Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang.

US consideration of market economy's status for Vietnam hailed

Vietnam welcomes the US Department of Commerce (DOC)’s consideration of upgrading Vietnam to 'market economy' status, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said at the ministry’s routine press briefing in Hanoi on May 9.

The country hails the DOC for holding the hearing on the recognition of Vietnam's market economy on May 8 and this is an important step in the process of considering the recognition, cited VOV.

At the hearing, the Vietnamese side presented arguments, information, and data affirming that the Vietnamese economy completely meets the criteria of market economy status. Vietnam's economy is doing even better than many economies that have gained market economy status.

According to the spokesperson, so far, 72 countries have recognized Vietnam as having a market economy, including big economies such as the UK, Canada, Australia and Japan. Vietnam has also become involved in 16 bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements with more than 60 partners across the world.

“The US's early recognition of Vietnam's market economy status will contribute to concretizing the commitments of both nations' senior leaders, fostering the Vietnam-US comprehensive strategic partnership. This will strengthen economic and trade relations, bringing practical benefits to businesses and people of the two countries," the official said.

Vietnam pays attention to BRICS membership expansion: spokewoman

Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang noted Vietnam’s attention to the BRICS membership expansion while addressing the ministry’s regular press conference on May 9.

When asked about the possibility of Vietnam’s engagement in BRICS – a group of major emerging economies, she said that as a responsible and active member of the international community and following the foreign policy of multilateralization and diversification of foreign relations, independence and self-reliance, Vietnam is always ready to take part in and actively contribute to global as well as regional multilateral mechanisms, organizations, and forums, according to VNA.

Flags of some BRICS members countries. (File photo: AFP/VNA)

“Like many countries in the world, we pay attention to the process of the BRICS membership expansion,” the spokeswoman added.

Vietnam defends human rights records, freedom of religion and press

Foreign ministry's spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang on Thursday defended Vietnam's records of human rights achievements as well as reaffirmed the Government's commitment to religious and press freedom at the regular media briefing in Hanoi.

In response to requests for reaction over the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)'s latest report which considers Vietnam among countries heavily suppressing religions, spokeswoman Hang said Vietnam's consistent policy is to respect and ensure people's freedom of belief and religion, as well as their choices to follow or not follow a religion.

"This has been clearly demonstrated in Vietnam's 2013 Constitution and legal system, and has been done in practice," she stressed.

Hang said that Vietnam's policies and achievements in protecting human rights, including freedom of religion and belief have been recognized and highly appreciated by the international community, which were the assessments by many countries during the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC)’s fourth cycle of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR).

"Vietnam refuted the biased, inaccurate information contained within the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom's report," Hang added.

The diplomat also reaffirmed that Vietnam will continue to discuss with the US issues of mutual interest in the spirit of openness, candor and mutual respect, to promote the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for Peace, Cooperation, and Development, VNS reported.

People praying outside the church during a service at the parish of Hưng Nghĩa, the northern province of Nam Dinh. Photo: VNA

Regarding the Reporters Without Borders' ranking of Vietnam at the 174th position out of 180 countries in its press freedom index, spokesperson Hang said Vietnam has always been keen to protect and promote fundamental human freedom rights, including freedom of expression, speech, press and information - which were all outlined in the 2013 Constitution and other legal documents.

"The achievements in this area were recognized and appreciated by the international community and have been clearly comprehensively and transparently presented in the Vietnam's national report on the protection and promotion of human rights under the UPR cycle."

"Nevertheless, some organizations intentionally makes biased, slanderous statements against Vietnam with the intention of undermining social economic development, and divide Vietnam and the international community, in the country," Hang said, adding that "we strongly oppose this."

Deputy foreign minister Do Hung Viet is currently leading the Vietnamese delegation to attend the dialogue on Vietnam's national report on human rights protection and promotion under the UPR mechanism.

Việt presented the national report and reaffirmed the Government's consistent policy for protecting and promoting human rights, and viewing the people as the center, the goal and driver of development.

The report also stressed that since the third cycle UPR reviews in 2019, Vietnam has been continuously making improvements to its legal system and policies on human rights and achieved practical results, according to the spokesperson.

On this occasion, the Vietnamese delegation has asserted Vietnam's priorities on the promotion and protection of human rights in the coming future, including the building of a law-governed Socialist state, administrative reforms, fostering positive dialogue and cooperation on human rights and intensive human rights education.

The UPR session of Vietnam garnered significant attention with over 130 countries participating in the dialogue.

"Countries acknowledged Vietnam's policy, efforts, and achievements in ensuring human rights as well as its commitment to earnestly implementing the recommendations by UPR and commended Vietnam's accomplishments in economic development, guaranteeing social justice and implementing measures to promote the realization of human rights," spokeswoman Hang told the media.

Westlife to wow Vietnamese audiences this June

Legendary music group Westlife announced on May 9 that they will return to the nation and bring The Hits Tour 2024 to audiences in Hanoi from June 4 to June 5.

Furthermore, British band 911 will be a special invitee to the event, according to the organizers.

According to Westlife 's official fan page, tickets for this concert will be on sale from May 13.

In 2023 the Irish music group held a concert The Wild Dreams Tour in Ho Chi Minh City on November 21 and November 22. The music night took place at Thong Nhat Stadium which boasts a capacity of about 15,000 spectators.

The four members include Mark, Kian, Shane, and Nicky, all of whom performed their hit songs such as Uptown Girl, Seasons in the Sun, Flying Without Wings, No One's Gonna Sleep Tonight. and many other famous songs, receiving plenty of applause from Vietnamese fans.

Westlife traveled to the nation for the first time to perform at the My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi back in 2011 as part of their Westlife Gravity Tour, cited VOV.

Photo: ticketbox.vn

Originally formed in Dublin in the Republic of Ireland in 1998, the band consists of Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, and Nicky Byrne. Brian McFadden, who had been the fifth member of the band, left in 2004.

After a 14-year career the band eventually disbanded in 2012 before later reuniting in 2018.

The band has sold a total of 55 million records worldwide and also hold four Guinness World Records. Westlife have also received numerous accolades, including one World Music Award, two Brit Awards, four MTV Awards, and four Record of the Year Awards.

Petrol prices fall sharply following global trend

Retail prices of petrol were revised down significantly from 3pm on May 9 by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Ministry of Finance.

Specifically, the price of E5RON92 bio-fuel was cut by 1,288 VND to no more than 22,623 (0.9 USD) per liter, while that of RON95-III fell by 1,411 VND to 23,544 VND per liter at the maximum.

Diesel 0.05S and kerosene are now priced at 19,847 VND per liter and 19,701 VND per liter at the highest, down 759 VND and 843 VND, respectively, VNA reported.

At a Petrolimex petrol station (Photo: VNA)

Meanwhile, mazut oil 180CST 3.5S is sold at no more than 17,503 VND per kg, 160 VND lower than the previous adjustment.

The two ministries have decided not to use the petrol price stabilization fund. According to them, this adjustment saw the world oil market influenced by factors such as the increase in US commercial crude oil inventories, the strengthening of the US dollar, which exerted pressure on global oil demand, and the ongoing military conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, among others. As a result, global oil prices fluctuated in recent days, with decrease as the dominant trend.

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