Vietnam News Today (Jun. 9): Vietnam And Venezuela Pledge to Expand Multifaceted Cooperation
	Vietnam News Today (Jun. 10): Da Nang International Fireworks Festival 2024 Kicks Off

Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam among six ASEAN countries with good economic growth: Maybank

The gross domestic product (GDP) growth of six ASEAN countries - Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam - will recover to 4.5% and 4.7% in 2024 and 2025, respectively, from 4% in 2023, according to Maybank Research Pte Ltd forecast.

In a report 'ASEAN Frontiers: The New Trailblazers', researchers from Maybank said the recovery in GDP growth will be driven by manufacturing and exports, particularly electronics, which are supporting a modest growth recovery in the first half of the year.

Maybank also said that artificial intelligence (AI), data center boom, and broadening global electronics demand are brightening the trade and foreign direct investment (FDI) outlook.

Despite elevated interest rates, strengthening economic activities have resulted in loan growth picking up across ASEAN, Maybank said, cited VNA.

Visa waivers in Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore and a ramp-up in flight capacity are boosting Chinese tourists to ASEAN.

Commenting on ASEAN’s inflation rate, Maybank said this has fallen sharply from its highs in 2023 as supply chain disruptions from the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

ASEAN central banks are however constrained from trimming policy rates, as a resilient US economy and ‘higher for longer’ US interest rates have increased pressures on emerging market currencies.

According to Maybank, it is expected that the US Federal Reserve will cut the funds rate by only 50 basis points in 2024, starting from September.

Maybank also noted that ASEAN has emerged as one of the preferred destinations as multinational companies (MNCs) diversify their manufacturing supply chains away from China.

FDI approvals and applications to several ASEAN countries including Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, have risen sharply.

Meanwhile, private investment has strengthened in the first quarter of this year in Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, suggesting that the recent surge in FDI pledges is materializing.

ASEAN countries are securing investments not only from the US and its allies, but also from China, as the country’s FDI has increased strongly in Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia since the reopening.

Malaysia appears to be drawing the biggest investments in data centers as AI spurs an investment boom in this sector across ASEAN. It has drawn investments from Google, Nvidia, GDS and Equinix while Thailand has secured investments from Amazon, Microsoft and Google.

Meanwhile, Indonesia has attracted Amazon, Alibaba and Edgnex, among others and Vietnam’s nascent market has received commitments from the likes of Keppel, Alibaba and Gaw Capital.

Vietnam always treasures all-around ties with Cambodia

Vietnam places importance to developing good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, all-around cooperation and long-term sustainability with Cambodia, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at a reception in Hanoi on June 10 for Cambodian Minister of Inspection Huot Hak.

During the meeting, the Vietnamese Government leader expressed his belief that under the judicious reign of King Norodom Sihamoni, the sound policy of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) led by its President Samdech Techo Hun Sen, and the leadership of the Government with Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet at the helm, Cambodia will continue recording tremendous socio-economic achievements, toward the goal of becoming a upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income nation by 2050.

Chinh also highlighted the Cambodian Minister's visit as a crucial step to continue concretising agreements between high-ranking leaders. He also applauded the fruitful talks between Huot Hak and Vietnamese Inspector General Doan Hong Phong, while stating that the freshly signed memorandum of cooperation on inspection is expected to enhance the sharing of information and experience in the field.

He assured the Vietnamese Government’s readiness to augment cooperation between the Government Inspectorate of Vietnam and the Cambodian Ministry of Inspection, VOV reported.

PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) hosts Cambodian Minister of Inspection Huot Hak (Photo: VGP)

PM Chinh suggested both sides should continue facilitating high-level visits and meetings between leaders, improve the effectiveness of existing cooperation agreements and mechanisms, and reinforce unity and cooperation among Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.

Furthermore, there should be greater efforts to improve economic cooperation, towards achieving the US$20 billion two-way trade target soon, he said, citing that the figure hit close to US$4 billion during the first four months of 2024, representing a year-on-year of 16.8%.

The Vietnamese Government chief thanked Cambodia for dealing with difficulties for people of Vietnamese origin in Cambodia, enabling them to serve as a friendship bridge between the two nations, while offering optimal conditions for Vietnamese companies in the country.

