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European Parliament sympathises with Việt Nam’s COVID-19 challenges, committed to vaccine support

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Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Vương Đình Huệ (left) and President of the European Parliament David Sassoli held talks on Wednesday. — VNA/ Photo Doãn Tấn

BRUSSELS — Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Vương Đình Huệ held talks with President of the European Parliament (EP) David Sassoli in Brussels, Belgium, on Wednesday.

Welcoming the Vietnamese leader, Sassoli highly valued the country’s role in the region, stressing the EP and Việt Nam share common interests in multiple areas and that the EP wants to enhance all-round cooperation with the country in fields such as trade and investment, COVID-19 prevention and control, and response to climate change, including challenges to water resources, saltwater intrusion, and drought.

Huệ affirmed that the European Union (EU) is a partner of leading importance in Việt Nam’s foreign and international integration policies.

The two sides have maintained high-level meetings; signed and effectively implemented many important cooperation agreements such as the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), the EU-Việt Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and the Framework Participation Agreement (FPA); and maintained regular cooperation and dialogue cooperation mechanisms, thereby helping to lift the Việt Nam-EU comprehensive partnership and cooperation, including the ties between the Vietnamese NA and the EP, to a new height, according to the Chairman.

At the talks, the two leaders discussed issues to further intensify the two parliaments’ ties so as to help develop Việt Nam-EU relations more strongly for the sake of both sides.

To promote economic and trade links comprehensively, Hue expressed his hope that the EP will help promote its member parliaments’ ratification of the EU-Việt Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to step up investment cooperation while continuing to facilitate the implementation of the EVFTA.

Regarding collaboration in the COVID-19 combat, he thanked the EP, relevant agencies of the EU, and parliamentarians’ groups in the EP for supporting and assisting Việt Nam in the fight. He also echoed the EP’s viewpoint that only solidarity, sharing, and confidence of victory can help people address the pandemic’s consequences and return to a “new normal” life.

Particularly, Huệ said, as the pandemic is growing more complicated, it requires stronger inter-regional (between ASEAN and the EU) and global cooperation to continue maintaining achievements in socio-economic development.

He also voiced his hope that the EP will accelerate vaccine supply from Europe via the COVAX Facility and sharing of surplus vaccines, along with medical supplies and COVID-19 drugs, and cooperate with the country in vaccine production.

Việt Nam is ready to make all-round preparations to become a regional vaccine production centre, the top Vietnamese legislator emphasised.

He also took this occasion to ask the EP to support the removal of the “yellow card” warning on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing against Việt Nam’s fishery sector to help guarantee livelihoods for Vietnamese fishermen. He stated that the country has been exerting every effort to deal with the problem and gained positive outcomes.

With regard to bilateral parliamentary cooperation, the NA Chairman held that the achievements obtained so far should be promoted, and both sides should increase contacts at all levels.

Huệ invited the EP President to visit Việt Nam to discuss issues of common concern, including the establishment of practical and effective cooperation frameworks between the two parliaments.

For his part, Sassoli said the EVFTA is an exemplary cooperation model, adding that the EP has ratified the EVIPA and is promoting the remaining member parliaments’ ratification.

The EP sympathises with Việt Nam’s current difficulties and will strive to seek vaccine and medical supplies for the country’s fight against COVID-19 as soon as possible, he noted.

The two leaders shared the view that relations between the Vietnamese NA and the EP are flourishing in both bilateral and multilateral channels, agreeing to increase the exchange of all-level delegations and share information and experience in parliamentary activities.

During the talks, the two sides exchanged views on issues related to international peace, security, and cooperation and underlined the role of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in settling disputes and maintaining security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight.

They also agreed to closely coordinate and make active contributions to regional and international forums.

