President Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosts official welcome ceremony for Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni. The visit is the first by a Head of State between Vietnam and Uganda, in the context of the two countries looking towards the 50th founding anniversary of their diplomatic ties (1973 - 2023). (Photo: WVR/Nguyen Hong)

Leaders’ activities

On November 25, Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and a high-ranking Ugandan delegation left Hanoi, successfully wrapping up an official visit to Vietnam from November 23-25 ​​at the invitation of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Within the framework of the visit, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni held talks with President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, witnessed the signing of cooperation documents; had separate meetings with General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh; visited FPT Corporation, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Agriculture and attended the Vietnam-Uganda Business Forum.

On November 25, receiving the scientists and economists attending the 45th Conference of the Federation of ASEAN Economic Associations (FAEA) in Hanoi, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc highly valued the pioneering role of scientists and economists of Vietnam and other ASEAN countries in assisting one another in academic exchanges, sharing knowledge and development vision of each country and the bloc as a whole, and practically and effectively contributing to the ASEAN Community’s development.

On November 25, on the occasion of Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokaev's re-election as President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc sent a message of congratulations.

President hosts delegates to WPC's 22nd Assembly in Hanoi: President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and delegates to the 22nd Assembly of the World Peace Council took a photo at the Presidential Palace. (Photo: VNA)

On November 23, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted 91 delegates from 45 countries attending the 22nd Assembly of the World Peace Council (WPC). President Phuc affirmed the State and people of Vietnam always treasure and remember the support, strong solidarity and valuable assistance of international democratic and progressive organisations, including the WPC and its member organisations, for the struggle for national independence in the past, as well as national building and safeguarding today.

On November 25, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh received Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Donald Males who was visiting Vietnam. The Prime Minister expressed his belief that Deputy Prime Minister Marles's visit will contribute to strengthening the bilateral defence ties, thus further developing the Vietnam-Australia relationship in line with their strategic partnership for peace, prosperity and development in each country, the region and the world at large.

On November 25, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent a message of congratulations to Mr. Anwar Ibrahim on his appointment as Prime Minister of Malaysia.

On November 21, receiving Secretary-General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Marcin Czepelak in Hanoi, Prime Minister Chinh affirmed that Vietnam is a peace-loving country, a responsible member of the international community, and always upholds multilateralism and the basic principles of international law enshrined in the United Nations Charter, including including the principle of peaceful settlement of international disputes. Vietnam always upholds the compliance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the Prime Minister said, adding that Vietnam highly appreciates the PCA’s role in assisting countries to peacefully resolve international disputes by arbitration.

On November 25, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue wrapped up an official visit to Cambodia, attended the 43rd Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of Southeast Asian Nations (AIPA-43) and official visit to the Philippines from November 19-25.

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Speaker of Philippine House of Representatives holding the Resolution Resolution No. 571 on strengthening cooperation between the Philippines and Vietnam through the Philippines-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Group. (Photo: VNA)

With nearly 50 activities taken place in Cambodia and the Philippines, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue held talks with the top leaders of the two countries' legislative bodies; to call on the King of Cambodia; meeting with Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia, Chairman of Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Association;

During the visit to the Philippines, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue had meetings with the President of the Philippines Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos, Vice President of the Philippines Sara Duterte, holding talks with the President of the Philippine Senate Juan Miguel Zubiri, the Speaker of the Philippine House of Representatives Martin Romualdez, receiving leaders of some localities of the two countries...

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue met with leaders of a number of Philippine corporations and businesses that have invested and cooperated with Vietnam; attended the Vietnam-Philippines Investment and Trade Forum.

During the visit, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue visited staff of the Vietnamese Embassies in Cambodia and the Philippines; and met with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Cambodia.

In Cambodia, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue also attended the AIPA-43 General Assembly and gave an important speech. On the sidelines of AIPA-43, the NA Chairman had bilateral meetings with parliamentary leaders of some ASEAN countries and observers.

Activities of the Foreign Minister

On November 25, international conference “Enhancing cooperation with global investment institutions in mobilizing green finance for sustainable development and State-owned enterprise restructuring in Vietnam” was held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in collaboration with the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises, and the State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC).

