Vietnam Aims to Strengthen Partnership With European Commission

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and EC Vice President Valdis Dombrovskis, during their working session on the sidelines of the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam Seeks to Strengthen Cooperation with European Commission

On the sidelines of the recent OECD Ministerial Council Meeting 2023 in Paris, France, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son met with Valdis Dombrovskis, vice president of the European Commission (EC).

Son suggested that the European Commission (EC) should soon lift the “yellow card” warning for Vietnamese seafood exports and urged the parliaments of the member states of the European Union (EU) to promptly ratify the EU – Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

He also suggested that the two sides should collaborate closely to fulfill their commitments under the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) agreement to assist Vietnam in energy transition.

The EC Vice President acknowledged Vietnam’s request regarding the ratification of the EVFTA and affirmed that Vietnam is an important partner for the EU in the Asia-Pacific region. He asked the two sides to increase their cooperation in trade-investment and climate change response.

The two sides expressed satisfaction at the positive developments in the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and the European Union (EU) in recent times, especially in economy-trade-investment, according to Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

They agreed to further strengthen the exchange of high-level delegations, as well as extend cooperation to labour and health care, in addition to existing fields of cooperation.

Regarding the East Sea issues, the two sides affirmed their support for settling disputes through peaceful negotiations based on international law.

Vietnam and Singapore Aim to Broaden Energy Development Collaboration

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Dang Hoang An has expressed that Vietnam is eager to work with and gain knowledge from Singapore in developing a green and sustainable energy industry, with the goal of ensuring energy security and safety.

The Vietnamese official recently stated during a working session with Keith Tan, Deputy Minister designate of the Singaporean Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The two officials exchanged information on their respective countries’ policy priorities for energy development and recognized the results of the first meeting of the Joint Working Group to carry out the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Energy Cooperation between the two ministries in January.

Parrticipants at the working session (Photo: congthuong.vn)

The Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has applauded Singapore’s proposal to promote energy cooperation between the two countries and effectively implement the MoU on energy cooperation. The MoIT has stated that it will develop a plan to implement Power Development Plan VIII in the near future, according to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

Singaporean investors must study, comply with, and abide by all applicable legal regulations and meet the requirements of Vietnam when carrying out investment projects in Vietnam, according to the statement.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Asia–Africa Market Department, Singapore is the fifth largest trade partner of Vietnam in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the 11th largest in the world. It is also the second largest foreign investor in Vietnam, with the notable success of the 13 Vietnam – Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) across the country.

Vietnam Aiming to Have 33 Airports by 2050

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha has just signed a decision approving a master plan on the development of the national airport system for the 2021 – 2030 period, with a vision of 2050.

According to the master plan, by 2050 Vietnam will form two international aviation transport hubs in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which will be on par with regional levels. The airports in regional economic centers will be expanded and upgraded in order to meet the requirements of socio-economic development.

By the time, the national airport system will have 33 airports, including 14 international airports. These airports are: Van Don, Hai Phong, Noi Bai, Tho Xuan, Vinh, Phu Bai, Da Nang, Chu Lai, Cam Ranh, Lien Khuong, Long Thanh, Tan Son Nhat, Can Tho and Phu Quoc.

The remaining 19 airports for domestic flights will be:

• Lai Chau
• Dien Bien
• Sa Pa
• Cao Bang
• Na San
• Cat Bi
• Dong Hoi
• Quang Tri
• Phu Cat
• Tuy Hoa
• Pleiku
• Buon Ma Thuot
• Phan Thiet
• Rach Gia
• Ca Mau
• Con Dao
• Bien Hoa
• Thanh Son
• Second airport south of Hanoi capital

A representative of Vietnam Airlines, the national flag carrier, has stated that building additional airports in Vietnam is a necessity, as the country is actively promoting its economic development. This is due to the fact that import-export activities, foreign direct investment, and tourism services constitute a large portion of the economy.

Vietnam currently has a relatively low number of airports, with only 22, compared to Malaysia and Thailand, which have 38 each, and the Philippines, which has 70, according to a report from Vietnam’s Voice of Vietnam (VOV).

Tan Son Nhat International Airport, the largest of its kind in Vietnam, is always overloaded during peak season.

Currently, some of Vietnam’s largest airports, such as Tan Son Nhat in the south and Noi Bai in the north, are facing an overload, which is impeding the growth of the aviation industry. In order to meet its development requirements, it is essential to develop the aviation market to its full potential.

