Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen Hoang Xuan Chien receives Colonel Vongxay Inthakham, Defence Attaché of Laos to Vietnam. (Photo: dangcongsan.vn)

Vietnam beefs up defence cooperation with Laos, Cambodia

Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen Hoang Xuan Chien hosted separate receptions in Hanoi on March 20 for Colonel Vongxay Inthakham, Defence Attaché of Laos to Vietnam, and Colonel Rem Kann, Military Attaché of Cambodia to Vietnam.

Receiving Vongxay, Chien highly valued the close coordination between the two Ministries of National Defence in organising activities during the “Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Friendship and Solidarity Year 2022”.

On the foundation of its cooperation plan for 2023, the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence has assigned specific tasks to agencies and units in strengthening collaboration with their Lao peers, he said, noting that the partnership has been fruitful so far.

For his part, Vongxay expressed his delight at the development of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam over the years, including defence collaboration, cited VNA.

He affirmed that in his role, he will work hard to implement activities and tasks for 2023, contributing to promoting the defense ties between the two countries.

Receiving Rem Kann, Chien spoke highly of the Cambodian official’s efforts to coordinate with agencies and units of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence in effectively implementing bilateral defense cooperation activities over the years, including those within the framework of the “Vietnam-Cambodia, Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Year 2022”.

He told the guest that at his meeting with General Neang Phat, Secretary of State of National Defence of Cambodia, on the sidelines of the 12th ASEAN-Japan Deputy Defence Ministers' Meeting in Tokyo recently, the two sides discussed bilateral defense cooperation orientations in the future.

Chien expressed his belief that Cambodia will successfully organize important political and diplomatic activities in 2023, including the general election, the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 32), and the 12th ASEAN Para Games.

Rem Kann agreed with the host on the efficiency of the bilateral defense cooperation over the years. He affirmed that he will continue to work closely with agencies and units of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence in promoting the ties in the future.

Plenty of room ahead to boost exports to ASEAN market

Though there is ample room to boost the export of advantageous Vietnamese products to the ASEAN market, local firms are advised to utilize incentives through free trade agreements (FTAs) and improve products’ competitiveness in order to maintain growth in the market.

Pham The Cuong, trade counselor of Vietnam in Indonesia, revealed that there is great potential for rice exports to the Indonesian market, particularly as the Indonesian side has recently announced plans to continue importing rice for national reserves amid concerns about extreme weather in 2023.

Vietnamese food exporters also see huge opportunities to fully tap into the market, particularly as Indonesia is home to the fourth largest population in the world and the largest economy in Southeast Asia. Indeed, foodstuffs and beverage imports account for 6.5% of their total imports, equivalent to US$16 billion.

Cuong suggested that Vietnamese enterprises strive to export food items such as pho (Vietnamese noodle soup), vermicelli, instant noodles, and frozen dumplings to the Indonesian market moving forward.

Meanwhile, Malaysia imports a large amount of processed farm products as local production is yet to meet people’s demand, according to VOV.

There are plenty of opportunities for rice exports to the Indonesian market.

Le Phu Cuong, trade counselor of Vietnam in Malaysia, pointed out that the income of local people in Malaysia has increased remarkably, a factor which is anticipated to boost the demand for imported products such as dairy products, spring rolls, and pho that are Vietnam’s major food export items.

However, experts have advised local exporters to acquire halal certification in order to meet the stringent requirements in terms of food safety and hygiene to gain a firmer foothold in the market.

They have suggested that Vietnamese firms take full advantage of FTAs to ramp up trade promotion activities and deal with trade remedies that fully tap into the ASEAN market moving forward.

Moreover, local firms have also been recommended to develop their product brand as a means of elevating their position within the ASEAN market and strengthening linkages to further participate in regional value chains, thereby increasing the added value of export products.

ASEAN is the fifth largest economy in the world, that boasts more than 650 million consumers and a GDP of approximately US$3 trillion. This is a potential market for Vietnam, a member state of ASEAN because many of its products are exported to other countries in the bloc. This will help Vietnam continue to improve its efficiency in exploiting the ASEAN market and improve its position in regional production and value chains.

Vietnam attracting Japanese investments to new areas

Vietnam is striving to lure more Japanese investments to digital transformation and green growth, as recommended in the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative (VJI).

Phase VIII of the initiative, launched in 2003, concluded in March 2023, under which 497 out of the 597 items were completed.

To promote its role, the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment proposed building a cooperation program between small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) of the two countries, focusing on digital transformation, support industry and personnel training.

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

Japanese SMEs have capacity, experience and high tech, and Vietnamese firms have abundant human resources, which is reciprocal during their development cooperation.

The ministry suggested the Japanese side take more specific solutions and supplement workforce to further support Vietnamese enterprises in improving their capacity and competitiveness, and participating intensively in value chains.

According to a survey conducted by the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in 2022, 60% of the Japanese firms said they plan to expand operations in Vietnam, the highest in Southeast Asia.

With the aim of joining the group of upper-middle income countries by 2030, Vietnam has paid attention to scientific-technological application, innovation, digital transformation, green transition, green economy, digital economy, circular economy and knowledge-based economy.

The country, therefore, is encouraging Japanese enterprises to step up investment in infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, high-tech agriculture, IT, smart urban development, financial services, banking and innovation.

