The participants came from 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), 10 dialogue partners (Australia, Canada, China, the EU, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and the US), along with Papua New Guinea, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, Timor-Leste, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh led the Vietnamese delegation to the event. The ministers shared the view that after 25 years of development, the ARF has continued to affirm its role as one of the key forums for dialogue and cooperation in politics-security, building trust, and implementing preventive diplomacy in the region. They noted that the ARF needs to persist in the agreed basic principles, including decision making by consensus, moving at a pace comfortable to all members and respecting the ASEAN’s central role. The ARF members should continue carrying out trust building measures in … [Read more...] about ARF discusses trust building measures, preventive diplomacy
Diplomacy
ARF urged to continue trust building measures, preventive diplomacy
Officials at the 25th ASEAN Regional Forum pose for a photo (Photo: Kyodo/VNA) Singapore (VNA) – The 25th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) took place in Singapore on August 4 with the participation of foreign ministers from 26 countries and the European Union (EU)’s representative. The participants came from 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), 10 dialogue partners (Australia, Canada, China, the EU, India, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Russia, and the US), along with Papua New Guinea, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, Timor-Leste, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh led the Vietnamese delegation to the event. The ministers shared the view that after 25 years of development, the ARF has continued to affirm its role as one of the key forums for dialogue and cooperation in politics-security, building trust, and implementing preventive diplomacy in … [Read more...] about ARF urged to continue trust building measures, preventive diplomacy
US volleyball players enjoy youth sports diplomacy program in Vietnam
Volleyball teams from Duc Giang (Hanoi capital), Bac Ninh, and Quang Ninh provinces are hosting exhibition games with San Diego’s Exodus Volleyball Club.The San Diego team will visit KOTO to learn about local opportunities empowering at-risk-youth; spend a night on Ha Long bay to learn about environmental preservation efforts; and tour cultural sites including the Temple of Literature and the Museum of Ethnology.Photo: Thanh nien newsLater on, the US team will then travel to Luang Prabang situated in northern Laos, where they will host a volleyball clinic and tournament with local teams. This December, teams from Vietnam and Laos will then spend a week in San Diego for a reciprocal exchange experience which will be funded by the US Department of State. They will play friendly matches against local teams, enjoy dinner in the homes of local San Diegans, and explore local cultural sites while deepening their connections with their San Diego peers. This program, organized by the San … [Read more...] about US volleyball players enjoy youth sports diplomacy program in Vietnam
Nepal embarks on ‘rhino diplomacy’ with rare gift to China
Nepal on Thursday (Jul 12) gifted China a pair of endangered one-horned rhinos in a diplomatic gesture to its powerful neighbour and major investor. Thousands of one-horned rhinos once roamed the southern plains of Nepal but rampant poaching and pressures of human encroachment reduced their numbers to around 100 in the later part of last century. (Photo: AFP/Prakash Mathema) The young male and a female rhinos, Rudra and Rupsi, boarded a charted flight bound for Guangzhou along with a team of Nepali experts. "The rhinos were loaded in the plane in their crates and are on their way now. They were healthy and doing well," Man Bahadur Khadka, chief of Nepal's department of parks and wildlife conservation, told AFP. The rhinos are expected to be released into a safari park in Guangzhou. KP Sharma Oli had promised China the rhinos in 2016 during his previous tenure as Nepal's prime minister. This gift comes shortly after Oli's visit to China last month when, as Nepali prime … [Read more...] about Nepal embarks on ‘rhino diplomacy’ with rare gift to China
Economic diplomacy helps promote Vietnamese agricultural products Middle East and Africa markets
The Middle East and Africa, with a total population of more than 1.6 billion people and large purchasing power, are emerging as potential markets for Vietnam’s agriculture and aquaculture products as traditional markets have approached the point of saturation. However, the new markets are rather difficult to access due to a number of specific issues, such as cultural or religious differences, food habits and business practices that require suitable access. Participants at the seminar discuss solutions to promote the export of Vietnamese agricultural products into the potential markets of the Middle East and Africa The information was presented at conference on promoting economic diplomacy to facilitate Vietnam’s agricultural and fishery exports to the Middle East and Africa, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Hanoi on July 5. Potential but difficult to access Speaking at the seminar, Do Quoc Hung, Deputy Head of the Asia-Africa Market Department, … [Read more...] about Economic diplomacy helps promote Vietnamese agricultural products Middle East and Africa markets