Vietnam News Today (Nov. 4): PM Pham Minh Chinh to Attend Greater Mekong Subregion Summit in China

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Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

PM Pham Minh Chinh to attend Greater Mekong Subregion Summit in China

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will attend the eighth Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit and other meetings in Kunming, China’s Yunnan province, from November 5 to 8, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The other meetings are the 10th Ayeyawady - Chao Phraya - Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) Summit and the 11th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Cooperation Summit.

Chinh will also engage in working sessions in China.

The invitation has been extended by Chinese Premier Li Qiang, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press communique on November 3, cited VOV.

The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit is an important conference aimed at strengthening economic cooperation and sustainable development in the region. Supported by the Asian Development Bank, the GMS initiative includes six countries, namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, and China (specifically the Yunnan and Guangxi provinces).

The objective of GMS is to promote economic growth, reduce poverty, and create development opportunities through cross-country cooperation in critical areas such as infrastructure, energy, trade, and the environment.

China has consistently been Vietnam’s largest trading partner and its second-largest export market. In turn, Vietnam is China’s largest trading partner within ASEAN and its fifth largest trading partner globally.

In 2023, the total trade turnover between the two countries reached US$171.9 billion. Trade volume in the first eight months of 2024 amounted to US$130.78 billion, marking a 25% increase year on year.

Cuban top legislator concludes Vietnam visit

Politburo member of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the National Assembly of People’s Power Esteban Lazo Hernandez and the Cuban delegation successfully concluded their visit to Vietnam on November 3.

Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee for External Relations Vu Hai Ha and Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Orlando Nicolás Hernández Guillén sent off the Cuban top legislator and his entourage at the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi.

Esteban Lazo Hernandez started his Vietnam visit on November 2. Vietnamese NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man hosted a red-carpet welcoming ceremony for the guests the same day, which was followed by their talks.

Party General Secretary To Lam and State President Luong Cuong separately hosted the Cuban top legislator.

The visit had a significant meaning, helping continue reinforcing and promoting cooperation between the two parliaments, and contributing to further deepening the special solidarity and brotherhood between Vietnam and Cuba.

During the Cuban leader's visit, leaders of the two countries agreed that 64 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the solidarity and close relationship between Vietnam and Cuba, nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh and leader Fidel Castro, have continuously developed, becoming a model in international relations.

The Party, State, and people of Vietnam treasure and are determined to further deepen the special, exemplary, and faithful relationship between Vietnam and Cuba through channels and across all fields, while working together with the Cuban people to maintain, develop, and pass on to next generations.

The special traditional friendship between Vietnam and Cuba has been constantly consolidated and enhanced through all channels of the Party, State, parliamentary cooperation, and people-to-people exchange, while becoming increasingly deep and substantive in all fields of politics, economics - trade, security - defense, and science - technology,

The two countries’ special relationship has seen many positive developments after the state visit to Cuba by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam in September. During this visit, the two sides issued a Joint Statement with the determination to continue strongly developing bilateral ties to a new height that is more comprehensive, substantive, effective, and sustainable, in the spirit of cooperation, development for the cause of socialism development and building, for the benefit of the two peoples, and for peace, cooperation, and development in each region and the world over.

Vietnam affirms that the country stands in solidarity with Cuba. Vietnam has called for the lifting of unilateral blockade and embargo against Cuba and the removal of Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, VNA reported.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man (R) welcomes President of the National Assembly of People’s Power Esteban Lazo Hernandez in Hanoi on November 2 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam wishes to further deepen and enhance the effectiveness of ties with Cuba in all fields, making the most of the strengths of both sides in the context that the two countries are to celebrate the 65th anniversary of their bilateral of diplomatic relations in 2025 (December 2, 1960 - 2025), which has been named the Vietnam - Cuba Friendship Year by the two countries' high-ranking leaders.

The top legislator of Cuba thanked the Party, State, and people of Vietnam for presenting 10,000 tonnes of rice to Cuba, emphasizing this is a timely sharing in the context that Cuba is facing a food and energy crisis.

The two sides showed their delight at the development of the two countries’ parliaments with high-level visits and important cooperative activities, deepening the relationship between the two legislatures, and contributing to consolidating and strengthening the special, exemplary and faithful relationship between Vietnam and Cuba.

To realize the cooperation protocol signed between the two legislative bodies in April last year, the first session of the Vietnam - Cuba Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, co-chaired by President Esteban Lazo Hernandez and Vice NA Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai, took place in September, with results recognised by both countries' high-ranking leaders and included in the Vietnam-Cuba Joint Statement. This reaffirmed the two legislatures’ determination in further deepening relations between the two countries through parliamentary cooperation channels.

Specifically, the two NAs continue to exchange their all-level delegations, committees, and deputies, and friendly parliamentarians groups to share professional experiences in law-making, supervision and decision-making on important matters of the country, while enhancing information exchange and experience sharing in direct or online formats on holding parliament activities, building, and perfecting institutions and legal systems in areas of mutual interest.

