President Vo Van Thuong receives Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski, the first foreign Ambassador in his new position. (Photo: VNA)

On the occasion of his recent election as the State leader of Vietnam by the 15th National Assembly, President Vo Van Thuong continues to receive congratulatory messages from foreign leaders. King of Malaysia Al-Sultan Abdullah, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, US President Joe Biden, Governor General of Canada Mary Simon, President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan, President of Poland Andrzej Duda, Queen of Denmark Margrethe II, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Finland Sauli Niinisto, President of the Seychelles Wavel Ramkalawan, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedow, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres extended congratulations to President Vo Van Thuong.

On March 17, welcoming Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski, the reception of the first foreign Ambassador in his new position, President Vo Van Thuong said Vietnam always values the promotion of friendly relations and strategic partnership with Australia, a long-standing traditional partner and one of the countries forming comprehensive strategic partnership with ASEAN. President Thuong thanked Australia for being the second largest donor of COVID-19 vaccines to Vietnam with 26.4 million doses, thus helping the country drive back the pandemic and recover socio-economic development.

On March 19, in Hanoi, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the high-level session of the Vietnam Business Forum 2023 (VBF 2023). The annual forum was co-organized by the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment, the World Bank, the International Finance Corporation and the Vietnam Business Forum Alliance. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Vietnamese Party and State advocate green growth in order to ensure rapid, effective and sustainable economic development, contributing to implementing the 2021-2030 socio-economic development strategy.

On March 16, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a meeting with 16 Ambassadors and Chiefs of Vietnamese Representative Missions abroad for the 2023-2026 tenure, before they set off for work in 48 countries and territories worldwide. Each of the Chiefs of Mission should regard economic diplomacy as a high priority during their term, the Prime Minister said. The diplomats were also requested to deepen relations with partners and identify key cooperation areas with each of them, while paying more attention to citizen protection and overseas Vietnamese affairs, thus encouraging overeas Vietnamese to contribute more to the home land.

Prime Minister meets Ambassadors, Chiefs of Vietnamese Representative Missions abroad for the 2023-2026 tenure. (Photo: WVR)

On March 16, receiving Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau on the occasion of his official visit to Vietnam from March 16-17, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked Poland to create favourable conditions for Vietnam's agro-forestry-aquatic products to penetrate deeper into the Polish market; and encourage Polish businesses to step up investment in Vietnam’s pharmaceuticals, food processing, and manufacturing industries.

On March 13, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue met with Ambassadors and Chiefs of Vietnamese representative missions abroad for the 2023-2026 term. The Chairman of the National Assembly asked the Chiefs of representative missions of Vietnam abroad to uphold the spirit of serving the people, especially in the work of protection of citizens and overseas Vietnamese, well implement Conclusion 12 of the Politburo on overseas Vietnamese work in the new situation.

From March 15 to 18, Standing Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man has a working visit to Spain. During the visit, the NA Vice Chairman held talks with Vice President of the Senate Cristina Narbona and First Vice President of the Congress of Deputies of Spain Alfonso Rodriguez in Madrid.

On March 17, receiving Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, National Assembly Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai affirmed that the Vietnamese National Assembly always supports the comprehensive cooperation between the two Governments. The two sides shared delight at the growing partnership between the two countries, with many delegations exchanged, including high-level ones.

On March 14, in Hanoi, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang hosted a reception for Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski, suggesting the two sides coordinate together closely to well organise celebrations for the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Australia diplomatic ties this year, including thorough preparations for the exchange of delegations in the coming time. Deputy Prime Minister Quang expressed his delight at the strong and practical development of the bilateral strategic partnership in various areas. In particular, two-way trade hit 16.1 billion USD in 2022, more than 30 times higher than in 2021, making Australia the 10th largest trade partner of Vietnam and Vietnam the seventh biggest trade partner of Australia.

On March 15, the Communist Party of China held a High-Level Dialogue Conference between the Chinese Communist Party and political parties around the world with the theme "The path of modernization - the responsibility of the political party" via videoconference. The delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) led by member of the Party Central Committee and Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung attended the conference.

Activities of the Foreign Minister

At the invitation of Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau pays an official visit to Vietnam from March 16-17, 2023. Welcoming Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed that Vietnam always attaches great importance to and wishes to strengthen cooperation in all fields with Poland, a traditional partner and friend of Vietnam in Europe.

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau. (Photo: WVR/Tuan Anh)

On March 16, during the talks with the Polish Foreign Minister, Foreign Minister Son suggested the two sides work closely to make the best of opportunities from the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), expecting that Poland would create favourable conditions for Vietnam's agricultural and aquatic products and seasonal tropical fruits to expand their presence in the Polish market. He also suggested Poland soon ratify the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and prompt the European Commission (EC) to remove its yellow card warning against Vietnamese seafood exports.