Following the talks, Huệ received heads of the EP’s Committee on International Trade (INTA), the delegation for relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and ASEAN (DASE), the EP’s parliamentary friendship group. They looked into measures to reinforce ties in areas of common interest, including trade and EVFTA implementation. —

Source: https://vietnamnews.vn/politics-laws/1027360/european-parliament-sympathises-with-viet-nams-covid-19-challenges-committed-to-vaccine-support.html

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Vietnamese PM rings opening bell at NYSE

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Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City on Thursday morning (local time) and rang the bell to mark the start of the stock trading day.

The top Vietnamese official paid his NYSE visit at the invitation of NYSE leaders.

NYSE vice chairman John Tuttle and PM Chinh spoke briefly before the Vietnamese Premier rang the opening bell at 9:30 am.

PM Chinh said that he was honored to be invited to the NYSE building for the second time to ring the bell.

He also shared that he was impressed by the stock exchange’s current capitalization of US$40,000 billion.

PM Chinh last visited the NYSE, the largest stock exchange in the world, in May 2022 to ring the closing bell.

The prime minister proposed the NYSE encourage U.S. firms to make investments in Vietnam and help connect the Vietnamese stock exchanges with the NYSE and other top stock exchanges worldwide.

PM Chinh also assigned the State Securities Commission of Vietnam to partner with the NYSE to sign a memorandum of understanding on technical support and human training.

The Vietnamese government leader expects to host NYSE leaders in Vietnam by the end of the year.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (C) writes in a memorial notebook at the NYSE. Photo: Nhat Bac / Tuoi Tre
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (C) writes in a memorial notebook at the NYSE. Photo: Nhat Bac / Tuoi Tre

Tuttle used the opportunity to share his appreciation for the Vietnamese market, noting that U.S. firms have shown much interest in Vietnam.

He affirmed that the NYSE is willing to help Vietnamese enterprises list their stocks on the exchange.

The NYSE representative also told the prime minister that he will visit Vietnam as soon as possible.

PM Chinh and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam are on a visit to the United States to attend the high-level General Debate of the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session and other activities.

His U.S. trip, which is set to last until Saturday, was made following the upgrade of the Vietnam – U.S. relationship.

Vietnam and the U.S. announced the elevation of their bilateral relations to comprehensive strategic partnership, the highest level in the Southeast Asian country’s international relations, after talks between General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong and U.S. President Joe Biden in Hanoi on September 10.

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Source: https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/politics/20230922/vietnamese-pm-rings-opening-bell-at-nyse/75721.html

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Japanese Crown Prince visits late President Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house

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Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, together with Vice-State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, paid a visit to late President Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house and fish pond on Thursday morning.

Their jaunt was taken after talks between the top Vietnamese official and Japan’s crown prince.

Vice-State President Xuan chaired a welcome ceremony for Akishino and Kiko at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on Thursday morning.

The stilt house and fish pond are situated in the late President Ho Chi Minh relic site. These places were the late president’s living and working space.

The visit to the relic site was part of Akishino’s ongoing Vietnam trip, which will last until Monday next week.

Crown Prince Akishino, 58, is the younger brother of Emperor Naruhito. He was declared first in line to the chrysanthemum throne in 2020. This is the third time the Japanese crown prince has visited Vietnam. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre
Crown Prince Akishino, 58, is the younger brother of Emperor Naruhito. He was declared first in line to the chrysanthemum throne in 2020. This is the third time the Japanese crown prince has visited Vietnam. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre
Akishino is set to meet other top Vietnamese officials such as Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang and State President Vo Van Thuong during his Vietnam visit. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre
Akishino is set to meet other top Vietnamese officials such as Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang and State President Vo Van Thuong during his Vietnam visit. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre
Vice-State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko are introduced to the history of late President Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house, which was built in 1958. The house is 10.5 meters long and 6.2 meters wide. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre
Vice-State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko are introduced to the history of late President Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house, which was built in 1958. The house is 10.5 meters long and 6.2 meters wide. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre
Vice-State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan (R), Japanese Crown Prince Akishino (C) and Crown Princess Kiko (L) are pictured feeding fish in late President Ho Chi Minh’s fish pond. The fish pond covers an area of more than 3,000 square meters. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre
Vice-State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan (R), Japanese Crown Prince Akishino (C) and Crown Princess Kiko (L) are pictured feeding fish in late President Ho Chi Minh’s fish pond. The fish pond covers an area of more than 3,000 square meters. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre
Japanese Crown Prince Akishino takes photos of the precinct of late President Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre
Japanese Crown Prince Akishino takes photos of the precinct of late President Ho Chi Minh’s stilt house. Photo: Nguyen Khanh / Tuoi Tre

