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Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Thi Thanh (R) and Chairman of the Thailand-Vietnam Parliamentarians’ Friendship Group Sakchai Tanaboonchai at their meeting in Hanoi on June 27 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Thailand look to strengthen parliamentary cooperation

Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Thi Thanh received in Hanoi on June 27 a delegation from the Thailand-Vietnam Parliamentarians’ Friendship Group, led by its Chairman Sakchai Tanaboonchai.

Congratulating Thailand on the successful organization of its Senate election, the vice chairwoman stated that the NA will continue to closely cooperate with the country’s House of Representatives and Senate.

She affirmed that Vietnam always values and seeks to further strengthen the two nations’ bonds, mutual trust, and enhanced strategic partnership, with an aim of upgrading their relationship in the near future. Additionally, leaders of the Vietnamese Party and State are keen to promote cooperative relations between the sides’ legislative bodies.

In line with the cooperation agreement signed between the two parliaments in December 2023, Thanh suggested both countries continue to leverage the role of their parliamentary friendship groups, and promote all-level delegation exchanges, particularly inter-parliamentary exchange programs to share experiences in law making and monitor the implementation of bilateral agreements. Moreover, both countries should effectively carry out the action program for their enhanced strategic partnership in the 2022-2027 period.

She said the Vietnamese NA and Government always facilitate and encourage Thai enterprises’ business operations and investment expansion in Vietnam, particularly in the areas of digital transformation, digital economy, green economy, clean energy, and just energy transition, cited VNA.

With a hope for the Thai parliament’s further support for the bilateral ties at multilateral forums, especially at the United Nations, the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, ASEAN, and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms, Thanh called for the maintenance of close consultations and coordination with each other and with other ASEAN countries, serving the ASEAN Community building. It is also necessary to strengthen intra-bloc solidarity and enhance ASEAN's centrality in addressing regional issues, she added.

The Thai chairperson told his host that since its establishment, the friendship group has undertaken many practical activities to fortify relationships between the parliamentarians of the two countries and their respective legislative bodies.

He affirmed his commitment to acting as a bridge, inheriting, and developing the good relations between Vietnam and Thailand.

President To Lam receives Australian Ambassador to Vietnam

President To Lam received Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski in Hanoi on June 27.

Lam highly appreciated Goledzinowski’s contributions to fostering Vietnam – Australia relations, and congratulated Australia on recently organizing the special commemorative summit marking 50 years of the partnership between ASEAN and Australia.

He noted with satisfaction the strong developments of Vietnam-Australia relations in recent times, especially after the two countries upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in March 2024, according to VOV.

President To Lam (R) shaing hands with Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski ahead of their meeting in Hanoi on June 27.

He proposed that the two sides maintain delegation exchanges; enhance information exchange on regional and international issues of mutual concern; deepen defense - security, economic - trade – investment cooperation, and expand cooperation into new fields such as climate change response, clean energy, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence.

The President welcomed Australian universities to expand cooperation with Vietnam. He appreciated Australia maintaining scholarships for Vietnam, and asked the Australian Government to continue to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese expatriates to study, live and work in their host country.

On this occasion, the President thanked Australia for supporting Vietnam in many fields such as health, peacekeeping, climate change response and energy transition.

Goledzinowski for his part highly appreciated Vietnam’s foreign policy dubbed bamboo diplomacy, contributing to maintaining peace and stability in the region.

According to the diplomat, Vietnam - Australia relations have since their establishment of diplomatic ties five decades ago recorded important and substantive progress in all fields. He affirmed that he would coordinate closely with relevant ministries, agencies and localities of Vietnam to realize the Vietnam - Australia comprehensive strategic partnership.

Vietnam plays an important role in Australia’s foreign policy in the region, and Australia will continue devoting resources to Southeast Asia, including Vietnam, within the framework of its Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.

President Lam spoke highly of Australia’s stance on supporting peace, stability, security, maritime and aviation safety in the region, resolving disputes by peaceful means through dialogue, on the basis of respect for international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). He also hoped that Australia would continue to support ASEAN’s central role.

Foreign Minister declares PM Chinh's China trip a success

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's recent trip to China is a success.

The PM made the trip to attend the 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Dalian and pay a working visit to China from June 24-27.

Talking with the press, Son highlighted the trip's significance in implementing Vietnam's foreign policy as outlined at the 13th National Party Congress and Directive 25 on elevating multilateral diplomacy issued by the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat. It also served to realize the high-level common perceptions reached by Vietnamese and Chinese leaders in the spirit of comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and building the Vietnam-China Community with a Shared Future that carries strategic significance.

He stressed that PM Chinh, as one of only two invited heads of state/government, played a key role at the WEF meeting. He and the Vietnamese delegation delivered impactful messages and joined discussions and meetings with various partners, reported VNA.

