Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy during their meeting.

Vietnam promotes cooperation with UK, Algeria

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son of Vietnam held meetings with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf on the sidelines of the UN Summit of the Future as part of the High-Level Week of the 79th United Nations General Assembly in New York.

At a meeting with the UK diplomat, Son congratulated Lammy on his appointment as the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, and thanked the UK for providing GBP1 million to help the Vietnamese people recover from the impact of typhoon Yagi.

He appreciated the UK recognizing Vietnam’s market economy status, and noted that in June 2024 Vietnam ratified the UK’s accession protocol to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Son praised the UK’s coordinating role within the framework of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) and urged the UK to continue supporting Vietnam in implementing the resource mobilization plan announced at the UN Climate Change Conference COP28.

Vietnam, as coordinator for ASEAN-UK relations, will work alongside the UK to further deepen the ASEAN-UK partnership, he told Lammy.

Lammy for his part emphasized the UK’s commitment to strengthening its Strategic Partnership with Vietnam and providing continued support for the Southeast Asian country to achieve sustainable economic growth. He proposed that both sides enhance cooperation in the fields of defense and security, as well as in migration and border management issues.

The two sides agreed to continue effectively implementing the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) and to maximize opportunities from the CPTPP to promote bilateral economic, trade, and investment relations, cited VOV.

They welcomed the positive developments in the ASEAN-UK partnership in recent times and affirmed their support for maintaining peace, stability, and freedom of maritime and aviation security, as well as resolving issues in the East Sea through peaceful means based on international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

At another meeting with Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf, the Vietnamese diplomat congratulated Algeria on successfully holding its presidential election recently, and expressed his belief that under President Abdelmadjid Tebboune’s leadership, Algeria will continue to record significant socio-economic development gains.

He reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to its traditional friendship with Algeria, and suggested that both sides enhance delegation exchanges and continue to closely coordinate at multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement. He also urged Algeria to facilitate investment and business opportunities for Vietnamese enterprises.

Meanwhile, Attaf agreed on the need to strengthen their political relations and expand cooperation in the fields of economy, investment, trade, investment, energy, oil and gas, and people-to-people exchanges. He expressed a desire to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time.

Both sides agreed to continue close coordination to implement the outcomes of the 12th session of the Vietnam-Algeria Intergovernmental Committee and to organize the fourth political consultation soon.

Vietnam’s top leader addresses General Debate of UNGA's 79th session

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam delivered a speech with a powerful and comprehensive message about strengthening multilateralism, acting together to build a peaceful, stable, prosperous and sustainable future for all citizens at the General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA)’s 79th session in New York on September 24 (local time).

The event, themed “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and humanity for today and future generations”, drew 155 heads of state and government from UN member countries, along with leaders from global and regional organizations, according to VNA.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)

In his speech, Lam said the world is undergoing transformative changes of historic significance. Although peace, cooperation and development remain the dominant trends, they are facing new and more serious challenges. Strategic competition among major powers is becoming broader, fiercer and more confrontational. Political disputes, conflicts and the security environment intensify. Survival and development space narrows. Risks of conflict, new hot spots, arm race, tension, confrontation and direct clashes increase. Non-traditional security challenges are hindering efforts for human development.

“These unprecedented challenges to peace, cooperation, sustainable development and human dignity affect this generation and the next. They compel us to unite, act and work together, upholding the role of international institutions, foremost among them the United Nations, regional organizations, including ASEAN, to achieve the ultimate goal of ending war, abolishing all forms of oppression, exploitation, building peace and creating a better world to bring happiness to all humankind”, he said.

Sharing Vietnam’s vision for a more peaceful, stable, cooperative, prosperous and sustainable future for everyone, he said as peace and stability are the foundation of a prosperous future; all states, particularly the major powers, must promote the observance of international law and the UN Charter, act responsibly, fulfill their commitments, contribute to the common work of the international community; tirelessly strengthen solidarity, sincerity and trust; uphold dialogue, and eliminate confrontation.

According to him, very resource must be effectively unleashed, marshaled, and utilized for development, Priority must be given to resources where they are most needed for implementing the SDGs, with particular attention to assisting developing and less-developed countries, especially through preferential loans, transfer of advanced technologies, investment and trade facilitation, and debt relief for poor countries.

He called for urgently creating smart global governance frameworks with long-term vision for science and technology, particularly emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI). “This will ensure we make progress and enjoy the benefits of these technologies, while actively preventing and repelling threats to peace, sustainable development and humanity”.

In his view, it is necessary to adopt innovative thinking to build a transformative future across all sectors, focusing on digital transformation, green transition, and global governance transformation. Reforming multilateral mechanisms, especially the UN system and international financial and monetary institutions, must ensure better representation, equity and transparency.

"People should be the center, goal and driver of all policies and actions at all levels. Investment should focus on the holistic development of the youth, enriching their knowledge and culture, grounded in shared values and a sense of responsibility and contribution," he noted.

Vietnam continues to deploy peacekeeping field forces to Abyei and South Sudan

Vietnam has seen off 247 military officers who will join peacekeeping field forces in Abyei and South Sudan.

A send-off ceremony for the detachment of Engineering Unit Rotation 3 and Level 2 Field Hospital Rotation 6 to United Nations peacekeeping missions in South Sudan and the Abyei region was held in Ha Noi on September 24.

