Review on external affairs from Feb. 6-12: PM’s successful visits to Singapore, Brunei; Citizen protection after earthquakes in Turkey, Syria

 

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his Spouse and high-ranking Vietnamese delegation
successfully wrapped up their official visit to Singapore and Brunei. (Photo: WVR/Nguyen Hong)

 

Leaders’ activities
On February 6, Vietnam's Acting President Vo Thi Anh Xuan sent messages of sympathy to President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President of Syria Bashar al-Assad over casualties caused by a strong earthquake in the two countries.

On February 8, Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue sent letters expressing his deepest sympathy to Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Mustafa Sentop, Speaker of the People's Council of Syria Hammouda Youssef Sabbagh, legislatures and people of the two countries over damage caused by the recent devastating earthquake there.

On February 6, Acting President Vo Thi Anh Xuan has hailed outgoing Brazilian Ambassador to Vietnam Fernando Apparício da Silva’s contributions to consolidating the practical and effective development of Vietnam-Brazil comprehensive partnership during his tenure.

On February 11, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his Spouse and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation returned to Hanoi, successfully wrapping up their official visit to Singapore and Brunei Darussalam at the invitation of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Haji Hassanal Bolkiah.

During three days, the Vietnamese Prime Minister engaged in over 30 activities, notably talks and meetings with the two countries’ leaders, leading corporate executives and representatives of the Vietnamese communities living and working in Singapore and Brunei.
 

Vietnam and Brunei signed an Action Programme on the implementation of Vietnam-Brunei
comprehensive partnership for the period of 2023-2027. (Photo: WVR/Duong Giang)
 

The visit also took place at a time when Vietnam and Singapore are celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, the 10th anniversary of bilateral strategic partnership this year. Vietnam and Brunei also marked the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic ties last year.

A number of cooperation documents between Vietnam and the two countries were signed, including those in economy, trade, investment, maritime, youth, consular affairs, research and training activities. In Singapore, a highlight was the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Vietnam-Singapore Digital Economy – Green Economy, laying a foundation for bilateral cooperation in digital economy, circular economy, green economy, clean energy and climate change response. For the first time, Vietnam and Brunei signed an Action Programme on the implementation of Vietnam-Brunei comprehensive partnership for the period of 2023-2027.
 

 
The signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Vietnam-Singapore Digital
Economy - Green Economy. (Photo: WVR/Nguyen Hong)

On February 6, on the occasion of Ms. Manuela Roka Botey's appointment as Prime Minister of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent congratulatory message.

Politburo member and Permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Secretariat Vo Van Thuong sent a message of congratulations to Olivier Faure on his re-election as First Secretary of the French Socialist Party at its 80th Congress.

On February 8, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang, Chairman of the Steering Committee for bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and China, had a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo. Deputy Prime Minister Quang said he hopes to see the two nations increase bilateral exchanges at a high level, and well organise the 15th meeting of the Steering Committee for bilateral cooperation. They should also beef up exchanges between their Parties, ministries, sectors, organisations, and localities, the official added.
 

 

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang receives Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo.
(Photo: VGP)

On February 7, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha received Ms. Ramba Khalidi, United Nations Development Organization (UNDP) Resident Representative in Vietnam, and Ms. Aler Grubbs, Director of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in Vietnam.

Vietnam wishes UNDP will continue to give advice to and support Vietnam in terms of health care, bidding and procurement of medicines and medical equipment, and marine spatial planning, Deputy Prime Minister Ha said. He suggested UNDP continue its support for Vietnam in governance, technology, and how to receive energy transformation projects in harmony with the socio-economic transition process.

At the meeting with USAID Director, the Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the important significance of promoting cooperation between Vietnam and the US in the fields of agriculture, education, enhancing linkage between schools and businesses as well as between enterprises and financial institutions, and promoting training, cultural and art exchange.

Activities of the Foreign Minister

On February 11, in an interview on the outcomes of the official visit to Singapore and Brunei by the Prime Minister from February 8-11, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son stressed that official visits to Singapore and Brunei by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Spouse and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation have been successful, contributing to lifting Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership and Vietnam-Brunei comprehensive partnership to a greater height.

Bilateral activities

In an interview, Singapore's Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan highly appreciated the significance of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to Singapore and the prospect of bilateral relations.

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Mai Phuoc Dung, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s coming official visit to Singapore is the first among many events to be held in both countries to mark the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties and 10 years of the strategic partnership.

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Brunei Tran Van Khoa, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visit to Brunei is of special significance in the context that the two countries' relations are on a good track of development after the 30 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

On February 7, in an interview ahead of the Prime Minister’s trip to Singapore and Brunei from February 8-11, Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet stressed that the relations between Vietnam and the two countries are based on a lot of similarities in politics, economy, culture, and people-to-people exchange. The visits carry the message of joining hands for a cohesive ASEAN and a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Southeast Asia.

Sharing the outcomes of the official visit of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to Brunei, Ambassador of Brunei to Vietnam Malai Halimah Malai Yussof emphasized that the visit would provide further momentum to our bilateral ties after the two sides celebrated the 30th Anniversary of the establishment of Diplomatic Relations in 2022.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Bangladesh (February 11, 1973 - 2023), Vietnamese Ambassador to Bangladesh Pham Viet Chien shared his thoughts on the relationship between the two countries as well as the potential for bilateral cooperation in the near future.

