State President Vo Van Thuong delivers his inauguration speech in front of the National Assembly on March 2, 2023. (Photo: VNA)

Leaders’ activities

On March 2, National Assembly elected Vo Van Thuong as the new President of Vietnam at its fourth extraordinary session. With 487 out of 488 votes, or 98.38% of the NA's deputies, the NA passed a resolution on the election of Vo Van Thuong. Under the resolution, Vo Van Thuong, who is a Politburo member, permanent member of the 13th Party Central Committee’s Secretariat, and a deputy of the 15th National Assembly, will serve as President of Vietnam in the 2021-2026 tenure.

On this occasion, the leaders of countries, such as Laos, China, Cambodia, Cuba, Russia, India, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), Japan, Italy, Mongolia, the UAE, ect, have sent congratulations to Vo Van Thuong on his election as President of Vietnam.

On March 4, President Vo Van Thuong received Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs Samdech Krolahom Sar Kheng. Congratulating his host on being elected President of Vietnam, the Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister highly valued the sound relations between the two countries’ ruling parties, Governments, and peoples. President Vo Van Thuong asked the Deputy Prime Minister to convey his invitation to King Norodom Sihamoni to pay a visit to Vietnam in the near future.

On the same day, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received the Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Samdech Krolahom Sar Kheng. PM Chinh affirmed that the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia continue to be consolidated and intensified. Notably, cooperation in security-defence always receives special attention by the two countries’ leaders, and is considered an important pillar in the bilateral ties. The two sides also delighted at the growing economic cooperation, with two-way trade hitting 10.6 billion USD last year, up 11% year-on-year.

On March 1, receiving French Minister for Foreign Trade, Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad Olivier Becht, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked France to facilitate access to French market by Vietnamese goods, especially agricultural and fishery ones. The Prime Minister expressed a wish that the two countries continue to work closely together to optimize opportunities created by the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement to boost bilateral trade. He also urged France to early ratify the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) so as to facilitate equal and mutually benefiting investment relations between Vietnam and France.

Prime Minister receives French Minister, asking facilitation for Vietnamese goods’ access. (Photo: VNA)

On February 28, receiving Lao National Assembly Vice Chairman Khambay Damlath, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said that Vietnamese National Assembly is willing to share and exchange experience with the Lao NA and to learn from the law-making body’s effective models to boost its operation.

On February 28, during his eception for Mr. Park Hark Kyu, President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said that Vietnam has always paid attention to protecting legitimate interests of foreign investors, including Samsung. NA Chairman Hue expressed his hope that Samsung will continue to put long-term investment in the country, affirming that the Government of Vietnam always focuses on improving the business and investment environment and enhancing competitiveness, and creates the most favourable conditions for investors to do business in Vietnam.

On February 27, National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue attended the NA Standing Committee’s Conference to implement foreign affairs of the legislature in 2023. Also attending the conference were Politburo member, Standing Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Vu Hai Ha; Head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for External Affairs Le Hoai Trung; Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son.

On February 27, Politburo member, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and Chairwoman of its Organisation Commission Truong Thi Mai received Takebe Tsutomu, Special Advisor to the Japan - Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance, who was on a visit to Vietnam to attend the eighth Vietnam-Japan Festival. As the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, Poliburo member Mai, who is also Chairwoman of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group, affirmed that Japan is a leading economic partner of Vietnam.

On February 27, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha received Special Advisor of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Alliance Takebe Tsutomu and Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio in Hanoi. Vietnam is willing to cooperate with Japan in realising global commitments and goals, thus turning the bilateral relations into a model in partnership between a developing country and a developed one, said Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha.

Receiving Mr. Takebe Tsutomu, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha discussed measures to promote Vietnam-Japan relations on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, stated that Vietnam is willing to cooperate with Japan in realising global commitments and goals, thus turning the bilateral relations into a model in partnership between a developing country and a developed one.

On February 27, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang attended the opening ceremony and delivered remarks at a high-level discussion of the 52nd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva, Switzerland.

On February 27-28, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang met leaders of international organisations, Foreign Ministers on the occasion of the 52nd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

On March 3, in Madrid, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang and First Deputy Prime Minister of Spain Nadia Calviño had talks, affirming the determination to develop the bilateral “strategic partnership towards the future” on par with potential. At the meeting, part of the Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister’s official visit to Spain, the two sides applauded the recent strides in their countries’ relations.

From March 3 to 4, at the invitation of the Government of Japan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha attended the Asia Zero Emissions Community (AZEC) Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo, Japan.

On March 4, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha presented several important initiatives of Vietnam during the Asia Zero Emission Community (AZEC) Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo, Japan. Hailing the Japanese Government's initiative to organise the meeting right after the 27th UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), the Deputy Prime Minister said that this is an important and suitable forum to promote intergovernmental cooperation in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, thus contributing to sustainable development in the region.