The two sides agreed to actively and effectively implement the high-level commitments and agreements reached during the State visit to Cuba by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam in September 2024 as well as the results of the first session of the Vietnam - Cuba Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, while continuing to closely coordinate with and support each other at international organizations and multilateral forums.

Festival honors colorful cultures of ethnic groups in northeast region

The 11th Festival of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Ethnic Minorities in the Northeast Region kicked off at Hung Vuong Square in Lang Son Province on November 2.

The opening ceremony was attended by Politburo member Do Van Chien, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee.

The ceremony featured Then folk singing and colorful performances honoring the colorful cultures of ethnic groups in the northeast region, NDO reported.

A performance at the opening ceremony (Photo: baolangson.vn)

Addressing the event, Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung hailed the Northeast region as home to rich and diverse cultural treasures.

The festival is among the ministry’s efforts to realize the Party and State’s policy on preserving and promoting the unique cultural heritages of ethnic groups, including those in the Northeast region while contributing to promoting the image of the land and people of Vietnam to visitors at home and abroad.

The three-day festival features various activities, including a seminar entitled ‘Cultural Tourism in the Northeast: Unleashing Potential and Development, an exhibition on the culture of the Northeast Ethnic Groups, and a photo exhibition themed ‘Great Family of Northeast Ethnic Groups – Preserving and Promoting Ethnic Cultural Identity’, providing visitors with an in-depth understanding of the diversity and richness of Vietnamese culture.

Traditional ceremonies and rituals, folk music and dance, and local handicrafts of the northeast ethnic groups will also be introduced to the festival goers.

There are also exciting sporting events and folk games, such as tug-of-war, ‘con’ (cloth ball) throwing and stilt walking.

Railway project connecting Quang Ninh (Vietnam) to China in the pipeline

The Vietnam Railway Authority has just proposed that the Ministry of Transport appraise and approve the planning of the railway line Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong- Quang Ninh connecting Vietnam to China.

According to the proposal, the railway line will have its starting point connecting with the railway system of China in Lao Cai province, and its endpoint at Cai Lan station in Ha Long city, Quang Ninh province.

The planned railway line will pass through 10 provinces and cities, namely Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, and Quang Ninh, VOV reported.

Illustrative image of the Mong Cai - Ha Long - Hai Phong railway line, using AI ChatGPT.

It will have 41 stations, with Lao Cai station serving as both a train station and an international transit hub, as well as four freight stations located at the ports of Lach Huyen, Nam Do Son, Nam Dinh Vu, and Dinh Vu in Hai Phong.

The route will feature approximately 145 bridges spanning 106 km, crossing major rivers such as the Red River, Lo River, and Bach Dang River, and will include bridges over expressways like Hanoi - Lao Cai, Hanoi - Hai Phong, Hai Phong - Quang Ninh. It will run through 42 tunnels with a total length of 23.2 km in Lao Cai and Yen Bai provinces.

It is estimated that by 2050, the total land requirement for the single-track railway will be approximately 3,267 hectares, and an additional 366 hectares will be needed for the double-track railway after 2050.

The consultancy has calculated the investment capital required for the railway line at approximately VND183.856 trillion.

The Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh line is one of the three railway routes connecting to China, alongside the Lang Son - Hanoi line, and the Mong Cai - Ha Long - Hai Phong line.

Vietnam take first win at regional futsal championship

Vietnam had a smooth start at the ASEAN Futsal Championship 2024 beating Timor Leste 4-1 in the opening match of Group A on Saturday in Korat, Thailand.

As one of the title favorites, the two-time World Cup participants were considered much stronger than their rivals.

Nhan Gia Hung needed only three minutes to prove Vietnam's strength after consecutive attacks from the first whistle.

Hung took his ball in the box after a smart free kick on the left wing and had an easy opportunity with a close-range tap-in to open the scoring.

Timor Leste were on the back foot and goalkeeper Santos Gama did his good job to prevent Vietnamese pivots from scoring in the remainder of the first half, cited NDO.

Vietnam take first win at regional futsal championship (Photo: VFF)

Timor Leste replied three minutes after the restart as Fernandes broke through Vietnam's defense and passed the ball to Cesario Silvano Barreto in the box who netted with ease as former world top 10 goalkeeper Ho Van Y stood still and watched the ball go past him.

A minute later, Guterres nearly made it 2-1 for Timor Leste as his straight shot passed Y but he was denied by the left post.

Vietnam finally found their footing and scored three more goals in a rampaging second period.

Nguyen Manh Dung restored Vietnam’s advantage in the 25th minute, before Nguyen Thinh Phat scored a double in the 36th and 40th minutes for the win.

Hosts Thailand beat Brunei 13-0 to top the group's table.

In the next fixture on November 3, Vietnam will play Malaysia which rested in the first round and Timor Leste will face Brunei.

The regional championship featured nine teams, playing in a one-leg round robin group stage. The two top teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, with the final scheduled for November 10.

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