PM Pham Minh Chinh meets US President Joe Biden. (Photo: VGP)

Vietnamese Government leader meets US, EC leaders

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met US President Joe Biden and President of the European Council (EC) Charles Michel on May 20, as part of his activities during the ongoing expanded summit of the G7 in Japan.

The Vietnamese Government leader said bilateral ties have grown steadily over the recent past, with the economic-trade cooperation being the focus. President Biden hailed the outcomes of the phone talks with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

The two sides exchanged views on a score of measures to push up relations between the two countries and international and regional issues of shared concern, cited VOV.

Also at the summit, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son met his US counterpart Antony Blinken, comparing notes on measures to speed up the implementation of the agreements reached by the two countries’ high-level leaders.

At the meeting between Chinh and EC President Charles Michel, the two sides expressed satisfaction at the positive progress in the Vietnam-EU ties.

Highlighting the EU as a partner of prime importance in Vietnam’s external policy, PM Chinh suggested both sides strengthen the exchange of all-level delegations, and maintain and bring into play the efficiency of cooperation and dialogue mechanisms in the framework of the Vietnam-EU partnership and cooperation agreement.

He asked the EC leader to push the parliaments of member countries to soon ratify the EVIPA; and the EC to raise its voice for the EU to soon lift its yellow-card warning concerning the IUU against Vietnam’s seafood exports He also expressed his hope for the EU and member countries to continue supporting Vietnam in attracting resources to carry out the statement on the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP).

The EC leader showed his elation at the vigorous, intensive and extensive development in the Vietnam-EU relations, and applauded Vietnam’s efforts in the corruption fight.

Vietnam-Iran diplomatic tie anniversary celebrated in Tehran

The Vietnamese Embassy in Iran held a ceremony on May 20 evening in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the two countries’ diplomatic ties (August 4, 1973).

Attending the event were Politburo member, Minister of Public Security of Vietnam Gen. To Lam; Deputy Foreign Minister for Consular, Parliamentary, and Iranian expatriates Affairs at the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Alireza Bigdeli; Deputy Minister of Justice Askar Jalailan, Chair of the Iran-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group Jalil Rahimi Jahanabadi; and Chair of the Iran-Vietnam Friendship Association Kamal Sajjadi.

Vietnamese Ambassador Luong Quoc Huy affirmed that the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Iran have been consolidated and developed over the past years, reflected through many official visits of their high-ranking leaders.

The two countries have great potential for cooperation in economics, trade, investment, tourism, culture and people-to-people exchanges, he said, adding that to date, the two countries have conducted nine meetings of their Inter-governmental Committee, and seven political consultations at the deputy ministerial level, according to VNA.

National Assembly Vice Chairman Tran Quang Phuong meets with Iranian Vice President Seyyed Mohammed Hosseini. (Photo: quochoi.vn)

He proposed the two sides step up trade and investment promotion activities, strengthen business connectivity, and push for the early negotiations and signing of a Preferential Trade Arrangement (PTA) between the two countries.

On the basis of a solid foundation of traditional friendship, Iran's growing role and position in West Asia and that of Vietnam in Southeast Asia as well as with great potential in bilateral economic cooperation, the ambassador expressed his belief that the bilateral relations will have new development achievements for the benefit of the two peoples.

Sharing the same view, Alireza Bigdelin confirmed that Asia and Southeast Asia are one of the priorities of Iran's foreign policy, and on that basis, the policy of the Iranian President E. Raisi's administration is to expand relations with countries in the region, including Vietnam.

He also expressed his hope that with huge cooperation potential, bilateral relations in all fields will develop strongly in the coming time.

Vietnamese and Japanese PMs hold high-level talks

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on May 21 held high-level talks with his Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio within the framework of the expanded G7 summit and his working visit to Hiroshima, Japan.

This is the first Vietnam-Japan high-level talks that took place in Hiroshima, the hometown of Prime Minister Kishida, and the fifth meeting between Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Kishida in more than a year.

The Vietnamese Government chief congratulated PM Kishida and the host country, Japan on successfully organizing the G7 and G7 expanded summits, and highly appreciated Japan's coordinating role to reach a consensus in solving global challenges such as food security, and emission reduction.