PM Chinh reaffirmed the principle of not allowing hostile forces to use either country’s territory to harm the security and interests of the other. More efforts should also be stepped up to finalize the remaining 16% workload of border demarcation and marker planting, striving to build a borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation and sustainable development, he continued.

In reply, Huot Hak, agreed with PM Chinh’s suggestions on strengthening solidarity and cooperation among Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. He congratulated the Vietnamese Party, State, and people on their achievements in carrying out the resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and strategic national development goals, which have elevated Vietnam’s international position.

He pledged to further deepen the bilateral relationship alongside the agreements made by high-ranking leaders, including the outcomes of Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet’s official visit to Vietnam in December last year.

Vietnamese peacekeepers gear up for medical evacuations with Australian training

An aeromedical evacuation training course opened in Hanoi on June 10, aiming to equip a key team from Vietnam's Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 6 with knowledge and skills necessary for successful participation in the United Nations peacekeeping operations.

In his opening speech, Col. Luu Dinh Hien, Commander of the Training Centre of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, said it is the 5th training course of its kind supported by Australia for Vietnam's Level-2 Field Hospital rotations, cited VNA.

At the opening of the training course. (Photo: qdnd.vn)

He credited the success of the Level-2 Field Hospital rotations in South Sudan with the expertise of the Air Medical Evacuation Team (AMET), praising its ability to provide essential medical procedures, prepare patients for transport, and facilitate safe evacuations to Juba - South Sudan's capital, and Uganda.

A total of 28 trainees will undergo intensive straining from June 8-16. Led by the Australian Army Medical School experts, the course will also benefit from the knowledge and experience of personnel from Vietnam's Military Medical University, Military Hospital 175, the Air Defence-Air Force Service, and those who previously served in the AMET of the Level-2 Field Hospital.

They will gain comprehensive knowledge of air medical transport according to international and UN standards, encompassing subjects like aviation medicine, medical and pharmaceutical issues, air transport planning, safety protocols, patient reception and transfer procedures, initial treatment and first aid, and effective communication during patient evacuations.

The course will culminate in a practical phase held at Regiment 916. Here, trainees will hone their skills through simulated medical evacuation scenarios using helicopters. The exercises will cover patient loading and unloading procedures, and require them to respond effectively to various predefined medical emergencies.

Vietnam, North Macedonia enjoy fruitful cooperation: Ambassador

Vietnam and North Macedonia have enjoyed sound relations over the past 30 years with fruitful results seen in all cooperation areas, said Vietnamese Ambassador to the country Do Hoang Long.

Since the two sides set up their diplomatic relations on June 10, 1994, Vietnam and North Macedonia have maintained sound friendship and high mutual trust.

The two sides have shared a tradition of mutual support at international forums such as the International Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the ASEAN-Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP). North Macedonia supported Vietnam as a member of the UN Security Council in the 2008-2009 and 2020-2021 tenures, while the two countries have also backed each other in joining the UN Human Rights Council, he noted.

In terms of economy, two-way trade stood at about 8-12 million USD each year, said the diplomat, commenting that the result has yet to match the potential of cooperation between the two countries. The two countries' signing of an investment promotion and protection agreement, a double taxation avoidance agreement, and an economic cooperation deal has demonstrated their efforts and determination to create a favorable legal framework to facilitate economic cooperation and increase trade turnover, he added.

Ambassador Long noted that the two sides have also cooperated in many other areas such as law-building, education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchange.

Regarding collaboration potential between the two countries, the diplomat said that Vietnam and North Macedonia boast great potential for cooperation both bilaterally and at multilateral forums.

Vietnam has repeatedly affirmed that the country is willing to act as a bridge to connect North Macedonia and ASEAN, while North Macedonia can help Vietnam enter the Balkan market.

The two countries need to effectively make use of economic agreements to increase trade turnover and expand markets, especially in potential fields where the two countries have strengths such as agriculture, food processing and textiles, he held.

Highlighting that the two countries have rich historical and cultural traditions, he underlined that there is still much room for the two sides to promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges as well as tourism cooperation, WVR reported.

