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General Secretary of the VFF Central Committee Nguyen Thi Thu Ha and head of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s committee for external affairs Mariam Alexander Baby (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, India fortify traditional friendship, multifaceted cooperation

A delegation from the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF), led by General Secretary of its Central Committee Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, is paying a working visit to India from November 7-11 to bolster the traditional friendship and multifaceted collaboration between the two nations.

During their stay, the delegation had meetings and working sessions with head of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPIM)’s committee for external affairs Mariam Alexander Baby, Director of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Rajeev Kumar, Politburo member of the Communist Party of India R. Venkaiah, and met with the Vietnamese community in the host nation and the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy there.

At the event, Ha highlighted the sound Vietnam – India relationship, the foundation of which was laid by President Ho Chi Minh and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nerhu, adding it has been nurtured by generations of leaders and people of the two nations. India is currently one of the important comprehensive strategic partners in Vietnam’s foreign policy.

She hailed the Indian Government for continuing to consider Vietnam a significant pillar in its Act East policy, stating that the state visit to the country by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh from July 30 to August 1 met the expectations of both sides and calling on the two countries to work closely to bring into full play the outcomes of the trip and the action programme to implement the Vietnam – India comprehensive strategic partnership for the 2024-2028 period.

She took the occasion to thank the Indian Government for providing relief goods worth 1 million USD in support for Typhoon Yagi-hit residents, which, she said, demonstrated the close relations between the two countries, cited VNA.

Touching on the trade, economic and investment cooperation, Ha expressed her belief that Vietnam and India could increase their two-way trade in the coming time as outlined by leaders of the two countries. She said Vietnam welcomes Indian investments in such strategic areas as oil and gas exploration in the East Sea, seaport development, renewable energy and emerging sectors.

She highlighted that the Vietnamese Party, State, and the VFF consistently prioritize cultural exchange to create optimal conditions for mass organizations to promote their role and advantages in the cultural work. She said she hopes that the Indian Government, parties, and organizations will continue to enhance their role in connecting Indian businesses with their Vietnamese partners to make the bilateral cultural exchanges more intensive, substantive and effective.

She proposed that both sides consider signing a new agreement between their aviation authorities soon to increase direct flight frequencies connecting major cities.

She also thanked the Indian side for helping Vietnam to restore and preserve the My Son Sanctuary, a world cultural heritage site in Quang Nam province over the past years, wishing to receive further assistance in the area in the time to come.

Hailing India’s initiative regarding the International Yoga Day, Ha said Vietnam supports and facilitates the organization of activities to popularize Indian culture in the nation, and expressed her hope that the two countries will step up cooperation in Buddhist and spiritual tourism by developing attractive offerings to lure visitors from both nations.

The leaders of the CPIM, CPI and ICCR affirmed that India always prioritizes developing the relations with Vietnam, stressing the two countries should capitalize on the existing potential to deepen the bilateral relationship.

Meeting with the Vietnamese community, Ha affirmed that the overseas Vietnamese is an inseparable part of the nation and briefed them on recent changes in the homeland’s policies, including the Land Law, the Housing Law and the Real Estate Business Law.

Vice President’s official visit helps to foster closer ties with Sweden

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan’s official visit to Sweden from November 10 to November 13 will help to consolidate and deepen the sound time-honored friendship between the two countries, according to Vietnamese Ambassador to Sweden Tran Van Tuan.

In a recent media interview, the Vietnamese diplomat highlighted the significance of VP Xuan’s trip, the first ever made by a Vietnamese Vice President, saying it will come at a crucial moment as both sides are celebrating the 55th anniversary of the diplomatic relations (1969-2024).

During her stay, the VP is set to meet with Sweden’s top parliamentary and government leaders to discuss a range of measures to strengthen mutual understanding, deepen ties between the two countries' people, as well as developing bilateral cooperation in a more practical fashion. Several Memoranda of Understanding between the two ministries and sectors will also be signed as part of this occasion.

