Diplomatic highlights in October

Narrowing development gaps among Mekong countries 

From October 8-10, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc engaged in 30 bilateral and multilateral activities during his overseas tour to attend the 10th Mekong-Japan Summit. 

PM Phuc’s presence at the 10th Mekong-Japan Summit and his Japan visit showed that Viet Nam is a reliable partner and is willing to work with Japan and other Mekong countries to build long-term cooperation plans between Greater Mekong Subregion countries and lifting the Viet Nam-Japan strategic partnership to a new height.

Speaking at the Mekong-Japan summit, the Vietnamese leader highlighted priorities for future cooperation, including stepping up transport, soft infrastructure and human connectivity through education and vocational training. He suggested building a Mekong-Japan innovation network, an idea well-received by participating countries.

Concluding the summit, he and other leaders decided to upgrade the Mekong-Japan cooperation to a strategic partnership level and approved the Tokyo Strategy 2018. 

Striving for sustainable development goals  

PM Phuc attended the ASEAN Leaders’ Gathering on the occasion of the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB) and his working visit to Indonesia from October 11-12.  

In the face of unpredictable global economic developments, PM Phuc proposed the IMF and the WB cooperate with and give advice to ASEAN countries in building a regional macroeconomic risk warning mechanism so as to improve self-reliance capacity and adaptation of the ASEAN economy.

During his working visit to Indonesia, PM Phuc held talks with President Joko Widodo, during which they agreed to create a new breakthrough and make economic cooperation become a main pillar of the Viet Nam-Indonesia Strategic Partnership to soon raise two-way trade to US$ 10 billion.

The PM’s trip affirmed that Viet Nam is an active and responsible member of ASEAN and demonstrates the importance that Viet Nam attaches to the world’s largest multilateral institutions as well as the strategic partnership with Indonesia, thereby helping to promote Viet Nam’s position in the region and the world.

It is also an illustration of Viet Nam’s high regard for the archipelago nation’s role and standing in the region and the world, as well as the wish to coordinate closely with Indonesia and other countries in building a Southeast Asian region of peace, stability, unity, prosperous development and sustainable development.

Broadening multilateral ties in response to global challenges

In a week-long overseas tour (from October 14-21), PM Phuc conducted nearly 70 multilateral and bilateral activities within the framework of the ASEM 12 and P4G Summit, held a working session with the European Commission and visited Austria, Belgium and Denmark.  

The PM’s working trip improved Viet Nam’s bilateral ties with European partners, expanded multilateral diplomacy and shaped multilateral cooperation institutions while contributing to addressing global challenges.

At the 12th ASEM in Belgium, the PM delivered a speech at a plenary session themed “Reinforcing the Multilateral System: Advancing the ASEM Partnership on Global Issues”. 

At the ASEM Leaders’ retreat discussing regional and global issues, the Government leader stressed that Viet Nam and ASEAN member states are working closely with the international community, including ASEM member states, to maintain peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight, and free trade in the East Sea which connects Asian, European and global trade. 

Attending the first P4G Summit in Denmark, the PM conveyed a strong message of the importance of strengthening global cooperation in achieving global green growth goals till 2030. 

The leader also held talks with his Austrian, Belgian and Danish counterparts and the EU President to make new strides in bilateral ties. 

Eventful parliamentary activities

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan attended the third Meeting of Speakers of Eurasian Countries' Parliaments (MSEAP 3) and paid an official visit to Turkey from October 7-12.

Ms. Ngan delivered a speech at the first plenary session of MSEAP 3. On the sidelines of the meeting, the top Vietnamese legislator met with Chairman of the State Duma of Russia Vyacheslav Volodin, Speaker of the RoK’s National Assembly Moon Hee-sang, Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Vladimir Andreichenko, and Chairman of the Mazhilis (lower house) of the parliament of Kazakhstan Nurlan Z. Nigmatulin.

After her attendance at MSEAP 3, NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and a high-ranking delegation of Viet Nam paid an official visit to Turkey. This was the first official visit by a Vietnamese NA chairperson and the highest-level visit by a Vietnamese Party and State leader to Turkey.

The top legislator’s official visit to Turkey was of important significance, helping to consolidate and further strengthen the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Turkey as the two nations are celebrating the 40th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2018.

In October, NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu made the statement at the 139th Assembly of the IPU on October 16 in Geneva, Switzerland, which brought together representatives from 178 member parliaments of the IPU under the theme “Parliamentary leadership in promoting peace and development in the age of innovation and technological change”. 

* Deputy PM Truong Hoa Binh on October 20 had meetings with Pope Francis and Secretary of State of the Vatican City Cardinal Pietro Parolin on October 20 during his working trip to the city state.

*Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh paid an official visit to the UK and North Ireland on October 9-10, and attended the 17th 17th Summit of the International Organization of Francophonie (OIF) in Yerevan Capital, Armenia on October 12./.

By Kim Loan