The Vietnamese Government has committed to supporting businesses, contributing to advancing the Vietnam-Japan relationship to a new height, VNA reported.

Currently, Japan is running more than 5,000 valid projects in Vietnam with a total investment capital of over 69 billion USD, ranking third among the 141 countries and territories investing in the Southeast Asian nation.

Japanese investments were injected in 57 out of the 63 localities, mostly in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

Meanwhile, Vietnam counts 104 projects in Japan worth some 19.2 million USD, making the East Asian nation the 36th among the 79 countries and territories receiving Vietnamese investments.

Japan is Vietnam’s fourth biggest trade partner with two-way trade nearing 50 billion USD last year.

Localities in Vietnam’s Red River Delta like Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Hai Duong and Hung Yen said they stand ready to materialise cooperation opportunities between the two countries in high-tech agriculture, manufacturing, renewable energy and circular economy.

For Japan’s official development assistance (ODA), Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong noted that it accounts for more than 30% the accumulative bilateral development aid to Vietnam.

The assistance has played an important role in Vietnam’s socio-economic development through large-scale infrastructure projects such as Tan Son Nhat and Noi Bai airports, Cai Lan, Lach Huyen and Cai Mep-Thi Vai seaports, and Nhat Tan Bridge, he stressed.

Yoshihisa Suzuki, Chairman of the Japan-Mekong Business Cooperation Committee under the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), said at a recent economic forum that Vietnam has become an attractive destination for Japanese investors to expand services and start doing business.

The Vietnamese community in Japan has also helped intensify people-to-people exchange and technological cooperation between the two countries, he added.

Travel demand to surge during coming holidays

Outbound tours are preferred by Vietnamese travelers for the upcoming holiday starting April 29, according to travel agents and tour operators.

Working people will enjoy five consecutive days off from April 29 to May 3 to celebrate the commemoration of the Hùng Kings (the nation founders) that falls on April 29, the National Reunification Day on April 30 and International Labour Day on May 1, which has prompted a surge in tour bookings.

Tran Phuong Linh, marketing and IT director of BenThanh Tourist, said some customers can arrange to extend their holiday to nine days for long-haul outbound destinations.

BenThanh Tourist reported an increase of 30-40 per cent in tour bookings for the coming holidays compared to last year.

Tours to Hong Kong and Taiwan have been fully booked one and a half months ahead of the Reunification Day and International Labour Day holidays, Linh said.

Saigontourist is offering more than 200 inbound and outbound tours for the holidays.

Tourists at a beach in Da Nang City. Domestic tours to islands and beaches are popular during the coming Reunification Day and International Labour Day holidays.

The company expects to serve more than 100,000 leisure and MICE (meeting, incentive, convention, exhibition) customers.

Nguyen Nguyet Van Khanh, marketing director of Vietravel, said more than 3,000 customers have booked tours for the Reunification Day & International Labour Day holidays, with outbound tours accounting for 70 per cent of overall tour bookings.

Thailand, Cambodia, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan Island, and Dubai are favourite destinations, Khanh said.

Nguyen Minh Man, marketing and communications director of TSTtourist, said domestic tours to islands and beaches as well as tourist destinations in the Central Highlands, and central and northern regions were mostly chosen for the coming holidays.

The company expects to serve 2,000 customers during the holidays, Man said.

The Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR) will operate additional 52 train services between April 28 and May 3 to meet rising travel demand for the holidays, cited VNS.

In the north, it will add 22 train services connecting Hanoi with Lao Cai, Hai Phong, Thanh Hoa, Vinh, Dong Hoi, and Da Nang.

In the south, it will add 28 train services connecting HCM City with Da Nang, Quang Ngai, Quy Nhơn, Nha Trang, and Phan Thiet.

It will also run two more trains connecting Hanoi and HCM City during the holidays.

Vietnam sees sharp increase in dengue infections

The Ministry of Health has realized a warning about a sharp increase in the number of dengue infections across the country.

The number of dengue infections increased by 2.3 times in the first two months of this year compared to the same period last year, with most of the cases recorded in the southern and central regions, the ministry said in its telegram.

Indeed, dengue fever is at risk of spreading across many provinces and cities nationwide unless prevention measures are adopted.

In the south-central province of Phu Yen, the number of infections rose by 1.3 times in the initial two months of this year compared to the corresponding period last year, with two deaths reported, cited VOV.

Taking care of a patient infected with dengue fever in Ho Chi Minh City.

In the capital of Hanoi, 164 cases were detected over two months, representing an 18-fold increase compared to the January-February period of 2022. Last week alone saw the city record 14 fresh cases, an increase of four cases from the previous week.

In its telegram recently signed by Deputy Ministry of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong, the Ministry of Health requested that cities and provinces step up communication campaigns to raise public awareness and encourage people to engage in the fight against the disease.

It’s important that local authorities direct their preventive medicine system to closely monitor the disease to early detect and timely deal with any hotspot that breaks out in their localities, the ministry said in the telegram.

The ministry encouraged localities to promptly take prevention measures, including enhancing sanitation campaigns by for instance killing larva in water containers and using mosquito nets when sleeping, especially in wet, far-flung areas.

It also asked local medical facilities to ensure adequate medicine, equipment and treatment machinery to provide medical examinations and treatment for patients.

Last year, Vietnam recorded nearly 362,000 dengue infections, including 133 fatalities.

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