The Vietnamese diplomat emphasized that VP Xuan’s trip demonstrates the nation’s commitment to creating a stable and favorable environment for investment and business activities of Swedish enterprises, adding that a centerpiece of the economic agenda is the Vietnam – Sweden Business Roundtable focusing on digital transformation and sustainable development, all of which are the areas of the European country’s expertise and Vietnam’s demand.

The trip, he said, is expected to provide fresh impetus to boosting collaboration between firms of both sides in those domains, with the highlight being the announcement of a direct maritime route connecting Vung Tau port in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Sweden's Gothenburge port, which is set to advance two-way trade moving forward, according to VOV.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan (R) and Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Johan Ndisi.

Furthermore, VP Xuan is scheduled to meet with the Vietnamese community in the European nation, during which she will affirm the Party and State’s unwavering policy of considering the overseas Vietnamese an inseparable part of the nation and encouraging them to make contributions to the development of the homeland, he said.

According to Ambassador Tuan, Vietnam and Sweden have enjoyed a time honored relationship and cooperation, with Sweden being the first European nation to recognize and set up diplomatic ties with Vietnam in 1969.

Sweden has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the nation during its struggle for national independence, freedom, peace, and reunification, as well as its current construction and development. Over the past 55 years, the two sides have nurtured and deepened ties and obtained noble achievements across multiple sectors.

He stressed the robust political confidence between the two countries, with the Vietnamese side seeing Sweden as a good friend and a trustworthy partner in Northern Europe, whilst Sweden views the country to be an important partner in Southeast Asia. He therefore highlighted regular political consultations and delegation exchanges, particularly those at a high level, which have created important momentum to enhance the traditional ties across politics, economics, trade, investment, science-technology, culture, education, and health care, among others.

As many as 107 pacts and 12 bilateral agreements were signed between the two countries, 42 of which are still valid, serving as an important basis to ramp up co-operation in the new era of science-technology and sustainable development, he said.

He went on to stress that Sweden is one of the largest ODA provider for the Vietnamese side, helping the country with its poverty reduction efforts and socio-economic development, adding that the European nation has assisted Vietnam in training experts in various domains such as agroforestry, health care, electricity, the press, and communications.

Additionally, both countries have enjoyed robust trade ties, with last year’s two-way trade reaching roughly US$1.3 billion and US$966.77 million during the past eight months of this year, an annual rise of 11%. Currently, Sweden is Vietnam’s largest trading partner in Northern Europe, while Vietnam is the biggest importer of Sweden in Southeast Asia.

As of June, Sweden had poured US$743.65 million into 111 projects throughout Vietnam, ranking 29th among 143 countries and territories landing investments in the nation. Meanwhile, the country has injected around US$5.2 million into Sweden since 2019.

Both sides have maintained strong culture-education cooperation over the recent past, with major cultural events held to mark the 55th anniversary of diplomacy, helping tighten the friendship between their people, Ambassador Tuan added.

Vietnam draws new wave of high-value investments: Savills

Vietnam’s industrial and digital sectors are experiencing a strong growth, fueled by a surge in foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, large-scale infrastructure projects, and a favorable legal environment, according to Savills Vietnam.

Vietnam's shift towards high-value-added production, along with the expansion of logistics capabilities and data centers, is enhancing its position in the global supply chain, the agency said in a report released on November 8.

According to the report, the success of Vietnam's industrial sector is supported by several factors, including a dynamic workforce, government incentives, openness in trade cooperation, a strategic location, and continuous infrastructure upgrades. High-value industries such as electronics and semiconductors are driving growth, shaping real estate demand, and attracting regional investment.

“Vietnam has evolved from traditional manufacturing, where companies were primarily focused on low labor costs, to a high-tech, skill-intensive nation with advanced production capacities,” said Troy Griffiths, deputy managing director of Savills Vietnam.

