Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen (R) welcomes Vice President of Vietnam Vo Thi Anh Xuan in Copenhagen on November 21. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Denmark agree to soon implement green strategic partnership

Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan and Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen held talks in Copenhagen on November 21, during which they agreed on the need to soon carry out the joint statement on establishing the green strategic partnership.

Vice President Xuan, who is paying an official visit to Denmark at the invitation of PM Frederiksen, affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to and wants to enhance the friendship, cooperation, and comprehensive partnership with the European country.

She expressed her belief that the trip will help strengthen the comprehensive partnership and implement the freshly-established green strategic partnership for the sake of the two nations' people.

Welcoming the Vietnamese delegation, PM Frederiksen stated the Danish Government treasures the friendship, cooperation, and comprehensive partnership with Vietnam – an important partner of Denmark in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in terms of trade and investment, and that it hopes to further reinforce the bilateral relations in economy, environment - climate - energy, and green development.

The host leader said she believed the recently established green strategic partnership will provide new impetus for the bilateral comprehensive partnership, particularly in the fields of sustainable development and green transition, cited VNA.

To foster the bilateral ties in the time ahead, both sides agreed to continue increasing high-level delegation exchanges, and coordinate with and support each other at multilateral forums.

Vice President Xuan thanked the Danish Government for advocating Vietnam’s hosting of the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) summit in 2025.

With regard to trade and investment, the two leaders agreed that their countries’ governments, ministries, and sectors need to encourage Vietnamese and Danish enterprises to implement investment projects in the fields matching Denmark’s strengths and Vietnam’s development orientations in the time ahead such as renewable energy, marine economy, food processing, and green growth.

Vice President Xuan called on the Danish Government to raise voice to prompt the parliaments of the remaining EU countries to ratify the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), support the European Commission (EC)’s removal of its “yellow card” warning on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing against Vietnam’s seafood exports, and help the Southeast Asian country develop aquaculture towards sustainability.

PM Frederiksen affirmed that she has always paid attention to this issue and supports the EC and Vietnam’s discussions on the removal of the “yellow card”.

At the talks, the two leaders emphasized the need to expand green growth-oriented economic relations and bolster cooperation in green transition and climate change response, thus helping with the two governments’ efforts to realize the commitments to net zero emissions, made at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Danish PM stated that Denmark is ready to work with Vietnam in the new areas of green transition and just energy transition, especially renewable energy which the European country has rich experience in and financial capacity for.

Appreciating Denmark’s important assistance to Vietnam to reach socio-economic development targets and the Sustainable Development Goals, Vice President Xuan stressed that the two sides should keep cooperation to effectively implement projects on energy, sustainable development, and vocational training, including the Vietnam - Denmark Energy Partnership Program for 2020 - 2025.

PM Frederiksen spoke highly of the Vietnamese community’s integration into the local economy and society as well as their substantial contributions to the bilateral relations. She agreed with her guest’s proposal to continue to give favorable conditions for Vietnamese people in Denmark to act as a friendship bridge between the two countries.

Talking about regional and international issues of shared concern, Vice President Xuan highly valued Denmark’s role and voice in the international arena.

PM Frederiksen noted she was particularly impressed with Vietnam’s strong commitments and role at multilateral forums, and that Denmark hoped to join hands with Vietnam to realize the Sustainable Development Goals.

Both host and guest reaffirmed the importance of peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the world as well as peace, stability, safety, security, and freedom of navigation in the East Sea. They voiced their support for international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Vice President Xuan said she hoped PM Frederiksen would pay a visit to Vietnam soon at the invitation of PM Pham Minh Chinh. The Danish PM agreed with pleasure.

Vietnam ready to support Laos in ASEAN Chairmanship 2024

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son has hailed Laos' proactive preparation for the 2024 ASEAN Chairmanship and affirmed Vietnam's readiness to cooperate and support Laos in successfully fulfilling this important task.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Laos Saleumxay Kommasith and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son co-chaired the 10th Vietnam-Laos Foreign Ministers’ Political Consultation on November 22 in Hanoi.

The event is part of the working visit by the Lao diplomat at the invitation of Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son.

At the consultation, the two FMs had an extensive and substantive exchange on reviewing the content of bilateral cooperation over the past time, and preparation for high-level foreign affairs activities between the two countries in the coming time as well as discussing measures to continue boosting cooperation between the two foreign ministries.

Both sides expressed their joy at the steady and effective progress across multiple fields in recent times, with political trust continuing to be strengthened through delegation exchanges, high-level meetings, and contacts at different levels, thereby creating a solid foundation and direction for the overall bilateral relationship forward.

In addition, security and defense cooperation continued to be strengthened, helping maintain security and stability for each country.

Economic cooperation has seen more positive, substantive, and effective changes, with bilateral trade turnover reaching more than US$1.3 billion over the past ten months.

Key projects continue to receive attention and promotion, of which a number of projects have been handed over and put into operation, while numerous difficulties and obstacles have been resolved.

The two sides also continuously improve the quality and effectiveness of cooperation in education and training, human resource development, and step up propaganda among the young generation of the two countries about the great relationship, special solidarity, and Vietnam-Laos comprehensive cooperation.

Minister Son proposed that the two foreign ministries continue to coordinate closely with relevant departments, ministries, and sectors to serve the visits and contacts of senior leaders of the two countries in the coming time, including the official visit to Vietnam by the Lao Prime Minister and co-chairing the 46th meeting of the Vietnam - Laos Intergovernmental Committee.

