Diplomatic activities focus on spurring ties with ASEAN member states

Sultan of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (L) and General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and State President Nguyen Phu Trong, March 27, 2019 - Photo: VNA

• Diplomatic highlights in February

Lifting up Viet Nam-Brunei bilateral ties to comprehensive partnership

At the invitation of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and State President Nguyen Phu Trong, Sultan of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah paid a State Visit to Viet Nam from March 26-28.   

The visit was another important milestone that underscored the traditional friendship and close cooperation between the two countries. Both countries looked forward to the strengthening of their friendship with expectations for a higher development level in bilateral relations.

On this occasion, the bilateral ties were elevated to a Comprehensive Partnership which is expected to create a new momentum to bolster the two countries’ multi-faceted cooperation, with focus on the major areas of political relations, defense and security, trade and investment, energy, education and social cooperation, and people-to-people exchange, as well as other fields of mutual interest, and cooperation within multilateral frameworks.

The leaders agreed to enhance collaboration to facilitate and promote the current balanced and sustainable two-way trade turnover, towards the target of US$500 million by the year 2025.

Both countries agreed to consider expanding visa exemption period for Viet Nam’s ordinary passports from 14 to 30 days, and for diplomatic and official passports from 14 to 90 days. 

The leaders reiterated their commitment and continued support as well as close cooperation when Viet Nam and Brunei Darussalam serve as ASEAN Chair in 2020 and 2021 respectively. 

Setting important landmark in VN-Singapore strategic partnership

Singapore’s Deputy PM and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean paid an official visit to Viet Nam from March 21-26 at the invitation of Vietnamese counterpart Truong Hoa Binh. 

This was the second visit of Mr. Teo Chee Hean as a Deputy PM of Singapore to Viet Nam since April 2009. 

The visit reiterated the respect of the Singaporean Government for the strategic partnership with Viet Nam and set an important hallmark in the bilateral ties in 2019. 

Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh held talks with the Singaporean counterpart to review past cooperation and discussed in depth bilateral collaboration in trade, investment, environmental protection, justice, cyber security, anti-corruption, fire prevention, and anti-drug crime.

The bilateral trade hit US$ 7.66 billion in 2018, making Singapore the 4th biggest trade partner of Viet Nam in ASEAN. The country was also the 3rd largest foreign investor in Viet Nam with a total capital of US$ 48 billion. The Viet Nam – Singapore industrial parks in Viet Nam have showed effective operations, creating jobs for locals and bringing mutual benefits to both countries.

VN, Laos, Cambodia boost judicial cooperation

Chairwoman of the Lao National Assembly Pany Yathotou paid a working visit to Viet Nam to review the implementation of the two legislatures’ memorandum of understanding on cooperation over the past two years.

The visit is the follow-up of the meeting between the two Political Bureaus, and the 41st session of the Viet Nam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee co-chaired by the two Prime Ministers at the beginning of 2019.

On March 22, Cambodia’s NA Second Vice President paid an official visit to Viet Nam to enhance the friendly neighborliness and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries and their legislatures.

The two legislatures agreed to intensify coordination in supervising the implementation of agreements reached by the two governments, and promoting the planting of border markers in order to build a common border of peace, friendship, cooperation and development, for the common interests of the two nations, and for peace, stability and cooperation in the region. 

Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) leader Kim Jong-un (L) and Vietnamese PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Ha Noi, March 1, 2019 - Photo: VNA

New milestone in VN-DPRK historic ties

Earlier, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) leader Kim Jong-un paid an official friendship visit to Viet Nam at the invitation of Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong.

This is the first official friendship visit to Viet Nam made by Kim, Chairman of the Workers’ Party and the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK, since he became the country’s leader in 2011. He is also the first DPRK leader who has visited Viet Nam after 55 years. Earlier, the founder of the DPRK Kim Il-sung visited Viet Nam in 1958 and 1964.

At the talks and meetings, both sides agreed to facilitate high-level visits and contacts; as well as to expand the exchange of all-level delegations via the Party, State and mass organization channels to increase mutual understanding in fields of common demand. 

They will effectively maintain regular dialogue and cooperation mechanisms, including the deputy ministerial-level political consultation and the Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic, Scientific-Technological Cooperation; explore the possibility of mutually-beneficial collaboration in fields suitable to each side; expand cultural, arts, sports, and people-to-people exchanges; and hold activities to celebrate the 70th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2020./.

By Huong Giang