAS card.

NAPAS is the major payment network operator in Vietnam which has issued over 100 million cards. However, it added that payments by NAPAS card are only possible at some major duty-free shops and convenience stores within the country.

"If card payments using NAPAS cards are available nationwide, it will significantly boost the revenue of the overall domestic tourism industry,” BC Card said in the released statement.

Vietnam always steps up ASEAN’s central role: Indian expert

Over the course of its 28-year journey as a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Vietnam has proven to be a proactive, dynamic, responsible nation contributing to the common prosperity of the region, said an Indian expert.

Prof. Rajaram Panda, former member of the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) and the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) in New Delhi, said over the past 28 years, Vietnam has taken the initiative and proposed numerous initiatives to cope with and address ASEAN's challenges and issues.

Vietnam was hailed for its prompt, urgent and highly effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the early months, making it a model for other ASEAN countries to learn from. The country has also made utmost efforts to formulate a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC), he said.

He added that Vietnam has also been actively acting to protect ASEAN's central role. In its own way, Vietnam has demonstrated its responsibility as an ASEAN member through its foreign policies. With a well-balanced foreign policy, Vietnam has successfully found solutions without getting entangled in any conflicts.

Regarding the three pillars forming the ASEAN Community, including Political-Security Community, Economic Community, and Socio-Cultural Community, the Indian expert believed that the second pillar is of utmost importance because achieving this goal relies on the foundation of economic development in the region.

During its tenure as ASEAN Chair in 2020, he said Vietnam made great efforts to promote and effectively uphold ASEAN's central and guiding role, toward the signing of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) in November 2020, cited VNS.

Prof. Rajaram Panda, former member of the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) and the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) in New Delhi. Photo: VNA

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency, Collins Chong Yew Keat, a policy and foreign affairs expert at the Kuala Lumpur-based University of Malaya, said Vietnam has always played an active part in and made active and responsible contributions to ASEAN activities, thus winning recognition and high evaluation from other member countries.

He noted that it has shown support for the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), signed in 2002 to prevent conflict and build trust among the parties concerned.

Regarding the Myanmar issue, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries are making efforts via existing mechanisms, especially ASEAN, to minimize risks. Vietnam has strongly advocated the peaceful settlement of disputes and is now an important pillar of the bloc. It is promoting cooperation with other ASEAN countries in terms of both economy and security - defense to guarantee regional peace and stability.

It is also actively working with regional countries to secure benefits and progress for ASEAN members while reinforcing ties between the association and partners such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, and India.

Vietnam has established itself as one of the leading countries in enhancing cooperation and resolving challenges facing ASEAN, including the Myanmar and East Sea issues, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other non-traditional security threats, according to Collins.

He held that the country has also made considerable contributions to the identification of the common development targets and orientations of ASEAN, especially in the economy.

The ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held in Vietnam in 2001 adopted the Hà Nội Declaration on Narrowing Development Gap for Closer ASEAN Integration, which specified four priority economic areas – infrastructure construction, human resources development, information and communication technology, and regional economic integration, which are critical to boosting ASEAN economic integration, bringing about benefits to member countries, creating a shield for trade and investment, and reducing members’ dependence on non-ASEAN countries.

As superpowers are competing for influence in the region, the identification of the four above-mentioned economic priorities holds an important and indispensable role in the economic development of not only Vietnam and Malaysia, but also other ASEAN countries, the expert went on.

He said with its commitments and capabilities to realise them in some fields like digital economy, human resources, green economy, food security, supply chains, and others, Vietnam is currently well-positioned to become a leading country in promoting not only its own interests but also the common interests and demand of ASEAN.

The country will continue playing an important role in guaranteeing stability, peace, and common interests of ASEAN in the time ahead, Collins added.

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