Host and guest agreed that the two foreign ministries alongside departments, ministries, sectors, and localities of the two countries will continue to effectively implement high-level agreements and review bilateral cooperation mechanisms, according to VOV.

Photo: VOV

The two diplomats highly appreciated the cooperation between the two foreign ministries which is increasingly being promoted under their Cooperation Agreement for the 2021-2025 period.

They agreed to continue to maintain and promote periodic cooperation mechanisms between the two foreign ministries such as the Action Program to strengthen diplomatic and economic cooperation for the 2020-2025 period, the cooperation program to train and foster Lao officials working in foreign affairs and international integration, and strategic research.

The two sides informed each other about each country's foreign policy and affirmed that they will continue to proactively share information, exchange views and coordinate stances at all channels and levels, contributing to elevating the international position of each nation.

The two sides concurred to closely coordinate and support each other at multilateral forums, especially in ASEAN and Mekong sub-region cooperation mechanisms, supporting ASEAN's common stance on strategic issues in the region, including the East Sea issue.

Vietnamese, Lao provinces tighten special solidarity

Delegations from Vietnam's central province of Quang Binh and Khammouan province of Laos presented gifts and handed over civil works to the authority and people of Lang Khang village cluster in the Lao locality at a ceremony on November 22.

This is one of a series of activities of twinning residential clusters in the two border localities, contributing to promoting close relations between Vietnam and Laos in general and between Quang Binh and Khammouan province in particular.

A lighting facility and a welcome gate, which were constructed with funding donated by the border guard force of Quang Binh and donors, and working days of people from the two localities with a total value of about VND250 million (over US$10,000), were inaugurated and handed over to the Lao village cluster’s authority.

Vice Chairman of the Quang Binh Provincial People's Committee Ho An Phong presents gifts to a representative of the Lang Khang village cluster's authority at the event. (Photo: VNA)

The Border Guard Command, the Departments of Health, Information and Communications, Agriculture and Rural Development, Public Security and Customs, the oriental medicine association of Quang Binh presented gifts to disadvantaged families and students; production tools and seedlings to local farmers; and medicine cabinets and medical equipment to the village’s health station. Local residents were also provided with free check-ups and medicines. The total value of donations is over VND700 million (US$nearly 29,000).

Businesses and philanthropists also took this occasion to consider the possibility of investing in agriculture models and projects in the locality, in a bid to help local people promote economic development and improve their living standards, reported VNA.

Colonel Trinh Thanh Binh, Commander of the Border Guard Command of Quang Binh, underlined the significance of the activity, saying that these works are symbols of solidarity and close coordination between party committees, authorities, sectors, local organizations, and border protection forces of Quang Binh and Khammouan provinces.

These contributed to further tightening the traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in general, and the border protection forces and the people of the two localities in particular, he stressed.

Hanoi struggles with severe air pollution

The air quality in the capital on November 22 exceeded the red-warning level, reaching purple, meaning that the air quality of the local atmosphere has reached a very unhealthy level for local residents.

As witnessed during the morning by the air quality tracking app PAM Air, the majority of monitoring stations in Hanoi reported red and purple signals, which correspond to “unhealthy” and “very unhealthy” warnings on the Air Quality Index (AQI) scale.

Many locations recorded “very unhealthy” air quality, including the districts of Thanh Xuan, Cau Giay, Dong Anh, and Gia Lam.

Meanwhile, the capital’s neighboring provinces, including Nam Dinh, Ha Nam, Hung Yen, Thai Binh, and Hai City are also in the midst of facing severe air pollution, posing health risks for people, cited VOV.

Hanoi struggles with severe air pollution. Photo: VOV

According to experts, rice field burning after the harvest season is among the main causes of air pollution, along with vehicle emissions and construction activities.

The situation is forecasted to worsen over the coming days until next week.

People are therefore advised to measure air quality regularly and keep their doors and windows shut. It can be viewed as necessary for people to wear a mask when going out, have more trees around their house, and wash their eyes and throat with saline before going to bed.

The World Health Organization warned that PM2.5 dust could enter the body via the bloodstream, thereby affecting major organs.

Vietnam among 12 Asian countries for the best quality of life

The nation was ranked in the list of the 12 Asian countries with the best quality of life, as compiled by Insider Monkey, a finance website focusing on financial markets, hedge funds, and insider trading.

The country duly ranked 12th among Asian countries with the best quality of life, reporting a Human Development Index (HDI) of 0.703 as of 2021.

According to details given by the World Bank (WB), the nation reported a Government Effectiveness rating of 59.43% in 2022. The Economic Freedom Index rating of the county stood at 61.80 as of 2023.

Insider Monkey’s rating for Vietnam is therefore 60.615 out of 100.

Singapore took the lead with Insider Monkey rating it 91.95 out of 100. The Top 5 of the list consist of Japan, the Republic of Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Brunei, and Qatar.

Elsewhere, Malaysia, Bahrain, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Bhutan, and Vietnam make up the list of 12 Asian countries with the best quality of life.

According to information given by Insider Monkey, Asia is a diverse region with some of its countries showing significant progress in terms of enhancing the quality of life.

However, Asian countries must increase their investments, and efforts for appropriate demographic planning, and launch initiatives for gender equality to transition from poverty and underdevelopment to a state of security, well-being, and enhanced quality of life.

The website noted that although these challenges withstand the progress of Asia, many countries throughout the region have implemented progressive strategies in a bid to enhance the quality of life by making efforts for increased GDP; enhanced public purchasing power; and improved access to economic, welfare, and service resources.

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