Defence Minister Gen. Phan Van Giang (L) meets with RoK Prime Minister Han Duck-soo (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam one of RoK’s most important partners in region

The Republic of Korea (RoK) considers Vietnam one of its most important partners in the region, and aspires to expand bilateral relations in diplomacy and economics, and to continue boosting defence ties, particularly in defence industry.

RoK Prime Minister Han Duck-soo made the statement during a reception for Vietnamese Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang who is on an official visit to the RoK at an invitation of his Korean counterpart Lee Jong-sup.

Han said the visit holds special significance as both nations just upgraded their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership last December.

He also suggested the Vietnamese Government support the RoK in hosting the Busan Expo 2030, cited VOV.

Giang, in turn, affirmed that Vietnam always treasures its comprehensive cooperation with the RoK.

Briefing the host on the outcomes of his talks with his Korean counterpart, Giang stated that both sides had agreed upon a score measures to further enhance defence links on a par with the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Vietnamese minister expressed his hope that the Government and relevant agencies of the RoK will help Vietnam deal with post-war consequences.

He also said he hopes PM Han will provide continued support for the two defence ministries’ substantive and effective collaboration. Giang also visited Hanwha Group during his stay in the RoK.

Vietnam - Lao joint border patrol held

Border guards in the northern province of Dien Bien and Lao province of Luang Prabang have conducted a joint patrol along the shared border.The move was part of the activities to implement an agreement between the Border Guard High Commands of the two localities.

The two sides patrolled the border from Marker No 119 to Marker No 121 along the Vietnam-Laos borderline, inspected the border system and marks markers, and exchanged information on security and order situation in border areas.

They cleaned areas around markers and popularised regulations on border and territory to local residents of both sides, thus raising public awareness of protecting borderline and national border markers.

The two sides patrol the border from Marker No 119 to Marker No 121 along the Vietnam-Laos borderline. (Photo: VNA)

Their inspection found that the border system and markers are maintained properly, without signs of encroachment on land for cultivation and residing, and territorial encroachment of each other.

The two sides agreed on the time and the number of members for the next patrol; and signed a minute of bilateral patrol results, according to VNA.

The border management forces of the two localities will continue to strengthen communication activities to disseminate policies of the two Parties and laws of the two states to people living in the shared border areas.

They will regularly exchange information related to security and order in border areas, and take resolute measures to prevent encroachment along the shared border, and criminal activities such as drug smuggling.

Vietnam posts 3.32% GDP growth in Q1

Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) has grown about 3.32% year on year in the first quarter of 2023, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).The expansion is only higher than the 3.21% recorded in Q1 of 2020 during the 2011 - 2023 period, the GSO told a press conference on March 29.

In particular, the agro-forestry-fishery sector expanded 2.52% and contributed 8.85% to the GDP growth. Meanwhile, industry and construction contracted 0.4%, leading to a 4.76% decline in the growth, and the service sector increased 6.79% to contribute to 95.91% of the overall expansion.

In the agro-forestry-fishery sector, agriculture saw a year-on-year increase of 2.43% in added value, forestry 3.66%, and fisheries 2.68%, VNA reported.

The GSO press conference on March 29 (Photo: VNA)

The expansion is only higher than the 3.21% recorded in Q1 of 2020 during the 2011 - 2023 period, the GSO told a press conference on March 29.

In particular, the agro-forestry-fishery sector expanded 2.52% and contributed 8.85% to the GDP growth. Meanwhile, industry and construction contracted 0.4%, leading to a 4.76% decline in the growth, and the service sector increased 6.79% to contribute to 95.91% of the overall expansion.

In the agro-forestry-fishery sector, agriculture saw a year-on-year increase of 2.43% in added value, forestry 3.66%, and fisheries 2.68%.

Vietnam sees sharp increase in foreign arrivals in first quarter

The number of foreign visitors to the nation reached more than 2.6 million during the first quarter of the year, a figure 29.7 times higher compared to the same period from last year, the General Statistics Office (GSO) announced on March 29.

Most notably, Vietnam received 895,400 foreign arrivals in March alone, marking a drop of 4% against February, although it stood at 21.5 times higher than the figure seen a year ago.

Photo: VOV

In the first quarter of the year, there were 2.6 million foreign visitors arriving in the nation, but barely 60% of the figure from 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic started.

Most visitors hail from Asia at 1.9 million, followed by European visitors at 385,000, and the Americas at 263,000.

Throughout the reviewed period, 89.8% of tourists came to Vietnam by air, a total of 2.4 million, 9% by road at 241,900, and 1.2% by sea at 33,700, cited VOV.

Vietnam hopes to serve 110 million tourist arrivals this year, including eight million foreign visitors and 102 million domestic travelers.

By welcoming 2.6 million foreign arrivals in Q1, the nation reached roughly 33% of its goal, meaning the target of eight million remains feasible, according to Pham Van Thuy, deputy general director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), at a recent press conference on Vietnam International Travel Mart (VITM) held in Hanoi.

Vietnam, Mexico strengthen diplomatic ties

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son held talks with Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico Carmen Moreno Toscano in Hanoi on March 28. The Mexican diplomat is on an official visit to Vietnam from March 27-29.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Son emphasised that Vietnam always attaches importance to and hopes to foster its time-honoured friendship and fine cooperation with Mexico, NDO reported.

The two ministries should speed up delegation exchanges; maintain close cooperation, coordination and support for each other at international ordinations and multilateral forums that both are members to, Minister Son said.

For her part, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico Carmen Moreno Toscano underscored that Vietnam is one of Mexico's important political and economic partners in Asia, particularly as both countries are members of the APEC, and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

At the talks (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

On the same day, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet and the Mexican official co-chaired the seventh political consultation to share information on each country’s situation, agree on measures to strengthen the bilateral relations in the coming time, and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

The two sides agreed to continue stepping up bilateral cooperation, especially in economics and trade; bringing into full play advantages of the CPTPP; and perfecting a legal corridor to increase the effectiveness of collaboration activities. After the session, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on collaboration in diplomatic training between the two ministries.

Within the framework of her visit, Carmen Moreno Toscano also paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum, and worked with the Vietnam-Mexico Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group.

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