Engineering Unit Rotation 3, comprising 184 military personnel, departed for the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) while 63 personnel from Level 2 Field Hospital Rotation 6 left for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

Director of the Vietnam Department for Peacekeeping Operations Pham Manh Thang said, personnel from both units have been fully equipped with medical expertise, English and in-depth contents on peacekeeping such as international trauma first aid, air medical transport, sexual violence prevention, and explosive ordnance identification, meeting the UN's criteria and requirements.

Addressing the event, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan highly hailed Vietnam's achievements in participating in UN peacekeeping activities over the past 10 years.

It is a spotlight in multilateral foreign affairs of the Party, State, the People's Army, and the People's Police, she noted, adding that it has demonstrated Vietnam's responsibility to the international community, contributing to coping with traditional and non-traditional challenges in the region and the world, VGP reported.

Send-off ceremony for peacekeeping field forces to Abyei and South Sudan, Ha Noi, September 24, 2024. Photo: VNA

The Party and State are proud of and hail the results achieved by Vietnam's forces participating in UN peacekeeping operations, including Engineering Unit Rotation 3 and Level 2 Field Hospital Rotation 6, the Vice President said.

She expressed her belief that both units will continue inheriting the achievements of previous peacekeeping forces, and promote their bravery, intelligence, and capacity in carrying out the noble tasks assigned by the Party, State, army and people, and meeting the requirements of the UN.

Vo took the occasion to express sincere thanks to the UN and partner countries and international organizations, expecting that partners will continue to support Vietnam in the process of preparing its forces and deploying peacekeeping missions.

May 27th marked a decade since Vietnam first sent forces to participate in the UN peacekeeping operation, realizing the Vietnamese Party and State's policy of international integration and external policy on defense.

Over the past decade, Vietnam's participation in peacekeeping missions has elevated its status in the international arena.

As of May this year, Vietnam sent over 800 officers and soldiers, including 7 officers of the Vietnam Public Security Force, to engage in 4 peacekeeping missions in the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Abyei, and the UN headquarters.

Forum promotes Vietnam – France economic, trade exchange

A hybrid forum to foster economic and trade exchange between Vietnamese enterprises and those in France’s Aix - Marseille Provence metropolitan area was held in Marseille city on September 23.

At the event, which was organized by the Aix - Marseille Provence Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) in collaboration with Honorary Consul in Marseille Nguyen Cong Tot and the Vietnamese Trade Office in France, the Vietnamese business finance alliance expressed its hope to promote equal and win-win cooperation with French partners towards a long-term and sustainable partnership, adding the alliance is considering specific projects that Vietnamese firms could land investment in France in the coming time.

At the forum held in Marseille city on September 23. (Photo: VNA)

According to Tot, the forum was an opportunity for French businesses to seek their partners in Vietnam who operate in the areas of industry, trade, education and culture. It aimed at arranging a field trip to Vietnam for a delegation of enterprises from Aix-Marseilles Provence in June next year, helping them set up win-win partnerships with their Vietnamese peers.

Meanwhile, Head of the Vietnamese Trade Office Vu Anh Son told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s resident reporter that the forum offered a venue for Vietnamese and French businesses to discuss potential and challenges that they may face during their cooperation, VNA reported.

He held that Marseille and Aix - Marseille Provence as a whole boast strong economic potential with many enterprises engaging in international trade activities, adding it is necessary to build trust and develop sustainable ties with partners in the region as Vietnamese goods could access the French and other European markets through Marseille port.

Vice President of the Aix - Marseille Provence CCI Federic Ronal said approaching the Vietnamese market with a population of more than 100 million people will open up the door for French corporations to break into the large Asian market.

Vietnam and Malawi establish diplomatic relations

Representatives from Vietnam and Malawi have signed a joint communiqué on establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries at the headquarters of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations in New York, the United States.

The signing ceremony was held on September 23 and witnessed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son of Vietnam and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malawi Nancy Tempo.

The two foreign ministers held a meeting after the signing ceremony, expressing their pleasure at the signing of the joint communiqué. Son described the signing of the document as a historic milestone in the relationship between the two countries. He proposed that both sides implement activities for delegation exchanges and bilateral contacts across various channels to enhance mutual understanding, political trust, and expand cooperation opportunities.

Vietnam is ready to share its development experiences with Malawi, particularly in areas where Vietnam excels, such as economic development, innovation and integration, agriculture, fisheries, and education, Son told the Malawi diplomat.

He also expressed Vietnam’s willingness to collaborate with Malawi in seeking funding from third parties for tripartite agricultural development projects in Malawi, cited VOV.

Representatives from Vietnam and Malawi have signed a joint communiqué on establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries at the headquarters of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations in New York, the United States.

Echoing Son’s views, Tempo agreed that the bilateral relationship has officially entered a new chapter, while affirming that Malawi stays ready to promote cooperation in various fields with Vietnam.

Malawi is located in the southern part of Africa, bordered by Zambia to the west, Mozambique to the southeast, and Tanzania to the northeast. It has an area of 118,484 km² and a population of 23.38 million, with a GDP size of US$11.24 billion.

Vietnam has now developed diplomatic relations with 194 countries and territories worldwide, including all African countries.

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