PM meets with foreign leaders on sidelines of ASEAN - Australia Special Summit (Photo: VNA)

PM meets with foreign leaders on sidelines of ASEAN - Australia Special Summit

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has met with leaders of member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Timor Leste, Australia and New Zealand, and the ASEAN Secretary-General on the sidelines of the ASEAN - Australia Special Summit in Melbourne, Australia.

At the meetings, the PM conveyed regards from the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong, and other key leaders of Vietnam to the foreign leaders and the ASEAN Secretary-General and thanked them for their cooperation and support for Vietnam in economic recovery and development.

PM Chinh expressed his hope for stronger cooperation in ASEAN’s major pillars as well as enhanced collaboration with other countries, particularly in politics-diplomacy, economy-trade-investment, national defence-security, education-training, and science-technology. He stressed the need to maintain close cooperation to build a united ASEAN, strengthen intra-bloc collaboration, and carry forward the group's centrality in settling issues regarding regional security and strategy.

The PM used this occasion to propose that foreign leaders send ministerial-level representatives to the ASEAN Future Forum, slated for April 23 in Hanoi.

Australian PM Anthony Albanese said he looked forward to his Vietnamese counterpart’s visit, as well as the upgrade of the bilateral ties to a new height.

Lao PM Sonexay Siphandone agreed to step up the implementation of agreements reached by high-ranking leaders of Vietnam and Laos and thanked Vietnam for its assistance to Laos in taking over the ASEAN Chairmanship 2024.

Brunei’s King Hassanal Bolkiah consented to promote the exchange of high-level visits, and cooperation in the field of halal, saying he hoped to return to Vietnam soon.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo said the two countries should foster cooperation in rice trade and agriculture, specifically aquaculture, and suggested Vietnam encourage its VinFast company to invest in electric vehicles in Indonesia.

Thai PM Srettha Thavisin shared PM Chinh’s view on the need to soon hold a joint Cabinet meeting between the two countries, and intensify connectivity between the two economies.

Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. suggested the two countries work closely together in rice variety production, along with climate change response, including the El Nino phenomenon.

Singaporean PM Lee Hsien Loong concurred to push ahead with the construction of Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP), and strengthen cooperation in digital transformation, green economy, digital economy, and population data building and management.

Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim congratulated Vietnam on its rapid development in various spheres and noted his wish to learn from Vietnam’s experience in foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction, in which, he said, the two countries should coordinate closely.

New Zealand’s PM Christopher Luxon spoke highly of Vietnam's role in ASEAN and affirmed that New Zealand will cooperate closely with Vietnam and other ASEAN countries in regional issues.

Timor Leste’s PM Xanana Gusmao expressed his wish to pay an official visit to Vietnam at an early date and appreciated Vietnam's support to Timor Leste to officially join ASEAN soon.

ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn affirmed that he and the ASEAN Secretariat will attend the ASEAN Future Forum and suggested that it should will be held annually and become a leading forum to discuss issues related to the future of the bloc.

Female foreign ambassadors and chief representatives from international organizations in Vietnam experience the making of Dong Ho paintings in Dong Ky village, Bac Ninh province. (Photo: VNA)

Vice President meets with female ambassadors and representatives of international organizations in Vietnam

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan hosted a meeting in the northern province of Bac Ninh on March 6 with female foreign ambassadors and chief representatives from international organizations in Vietnam on the occasion of International Women’s Day (March 8).

Addressing the meeting, Xuan extended greetings to the ambassadors and representatives. She said that during the different periods of national construction and defense of Vietnam, women played a crucial role with great dedication.

She highlighted the Party and State’s efforts to complete and implement policies to narrow down gender gaps and create favorable conditions and opportunities for the promotion of gender equality in all aspects of social life.

With over 50 million and accounting for more than 50% of the country’s population, Vietnamese women have continued to play an important role in the process of national renewal and international integration, she said.

The Vice President took this occasion to thank the ambassadors and representatives for their warm sentiments and contributions to Vietnam and its people, as well as their efforts to join hands with Vietnam in overcoming difficulties and gaining important achievements in all areas with many outstanding successes in 2023, and their contributions to promoting the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and countries and international organizations.

She expressed her hope that the ambassadors and representatives will continue to accompany, cooperate with, and support Vietnam in securing rapid and sustainable socio-economic recovery, successfully implementing reform and international integration, and actively contributing to the common goals of the UN, including those in gender equality.

On behalf of the ambassadors and representatives, Ambassador of Timor Leste Maria Olandina Isabel Caeiro Alves described Vietnam as a successful model in the world in promoting gender equality following the UN's sustainable development goals.

Vietnam has issued many policies to ensure the rights, enhance the position, and promote the role of women, she said, noting that Vietnamese women have been present in all sectors of the economy and actively contributed to the country's development.