Kishida expressed his pleasure to meet with PM Pham Minh Chinh again and hailed the active and effective participation and contributions of the Vietnamese delegation to the success of the G7 Summit, while affirming that Vietnam has a leading position in the implementation of Japan's foreign policy in the region.

The two leaders expressed their satisfaction over the strong, comprehensive and substantive development of bilateral relations over the past time and agreed on major orientations and specific measures to promote the extensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan for peace and prosperity in Asia to new heights.

The two PMs consented to strengthen political trust by strengthening high-level visits and meetings in 2023 - the year marking the 50th anniversary of both nations' diplomatic ties.

PM Chinh conveyed the invitation to visit Vietnam by Vietnamese Party and State leaders to the Emperor and Empress of Japan.

The two sides agreed to step up defence-security cooperation in the settlement of post-war consequences, human resource training, defence technology transfer, and cyber security.

They will intensify the exchange of contents regarding Japanese support for Vietnam in boosting industrialization and modernization and building an independent and self-reliant economy, while underlining the need to strengthen linkages between the two economies through boosting investment and trade cooperation.

The two leaders highly appreciated the completion of procedures for capital commitment of the new generation official development assistance (ODA) programme for post-pandemic economic recovery worth 50 billion JPY.

They will assign ministries and sectors to discuss Japan's ability to provide new generation ODA with high incentives, simple and flexible procedures for large-scale strategic infrastructure development projects in Vietnam, such as North-South high-speed railway, urban railway construction, climate change response, digital transformation, green transformation and health care.

They affirmed that they will direct both nations' relevant agencies to accelerate the progress of a number of ODA cooperation projects such as Cho Ray Hospital 2, the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien urban railway No.1.

Regarding the Nghi Son Oil Refinery project, PM Pham Minh Chinh suggested businesses of the two countries actively exchange in the spirit of harmonizing benefits, sharing risks, and removing difficulties of the project.

The Vietnamese cabinet leader proposed the two sides work together to promote a new wave of Japanese investment in Vietnam in the fields of high-tech industry, energy conversion, production capacity improvement and competitiveness for Vietnam to participate more deeply and widely in the supply chain of Japanese enterprises and the global supply chain.

He asked Japan to encourage strategic investors in the field of clean energy and renewable energy in Vietnam, support the Southeast Asian nation to increase the value chain of agricultural products through technology transfer, capacity building in terms of distribution and processing, promote procedures for the early announcement of Japanese grapes entering Vietnam and Vietnamese green-skinned pomelos entering the Japanese market.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (L) and his Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio. Photo: VOV

Chinh also suggested the Japanese Government create favorable conditions and simplify visa procedures for Vietnam towards waving entry visas for Vietnamese citizens so as to step up tourism cooperation between the two countries, and soon deploy the form of study tourism in the time ahead.

This is addition to offering the best possible conditions for the community of nearly 500,000 Vietnamese people to live, study and work conveniently in Japan which serves as a bridge for cooperation between the two countries.

The two sides affirmed coordinating their stance on issues of mutual concern at multilateral and regional forums such as ASEAN, the United Nations, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), VOV reported.

PM Kishida invited his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh to visit Japan again and attend the ASEAN-Japan Summit slated for December 2023.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the two leaders emphasized the importance of ensuring security and safety of navigation and aviation, resolving all disputes and disagreements by peaceful means on the basis of international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, and fully implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), towards completing an effective and substantive Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Prior to their talks, Chinh and Kishida Fumio witnessed the exchange of signed documents of three ODA cooperation projects with a total value of 61 billion JPY (about US$500 million), including a new-generation ODA support programme for post-pandemic socio-economic recovery and development, a public transport infrastructure project in Binh Duong province, and an agricultural development infrastructure project in Lam Dong province.

This is the final activity of PM Pham Minh Chinh within the framework of the expanded G7 Summit and his working visit to Japan.

In the evening of the same day, Chinh and his entourage left Japan for the home country, successfully concluding their three-day business trip to the East Asian nation.

