Diplomatic spotlights in April

The second Summit of the Mekong River Commission (MRC), Ho Chi Minh City, April 5, 2014 - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The second Summit of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) opened on April 5 with the attendance of high-ranking officials from Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Viet Nam and two MRC dialogue partners China and Myanmar.

Under the theme “Water, Energy and Food Security in the context of climate change for the Mekong River Basin”, the event focused on current cooperation issues.

At the summit, PM Nguyen Tan Dung showed expectations that cooperation and dialogues based on Mekong cooperation spirit will help tackle challenges related to water, energy and food security as well as guarantee the benefits for people living along the Mekong River in economic development, social security and environmental protection.

The Summit passed the Ho Chi Minh City Declaration on Water, Energy and Food security in the context of climate change for the Mekong River Basin.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung holds talks with Malaysian PM Najib Razak, Ha Noi, April 4, 2015 - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

PM Nguyen Tan Dung and Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak agreed to upgrade the two nations’ relationship to a higher level in the future during the latter's official visit to Viet Nam from April 3-5.

They were also unanimous in raising two-way trade turnover to US$11 billion before 2015 and closely cooperating in completing the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement nagotiations.

The working visit of Bulgarian PM Plamen Oresharski to Viet Nam from April 6-9 made the headlines in April.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung and Bulgarian PM Plamen Oresharski consented to strengthen cooperation in fields of economic, trade, investment, science, education, training, culture and security.

In mid-April, Party General Secretaty Nguyen Phu Trong received Secretary General of the Moroccan Party of Progress and Socialism Party (PPS), Mohamed Nabil Benabdallah.

On this occasion, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung welcomed President Pro Tempore of the US Senate Patrick Leahy and German Parliament Vice President Edelgard Bulmahn.

Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam attends the Boao Forum for Asia 2014, Hainan Province, China, April 8-11, 2014 - Photo: VGP/Dinh Nam

Attending the Boao Form for Asia 2014 (BFA) from April 8-11 in Hainan Province, China, Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam made an important speech at the opening ceremony.

He stressed on enhancing connection between economies and regions though the ASEAN Community, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and other Free Trade Agreements.

Viet Nam is doing its utmost to cooperate with other nations and partners for a peaceful, stable and cooperative Asia, he confirmed.

Another remark in Viet Nam-China relationship is the April 13-17 visit of Secretary of the Guangdong Party Committee Hu Chunhua to Viet Nam.

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh and Mr. Hu Chunhua witnessed the cooperative, commercial and investment greements in terms of agriculture, electronics and telecommunication valuing more than US$200 million at the conference on economic and trade cooperation between Viet Nam and Guangdong Province.

Deputy PM Vu Van Ninh meets with representatives of investment funds in the UK, London, April 16, 2014 - Photo: VGP/Thanh Chung

Deputy PM Vu Van Ninh made official visits to Sweden and the UK from April 9-18.

In Sweden, the Deputy PM held working sessions with Acting Governor of the Central Bank of Sweden (Sveriges Riksbank) Kerstin Af Jochnick, Minister of Financial Markets Peter Norman and Minister for Trade and Nordic Cooperation of Sweden Ewa Bjorling.

He proposed Sweden actively boost up the Free Trade Agreement negotiation round between Viet Nam and the EU and recognize Viet Nam as a market economy.

In the UK, Ninh held taks with Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs William Hague.

He held out hope that the UK will continue its Official Development Asssitance (ODA) for Viet Nam in 2015-16, suggesting the UK support the Work Bank to provide loans through the Interntional Developemtn Association for Viet Nam.

Russian FM Sergei Lavrov and Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh signed a cooperation plan between the two foreign ministries to enhance the Viet Nam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership during the Russian guest's visit to Viet Nam.

From April 1-3, a Vietnamese delegation led by Defence Minister, Gen. Phung Quang Thanh was in Honolulu, Hawaii state, to attend the US – ASEAN defence forum, the first of its kind ever held in the US.

Minister Thanh proposed the US share information with Viet Nam as well as other nations in ASEAN.

By Thuy Dung