At the conference, Minister of Foreign Affairs (FM) Bui Thanh Son stressed that the mobilisation of external and domestic resources for sustainable socio-economic development is an urgent goal for Vietnam. He said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese Representative Missions abroad were ready to play the role of a bridge, contributing to the realiation of investment and cooperation opportunities between Vietnam and their international partners.

On November 25, FM Bui Thanh Son highlighted Vietnam’s readiness to further contribute to United Nations peacekeeping operations, while meeting visiting UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix in Hanoi. The Minister emphasised the significant contributions by UN peacekeeping operations to the efforts to prevent and resolve conflicts, as well as protect and assist people in conflict-hit areas, helping maintain international peace and security.

For his part, UN Under-Secretary-General Lacroix highly valued Vietnamese peacekeepers’ capacity, initiatives, and sense of responsibility at UN peacekeeping missions, highlighting that Vietnam’s participation has helped substantially improve the effectiveness of the missions’ activities and become good and important practices for peacekeeping forces to learn from.

UN Under-Secretary-General recognised Vietnam's great contributions to the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda while speaking at the International Conference on Women with the UN Peacekeeping Operations in Hanoi on November 26, 2022.

On November 25, receiving Lao Deputy Foreign Minister Phoxay Khaykhamphithoune, FM Bui Thanh Son affirmed that Vietnam will coordinate and provide maximum support for Laos to successfully assume the role of ASEAN Chair 2024.

On November 24, FM Bui Thanh Son and Secretary General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Marcin Czepelak cut the ribbon officially to inaugurate the PCA's Representative Office in Hanoi and put the nameplate "House of Peace" at 48A. Tran Phu, Hanoi.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (third from left) and Secretary-General of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Marcin Czepelak (third from right) cut the ribbon to inaugurate the PCA representative office in Hanoi on November 24, 2022. (Photo: Tuan Anh).

The FM affirmed that Vietnam highly appreciates the PCA's effective and active contributions to resolving disputes between countries and between nations and organisations, ensuring respect for international lawand contributing to the maintenance of international peace and security. Vietnam's support and assistance for the opening of a PCA office in Hanoi reflect the country’s strong commitment to promoting multilateralism, the United Nations Charter and the principles of international law, he said.

Bilateral activities

On November 25, the 7th Vietnam-Laos Political Consultative Conference was co-chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu and Lao Deputy Foreign Minister Phoxay Khaykhamphithoune.

On the same day, Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Hieu, Chairman of the State Committee on Overseas Vietnamese received Mr. Nguyen Hoai Bac, Canadian overseas Vietnamese, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Dai Son Group Joint Stock Company.

On November 24, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc had a meeting with Mr. Carlos Julio Ron Martinez, Deputy Foreign Minister and President of the Simon Bolivar Institute for Peace and Solidarity among the Peoples of the Republic of República Bolivariana de Venezuela, on the occasion of his attendance of the 22nd Congress of the World Peace Council in Hanoi.

On November 23, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc and his Brazilian counterpart Eduardo Paes Saboia co-chaired the eighth deputy ministerial-level political consultation via a videoconference. The two sides highlighted the potential of cooperation in agriculture and renewable energy, and pledged to contribute to global food security, energy security and climate change response.

The same day, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc met with Haiti's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Azad Pierre Nasser Belfort on the occasion of his working visit to Vietnam from November 22-29. Deputy Foreign Minister Ngoc suggested the Haitian side to coordinate to promote bilateral exchanges and contact and effectively bring into play the mechanism of the Vietnam-Haiti joint committee on economic cooperation, trade and investment.

On November 21, receiving President of the General Confederation of Ivory Coast Owners Jean-Marie Ackah, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet welcomed the delegation's visit to Vietnam, noting that the delegation chose Vietnam as one of three countries besides Singapore and Malaysia in this Asia tour, and expressed belief that the visit will make an important contribution to improving the efficiency of economic cooperation between the two countries.