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Source: https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/politics/20230921/japanese-crown-prince-visits-late-president-ho-chi-minhs-stilt-house/75715.html

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Vietnam reiterates net-zero emission goal, supports global health priorities

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Vietnam is determined to meet its commitment of a net-zero emission target by 2050 and support global health security priorities, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told two United Nations summits in New York, the U.S., on Wednesday.

The Vietnamese leader kicked off his first activities at the United Nations headquarters by attending two summits on climate change response and preparations for future pandemics, as part of his seven-day trip to the U.S. for the high-level General Debate of the 78th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session and other activities. 

Cutting emissions by 43.5 percent by 2030

Speaking at the UN Climate Ambition Summit, where leaders of countries and international organizations expressed their concern about the severe impacts of climate change, PM Chinh stressed that addressing climate change impacts requires a global and all-people approach, with more urgent and stronger actions.

The PM proposed accelerating a fair and just green energy transition, which takes people as its center and leaves no one behind.

Developed countries and international organizations should put the Loss and Damage Fund into operation at COP28 as committed to supporting developing and underdeveloped countries to overcome the consequences of climate change, Chinh told the summit. 

He also called for more assistance for developing countries and underdeveloped countries in developing green technologies, green finance, and renewable energy industries.

Many other delegates affirmed that responding to climate change is a shared responsibility, which requires every country to reduce the use of fossil fuels while making a fair green transition as soon as possible.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called on high-emitting countries to take the lead in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with developed countries and large emerging economies required to achieve net zero emissions by 2040 and 2050, respectively. 

Sharing the same view, PM Chinh said Vietnam, with support from the international community, will strive to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 43.5 percent by 2030 and obtain a renewable energy ratio of more than 70 percent by 2050.

“Even though being a developing country still facing many difficulties, Vietnam, with the spirit of supporting a green Earth, is determined to fulfill its commitment, raised at COP26, to achieving net zero emissions by 2050,” Chinh affirmed.

Supporting global health security priorities 

While attending the UN High-Level Meeting (HLM) on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response (PPPR) on Wednesday afternoon, PM Chinh emphasized the extremely serious consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He called on the international community to take action soon so that future generations do not have to suffer from similar terrible epidemics.

The PM proposed prioritizing increasing timely and equitable access to vaccines, improving the capacity of grassroots and preventive health, promoting transfer of vaccine and drug technologies, and providing financial support for developing and underdeveloped countries.

He affirmed that Vietnam supports making global health security a priority in all policies to help early detect, timely respond to and effectively drive back epidemics in the future.

From the COVID-19 experience, delegates called for increased international cooperation and coordination at the highest level to ensure equitable and timely access to pandemic-related medical products.

They also proposed removing trade barriers and strengthening supply chains to facilitate the transportation of vaccines, drugs and other public health products.

Delegates unanimously passed a political declaration on pandemic preparedness and response, and agreed to hold a high-level conference in 2026 to evaluate the implementation of the declaration.

This year’s HLM on PPPR was convened by the UN based on an initiative raised by Vietnam and some other countries and was approved by the UN General Assembly in September 2022.   

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Source: https://tuoitrenews.vn/news/politics/20230921/vietnam-reiterates-netzero-emission-goal-supports-global-health-priorities/75713.html

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