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Swedish Parliament speaker Andreas Norlen and Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan discuss measures to increase cooperation between the two countries and their legislative bodies during their meeting in Stockholm on November 12. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam and Sweden agree to tap into strengths for more fruitful cooperation

Vietnam and Sweden will better leverage their respective countries’ strengths to further enhance their effective, mutually beneficial cooperation.

The agreement was reached during a meeting between Andreas Norlen, speaker of the Riksdag (parliament), and visiting Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan in Stockholm on November 12.

The two leaders emphasized the importance of cooperation between the two parliaments as part of the bilateral relationship and agreed to enhance exchanges between parliamentary leaders and specialized committees.

Norlen commended the National Assembly of Vietnam for establishing the Vietnam-Sweden Parliamentary Friendship Group and expressed his support for enhancing activities to share experiences in legislation and oversight between the two legislative bodies.

Xuan for her part expressed her gratitude for the valuable support that the Swedish Royal Family, government, parliament, and people have given to Vietnam over the past five decades. She affirmed that Vietnam highly values the development of multi-faceted relations with Sweden, aligned with the potential, strengths, and needs of both countries.

Xuan briefed her host on Vietnam’s recent socio-economic development, international integration, as well as achievements in ensuring and implementing human rights, emphasizing that people are at the center and motivation of the development process.

The Vice President suggested that both sides review and renew their bilateral cooperation agreements in line with the new context. She also requested Sweden’s support in urging the remaining EU member states to ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and called on the EU to lift the “yellow card” on Vietnam’s seafood exports regarding the illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU), cited VOV.

She also proposed facilitating visa issuance for Vietnamese tourists to Sweden, given that Vietnam has unilaterally exempted visas for Swedish citizens. Furthermore, she encouraged the Swedish parliament to motivate Swedish companies to invest in Vietnam in areas aligned with Vietnam’s development goals, such as innovation, green transformation, digital transformation, and climate change response.

Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation and support each other at multilateral forums to promote the peaceful resolution of conflicts and disputes, based on respect for the United Nations Charter and international law. They also pledged to promote free trade, sustainable development, and global prosperity.

On this occasion, Xuan conveyed an invitation from National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man for Speaker Norlen to pay an official visit to Vietnam. Norlen said he would consider arranging the visit.

Vietnam, India enhance comprehensive strategic partnership

Politburo member, President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA), and Chairman of the Central Theory Council Nguyen Xuan Thang paid a working visit to India from November 11-13.

Thang paid a courtesy call to Vice President and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (upper house) Jagdeep Dhankhar, and met with National General Secretary of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Tarun Chugh, Interim Coordinator of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) Prakash Karat, and General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) D. Raja.

During these meetings, both sides updated each other on the current situation in their respective parties and countries, discussed international and regional issues of mutual interest, and shared views on major directions and policies, contributing to further deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and India.

Jagdeep Dhankhar appreciated the priority given by Vietnam to fostering and deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, according to VNA.

Illustrative image (Photo: Internet)

Leaders of India's political parties affirmed the importance they attach to the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam. They praised the Southeast Asian nation's achievements in economic development and foreign relations during its Doi Moi (Renewal) period, particularly its success in poverty reduction, and social welfare policies, making Vietnam a model for India, a country with more than 1.4 billion people and significant disparities in wealth and social inequality, to follow.

Indian Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh affirmed that as part of its "Act East" policy, India places great importance on its relationship with Vietnam and recognises the significant role and position of the country in the region. They expressed strong support for resolving disputes in the East Sea through peaceful means based on international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982.

Both leaders highlighted that the continuous high-level exchanges and visits between the two countries, and the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016 have brought tangible benefits to the people of both nations, and contributed to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the Asia-Pacific region and in the world.

Thang appreciated India's increasingly significant role in the current regional and global security architecture, recognising India as a superpower in science, technology, and economy.

The two sides also discussed cooperation in security and defense, as well as several key areas of bilateral collaboration.

On this occasion, the Vietnamese official witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and the Indian Institute of Public Administration.

Two super cruise ships bring nearly 5,000 international tourists to Ha Long

The Ha Long International Cruise Port received two luxury super cruise ships on November 12, bringing more than 4,700 tourists from Europe and the United States to Ha Long Bay and other tourist attractions in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

According to the schedule, Dutch-flagged cruise ship Noordam on the Hong Kong (China) - Singapore journey arrived at Ha Long Bay at 8 a.m., carrying on board nearly 1,900 tourists.

Meanwhile, Malta-flagged Celebrity Solstice docked at the Ha Long International Cruise Port at 10 a.m., carrying 2,806 passengers.

