An overview of the working session between Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Czech Senate President Milos Vystricil in Prague on June 9. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam and Czech Republic to work towards new relationship framework

Vietnam and the Czech Republic have agreed to work towards new relationship framework to comprehensively promote bilateral cooperation.

The agreement was reached during Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son’s meeting with Czech Senate President Milos Vystricil and talks with Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky in Prague on June 9.

Son affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to and wishes to strengthen the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with the Czech Republic.

He suggested that the two countries continue promoting cooperation in all fields, especially in trade - investment, science - technology, education - training, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges, cited VOV.

The Czech leaders affirmed that Vietnam is the most important partner for the Czech Republic in Southeast Asia. They lauded Vietnam’s increasingly important position and role globally as well as its socio-economic development achievements over recent years.

The two sides shared the view that both Vietnam and the Czech Republic have maintained regular visit exchanges and contacts despite global complications, especially the April 2023 Vietnam visit by Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, helping to increase political trust and creating a driving force for cooperation in all fields.

They noted with satisfaction the growing trade ties between the two countries thanks to the enforcement of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). Last year saw their two-way trade turnover hit US$848 million, representing an increase of nearly 15% compared to 2021.

The two sides agreed to effectively take advantage of EVFTA opportunities, facilitate market access for their export products, and enhance the efficiency of the Vietnam – Caech Republic Intergovernmental Committee on economic cooperation.

The Czech side acknowledged Son’s proposal to lobby other EU countries to soon ratify the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). They also pledged to lobby the European Commission to soon remove the IUU yellow card for Vietnamese seafood exported into EU.

The two sides also discussed measures to expand cooperation in the fields of security - defense, education - training, labour, science - technology, culture and tourism.

With regard to international cooperation, both sides agreed to strengthen close coordination and mutual support at multilateral organizations and forums, especially at the United Nations, Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and within the framework of the ASEAN – EU Strategic Partnership.

They shared their stance on the East Sea issue by settling disputes through peaceful means on the basis of international law and the United Nations Charter, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea UNCLOS).

Son thanked the Czech Government for creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to live and do business stably and successfully integrate in their host country.

He took the occasion to cordially invite Lipavsky to pay an official visit to Vietnam, and the invitation was accepted with pleasure.

During his June 9-10 visit, Minister Son also met with the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic.

Vietnam, Indian state promote IT cooperation

A webinar on exploring information and communication technology startup ecosystem between India’s Karnataka state and Vietnam opened in New Delhi on June 9.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Hai said Karnataka has great potential for IT cooperation and development as it has affirmed its position as a global startup and innovation hub with more than 400 international research and development centers and 4,000 startups in Bangalore.

Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center (NIC) Vo Xuan Hoai also said Karnataka has recorded many achievements in science and technology development and innovation, while Vietnam is known as a dynamic country in promoting innovation with the Global Innovation Index ranked 48th out of the 132 economies.

Hoai expressed his hope that in the coming time, the two sides will have many bilateral cooperation programmes on promoting innovation and increasing investment in key areas of mutual interest such as IT, electronics, information, smart factories, smart city and digital communication, according to VNA.

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

A local representative, Dr. E.V. Ramana Reddy said Karnataka expressed his hope that this webinar will help connect and create opportunities for investors and businesses of the two sides to meet and exchange ideas in order to realise the development potentials of the two countries.

Trade Counselor of the Vietnamese Embassy in India Bui Trung Thuong said he believe the event will open new opportunities and collaboration for the IT and communication industries of the two countries while promoting trade and investment between Vietnam and Karnataka in particular as well as Vietnam and India in general.

Vietnam and Pfizer boost healthcare cooperation

A delegation of the Ministry of Health led by Deputy Minister Do Xuan Tuyen visited the headquarters of Pfizer Inc. in New York, during their working trip to the US for the BIO International Convention from June 5-8.

Addressing a working session with the Pfizer delegation led by Timothy Hogan, senior vice president and chief compliance officer, Tuyen thanked the government and people of the US as well as Pfizer for providing medical assistance, including pharmaceuticals, to Vietnam.

