At the conference (Photo: Hai Tien)

Vietnam, Laos, Thailand enhance transport connection

Representatives of local authorities from 9 provinces in Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand which share the same roads, No.8 and No.12, held a preparatory conference in the Lao province of Bolikhamsai to review the results of cooperation between the localities in recent years.

A representative from Bolikhamsai Province said the implementation of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) released at the summit of leaders from the 9 provinces in Ha Tinh Province in September 2019 has gained positive results in many fields, especially transportation.

The construction of Friendship Bridge No.5 connecting Bolikhamsai with Bueng Kan Province of Thailand is now 39% complete. The construction of the international border gate connecting National Highway No.13 in the south of Laos with Road No.8 to Vietnam has seen 55.7% of the volume completed.

In addition, the Lao side has been continuing to monitor the opening of the Bangkok-Nakhon Phanom-Thakhek-Ha Tinh traffic route.

The Ministry of Public Works and Transport of Laos is preparing to invite relevant units from Thailand and Vietnam to a conference to unify the implementation process, cited NDO.

Regarding cooperation in the field of transportation, the provinces of Laos have carried out projects to upgrade and build concrete roads and import-export areas at Namphao International Border Gate (Laos) connecting with Nong Khai Province (Thailand) as well as upgrade National Road No.212 to Bueng Kan Province in Thailand to create favorable conditions for freight transport.

In addition, Bolikhamsai Province has been cooperating with Ha Tinh Province to prepare a proposal to the two Governments for their consideration of the project of building a road connecting the Namphao International Border Gate (Laos) and a part of the Cau Treo International Border Gate (Vietnam) on the Lao side to address the issue of congestion at the border gates.

Nghe An Province (Vietnam) has also facilitated the implementation of a plan to construct an expressway along the Vientiane-Pakxane-Thanh Thuy-Hanoi route.

Quang Binh Province (Vietnam) and Khammouane Province (Laos) have agreed to allow the purchase and exchange of goods through the border gate.

The northern province expects strengthened cooperation with Japan’s localities

Secretary of the Party Committee of the northern province of Ninh Binh Nguyen Thi Thu Ha on March 5 said that the province always pays attention to strengthening and expanding cooperation with Japan, as she was receiving Mori Masako, Special Advisor to the Japanese Prime Minister.

Ha, who is also a member of the Party Central Committee, said the province has worked with some Japanese delegations to discuss cooperation promotion activities in localities including Okayama and Kagoshima prefectures, Saiki city, and Tokyo.

In the second quarter of this year, Ninh Binh province will coordinate with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) to organize a trade promotion conference for Japanese investors, according to VNA.

Secretary of the Party Committee of the northern province of Ninh Binh Nguyen Thi Thu Ha on March 5 receives Mori Masako, Special Advisor to the Japan Prime Minister. (Photo: VNA)

Besides economic cooperation, the province also expects more experience exchange in women-relating issues including family health care, reproductive health, and responses to natural disasters and climate change.

Masako said the 470,000-strong Vietnamese community in Japan is the second largest group and greatly contributes to the country’s socio-economic development, adding she will do her best to promote a friendly and cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Japan in general, and between Ninh Binh province in regions of Japan in particular.

She also applauded Ninh Binh province’s proposal on organizing the Cherry Blossom Festival in the province, pledging she will try to help make it come true.

Hanoi welcomes over 3.7 million visitors in two months

The capital city of Hanoi welcomed 3.73 million visitors in the first two months of this year, earning VND13.2 trillion (US$556 million) in revenue, up 2.8 times and 3.6 times year-on-year, respectively, the municipal Department of Tourism has reported.

The total number included 535,000 foreign holidaymakers and 3.2 million domestic visitors, the department said.

According to the department, tourism activities in the city have shown positive signs as the number of tourists visiting the capital city has been increasing in the first months of the year.

To attract more tourists, the city has focused on promoting cooperation to develop the market, reported VNS.

A group of foreign visitors go on sightseeing tour in Hanoi's Old Quarter on xich lô (cycle rickshaw) in 2023. Photo: VNA

The department has enhanced connections with key tourism localities nationwide in order to build suitable programs. It has also planned to welcome delegations of foreign travel businesses and reporters for exploring tourism products in Hanoi.

Attention has been also paid to developing more night tourism products and experiential tours on the basis of exploiting the traditional cultural values of the capital city; and strengthening the promotion of tourism destinations and new products of the capital on domestic television channels, on US-based news channels CNN, digital platforms, and social networks.

Coffee event connects Vietnamese and Brazilian enterprises

The Vietnamese Embassy in Brazil in coordination with the Federation Trade in Goods, Services and Tourism of the Federal District (Fecomércio-DF) and the Young Exporters Institute (IJEx) of the host country launched the event "Coffee with Ambassador - Vietnamese version" to honor Vietnamese enterprises that have trade partnership with Brazilian firms.

The event drew 150 participants, including businesses involved in agriculture, services, logistics, tourism, and manufacturing, was also expected to open up plenty of opportunities to connect Vietnamese and Brazilian.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil Pham Thi Kim Hoa briefed participants on the bilateral relationship and the political and geographical importance of Vietnam in Asia, cited VOV.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil Pham Thi Kim Hoa speaks at the event (Image source: The Vietnamese Embassy in Brazil)

Hoa highlighted the event as a meaningful activity to connect businesses, offer more cooperation opportunities, and promote the images of Vietnam to Brazilian friends.

The Vietnamese diplomat affirmed the nation’s readiness to welcome new cooperation initiatives from Brazilian businesses, making positive contributions to both nations’ economic and trade ties.

During the course of the event, business representative shared their experience and difficulties.

On this occasion, the embassy also displayed Vietnamese handicraft and agricultural products, pictures, and videos featuring the nation’s tourism.

Police forces of Vietnam, Cambodia record fruitful cooperation in the fight against crime

The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the Cambodian Ministry of Interior reviewed the results of their 2022 cooperation plan and signed a new one for this year at a conference in Hanoi on Saturday.

Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Gen. To Lam and Cambodian Deputy PM and Minister of Interior Samdech Krolahom Sar Kheng co-chaired the event.

Looking back on cooperation results last year, the officials said the two sides maintained sharing information about the international and regional situations related to their countries’ national security and social order and safety, supported each other at international and regional forums, and coordinated to guarantee security and safety for important political events in each country, including the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits and related summits in Cambodia.

Vietnamese Minister of Public Security Gen. To Lam and Cambodian Deputy PM and Minister of Interior Samdech Krolahom Sar Kheng signed the document on cooperation between the two ministries in 2023. Photo: Pham Kien

Vietnam also shared experience with and supported Cambodia to successfully organize major political, cultural, and sports events in 2023 – especially the SEA Games 32 and PARA Games, the 7th National Assembly election.

Vietnam also actively put forth coordination programs and plans to crack down on crimes, especially in the two countries’ border provinces, reported VNS.

In 2022, despite certain difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the two ministries’ police forces boosted cooperation in crime prevention and control such as exchanging information and verifying requests related to criminals on international wanted lists via INTERPOL, ASEANAPOL, the diplomatic channel, specialized departments, and the police forces in border provinces, thereby obtaining some significant results in the fight against crime.

The two countries have coordinated to make sure that no third party would use one another’s territory to attack or undermine the other.

The functional agencies of the two ministries have strengthened the joint fight against various types of crimes, especially transnational crimes involving drugs and human trafficking; investigating and breaking wire fraud rings, etc.

Wrapping up the conference, the Vietnamese and Cambodian officials signed the cooperation plan for 2023 between their ministries.

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