The tourists spent time exploring a number of tourist attractions in the city, including the Quang Ninh Museum, Long Tien Pagoda, and the Complex of Yen Tu Monuments and Landscape, before then going on a city tour to experience local culture and cuisine, VOV reported.

Two super cruise ships bring nearly 5,000 international tourists to Ha Long (Photo: baoquangninh.vn)

Aside from Ha Long, both ships made stops at three other ports in the central city of Da Nang, the southcentral city of Nha Trang, and Ho Chi Minh City.

By the end of the year, Ha Long International Cruise Port is expected to welcome around 10 large cruise ships from several of the world’s leading brands, such as Mein Schiff 6 and Celebrity Solstice, bringing with them tens of thousands of international tourists.

This influx will help Quang Ninh to achieve its set target of welcoming 19 million visitors, including 3.5 million foreigners, this year.

Peruvian President hosts welcome ceremony for State President of Vietnam

Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra hosted a solemn welcome ceremony for State President Luong Cuong and a high-ranking delegation from Vietnam at the Government Palace (Casa de Pizarro) in Lima on November 13 afternoon (local time).

This is the first-ever official visit to Peru by a Vietnamese State President. It takes place at a time when Vietnam and Peru are celebrating their 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations (November 14, 1994-2024). This is an important milestone, reflecting the positive development of bilateral relations from politics-diplomacy to economy-trade, a historic opportunity, and a driving force to further deepen the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Over the past three decades, despite the geographical distance, the two countries have made significant progress in promoting their political, diplomatic, economic, trade and investment relations. High-ranking leaders of the two sides have regularly held bilateral meetings and contacts on the occasion of attending international conferences, cited VNA.

Peruvian President Dina Ercilia Boluarte Zegarra hosts a solemn welcome ceremony for State President Luong Cuong and a high-ranking delegation from Vietnam at the Government Palace (Casa de Pizarro) in Lima on November 13 afternoon (local time). (Photo: VNA)

In addition, Vietnam and Peru have established bilateral dialogue mechanisms, such as the political consultation at the deputy foreign minister level, the Intergovernmental Committee on Economic Affairs and Technical Cooperation at the deputy minister level. They have signed many agreements and memoranda of understanding on cooperation.

At multilateral forums, both Vietnam and Peru are members of the United Nations, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC).

Regarding economic, trade and investment cooperation, Vietnam always considers Peru one of Vietnam's important partners and leading investment destinations in Latin America. Bilateral trade reached nearly 500 million USD in 2023 and nearly 300 million USD in the first seven months of 2024. The Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group (Viettel) and the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group have two investment projects in Peru with a total capital of 1.24 billion USD.

After the official welcoming ceremony, the two Presidents had a private meeting and then held talks to discuss measures to consolidate the foundation of good political relations between the two countries, enhance the effectiveness of cooperation in potential areas, and lift the relationship to a new height.

On the morning of the same day, President Cuong and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation laid a wreath at the monument dedicated to Peru's heroes in the Heroes of Independence Park in Lima.

Week of Italian Cuisine to entertain food lovers in Hanoi

The ninth Week of Italian Cuisine in Vietnam is scheduled to take place in the capital from November 15 to December 8, to introduce Italian culture and history through its extraordinary food to local people and foreign visitors to Hanoi.

The function will open with the Taste of Italy exhibition showcasing products organized by the Italian Trade Agency in cooperation with MM Megamarket wholesale retailer. It will be held on November 15 at MM Mega Market Thang Long supermarket at 263 Pham Van Dong street in Hanoi.

Four days later, Authentic Italian Food, a promotional event of the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (ICHAM) focusing on the dairy products of the “Pecorino Toscano” cheese Consortium, will get underway at Casa Italia at 18 Le Phung Hieu street.

Casa Italia will also host “The cold chain: from Italy to Vietnam” workshop on cold chain technologies and their development potential in Vietnam. The workshop will be jointly organized by the Italian Association of Cold Chain Technicians and the Vietnam Society of Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers on November 20, VOV reported.

Photo: VOV

Visitors will have the chance to sample street food which combines both Vietnamese and Italian tradition at Casa Italia on November 23 and 24.

Moreover, Casa Italia will hold the “Scent of Italy” an multi-sensorial exhibition on Italian truffles and its use in modern cuisine from November 26 to December 8; as well as Wine Festival 2024, an Italian wine tasting festival organized by ICHAM on November 30.

Launched in 2016 by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Week of Italian Cuisine is an annual initiative taking place worldwide to celebrate the essence of Italian culinary heritage and emphasize its values, flavors, and cultural significance.

The theme for this year’s edition is “Mediterranean Diet and Cuisine of the Roots: Health and Tradition” which highlights the Mediterranean diet as a model for healthy and sustainable eating, according to the Embassy of Italy in Hanoi.

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