PM Pham Minh Chinh (L) and WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab (Photo: VNA)

The PM's keynote address resonated with an audience of 1,700 guests from 80 countries. He shared Vietnam's inspiring story of Doi Moi (renewal), integration and development, solidifying Vietnam's role and position on the international stage.

Advocating global cooperation to build trust, prioritize dialogue and adopt new approaches, he stressed the importance of promoting science and innovation to create new engines of growth, urging collaboration in policy frameworks, resource utilization, and future workforce development.

Through open, sincere and insightful discussions with partners and businesses, the PM showcased Vietnam's commitment to innovation and a pro-business environment. WEF Founder Klaus Schwab commended Vietnam's dynamic economy which he said is a regional growth leader.

During talks and meetings with Chinese leaders, PM Chinh reiterated the importance of strengthening and developing friendly cooperation with China as an objective requirement, a strategic choice and a top priority in Vietnam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation and development, diversification and multilateralization of external ties.

The host leaders reciprocated the sentiment, saying that they attach importance to the relationship with Vietnam, considering it a priority in China's overall neighboring diplomacy policy.

Both sides agreed on directions and specific measures to intensify cooperation, while unceasingly working to solidify the strong social foundation for bilateral relations, upholding agreements and high-level shared perceptions, adhering to international law, and effectively and properly resolving disputes to prevent them from affecting the overall bilateral relations and contribute to global and regional peace and stability, concluded Foreign Minister Son.

Vietnamese tourism potential introduced in Europe

The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) is running a special programme from June 24 to July 2 to introduce Vietnamese tourism in Paris of France, Milan of Italy, and Frankfurt of Germany.

The scheme is part of a series of activities to promote Vietnamese tourism in European countries.

Addressing the launching ceremony, Nguyen Trung Khanh, director of the VNAT, emphasized that the programme offers an opportunity for Vietnam to introduce its policies, destinations, and tourism products to the European market.

It also represents an ideal venue for tourism firms seeking to establish business ties, attract tourists from France, Germany, Italy, and other European countries to travel to Vietnam and vice versa, cited VOV.

Photo: VOV

“The Vietnamese tourism industry targets high spending international visitors who stay longer, and aims to preserve natural resources,” he said.

He expressed his belief that the outcomes of the promotional programme in France would open up prospects ahead for Vietnamese tourism this year.

Despite enduring adverse impacts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Europe remains a key market for Vietnamese tourism.

Last year the country welcomed over 1.4 million European visitors, representing an increase of 187% compared to 2022. During the first five months this year, more than 975,000 European travelers arrived in the country, up 57.1% year on year.

Nguyen Tien Hoang, head of Vietnam Airlines branch in France and Europe, said that the airline's flights between Europe and Vietnam have been restored, and it is coordinating with the VNAT to launch new air routes to meet the demand of tourists.

Vietnam Airlines is planning to open additional routes to potential destinations such as Munich from October, as well as Milan and Copenhagen ahead in 2025, he revealed.

Meanwhile, Laure Cardellini, a representative of Asie Land, said the company has deployed many tourism products in the country, including tours to Ha Long Bay, Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An Ancient Town, Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, noting that there is ample room to boost tourism development in the country.

Vietnam’s economy to expand 6% this year: IMF

Vietnam’s economy is projected to expand by close to 6 percent in 2024, up from 5 percent in the previous year, driven by a recovering export sector, robust foreign direct investment, and policy support, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

An IMF team, led by Head of the IMF's Article IV Mission Paulo Medas, held the 2024 Article IV consultation with Vietnam from June 12-26.

Concluding the mission, Medas said, in a challenging year in 2023, the Vietnamese economy grew 5 percent thanks to determined action by the government. A recovery began in late 2023, fueled by a rebound in exports, tourism, and appropriately expansionary fiscal and monetary policy support.

Regarding challenges for 2024, the IMF official noted that downside risks are high. Exports, a key driver for Vietnam's economy, could weaken if global growth disappoints, global geopolitical tensions persist, or trade disputes intensify, VGP reported.

Photo: VGP

Monetary and fiscal policies are expected to remain supportive given sluggish domestic activity, but will also need to manage downside risks, including if inflation pressures were to increase. Policies should also continue to strengthen the health of the financial system.

"The new Law on Credit Institutions is an important step forward and should be followed by further measures to strengthen supervision and governance of financial institutions", highlighted Medas.

The revision of land and other real estate laws is welcome to address legal bottlenecks in the sector, he added.

A new wave of reforms to boost productivity growth is needed to maintain Vietnam's high growth over the medium term amidst demographic and climate headwinds, suggested the IMF.

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