On February 9, speaking at the 44th Anniversary of Iran's National Day, coinciding with the 50th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Iran, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang stressed that the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Iran have scored positive developments in recent years. After the Covid-19 pandemic was brought under control, the two sides promptly resumed bilateral cooperation mechanisms and delegation exchange at all levels. “Besides political and diplomatic interactions, economic and trade cooperation between Vietnam and Iran has also been bolstered and achieved positive results”, she said.
 

Vast potential for cooperation between Vietnam and Iran: Deputy Foreign Minister
Le Thi Thu Hang at the 44th Anniversary of Iran's National Day. (Photo: WVR/Kim Chung)

From February 8-11, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu visited Saudi Arabia and co-chaired the first political consultation with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia Waleed bin Abdulkarim Al Khuraiji.

On February 7, the Vietnamese Embassy in Qatar held a press conference on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Qatar (February 8, 1993 - 2023). Vietnamese Ambassador to Qatar Tran Duc Hung reviewed the development of Vietnam-Qatar relations since the establishment of diplomatic ties.

Multilateral activities

On February 6, attending the 77th UN General Assembly (UNGA 77)’s plenary on Secretary-General António Guterres’s priorities in 2023, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang reaffirmed Vietnam’s backing for the UN Secretary-General’s role and efforts, and its commitment to maintaining close collaboration with other UN member states. The UNGA 77 Vice President also called on the international community to join efforts to implement the sustainable development goals (SDGs), the 2030 Agenda and other global commitments and priorities, through respecting the UN Charter and international law.

On February 8, addressing the first regular session of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Executive Board, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), has affirmed children are always put at the centre of all development policies and strategies of Vietnam.

On February 10, in Adelaide, Australia, the 8th Ministerial Conference of the Bali Process on prevention and control of illegal migration, human trafficking and related transnational crime (Bali Process) was held. The Vietnamese delegation was led by Mr. Nguyen Minh Vu, Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

On February 10, in New York, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the UN, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, met Cuban Ambassador Pedro Luis Predoso Cuesta, Head of the Permanent Mission of Cuba to the UN, to present Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son’s gift on the occasion of Cuba starting its Presidency of the Group of 77 and China. The Ambassador expressed his belief that Cuba will successfully assume this role and continue protecting the interests of developing countries, and that the two countries' missions will continue maintaining close and effective coordination at the UN forums.

Vietnam has been elected Vice Chair of the 24-member UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee of the 2005 Convention for the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, representing the Asia-Pacific region, as part of the committee’s 16th session from February 7-10.

On February 10, Ambassador Le Thi Hong Van, Head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam to UNESCO, emphasized that taking on this post for the second time to demonstrate Vietnam's increasing position and prestige in the international arena; and the international community’s support for and trust in Vietnam’s contribution and management capacity at global multilateral institutions.

Citizen protection

On February 6, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck southeastern Turkey bordering Syria, killing thousands of people in Turkey and Syria.
On February 6, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs directed the Vietnamese Embassies in Turkey as well as in Iran (concurrently in Syria) to contact local authorities and the Vietnamese expatriate community to update information and be ready to take citizen protection measures in case there are Vietnamese among victims of the disaster that occurred in the morning of the same day.

Immediately after the quake, on the guidance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnamese Embassy in Turkey has developed a plan to protect citizens. Ambassador Do Son Hai affirmed that the most important task is to protect Vietnamese citizens living and working in Turkey. So far, there was no information on Vietnamese citizens injured or killed after the quakes.

On February 11, the Vietnamese Embassy in Turkey updated some of the latest information on the situation of rescue and Vietnamese work in Turkey and Syria after the recent earthquake.
 

 
Vietnamese rescuers join hands with int'l forces to save victims of earthquake in Turkey.
(Photo provided by a member of the mission).
 

On February 12, the Rescue Team of the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam cooperated with the Pakistani Rescue Team to successfully rescue a 14-year-old boy from a building in Adiyaman, Turkey.

Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

On February 9, at the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Spokesperson Doan Khac Viet informed the missing of two Vietnamese citizens after the sinking of a fishing boat off the coast of Sinan district, Jeonnam province, Republic of Korea; citizen protection work after earthquakes in Turkey and Syria; expressed Vietnam's views on Chinese air balloon spotted in the US airspace, the Seoul Distric Court's February 7 ruling requesting the RoK Government to pay compensation for Vietnamese citizen Nguyen Thi Thanh, the plaintiff in the lawsuit regarding the massacre of civilians during the Vietnam war in Phong Nhi village, Dien An ward, Dien Ban town, Quang Nam province in 1968.

Other activities

Celebrating the Lunar New Year of the Cat, last week, many Vietnamese representative agencies abroad organized the program "Homeland Spring" with the participation of a large number of Vietnamese community and international friends.

On February 8, at the Urania National Cinema (Budapest), Solve Art Film Studio, Ho Chi Minh City Cinema Association, the National Film Institute and Vertigo Media organized the opening ceremony of the film Apple Blossom, jointly produced by Hungary and Vietnam.
 

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