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Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse touch down at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, starting their working trip to Saudi Arabia.

PM Chinh and his spouse begin visit to Saudi Arabia

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse, along with a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, arrived at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, starting their working trip to attend the 8th Edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) and working visit to Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Salman.

Those welcoming PM Chinh, his wife, and the Vietnamese delegation at King Khalid Airport were officials from the Government and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia, Vietnamese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dang Xuan Dung, Vietnamese embassy staff, and Vietnamese community representatives in Saudi Arabia.

PM Chinh's working visit to Saudi Arabia took place amid the two countries' diplomatic relations seeing positive development after 25 years since the initial establishment, with many substantive results being recorded.

The two sides have moved to intensify the exchange of high-level delegations and those from ministries and sectors. Most recently, in October, 2023, PM Chinh attended the ASEAN - Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and visited Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia.is currently Vietnam's third largest trading partner in the Middle East - North Africa region, with the nine-month bilateral trade turnover reaching US$2.21 billion, cited VOV.

As of September, Saudi Arabia ranked 79th out of 148 countries and territories investing in the Vietnamese market with eight projects totally capitalized at US$8.57 million. There are currently about 4,000 Vietnamese workers in Saudi Arabia employed across various fields.

During his working visit to Saudi Arabia, along with speaking at the eighth Future Investment Initiative (FII), PM Chinh is expected to hold talks with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed Bin Salman Al Saud, meet with Crown Prince Al Hussein Bin Abdullah II of Jordan, receive a number of leading Saudi ministers and businesses, and meet with Embassy staff and the Vietnamese community residing there.

With a firm foundation of friendship, many similarities, and the ability to complement and support each other in the process of economic restructuring whilst implementing long-term development goals, both sides are seeing plenty of opportunities for breakthrough development moving forward.

This working visit to Saudi Arabia is therefore expected to create new momentum for traditional cooperation areas between the two countries, make fresh breakthroughs to promote potential areas and, above all, firmly build political trust to pave the way for a new phase of ties between the two countries.

Vietnam, Thailand beef up logistics cooperation

A conference to foster connections between the logistics sectors of Vietnam and Thailand was jointly held in Bangkok on October 29 by the Vietnam Logistics Human Resources Development Association (VALOMA) and the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).

The event gathered representatives from both countries, including nearly 30 Vietnamese universities, colleges, and member businesses of VALOMA, and 32 Thai companies operating in the fields of warehouse, transport, shipbuilding, logistics tech solutions, packaging, garments, oil and logistics real estate, according to VNA.

Participants in the conference held in Bangkok on October 29 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung highlighted the importance of this event to promote investment, business connections, and experience-sharing in logistics, thereby enhancing economic and trade ties between Vietnam and Thailand. He pointed out the vast potential for collaboration in areas like warehouse, technology application, and joint ventures.

FTI Vice President Vathit Chokwatana noted that the conference marked a strong starting point for deeper business cooperation, leveraging logistics to manage business costs. Thailand and Vietnam’s similar logistics landscapes create natural synergy, and Vietnam’s rapid logistics growth, ranking 10th among emerging markets, presents significant collaboration opportunities.

Participants included key figures like ASEAN Business Promotion Committee Chair Kich Aungvitulsatit, who emphasized the strong partnership potential between the two nations.

The Vietnamese delegation, led by VALOMA Vice President Dr. Trinh Thi Thu Huong, also visited Thailand's ports, airports and logistics training establishments as part of their trip from October 27–31.

PM highlights potential for scientific, technological cooperation with UAE

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh accentuated huge potential for scientific and technological cooperation between Vietnam and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), while receiving UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber in Abu Dhabi, who is also Group CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, on October 29.

The Vietnamese cabinet leader used the occasion to highlight the ample room that exists for further bilateral collaboration across multiple sectors, particularly in energy, high-tech, and artificial intelligence (AI), with opportunities existing for immediate implementation, the visiting leader said. He went on to add his hope that the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, businesses, the Minister himself, and relevant sides will step up joint efforts in a bid to further boost ties.

Briefing the official on the Vietnamese oil and gas sector, PM Chinh said that although the country only has three oil refineries, it still needs additional facilities to meet domestic demand and supply the broader Southeast Asian and Chinese markets. He therefore asked UAE groups to collaborate with the country in specific projects, including the construction of an oil storage facility to serve regional distribution.

He also underlined Vietnamese energy potential and development strategy, particularly wind and solar energy, saying that the nation aims to meet domestic needs, export goods, whilst encouraging UAE groups to collaborate with Vietnam in this sector, VOV reported.

PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) and UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, who is also Group CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, at their meeting in Abu Dhabi.

Regarding digital technology and AI, the Government chief said that the nation is committed to development driven by science, technology, and innovation, with the country accelerating digital transformation, particularly in emerging sectors like AI, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things. This is being done with major technology firms such as FPT and Viettel expanding globally.

The country has since established a National Innovation center and is actively boosting the growth of the semiconductor industry, aiming to train 50,000 engineers for this sector, the PM continued.

He laid stress on ongoing Vietnamese efforts to fine-tune institutional and legal frameworks to facilitate foreign investment, including regulations related to the electricity sector, and called on UAE firms to connect and engage with their Vietnamese counterparts to advance specific cooperation projects.

Praising the achievements and the establishment of the UAE Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology in line with the development trend of the UAE and the world in general, PM Chinh said that the interest of UAE ministries, sectors, and businesses in investing in the Vietnamese market, as well as their collaboration, is timely to put the freshly-signed CEPA in place.

In response, UAE Minister Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber emphasized the importance of the joint ties to prosperity of each nation and the region.

Concerning the freshly-signed Vietnam-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, the Minister and his team expressed a strong desire to augment cooperation with Vietnam across various sectors, especially energy development, including oil refinery, LNG, and renewable energy projects.

They also showed a keen interest in setting up a warehousing hub in the country to meet regional product demand, highlighting the UAE’s capabilities in high-tech and suggesting that both sides establish contact points to facilitate cooperation in the proposed areas.

Vietnamese students supported to access Germany’s labor market

A working delegation led by Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany Bärbel Kofler on October 29 visited LILAMA2 International Technology College (LILAMA2) in the southern province of Dong Nai in an effort to promote Vietnam-Germany cooperation in vocational training and labor migration.

During the visit, the representatives from the ministry and the college signed an agreement in the establishment of a German language practice room at Lilama 2. It is part of the program "Partnerships for Development-oriented Vocational Education and Labour Migration" (PAM), cited VNA.

Parliamentary State Secretary to the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany Bärbel Kofler ( first, left) is introduced to vocational training at LILAMA 2. (Photo: VNA)

LILAMA 2 Principal Nguyen Khanh Cuong said that the new facility expected to open next year will help the college to improve its German teaching and learning, expectedly promoting fair opportunities for students to access the labor market in Germany.

With the support of the German and Vietnamese governments, in 2015, LILAMA 2 began implementing the PAM program. It currently trains four occupations according to German standards - metal cutting, mechatronics, industrial electronics, and construction mechanics.

Dozens of young people have graduated and gone to work in Germany.

For her part, Kofler said that the PAM program has brought about very positive results. She hoped that the German language practice room would quickly be put into operation and Vietnamese students will be passionate about learning the German language and culture.

Northern Vietnam to experience first cold snap as La Nina sets in

Experts say colder air from the North will soon bring chillier weather, with La Nina's influence promising a harsh, longer winter ahead.

According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, intermittent cold fronts will bring cool weather starting this week, with a stronger cold spell expected in early November, potentially marking the first significant drop in temperatures this winter.

For the next 1-2 days, scattered rain is expected in Northern Vietnam and North Central Coast regions, particularly in the northeast and northern delta areas.

Temperatures will dip overnight, bringing a chill to mountainous areas. Around November 5, a second, more intense cold front will lower temperatures across the entire northern region.

Forecasts indicate that La Nina, a climate pattern that typically brings wetter and cooler weather to Southeast Asia, is expected to persist from November 2024 to April 2025 with a probability of 60-70%, VNN reported.

The North is about to experience its first cold spell. Illustrative photo: Thach Thao

This pattern is anticipated to bring longer, harsher cold spells to Northern Vietnam, especially in mountainous areas where frosty conditions and even snowfall are likely.

In early November, temperatures across Northern Vietnam will decline sharply, with areas like Lang Son dropping to around 19°C. Hanoi is forecasted to reach lows of 18-21°C around November 5, with daytime temperatures ranging from 20-24°C.

The effects of La Nina may lead to harsher winter conditions, especially from December 2024 to January 2025. In addition to cold spells, La Nina could increase typhoon activity in the East Sea, which may bring storms or tropical depressions to the Central and Southern regions of Vietnam through January.

These weather events could include storms, lightning, hail, and strong winds, with significant rainfall expected across Central and South-Central Vietnam.

Meteorologists project that La Nina will persist through early spring, potentially until April 2025. During this period, cooler weather may continue across Northern Vietnam, with the possibility of out-of-season rain events in the Mekong Delta and Southern regions during the dry season.

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