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Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan (right) receives Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Johan Ndisi in Hanoi on October 15. (Photo: VNA)

Vice President calls on Sweden to share development experience with Vietnam

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan received Swedish Ambassador Johan Ndisi in Hanoi on October 15, calling on the European country to share experiences in sustainable development and climate change response with Vietnam.

Xuan said the two countries boast 55-year friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation. Sweden was one of the first western countries to set up diplomatic relations with Vietnam, on January 11, 1969, when the latter was still in an arduous resistance war to regain national independence and reunification.

She noted that the Vietnamese State and people keep in mind and appreciate Sweden’s significant support for their struggle for national independence and reunification in the past, as well as the national reform, construction, and integration into the world at present.

Sweden has supplied about 3 billion USD in non-refundable aid for Vietnam. Some structures built with its support such as the Bai Bang paper mill, the Vietnam National Children’s Hospital, and the Uong Bi Hospital have substantially contributed to local socio-economic development, she elaborated.

The Vice President emphasized that for the last more than half a century, the two countries have nurtured bilateral relations in an increasingly sustainable and result-oriented manner to obtain pride-worthy achievements in all spheres, cited VNA.

In 2023, bilateral trade reached about 1.3 billion USD. Meanwhile, Sweden has invested 743 million USD in more than 110 projects in Vietnam. The two sides have also signed many cooperation deals and supported each other at multilateral forums. Their trade ties are now enhanced more strongly thanks to the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Believing that there remains much room for the countries’ relations to grow, Xuan expressed her hope that Vietnam and Sweden will keep fostering their sound connections, step up delegation exchanges, especially at high levels, boost cooperation between their enterprises to secure more substantive results, and review existing frameworks and agreements to align them with the new period.

Aside from economic, trade and investment links, she asked the ambassador to pay attention to other fields of long-standing collaboration like education, science - technology, and agriculture while helping strengthen cultural, tourism, and people-to-people bonds.

As Vietnam is now in need of new technologies, especially in terms of a circular economy, to save resources, develop sustainably, and better protect the environment, the official called on Sweden to share experiences in sustainable development and climate change response with Vietnam, particularly localities in the Mekong Delta.

The Vice President affirmed the readiness to assist the ambassador to contribute to the two countries’ relations.

Highlighting the close-knit connections across the board for the last 55 years, Ndisi held that the two countries hold great potential for comprehensively bolstering trade and investment partnerships.

He suggested the countries enhance collaboration in green transition, digital transformation, and sustainable development, adding Sweden is also ready to help Vietnam with innovation.

Swedish enterprises wish to maintain cooperative ties and investment and business activities in Vietnam. Many have operated efficiently here for decades while new firms are also moving to access the dynamic market of Vietnam. They are willing to offer solutions in infrastructure, including transport infrastructure, to the country, according to the diplomat.

RoK considers Vietnam a key partner in its Indo-Pacific Strategy

The Republic of Korea (RoK) considers Vietnam a key partner in implementing its Indo-Pacific Strategy and the ASEAN-Korea Solidarity Initiative, affirmed Chang Ho-jin, special advisor on Foreign Affairs and Security of RoK President Yoon Suk-yeol, during a reception hosted by Party General Secretary and President To Lam of Vietnam in Hanoi on October 15.

Chang spoke highly of Vietnam’s rising position globally as well as the positive developments of Vietnam – RoK relations in recent times, while recalling Yoon’s wish for the RoK to act as a reliable and important partner for Vietnam in achieving the latter’s goal of becoming a high-income developed country by 2045.

In addition to political and diplomatic cooperation, the RoK seeks to enhance and expand cooperation in economy-trade-investment, high technology, innovation, transportation infrastructure, and energy, said the Korean official.

He also suggested that both sides also strengthen cooperation in defense and security, as well as in international issues of mutual interest.

He respectfully conveyed the invitation from President Yoon for General Secretary and President To Lam to visit the RoK soon, according to VOV.

Party General Secretary and President To Lam of Vietnam welcomes Chang Ho-jin (L), special advisor on Foreign Affairs and Security of RoK President Yoon Suk Yeol, in Hanoi on October 15.

To Lam, for his part, appreciated the RoK’s desire to increase and expand cooperation into various fields between the two countries. He thanked Yoon for the invitation and said relevant agencies of both countries will coordinate to arrange the visit at a mutually convenient time.

Vietnam considers the RoK one of the top strategic partners and priorities in its foreign policy, said To Lam.

He also outlined several key directions to enhance the relationship between the two countries in line with the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the RoK.

Emphasizing Vietnam’s consistent stance on major and important issues, To Lam affirmed that Vietnam is ready to contribute positively to maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

Chang welcomed Vietnam’s view, saying the RoK government desires to promote lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Regarding the East Sea issue, both sides agreed on the necessity of preserving peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the regional waters, while respecting international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Top Vietnamese legislator to pay official visit to Laos, attend AIPA-45

Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man will pay an official visit to Laos and attend the 45th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-45) from October 17-19.

The tour will be made at the invitation of Chairman of the Lao National Assembly Saysomphone Phomvihane, the Vietnamese National Assembly's Committee for External Relations announced Monday.

On September 5, 1962, Vietnam and Laos officially established their diplomatic relations, marking a new page in the relationship between the two countries, affirming the bond of the destiny of the two peoples in the fight for national liberation and reunification.

To bring bilateral relations into comprehensive and in-depth development, on July 18, 1977, the two nations signed the Vietnam-Laos Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation.

The two-way trade between Vietnam and Laos reached US$1.1 billion in the first seven months of 2024, up 16.7 percent over the same period last year, VGP reported.

Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man.

At present, Vietnamese enterprises have funded over 240 projects in Laos with a total registered capital of more than US$5.5 billion, making Vietnam the third-largest foreign investor there after China and Thailand.

Since Vietnam officially joined the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) on September 19, 1995, the Vietnamese National Assembly has been playing its active, proactive and responsible role together with other members in promoting the central role, solidarity and unity of the bloc, strengthening intra-bloc cooperation, expanding all-round parliamentary cooperation with countries inside and outside the region.

The Vietnamese National Assembly has contributed many ideas at AIPA general assemblies, including the initiative to form the AIPA Advisory Group and an initiative to expand the participants at AIPA meetings to include non-AIPA members.

The Vietnamese NA has hosted the AIPA general assembly three times in 2002, 2010 and 2020.

Vietnam to see biggest supermoon on October 17

Vietnamese astronomy lovers will be given the opportunity to witness the Hunter's Moon, the biggest supermoon of the year, due to take place at 18:26 p.m. on October 17.

According to AstroPixels, this will also be the third and closest supermoon of the year.

“A supermoon appears about 30% brighter and nearly 15% bigger than a full moon at its farthest point from Earth,” it noted.

The Hunter's Moon refers to the full moon which comes after the harvest moon, the closest full moon to the autumn equinox. Historically, this moon signals the time for hunters to prepare for winter by stalking game in the early hours, aided by the bright moonlight.

As the supermoon will be at its most striking right at sunset, astronomy lovers are advised to look just above the horizon for the best chance to glimpse it, cited VOV.

​​​​​Vietnamese astronomy lovers will have chance to see the Hunter's Moon on Oct.17 (Photo: Mert Alper Dervis/ Getty Images)

In Vietnam, the phenomenon can be seen with the naked eye.

The next Full Moon takes place on November 15. This marks the fourth and final Supermoon of the year.

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