NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (R) hosts Vice President of the Cuban NA Ana Maria Machado.

Vietnam supports Cuba in becoming observer at AIPA-44 General Assembly

The Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) always strongly supports the Cuban NA’s bid to become an observer in the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) and strive to boost ties with ASEAN, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue has said.

NA Chairman Hue hosted a reception on September 16 for Vice President of the Cuban NA Ana Maria Machado, who is leading a delegation to the 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians which is now underway in Hanoi, saying that this highlights the Cuban legislature’s support for Vietnam and the Vietnamese NA in particular.

The top Vietnamese legislator displayed elation at the ever-growing bilateral ties developed through various visits, as well as the working sessions and co-operation activities at many levels across different sectors and involving many localities, cited VOV.

Affirming the nation’s stance of supporting Cuba and calling for an end to the policy of blockade and embargo against the Caribbean country, he said the Vietnamese NA and himself always strongly support the Cuban NA’s bid to become an observer in the AIPA and foster its relations with ASEAN. At the recent 44th AIPA General Assembly held in Jakarta, the Cuban NA became an observer in AIPA.

He also stated his belief that the sharing of experience between the Vietnamese and Cuban legislatures will become increasingly more practical and effective.

Machado therefore expressed her delight at attending the conference and conveyed the regards of President of the NA of People's Power of Cuba Esteban Lazo Hernández, Cuban lawmakers, and people to Chairman Hue.

She informed the host said that the leader of the Cuban NA is in the process of preparing to lead a delegation to the country to mark the 50th anniversary of Fidel Castro’s visit to the liberated zone in South Vietnam in Quang Tri province and the 60th founding anniversary of the Cuban Committee for Solidarity with South Vietnam on September 25.

Recalling NA Chairman Hue’s visit to Cuba in April which contributed to further tightening ties between the two Parties, countries, and legislatures, Machado thanked the Vietnamese side for assisting Cuba across a multitude of fields, demonstrating the sense of solidarity at international forums, including support for the call to lift the embargo placed on Cuba.

She also thanked the Vietnamese NA for assisting Cuba during the COVID-19 pandemic and endorsing the island nation’s observer status in the AIPA, in addition to seeking to boost ties between the two legislative bodies.

The Cuban NA backs and praises Vietnam’s hosting of the ongoing global conference which boasts highly-relevant topics for sustainable global development, she said, adding that the Cuban delegation has actively contributed ideas at sessions and activities of the event.

According to her, Cuba's foreign and sci-tech policies always place a strong emphasis on the role of youth and the continuity of their involvement in these areas.

At the meeting, both sides also said that the special and close-knit relations that exist between both sides are growing very well across multiple fields on the basis of substantive and more effective parliamentary co-operation, along with experience sharing between the two legislatures.

Tourism promotion takes flight in south for peak season

To improve the effectiveness of tourism promotion, many localities concentrate on marketing programs specific to their area, and in line with key themes.

Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, said one of its measures is to build many unique products. The department promotes and positions the city as a lively and modern city and an attractive shopping and recreation destination, she said, adding that it is expanding the use of marketing activities through media and strengthening the coordination among localities in the digital transformation process. HCM City is also building shared databases, aiming to facilitate businesses in setting up inter-regional products and calling for effective investment.

The city has proactively coordinated with other localities to organize many tourism promotion activities abroad to maximise regional advantages and increase value as well as the attractiveness of Vietnam in general and HCM City in particular.

The "Ho Chi Minh City - 100 interesting things" programme has been launched, thereby affirming the brand of the city’s tourism with main products such as cultural and historical tourism as well as combining tourism with enjoying local cuisine and shopping. HCM City has also introduced potential products such as waterway tourism and associating tourism with entertainment and the night economy.

To improve the effectiveness of tourism promotion, many localities concentrate on marketing programs specific to their area, and in line with key themes, according to VNA.