During the COVID-19 fight, Pfizer had supplied Vietnam a large number of COVID-19 vaccines, along with many medicines and medical equipment. The firm had also provided many high-quality specialty drugs for Vietnam, including cancer drugs, antibiotics, and other vaccines, reported VOV.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Health Do Xuan Tuyen holds a working session with Timothy Hogan, senior vice president and chief compliance officer of Pfizer Inc., during his working trip to the US for the recent BIO International Convention.

Tuyen expressed Vietnam’s wish to further receive Pfizer’s cooperation in the supply of drugs and vaccines, as well as in promoting the investment and production of Pfizer’s drugs, vaccines and medical biological products in Vietnam in the future.

Hogan hailed Vietnam as one of the priority countries for cooperation of Pfizer Inc.

He also made some suggestions for the development of Vietnam’s biopharmaceutical industry, such as focusing on building a leading scientific center for producing high-quality drugs in the ASEAN region, accelerating the development and application of digital health, and attracting investment in the health sector.

Travel companies see positive outlook but challenges lie ahead

Experts have forecast a positive outlook for travel stocks after two years of being battered by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Vietnamese tourism businesses still have to face many difficulties and challenges.

According to the General Statistics Office, in the first five months of this year, the number of international visitors to Vietnam was estimated at nearly 4.6 million, 12.6 times higher than the same period last year.

With the overall positive developments of the industry, a series of travel companies on the stock market announced very positive profit growth in the first quarter of 2023.

Statistics from Nhadautu.vn showed that most travel businesses have achieved an increase in revenue in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period last year.

In terms of net profit, the data shows that 7 out of 11 companies reported increased net profit, according to VNA.

Trang An scenic landscape complex in the northern province of Ninh Binh. After three years of stagnation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam's tourism industry is accelerating its recovery. (Photo: VNA)

Experts say that in the context of slowing spending demand, foreign tourists tend to look to Vietnam and Thailand - countries with low costs but still ensure tourismexperiences. In addition, the arrival of more tourists from China after the country reopens will contribute to boosting the tourism and service industries in Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam.

However, Vietnam's tourism industry will face some challenges. Deputy Director General of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Ha Van Sieu listed them as inflationary, exchange rates, rising interest rates, climate change, natural disasters that continue to develop abnormally and that the visa policy of Vietnam does not have many advantages compared to other countries in the region.

Nguyen Quoc Ky, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Vietravel Group, said that Vietnam's tourism still has some problems with visa policies, VAT policies, and promotion of foreign tourism offices.

Ky also pointed out other obstacles, such as transportation and aviation problems as well as the lack of advertisements for festivals and events in the country.

Hanoi plans to create "foodtour map" for promotion of culinary tourism

Hanoi plans to create a "foodtour map" to help visitors explore local cuisine on their own. The move aims to further develop culinary tourism into a strength of the capital's tourism industry.

The initiative ​arose from the recognition of Hanoi restaurants with Michelin stars, a highly regarded award in the culinary world, which has put the city's gastronomic scene in the spotlight.

Such an effort is set to raise awareness of food safety and hygiene, improve the communication skills of restaurateurs, and improve service quality for tourists,' Giang added.

Hanoi's tourism industry aims to develop a diverse range of culinary services by 2030, with a focus on night food streets, culinary villages, and restaurant chains, cited NDO.

Illutriative photo. (Photo: hanoimoi.com.vn)

"We are delighted to have representatives of Hanoi's cuisine on the Michelin Guide list. This is a great opportunity to promote Hanoi's cuisine to the world and motivate restaurants to improve their service style, ensure food safety and hygiene, and create a unique atmosphere to offer customers a memorable experience," Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism Dang Huong Giang stressed.

With the foodtour map and continued efforts to improve food safety and hygiene, Hanoi's tourism industry is poised to attract more food-loving visitors in the coming period.

Of the 103 restaurants selected for the Michelin Guide nationwide, Hanoi has 48 representatives, including three Michelin-starred restaurants, 13 Bib Gourmand-awarded affordable eateries, 32 Michelin-selected restaurants, and one Michelin Young Chef Award winner.

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