On March 14, at the headquarters of the Ministry, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son hosted a reception for the new Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam Chea Kimtha. Expressing his delight at the strong and comprehensive development of bilateral ties, the Foreign Minister suggested both sides work closely together to effectively carry out high-level agreements and important bilateral cooperation mechanisms in the coming time, such as the 20th meeting of the Vietnam-Cambodia Joint Commission on Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technological Cooperation, and the 12th conference on cooperation and development of Vietnam-Cambodia border provinces.

Bilateral activities

On March 17, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung visited the headquarters of the Commission for External Relations of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee in Vientiane to extend greetings on the LPRP’s 68th founding anniversary (March 22, 1955 - 2023).

On March 14, receiving Kuwaiti Ambassador to Vietnam Yousef Ashour Al-Sabbagh, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu affirmed that Vietnam always attaches great importance to and wishes to further promote the traditional and cooperative relationship, multifaceted cooperation with Kuwait, one of the leading economic partners of Vietnam in the Middle East.

On March 14, speaking at a press conference, French Ambassador to Vietnam Nicolas Warnery emphasized that a wide range of activities will be held across Vietnam this year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-France diplomatic relations (April 12, 1973-2023) and the 10th anniversary of the bilateral Strategic Partnership (September 2013-2023). According to the Ambassador, the highlight of these activities will be the 12th cooperation conference between Vietnamese and French localities scheduled to take place in Hanoi on April 13-15 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary.

On March 13-14, Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung and representative of the Trade Office in the United States have a working visit to South Carolina. The delegation had meetings with Governor Henry McMaster, Agriculture Secretary Huge Weathers, senior officials at the Department of Commerce and visited a number of agricultural production facilities in the state.

On March 15, on the occasion of the Polish Foreign Minister’s visit to Vietnam, Ms. Justyna Pabian, Chargé d'Affaires of Poland to Vietnam, gave an interview to The World and Vietnam Report.

On March 15, on the occasion of the 5th anniversary of bilateral strategic partnership (March 15, 2018), Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Nguyen Tat Thanh noted in an interview that Vietnam-Australia ties recorded considerable strides.

Multilateral activities

On March 16, UN Secretary-General António Guterres had a working session with Ambassadors of the Core Group to draft a Resolution to seek advice from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on climate change. Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Head of the Vietnamese Delegation, member of the Core Group attended the meeting.

On March 16, at an informal meeting of the 77th United Nations General Assembly to discuss the situation in Myanmar, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang said Vietnam appeals to all parties to fully and effectively implement the Five-Point Consensus on Myanmar approved by ASEAN leaders, ensure the access to humanitarian and medical aid to all, observe the International Humanitarian Law, and particularly protect civilians. Vietnam calls on the international community to assist ASEAN’s efforts and promote dialogues and reconciliation on the basis of respect for Myanmar’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, he stressed.

On March 16, as the Coordinator of ASEAN-Korea relations for the 2021-2024 term, Ambassador Nguyen Hai Bang, Head of the Vietnamese Delegation to ASEAN, and Korean Ambassador to ASEAN Kwon Hee-seog agreed to chaired the 10th meeting of the ASEAN-Korea Joint Cooperation Committee (AK JCC).

From March 6 to 17, the 67th session of the UN Committee on the Status of Women (CSW), the UN’s largest annual gathering on gender equality and women’s empowerment, has taken place with the theme "Innovation and technological change, and education in the digital age for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls". It gathers 201 representatives of nations and international organisations. At the plenary sitting, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for urgent action in three areas, starting with increasing education, income and employment for women and girls. Minister Counsellor Le Thi Minh Thoa, Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, highlighted some Vietnam’s achievements in this area, including the Government's adoption of a national programme on digital transformation to 2025 and celebration of National Digital Transformation Day.

Other activities

On March 17, in Hanoi, speaking at the official celebration of International Francophonie Day (March 20), Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet affirmed that Vietnam is proud to be a member of the Francophone community and always treasures cooperation and solidarity with other member countries and partners. With the theme of “321 million French speakers, billions of cultural contents”, this year's celebration aims to honour the cultural and linguistic diversity of the Francophonie community worldwide, and promote access to the Francophone cultural content in the digital space.

Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet speaks at the official celebration of International Francophonie Day March 20. (Photo: WVR/Quang Hoa)

On March 14, the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam in collaboration with the British Embassy organized an international conference on the Mekong with the theme: "Cooperation in the Mekong sub-region: The Water - Energy - Food nexus". The seminar attracted about 100 delegates, including representatives of Embassies, ministries, branches, research institutes, officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and of the Diplomatic Academy. Dr. Nguyen Hung Son, Vice Chairman of Diplomatic Academy and British Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew co-chaired the event.