Located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1, the Central Post Office is one of the city’s oldest buildings, an attractive destination for local and foreign visitors. (Photo: VNA)

According to a representative of Long An province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, its tourism sector attaches great importance to innovation in building communication products so that visitors feel the attraction and authenticity, wishing to visit and experience. The representative said that Long An has joined the Tourism Promotion Organisation for Asia-Pacific cities (TPO) with the expectation of popularising its tourism resources, destinations, and prominent products to cities in the Asia-Pacific region. One of the ideas is to connect tours from Long An to TPO member cities and vice versa.

Under Long An provincial planning for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, which has been approved by the Prime Minister, its tourism industry will develop towards diversifying types of tourism and products to create branded and competitive products.

The focus will be on expanding eco-tourism, agricultural and rural tourism in the Dong Thap Muoi region as well as resort tourism and entertainment services in areas adjacent to HCM City.

Like Long An, Vung Tau city in the southern province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau is a member of the TPO. Earlier in March this year, the city hosted a conference of member cities with the theme "Green Convergence". The idea is to promote cooperation and the image of Vung Tau tourism to TPO members as well as pushing up investment and development collaboration between the locality and other cities.

Talking about market connection activities and enhancing promotion to tourists, especially for internationals, Vo Anh Tai, Deputy General Director of Saigontourist Group, said the group has proactively deployed plans to potential markets to attract tourists based on high-quality products and services with the launch of stimulus promotions on a large scale. It has also updated information with partners and taken part in international tourism fairs to explore cooperative opportunities.

Vietnamese Government leader begins China trip for CAEXPO, CABIS

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hand his delegation touched down at Nanning airport on September 16, starting his participation in the 20th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS) in Nanning city, Guangxi province of China, from September 16-17, at the invitation of the Chinese Government.

The 20th CAEXPO and CABIS this year has the theme of "Building a harmonious homeland, a common destiny to the future - promoting high-quality development of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and building an economic growth center".

The two events are part of a string of events to celebrate 20 years of China-ASEAN strategic partnership. The Vietnamese delegation participating in the expo is the largest in ASEAN, with 250 booths covering an area of 5,000 sq.m.

Last year’s bilateral trade between Vietnam and China reached US$175.56 billion. During the past eight months of this year, the figure hit US$105.5 billion while Chinese investments in Vietnam neared US$1.3 billion with 399 projects, making China the second largest foreign direct investor in Vietnam, reported VOV.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh arrives at Nanning airport on September 16, starting his participation in the 20th China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS) in Nanning city, Guangxi province of China.

During his two-day stay there, the Vietnamese cabinet leader is scheduled to deliver a speech at the opening of the events, visit Vietnam’s area and pavilions, and participate in official activities, meet leaders of the host country and of participating countries, and receive top enterprises of China and ASEAN.

PM Chinh’s attendance at the CAEXPO and CABIS demonstrates the importance both nations place on the bilateral friendly relations, the ASEAN-China cooperation, and the relationship between Vietnamese localities and Guangxi province in China.

This contributes to strengthening all-around cooperation between the two countries, economic and trade ties, especially border gate economic activities, and local and people-to-people exchanges.

Cultural diversity holds vital role in realizing human rights: Hanoi Confab

Cultural diversity plays an important role in fully realizing human rights and basic freedom, enhancing the role and status of women in society, and creating social cohesion and harmony, and it is necessary to integrate cultural diversity into national and international development policies, said Bui Hoai Son, a permanent member of the National Assembly’s Committee of Culture and Education, on September 16.

In his remarks at the third session on promoting respect for cultural diversity in support of sustainable development within the framework of the ongoing 9th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians, Son said that given the current context of deeper international integration, the role of cultural diversity is increasingly important. Respecting and promoting cultural diversity helps strengthen dialogues among civilizations, enhance understanding, and increase mutual respect among countries and peoples, he went on.

Thanks to the attention of the Party, State, and National Assembly of Vietnam, the cause of cultural development has achieved many important achievements which are highly appreciated by Vietnamese ethnic groups as well as international organizations and friends, Son noted. However, he said that cultural diversity in Vietnam as well as in many countries is facing many challenges, especially non-traditional ones of a digital era and globalization, which seriously affect the sustainability of cultural heritage and cultures of ethnic groups.