Deputy PM Tran Hong Ha and Speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives Hosoda Hiroyuki take a group photo in Tokyo on March 3, 2023. (Photo: VGP)

On March 3, in Tokyo, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha met with Speaker of the Japanese House of Representatives Hosoda Hiroyuki, Chairman of the Japan - Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance Nikai Toshihiro, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Nishimura Yasutoshi, and the parliamentarians in charge of environmental issues of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).

On March 1, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai received Franklin Graham, President and CEO of Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and President of international relief organisation Samaritan’ Purse in Hanoi. The Deputy Prime Minister stated that Vietnam pursues a consistent policy of respecting and ensuring people's freedom to belief and religion as well as the equality among religions, while promoting cultural and moral values and resources of religions for the country’s development. The majority of Vietnamese people (95% of the population) are followers of beliefs and religions. Religions with a large number of followers include Buddhism, Catholicism, Hoa Hao Buddhism, Protestantism, and Cao Dai.

On February 28, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha hosted the UK Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew in Hanoi. The Deputy Prime Minister hailed the UK’s support for Vietnam in the process of joining the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), and stressed that Vietnam’s participation in JETP could be seen as a model of cooperation between developing and developed countries.

Activities of Foreign Minister

On March 1, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son received State Secretary of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Erling Rimestad. Expressing his delight at growing cooperation between the two nations across many spheres in both bilateral and multilateral aspects, Foreign Minister Son said the potential for future engagements is ample. The Foreign Minister proposed that the Vietnamese and Norwegian Foreign Ministries work closely together, increase delegation exchanges, and make efforts to speed up the negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA includes Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland).

On February 27, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son received Mr. Takei Shunsuke, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, on the occasion of his visit to Vietnam from February 24-28. The Foreign Minister highly appreciated the close coordination between the two Foreign Ministries in promoting the Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership. The Foreign Minister also suggested the Japanese side create more conditions in the granting of visas to Vietnamese citizens, contributing to promoting tourism cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries; and continue to care for and support the Vietnamese community living, studying and working in Japan.

On February 27, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son received Mr. Takei Shunsuke, Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan in Hanoi. (Photo: WVR/Tuan Anh)

Bilateral activities

On March 1, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang and State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway Erling Rimestad co-chaired the ninth political consultation between the two Foreign Ministries, focusing on discussing bilateral cooperation as well as regional and international issues of shared concern. Deputy Foreign Minister Hang highlighted achievements in bilateral relations and suggested that the two sides continue to maintain the exchange of delegations at all levels and between the two ministries to strengthen mutual understanding and deepen bilateral political and diplomatic partnership.

On March 1, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang and State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway Erling Rimestad co-chaired the ninth political consultation between the two Foreign Ministries. (Photo: WVR/Anh Son)

On March 3, receiving French Ambassador in charge of Indo-Pacific Affairs Marc Abensour, Assistant Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang appreciated Ambassador Marc Abensour's visit to Vietnam, contributing to enriching activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the strategic partnership in 2023; affirmed that Vietnamese Government always attaches importance to the strategic partnership with France, an important member of the EU.

On March 2, at the French Parliament, Ambassador Dinh Toan Thang attended the launching session of the France-Vietnam Parliamentarians’ Friendship Group for the new tenure. This is the first official meeting of the Group to define the mission and set the direction of activities in 2023.

Multilateral activities

On March 2, at the first meeting in 2023 of the UN Security Council with representatives from 79 countries sending soldiers to the UNMISS, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Vietnam’s Permanent Representative to the UN, affirmed Vietnam's commitment to continue sending military and police personnel to participate in the UN peacekeeping activities in general and UNMISS in particular in the coming time.

On March 2, in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Contact Group Summit on COVID-19 response was chaired by Azerbaijani President I. Alyev. The Vietnamese delegation led by Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia and Azerbaijan Dang Minh Khoi attended and spoke at the Conference. To promote post-pandemic recovery, Vietnam suggested that NAM cooperation in the coming time should strengthen solidarity based on respecting the sovereignty and diversity of members, upholding the voice of members at international forums, promoting cooperation mechanisms within the NAM framework and implementing people-centered recovery policies, Ambassador Khoi said.

Vietnam attends Baku Summit of NAM Contact Group in response to COVID-19. (Photo: WVR)

On February 28, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc, Chairman of the National Committee of UNESCO Vietnam chaired the Conference to review the work of 2022 and the direction of 2023.

On March 1, the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations held the final planning conference for end-of-term field training under the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus) Experts’ Working Group on Peacekeeping Operations Cycle 4 (2021 - 2023).

Other activities

On March 3, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly Vu Hai Ha had a meeting with new Ambassadors and Heads of the Vietnamese representative Missions to foreign countries for the 2023-2026 tenure.

From February 28 to March 1, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Australian Embassy in Hanoi and the Vietnam-Australia Center (VAC) coordinated to organize a training course for women in foreign affairs activities.