Vietnam vows to support Myanmar in promoting peaceful, sustainable solutions

Vietnam supports and appreciates the role of the ASEAN Chair in connecting with all stakeholders in finding a peaceful and sustainable solution to the Myanmar situation, as well as the bloc's efforts to promote humanitarian relief in the country and the repatriation process in Rakhine State, Minister Counsellor Le Thi Minh Thoa, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, has said.

Addressing the UN Security Council’s Arria-formula meeting on the humanitarian situation in Myanmar on May 19 (local time), Thoa stressed that the process of solving the situation in Myanmar must be controlled and led by the country itself.

Relevant parties in the nation must fully and effectively implement the ASEAN-agreed Five-Point Consensus, end violence, ensure humanitarian and healthcare access for all, and create a favourable environment to promote dialogue and reconciliation.

Minister Counsellor Le Thi Minh Thoa, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN (Photo: VNA)

Meanwhile, the international community needs to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN and UN agencies in coordinating humanitarian relief activities to ensure that relief goods reach needy people, especially women and children, while ensuring respect for Myanmar's sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and unity, she said.

Regarding the situation of Rakhine State, the Vietnamese representative spoke highly of the recent initiative to start repatriation in the state through a pilot project, demonstrating a proactive approach in finding long-term solutions to the current situation. She called on the international community to increase financial support and coordinate to find a sustainable solution to issue, cited VNA.

In the face of heavy consequences and human losses caused by Cyclone Mocha, Thoa sent deep condolences and expressed sympathies to the people of Myanmar. As an active member of the UN and ASEAN, Vietnam continues to promote dialogue and reconciliation and narrow differences in order to assist Myanmar in reaching a solution to the current situation.

Speaking at the meeting, representatives of many countries raised concerns over the situation in Myanmar, condemning the use of force against civilians as well as the attack on a convoy of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management (AHA Centre) and the ASEAN Monitoring Team in Myanmar.

They emphasised the need for a ceasefire and an end to violence, and to avoid the escalation of the situation, ensure humanitarian and healthcare access for all, observe international humanitarian law, protect civilians, and address differences and differences through dialogue and reconciliation in accordance with aspirations of the Myanmar people.

PM Chinh highlights Vietnam’s stance on peace, stability and development

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chinh highlighted Vietnam’s messages on peace, stability and development at the session “Towards a world of peace, stability and prosperity” held on Sunday within the framework of the expanded Summit of the Group of Seven (G7) in Hiroshima, Japan.

He said peace is the foundation, solidarity and cooperation are the driving force, and sustainable development is the goal.

PM Chinh said Vietnam would do its best to contribute to peace, stability and sustainable development of mankind.

Vietnam wishes to end conflicts, not to use and threaten to use nuclear weapons, to respect sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to ensure food security, energy security, and human security, he said.

PM Chinh emphasised that specific commitments should uphold and implement respect for the law, the United Nations Charter and international law, and the settlement of all disputes by peaceful means.

He also called on the parties involved in all conflicts, through dialogue and negotiation, to find long-term solutions, taking into account the parties' legitimate interests.

He affirmed that Vietnam does not choose a side but chooses justice, fairness, justice and truth.

PM Chinh and other leaders attend the “Towards a world of peace, stability and prosperity" session on Sunday. Photo: VNS

As for the region, he hoped the international community and partners would continue to support ASEAN's central role in building a region of peace, stability, cooperation and resilience. Countries must strictly implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC) and move towards achieving a substantive and effective Code of Conduct in the South China Sea (COC) in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).

The Vietnamese leader also requested the parties to exercise restraint and not take actions that complicate the situation and violate the sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the relevant countries established by the 1982 UNCLOS.

PM Chinh said that sincerity, strategic trust and a sense of responsibility are especially important for solving current global challenges, cited VNS.

For Vietnam, those values are reflected in the consistent implementation of the foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, diversification, multilateralisation, being a good friend, reliable partner, and active and responsible member of the international community.

Participants emphasised that international cooperation and solidarity play a fundamental role in ensuring an environment of peace, stability and sustainable development.

They also called on countries to uphold a free and open international order based on the principle of the rule of law and compliance with the UN Charter. They also highly appreciated the central role of ASEAN in the region, emphasised the need to maintain peace, stability and cooperation in the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea), and reaffirmed the position of settling disputes by peaceful means in accordance with UNCLOS 1982.

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