Son highlighted the significant role and value of culture as a driving force for sustainable development and implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, promoting the role of culture in development policies at the national, regional and international levels, making culture an independent goal of sustainable development, cited VNA.

An overview of the third session on promoting respect for cultural diversity in support of sustainable development. (Photo: VNA)

National parliaments are a key factor in affirming and fostering the role of culture in sustainable development, building and perfecting a people-centered policy, he said.

Moroccan parliamentarianKamal Ait Mik, a member of the leadership of IPU Forum of Young Parliamentarians, said that interreligious and inter-cultural dialogues and the promotion of cultural diversity are very necessary, adding that they should aim at vulnerable people such as women, children, migrants, young people, and the disabled.

In her pre-recorded speech at the session, Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for Social and Sciences of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), said UNESCO has made many efforts and specific plans to encourage young people to join in solving major problems, strengthening the role of young people, providing appropriate tools and frameworks to strengthen political dialogues and promote inclusive youth participation. UNESCO will call for more active participation of young people in the process of implementing the Sustainable Development Goals in the upcoming conference in Mexico, she added.

The third session focused on discussing the role of parliamentarians and young parliamentarians in promoting respect for cultural diversity in the context of technological transformation and globalization. Specifically, it mulled over collaboration to minimize the unwanted impact of digital transformation on privacy, security, and well-being. Promoting the role of culture in development policies at the national, regional, and international levels as well as commitment to create a favorable environment and ecosystem for culture and cultural diversity and the role of culture and cultural diversity in sustainable development were also touched upon.

International retailers seek to increase supplies from Vietnam

Many major retailers see Vietnam as an important goods production and supply source, and are looking for more Vietnamese supplies and partners.

Avineesh Gupta, Walmart’s vice president, said the retail chain serves 240 million visitors at stores, supermarkets and websites in 19 countries and territories each week. In 2013, Walmart set up an office in HCM City, collecting goods in Vietnam for export.

“Vietnam is an important supply source for Walmart,” he said at a recent forum on exports. “We appreciate Vietnam’s workforce’s quality and Vietnamese enterprises that help export many products, contributing to the recovery of the world’s economy."

He said the potential of exporting durian, mango, coconut and other farm produce is great, and his retail chain wants to seek more supplies and have more stable sources.

General director of Central Retail Vietnam Olivier Langlet noted that in the last three decades, Vietnam has made considerable progress in processing raw materials. The domestic processing sector has improved, creating high-quality products meeting global demand. Central Retail is making big investments in the food sector in Vietnam.

Businesses now can receive support from the government of Vietnam and agencies, according to Yuichiro Shiotani, CEO of Aeon Topvalu Vietnam. This gives favorable conditions to enterprises to grow. The Japanese retail chain is promoting the export of Vietnam’s produce through its network of supermarkets in 14 countries.

As for textiles and garments, Lionel Adenot, CEO of Decathlon Vietnam, which has been in Vietnam since 2015, said Vietnam is the second largest global production base for the sports retailer, VNN reported.

Photo: VNN

Decathlon wants to seek more reliable suppliers in Vietnam, saying the retail chain is willing to cooperate with enterprises that can satisfy three requirements: digitizing production and business; improving efficiency in using local raw materials, making products and using energy; minimizing the impact on the environment, using renewables.

According to Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai, Vietnam had a prosperous year in 2023 with record-high import-export turnover of US$730.3 billion.

Vietnam’s import-export turnover in the first eight months of the year reached US$435 billion, including $227.7 billion worth of export turnover. This helped Vietnam gain an export surplus of US$20 billion.

Hai stressed that Vietnam is changing vigorously to become a global production center that provides the world with diverse products of competitive prices and high quality.

Many retail groups and retail channels that pursue the strategy on diversifying products to ensure sustainable supplies have chosen Vietnam as a strategic point in their global supply chains.

The forum on export this year gathered many big retail groups in the world, including Aeon, Uniqlo, Amazon, Carrefour and Decathlon, and international buyers from 25 markets.

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