Eurozone trade surplus

At the meeting on March 21, the RoK N.A. speaker noted that the relations between Vietnam and the RoK have been developing strongly, highlighting the elevation of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in December 2022. He stressed that during his meetings with key leaders of the Vietnamese Party, Government and National Assembly during his visit to Vietnam last January, he noticed that both sides have been aware of the great potential of bilateral cooperation. Kim extended an invitation to N.A. Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and legislators of Vietnam to attend a forum for ASEAN and Korean leaders, slated for June in the RoK’s Jeju Island. For his part, Hai affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to the relations with the RoK and suggested the two sides maintain all-level delegation exchanges and meetings, saying coordination and sharing of views on the bilateral cooperation as well as the regional and international situation would help deepen relations between their … [Read more...] about N.A. Vice Chairman visits RoK, meets host leaders

Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Nguyen Van Thao, who is also head of Vietnam's Delegation to the E.U., made the statement at a workshop to review the relations between ASEAN and E.U. over the last four decades in Brussels on March 21. Speaking on behalf of ASEAN at the discussion on trade cooperation, Thao highlighted the great potential for the two sides to further step up trade cooperation, which he said is a driver of the ASEAN - E.U. relations. According to the diplomat, the two sides are now the third largest trade partners of each other. They have mutual complementarity in key export products, and at the same time have the needs and policies to diversify supply chains. The E.U. is also the second biggest foreign investor in ASEAN with more than 380 billion EUR invested in ASEAN as of 2021. He proposed that the two sides should set up a free trade agreement (FTA) on the basis of bilateral FTAs that the E.U. has signed with ASEAN member nations, including Vietnam. The … [Read more...] about Vietnam calls for stronger ASEAN – E.U. relations

Property arm Lotte Land last month said it would cease plans for the Lotte Eco Logis Dong Nai, which was granted an investment certificate only in November 2022. illustration photo/source baodautu.vn In a document dated March 2, Dong Nai Industrial Zones Management Board stated that Lotte Land had sent an official document on cancelling the project in Nhon Trach Industrial Zone VI from February 17. The board requested the investor to liquidate the project and fulfill all obligations related to the operation of the enterprise in accordance with the law. Younggun Ko, a director of Lotte Land, told VIR that various circumstances and investment plans related to this project had been changed, leading to the cancellation. Ko added that the move would not make much of an impact on the business of Lotte Land, and its general business strategy would remain the same. Lotte Mall Hanoi, a $600 million facility, is still expected to open in August and will include a hotel, … [Read more...] about Lotte switches focus after cancellation of warehouse development in Dong Nai

The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and the National Associated Press Agency of Italy (ANSA) sign a professional cooperation agreement at an online ceremony held in Hanoi on February 20. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Italian Ambassador to Vietnam Antonio Alessandro cited Italian President Sergio Mattarella's words as saying that the relationship between the two countries “strongly rooted in history” while granting an interview to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on the occasion of the 50th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (March 23, 1973 - 2023). The following is the full text of the interview. Reporter: How do you evaluate the relations between Vietnam and Italy since the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic ties 50 years ago, especially since the upgrading of the relationship to a strategic partnership in January 2013? Ambassador Antonio Alessandro : I would use the words of the President of the Italian Republic Sergio Mattarella, who has just released a … [Read more...] about Italy – Vietnam relationship “strongly rooted in history”: Ambassador

Renato Darsie (R), Chairman of the Italy - Vietnam Friendship Sub-Association in Veneto , presents the right to use the Vietnamese cultural centre to a representative of Vietnamese students in May 2022. (Photo: VNA) Rome (VNA) – With multiple-year experiences, the Italy - Vietnam friendship sub-associations in regions of the European country can make practical contributions to the friendship and cooperation between the two countries by providing information on Vietnam to Italian people and businesses. So said Renato Darsie, Chairman of the Italy - Vietnam Friendship Sub-Association in the Veneto region, in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency. He described the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relationship (March 23, 1973 - 2023) as an important milestone marking the growing friendship and political, economic, and cultural ties between the two countries. Bilateral relations over the last 50 years are those of solidarity and friendship across the board as … [Read more...] about Friendship sub-associations practically help with Italy – Vietnam ties: insider

Jakarta (VNA) – The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) has called for the adoption of the ASEAN Quick Response (QR) Code by all ASEAN countries at the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (BAC) meeting. The transactions carried out via ASEAN QR Code will use local currencies, KADIN Chaiman Arsjad Rasjid said after chairing the ASEAN-BAC meeting in Magelang district, Central Java of Indonesia, on March 22. He said that if a transaction is conducted in Indonesia, it will use the rupiah. Likewise, if it is conducted in Thailand, it will use the Thai baht, and so on, he explained. The QR code adoption will also reduce the cost of transactions, thus it can be the key for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and bigger business players in ASEAN to collaborate, he said. The ASEAN QR Code is one of the comprehensive legacy programs promoted by KADIN as a solution to strengthen digital transformation in ASEAN, which is one of the five ASEAN-BAC priority … [Read more...] about Indonesia hastens ASEAN’s adoption of regional QR Code

Indonesian Muslims pray during the start of the holy month of Ramadan at the Baiturrahman Mosque in Banda Aceh, Aceh province, on May 5 (Photo: AFP/VNA) Jakarta (VNA) – Muslims in Indonesia began fasting for the Ramadan festive month on May 6. Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said the ministry had received nine reports on sightings of the moon in 102 observation points across the country to decide the beginning day of the most holy month of the year for Muslims in Indonesia. This decision was also considered at a meeting with representatives from the Supreme Court, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the National Institute of Aeronautics and Space (LAPAN), the Geospatial Information Agency (BIG), and experts from Islamic organisations, according to the Minister. On May 5, Tarawih prayer ceremony was observed in all mosques before the start of the fasting month. Ahead of the festive month, the Indonesian government has … [Read more...] about Muslim followers in Indonesia start Ramadan fasting month

The number of Cambodian travelers entering Vietnam is on the high rise, with the primary purpose of these visits quickly shifting from medical tourism to vacation tourism. Vietnam currently welcomes over one million Cambodian tourists each year – a figure which has surged since the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, many local travel firms claim the number of Vietnamese companies offering tourism geared toward Cambodian tourists remains limited. Extended stays According to Pham Ngoc Ha, deputy general director of Saco Travel Company, her firm has been facilitating travel for scores of weekend travelers from the Cambodian provinces which border Tay Ninh Province in southern Vietnam. Popular tourism attractions for these visitors were local pagodas and Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, many of these tours lasted just one day. Now more and more Cambodian tourists are opting for four-day, three-night tours to Ho Chi Minh City and other major … [Read more...] about Vietnam a major destination for Cambodian tourists

Nguyen Van Thanh, general director of GSM (left), and Vu Hoang Yen, general director of Be Group, signed a cooperative agreement on March 21 in Ha Noi. — Photo coutersy of Vinfast Vingroup's Green-Smart-Mobility JSC (GSM) and Be Group JSC, a technology company, signed a cooperative agreement on March 21 to introduce electric cars and motorbikes to Vietnam. The agreement outlines that GSM will directly invest in Be Group to support its goal of becoming a multi-service consumer platform and the top technology transport service in Vietnam. GSM will also assist Be Group's drivers in converting petrol vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) conveniently and easily. This new service aims to enhance the quality of service and optimise business efficiency for Be and its drivers. In the project's first phase, GSM will partner with local VPBank to offer exclusive preferential policies for Be's drivers to purchase or rent VinFast's electric cars or electric motorbikes at attractive prices. … [Read more...] about GSM works with Be to deploy electric car and motorbikes service