During their stay in Bac Ninh, the participants toured the relic site of Dong Ky temple, common house, and pagoda, experienced the making of Dong Ho paintings, and enjoyed Quan ho (love duet) singing – a UNESCO-recognised intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Da Nang calls for TheCityUK’s support in the international financial center building. (Photo: VNA)

Da Nang calls for TheCityUK’s support in international financial center building

Standing Vice Chairman of the Da Nang City People's Committee Ho Ky Minh on March 6 called on TheCityUK, the industry-led body representing UK-based financial and related professional services, to coordinate with the Vietnamese central locality in building an international financial center (IFC) there as soon as possible.

At an online working session with Andrew Oldland, head of TheCityUK’s IFC working group, Minh briefed the guest on the IFC project in Da Nang, where all investors will be considered foreign businesses. The center is expected to create momentum for the socio-economic development of Vietnam and Da Nang city in particular, enabling them to join the global economic value chain at a higher level, and advancing their position in the international arena, he said.

The project also features the proposal to pilot a free trade zone in the city association with Lien Chieu Port, and some special mechanisms and policies for local development, the official continued. He appealed to TheCityUK to coordinate with Da Nang in seeking more funding sources for IFC research in the city and Vietnam at large. Minh suggested TheCityUK connect with corporations and strategic investors in building IFCs in Da Nang and HCM City and with the world’s leading financial institutions in establishing economic organizations in the centers.

For his part, Oldland noted that Da Nang should focus on financial activities, and the building of mechanisms and institutional frameworks during project preparation to ensure the operational efficiency of the center once it is formed. The UK government has appointed TheCityUK to support Vietnam’s goal of developing a regional financial and business center in HCM City, according to the British Embassy in Hanoi.

In partnership with the UK government, TheCityUK will provide technical support to help create a business and regulatory environment in Vietnam that is attractive to global investors and to further strengthen bilateral ties between the UK and Vietnam.

Vietnamese and Cambodian representatives at the meeting. (Photo: The Courtesy of the Telecommunications University)

Vietnam, Cambodia cooperate in training signal officers

Cambodian Defence Attaché in Vietnam Major General Leang Sovannara on March 6 visited the Telecommunications University (TCU) (Signal Officers Training College) in Nha Trang city, south-central province of Khanh Hoa. TCU Vice Principal Nguyen Danh Khoa briefed the Defence Attaché on the university’s training of Cambodian students and pledged to raise the quality of the work in the time ahead.

Sovannara thanked the Vietnamese side for its whole-hearted support to the Royal Cambodian Army in training, information equipment supply, expert dispatch, and technology transfer, greatly contributing to the development of the signal force of the Cambodian army.

The two sides compared notes on how to improve the quality of the training of Cambodian students. The TCU has been tasked with providing training for signal officers of the Vietnam People’s Army and helping the Cambodian and Lao armies in this regard, with hundreds of Cambodian officers having already graduated from the school so far.

Vietnam to host Southeast Asian Steel Exhibition this May

Hundreds of Asian businesses will gather at the Southeast Asia Iron and Steel Institute (SEAISI) Conference & Exhibition 2024 which is scheduled to take place in Vietnam’s central Da Nang city from May 13 to 16. This is one of the most important events in promoting the Vietnamese steel industry, with SEAISI arranging many international conferences and exhibitions on steel industry among Southeast Asian countries in rotation, according to the Vietnam Steel Association.

Many trade promotion activities and seminars on the latest steel production technologies and the world's future demand for steel will be held during the SEAISI Conference & Exhibition 2024. In particular, this year SEAISI will consist of a dialogue between the Vietnam Steel Association and the Taiwan Steel Association of China, and a golf exchange program among entrepreneurs in the steel industry slated for May 12. Along with Southeast Asian businesses, many famous companies from Australia, Japan, and the Republic of Korea will join the fair.

Last year the SEAISI 2023 Conference & Exhibition got underway from May 22 to 25 in the Philippines. The Vietnam Steel Association and many big companies such as Vietnam Steel Corporation (Vnsteel) and Hoa Phat Group (HPG) attended the main conference and working sessions of SEAISI’s subcommittees. Vietnam’s Hanoi hosted the SEAISI Conference & Exhibition in 2016, leaving a positive impression on international exhibitors.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Kuwait Ngo Toan Thang (in black suit) introduces Vietnamese products to Kuwaiti visitors at Lulu Hypermarket. (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

Vietnamese products introduced at Kuwait hypermarket

Several major Vietnamese products such as cashew nuts, macadamia nuts, fruits, and soft drinks were introduced to Kuwaiti people at Lulu Hypermarket on March 5 during the Taste of Vietnam. Local consumers also had the chance to sample some of the traditional Vietnamese dishes like fried spring rolls and pancakes, among others.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Kuwait Ngo Toan Thang thanked Lulu for its support and expressed his hope that Taste of Vietnam would bring Vietnamese products closer to Kuwaiti people. Taste of Vietnam is taking place at a time when Kuwaiti people’s shopping season is in full swing in the lead-up to the Holy Month of Ramadan. It’s expected that Vietnamese products will be among the favorites with local consumers.

On this occasion, the Vietnamese coffee brand Coffilia officially opened its second store at Lulu Hypermarket in Jahra. This is part of the company’s plan to expand its operations and cater to local tastes.

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