Vietnam, North Macedonia enjoy fruitful cooperation: Vietnamese Ambassador to North Macedonia Do Hoang Long. (Photo: VNA)

Besides, there are a number of other fields that North Macedonia is focusing on developing such as education - training, health and science and technology, which also match Vietnam’s interest and demand, enabling the two sides to share experience and seek new cooperation opportunities.

Regarding multilateral cooperation, the two sides have a tradition of good cooperation at international and regional forums and mutual support at important UN positions such as the Security Council, Human Rights Council, and Economic and Social Council.

Through contacts at all levels, Vietnam has expressed support for North Macedonia's efforts to open up and integrate regionally and internationally, including the roadmap to join the European Union (EU), while North Macedonia has also repeatedly affirmed its backing for Vietnam's views and stance on settling disputes through peaceful measures on the basis of the UN Charter and international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. These are important premises for the two countries to develop cooperative relationships at multilateral forums, contributing to common efforts to maintain peace, stability and development in the region and the world, Ambassador Long said.

In order to further promote bilateral relations in the coming time, the diplomat said that the two sides should increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially visits by senior leaders, while increasing trade and investment promotion activities and creating favourable conditions for businesses of the two countries to access each other's markets.

Besides, the two sides should focus on seeking new cooperation opportunities, especially in areas and products of each other’s strengths and demand, while expanding partnerships in education, training, culture, tourism, agriculture, health care, and science-technology, and signing new cooperation deals in these areas.

The two countries need to continue to strengthen coordination and support each other in international and regional forums, back each other's candidacies for important UN agencies, maintain coordination on regional and international issues of mutual concern, contributing to the common efforts of the international community for peace, stability and sustainable development on the basis of respect for international law and the UN Charter, the diplomat stated.

He also sketched out a number of areas that the two sides will focus on in 2023 and following years, including establishing a Vietnam-North Macedonia Inter-Governmental Committee for Cooperation, and organising a number of business forums and trade promotion events.

Vietnam win big at World Muay Thai Championship in Greece

After 10 days of competition, Vietnamese athletes have won two gold, seven silver and nine bronze medals, ranking ninth in the medal tally of the IFMA Senior World Championships 2024 which closed on June 10 in Greece.

Notably, female fighter Huynh Ha Huu Hieu triumphed in the women’s 45kg weight category, while her teammate Tran Thi Tuyet Anh took the trophy in the women’s 75kg.

In other categories, Nguyen Doan Long claimed a silver in the men's elite 63.5kg, and Le Hoang Duc bagged a silver in the men's elite 48kg.

In the junior disciplines, Hoang Thi Thu in the women's U23 71kg, Bui Hai Linh in the women's U23 51kg, Nguyen Thi Chieu in the women’s U23 57 kg, and Mai Hoang Khanh in the women’s U23 45 kg secured silver medals, cited VOV.

Vietnam ranks ninth in the medal tally of the IFMA Senior World Championships 2024 (Photo: toquoc.vn)

In addition, in the individual waikru (performance), a silver medal went to Hoang Dinh Manh.

Meanwhile, Tai Thi Kim Yen in the women’s U23 48kg, Nguyen Thi Hien Luong in the women’s U23 54kg, Nguyen Thi Huong in the women’s U23 63.5 kg and Duong Duc Bao in the men’s U23 48kg pocketed bronze medals.

Four bronze medals were awarded to Le Hoang Duc, Han Thu Thuy, Nguyen Thi Chieu, and Nguyen Hoang Minh.

This year, the championships attracted more than 1,500 of the best Muay Thai athletes from more than 100 countries worldwide. Vietnam sent 21 fighters to the competition.

Russia topped the medal tally with 14 golds while Thailand finished second with four golds.

Vietnam News Today (Jun. 7): Vietnam Increases in Importance in World Investors' Eyes Vietnam News Today (Jun. 7): Vietnam actively engages in regional green transition; Global retailers seek opportunities at Vietnam International Sourcing Expo 2024; Vietnam increases in ...

Vietnam News Today (Jun. 8): Vietnam Proposes Initiatives at St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2024 Vietnam News Today (Jun. 8): Vietnam proposes initiatives at St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2024; Foreign ministries of Vietnam, Thailand to reinforce cooperation; Scorching heat ...