On the occasion of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue's official visit to the Philippines (November 22-25), Philippine Ambassador to Vietnam Meynardo Los Banos Montealegre shared with the World and Vietnam Report (WVR) on the significance of the visit and the potential for bilateral cooperation.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the Philippines Hoang Huy Chung affirmed that the visit helps strengthen political trust and promote bilateral cooperation in all fields, especially economy, trade-investment, education-training. This visit is certainly one of the memorable milestones of Vietnam-Philippines relations in general, as well as the history of parliamentary cooperation between the two countries in particular.

Multilateral activities

On November 24, at the Headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc had a meeting with Mr. Carlos Julio Ron Martinez, Deputy Foreign Minister and President of the Simon Bolivar Institute for Peace and Solidarity among the Peoples of the Republic of República Bolivariana de Venezuela on the occasion of his attendance of the 22nd Congress of the World Peace Council in Hanoi.

On behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc received Mr. Ambrosio Barros, Country Representative of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to present the Letter of Credential, beginning his working term in Vietnam.

On November 22, at the headquarters of the United Nations Office in Geneva (Switzerland), the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international organizations in Geneva to participate in the UN Bazaar 2022 International Fair. The event was organised by the UN Women's Union (UNWG) with the aim of raising money in a bid to support disadvantaged children around the world, including Vietnamese children.

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the UN, WTO, and other international organisations based in Geneva, emphasised that aside from introducing traditional local products and dishes, the Mission's goal is to elevate the nation’s image and its people to international friends. Most notably, the mission has served to introduce the country’s image through beautiful paintings created by veteran artist Pham Kim Nam.

On November 21, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Ambassador of Vietnam in the role of Vice President of the United Nations General Assembly, moderating the plenary session of the UN General Assembly to discuss the topic "Cooperation between the United Nations and other regional organization”. The United Nations (UN) General Assembly adopted by consensus a resolution on the UN-ASEAN cooperation, on the occasion of the 55th founding anniversary of the ASEAN and the 11-year comprehensive partnership between the two organisations. The resolution attracted the attention and co-sponsorship of 115 member countries.

On November 22, attending the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Retreat in Siem Reap, Cambodia, Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang stressed the need for the ASEAN to persist in its principles and to uphold its central role in the mechanisms it leads.

Vietnamese Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang (second from right) and other officials at the 9th ADMM Plus in Siem Reap on November 23, 2022. (Photo: VNA)

Gen. Giang said that in cooperation with partners, ASEAN has maintained consensus and solidarity, and ensured that ASEAN-led mechanisms are effective and not pulled into agendas and goals of other countries outside the region. The bloc needs a harmonised approach in expanding its relations with partners, he stated. The Vietnamese Defence Minister stressed that maintaining and ensuring peace, security and stability in the region, including the East Sea, is of common concern and interests of countries.

Citizen protection

As of 6pm on November 21, there weren’t any Vietnamese casualties recorded in the 5.6-magnitude earthquake that had jolted Cianjur town of West Java province earlier the same day, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Ta Van Thong.

Ambassador Thong said that shortly after the earthquake, the Vietnamese Embassy moved to grasp the situation of Vietnamese people living, working, and studying in nearby localities, including Bandung and Bogor regencies of West Java and Jakarta capital city. The Embassy continues to keep a close watch on the situation and stay ready to take citizen protection measures when necessary, he noted.

Other activities

From November 21-26, A high-ranking delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) led by Phan Dinh Trac, Politburo member and Chairman of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for Internal Affairs, paid a working visit to Australia.

On November 23, at the headquarters of the Party Central Committee, Politburo member, Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council Nguyen Xuan Thang received a high-level delegation of the German Left Party led by Mr. Tobias Bank, Party Secretary General, who was visiting and attending the third policy dialogue between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the German Left Party in Hanoi.

At the invitation of the Secretary of the Central Committee, Chief of the Central Office of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, Thongsalith Mangnomek, Secretary of the Central Committee and Chief of the Central Office of the Party Le Minh Hung led the delegation of the Central Office of the Communist Party of Vietnam visited Laos from November 21-22.