With competitive costs, a strategic location, and participation in numerous trade agreements, Vietnam is well-positioned to seize this new wave of investment. As it integrates into global markets, Vietnam will play a key role in the future of Southeast Asia's industrial sector, maintaining its reputation as an ideal destination for industrial and logistics solutions, VNA reported.

Production of electronic components (Photo: VNA)

Leading FDI areas include high-value industries such as electronics, automotive components, semiconductors and green technology.

Key investors, including the Republic Korea, Singapore, and Japan, show a shift to high-tech and high-value production. It now makes up around 63$ of FDI inflows, overshadowing traditional low-cost manufacturing sectors.

By 2025, high-value industries and FDI are expected to sustain strong demand for industrial real estate.

Vietnam is ramping up infrastructure spending, allocating 7% of GDP to key projects, including the North-South Expressway, Long Thanh International Airport in Dong Nai province, and deep-water ports like Cai Mep in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province.

Digital connectivity is also a priority, with 5G network expansion and data center developments driving e-commerce and logistics growth.

Savills Vietnam experts highlight that with the booming e-commerce sector and rising FDI, demand for warehouses and ready-built industrial spaces has surged.

In 2024, the supply of ready-built factories and warehouses increased by 31%, with occupancy rates exceeding 80% in key regions.

The report emphasizes Vietnam warehousing costs remain highly competitive, averaging 5.6 USD per square meter.

Typhoon Yinxing weakens rapidly due to cold air

Typhoon Yinxing is forecast to weaken rapidly when encountering cold air, with the weather event set to head towards the mainland of central provinces from Quang Nam to Binh Dinh, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Forecasters said at 10 a.m. on November 9, the typhoon’s center was located in the North East Sea, approximately 415 km northeast of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago with the strongest winds near its center reaching between 150 km and 166 km per hour, cited VOV.

Photo: VOV

Over the course of the next 72 hours, Typhoon Yinxing is expected to move southwest at speeds of about between 10km and 15 km per hour, thereafter weakening into a tropical depression and then into a low pressure area.

According to meteorologists, due to the impact of the storm, there will be strong winds in the North East Sea area and rough seas with high waves of up to six meters.

Vessels operating in the dangerous areas are likely to be affected by whirlwinds, strong winds, and big waves.

State President Luong Cuong meets with Vietnamese community in Chile

On the evening of November 9 (local time), State President Luong Cuong and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation visited the Vietnamese Embassy and met with embassy staff and members of the Vietnamese community in Chile, as part of their official visit to the country.

State President Luong Cuong and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam visited and talked with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Chile on November 9 evening (local time), as part of their official visit to the Latin American country.

Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Viet Cuong reported to the President that the Vietnamese community in Chile, though not large, has always promoted the spirit of solidarity. Most of them reside in the southern regions of Chile while a smaller number live in the capital of Santiago and in northern areas.

He pledged to carry out foreign affairs, enhance cooperation in national defense, economy and trade, while building a united representative agency, contributing to the development of the Vietnam-Chile friendship and cooperative relations.

Emphasizing that the Party and State always care for and consider the overseas Vietnamese community as an inseparable part, a resource of the Vietnamese nation and an important factor contributing to strengthening cooperative and friendship relations between Vietnam and other countries, the State President requested the embassy to continue to promote its role as a bridge to promote and deepen the Vietnam-Chile relations.

He asked the embassy to continue to synchronously deploy activities of political diplomacy, economic diplomacy, cultural diplomacy and community work, with priorities being given to promoting the role of advising, accompanying and supporting the implementation of economic, trade and investment cooperation programmes and projects between the two countries, WVR reported.

State President Luong Cuong meets with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Chile. (Photo: Tuan Anh)

The embassy was also requested to continue building a united, transparent and strong Party organization and representative agency.

State President Luong Cuong said he hoped that the embassy will provide timely support for overseas Vietnamese in Chile as well as nations where it is in charge. He expected that the Vietnamese community in Chile, despite its modest number, will always stay united, maintain close relations, keep regular contact and enthusiastically participate in activities towards the homeland.

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