Experts and airlines have highlighted the importance of forecasting the growth rate of the aviation market in order to avoid overcrowding in the future and ensure that any new airports built can meet the demand.

Dr. Tran Quang Thang, director of the Institute of Economic Management of Ho Chi Minh City, has emphasized the importance of basing planning decisions on the actual needs and development conditions of localities.

A new airport has the potential to spark development in its local area and the wider region, according to experts. However, they stress that the airport’s infrastructure must be in line with the strategic planning of the region and the nation in order to achieve maximum benefit.

Vietnam’s Show of Solidarity with Cuba Reaffirmed by Party Official

Truong Thi Mai, a Politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Secretariat, has reaffirmed the Vietnamese Party and State’s consistent policy of supporting solidarity with the just revolutionary cause and heroic struggle of the Communist Party and people of Cuba.

At a reception in Hanoi on June 9 for the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and the First Secretary of the Havana Party Committee, Luis Antonio Torres Iríbar, Mai expressed her willingness to share experience and provide practical support for the Cuban people to the best of her ability.

She suggested that the Party Committees of Hanoi and Havana work closely together and direct the relevant agencies to turn plans into specific actions for the successful implementation of the recently-signed cooperation agreement for the 2023-2028 period, particularly in areas of their expertise such as agriculture, urban construction and planning, health care, tourism, industrial park management, foreign investment attraction and digital transformation.

Torres Iríbar informed the host about the socio-economic development and key agenda of the Havana Party Committee in order to carry out the Resolutions of the eighth PCC National Congress.

He expressed his firm belief that under the leadership of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and Vietnamese people will continue achieving greater successes, leading the nation towards stronger and sustainable development, as reported by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

Politburo member Truong Thi Mai (R) and First Secretary of the Havana Party Committee Luis Antonio Torres Iríbar (Photo: VNA)

The Cuban official thanked leaders of the Vietnamese Party and State for always creating favourable conditions for the development of relationship between the two capital cities, and providing support for the Cuban Party, State and people in general and Havana’s people in particular in improving social welfare, defending the revolutionary achievements, and steadfastly pursuing the goal of building socialism in Cuba.

The guest also informed Mai about the agreements between the two municipal Party Committees concerning the important directions for improving the efficacy of collaboration between the two cities. Both sides agreed to exchange experiences and offer practical assistance to each other, and were confident that their five-year cooperation agreement from 2023 to 2028 would bring about significant and positive outcomes.

HCM City Launches Cultural Space Project

HCM City has achieved good results in cultural growth one year after launching the project “Hồ Chí Minh Cultural Space”.

The municipal People’s Committee has approved a strategy for the city’s cultural industry between 2020 and 2025. This project is part of that strategy.

The focus is on constructing public spaces such as pedestrian streets and amusement parks. Additionally, cultural activities such as photography, fine arts, traditional theatre, and music are also emphasized.

Under the project, more than 2,900 Cultural Space activities have been launched at cultural centres, religious sites, and residential areas around the city.

Local organisations and associations have offered 2,000 contests and festivals featuring traditional theatre, music, fine arts and literature.

Art clubs around the city have organised a variety of singing and sports contests for children and teenagers, according to VNS.

The Ho Chi Minh Cultural Space project focuses on building public spaces such as pedestrian streets and amusement parks. Cultural activities in photography, fine arts, traditional theatre and music are also featured. Photo courtesy of the HCM City Theatres Association.

Exhibitions and showcases featuring photos and books about the late President Ho Chi Minh were launched.

The Ho Chi Minh Museum has also offered several showcases presenting numerous literary and artistic works, newspapers and documentaries to the public, in order to introduce President Ho’s legacy.

Last year, the city organized a special program of cultural and artistic activities to commemorate the 46th anniversary of the day when Sai Gon-Gia Dinh was officially named after President Ho Chi Minh.

It attracted several thousand artists from leading art troupes, theatres and clubs, who used their art to introduce the city’s history, culture, and lifestyle.

The city has allocated VND45 billion (US$1.93 million) from its budget to restore the Ho Chi Minh Museum of History, one of the largest museums in the city.

The museum is still open, despite the restoration work which began in April being underway.

According to Nguyen The Thuan, director of the city’s Department of Culture and Sports, the Ho Chi Minh Cultural Space programme is essential to the city’s cultural growth.

“We are committed to furthering the Ho Chi Minh Cultural Space project,” he said. “Our new programmes this year will give those living in suburban areas, especially the youth, more opportunities to engage in cultural activities.”