Face changes with age

The Australian top diplomat said the ties between the countries run deep. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong today [June 27] met with Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son in Hanoi as part of her three-day visit to affirm the new Australian government’s commitments to continue the Strategic Partnership with Vietnam. Vietnam's Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (R) and Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Hanoi on June 27. Photos: Baoquocte In the visit which was made one month after she was sworn in as Australian Foreign Minister, Wong affirmed the role of Vietnam in the regional architecture and the two countries in the regional peace and security. In Vietnam, Wong will meet with President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and Chairman of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung. Her trip comes ahead of next year’s 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Australia. Before the … [Read more...] about Penny Wong arrives in Hanoi, affirming new Australian cabinet relations with Vietnam

In his speech at the event, Thang stressed that the establishment of VAC aims to realize the Joint Statement of the Prime Ministers of the two countries in September 2019, and is an important highlight in the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Australia, as well as a practical activity towards the 50th founding anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries. The opening of this portal is a necessary initial step for the development of the center, which is hoped to contribute to improving the capacity of Vietnamese officials and managers to meet the requirements of integration and development of the country, and to strengthening up the sustainable Vietnam-Australia cooperation. Penny Wong, who is on an official visit to Vietnam from June 26-28, said the VAC will play an important role in enriching the knowledge of future Vietnamese officials trained at the academy, as well as promoting cooperation and strengthening links between the people of the two … [Read more...] about Vietnam-Australia Center’s portal makes debut

The visit will be made at the invitation of Lord Speaker of the House of Lords John McFall and Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle. The parliaments of Vietnam and the U.K. have recorded cooperation strides in the recent past. They have maintained delegation exchanges at all levels, including the visits by Vietnam’s N.A. Chairman Nong Duc Manh in 1994, Nguyen Van An in March 2005 and Nguyen Sinh Hung in December 2011, and the trip by Deputy Speaker of the U.K. House of Commons Eleanor Laing in October 2016. The two sides have also frequently held mutual visits between their parliaments’ committees, and by the British All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Vietnam and the Vietnam - U.K. Parliamentary Friendship Group. Most recently, an N.A. delegation led by Chairman of the Committee for Science, Technology and the Environment Le Quang Huy attended the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)’s pre-COP26 parliamentary meeting and met with the head of the British parliamentary … [Read more...] about Official visit by N.A. leader to reinforce Vietnam – U.K. parliamentary ties

The ministry said it is collecting opinions from other ministries and departments on a draft report on measures to combat Covid-19 in the "new normal" situation for submission to the government. The latest assessment comes more than two months after the PM had asked the health ministry to work on declaring Covid-19 an endemic. The ministry said that from March until now, the number of new Covid-19 cases and deaths has "stably decreased," and the number officially registered with the national database has stayed at fewer than 1,000 cases each day in recent times while the death rate has fallen to 0.06 percent of the total number of infections. Vietnam has covered almost 80 percent of its 96-million population with two vaccine doses; and the group of those from five years old are to receive the second doses within June. Despite this, the ministry said it was not the right time for Vietnam to consider Covid-19 endemic because the novel coronavirus is constantly changing and it is … [Read more...] about Not time yet to declare end of Covid-19: health ministry

They "will have the opportunity to engage over the course of the next few weeks," National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said. A new call between the leaders of the world's two biggest economies has been long expected amid tensions over trade, China's sabre rattling around Taiwan, and pressure on Beijing not to help Russia get around Western sanctions over the Ukraine invasion. A week ago, Biden said he planned on "having a conversation with President Xi." "We haven't set a time yet," he said, while a few days earlier he'd said the call could be "soon". The last video conference between the two leaders was on March 18, when Biden warned Xi against assisting Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. A key item in the next discussion will be Biden's possible decision to lift some of the trade tariffs imposed under Donald Trump, with billions of dollars of Chinese imports facing 25 percent duties. The penalties were aimed at punishing what the United States says are China's … [Read more...] about Biden, Xi to contact each other in ‘next few weeks’: US official

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie shared her favorite pho ga with Foreign Minister Wong and chef Sam Tran during the minister’s visit to Vietnam, the Australian Embassy in Hanoi wrote in a Facebook post Monday. "The Foreign Minister heard from Sam on the history and significance of pho and how to eat pho in the traditional Hanoian style, and the three shared views on Australia and Vietnam's strong people-to-people links." Pho , an iconic dish of Vietnam, is a bowl of flat, soft rice noodles dipped in a fragrant beef or chicken broth flavored with different condiments. It is served with beef or chicken, shallots and chili and lemon to taste. Wong was Australia's first Minister for Climate Change in 2007-10 and Minister for Finance in 2010-13. She became foreign minister last month. Vietnam and Australia established diplomatic relations in 1973 and became strategic partners in 2018. … [Read more...] about Australian foreign minister enjoys chicken noodle soup in Hanoi

Reciprocating her sentiment, her Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son welcomed Wong’s choice of Vietnam as her first Southeast Asian destination since taking office last month. He said her visit would strengthen and boost bilateral relations. Wong will conclude her official visit to Vietnam on Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. She said Australia has always valued Vietnam's role in the region and that the new government was committed to further strengthening the strategic partnership with Vietnam. The two ministers agreed that it was important the two countries strengthen cooperation in sectors and industries hit hard by the pandemic like tourism, education, and labor cooperation, as well as traditional areas like trade, investment, defense and security. They also agreed that the two countries would expand collaboration in climate change, green growth, and sustainability. Son wanted Australia to continue contributing to regional cooperation with … [Read more...] about Australia values Vietnam’s partnership, regional role: FM

Peter Bernhardt, team leader of the ARISE+ Vietnam project Since coming into force in August 2021, the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) has become an effective tool for boosting trade ties between the EU and Vietnam. What should Vietnam pay attention to in order to benefit more from this deal? I agree that the overall picture of EVFTA performance in this starting period, where exporters and government authorities from both sides have to adapt to the new situation, looks definitely promising. The EVFTA is the most ambitious FTA that the EU has ever signed with a developing country. The deal will mutually lift about 99 per cent of the tariffs within 10 years. Duty was lifted from 65 per cent of EU exports to Vietnam and 71 per cent of Vietnamese exports to the EU, immediately after the EVFTA came into effect. As most Vietnamese exporting products are consumer products, the real challenge Vietnam exporters will face to comply with EU consumer protection regulations is … [Read more...] about EU supporting comprehensive implementation of the EVFTA

Ben Tre coconut-based dishes set World Record (Photo: VNA) Ben Tre (VNA) – The World Records Union ( WorldKings ) and the Vietnam Records Organisation ( Vietkings ) on June 27 recognised the 222 coconut-based dishes cooked at an event held in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre. The decisions on the recognition were presented to the provincial People’s Committee at the event, which is part of the activities to celebrate Vietnamese poet Nguyen Dinh Chieu’s 200th birth anniversary (1822 -2022). Addressing the event, Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Be Muoi said the recognition contributes to promoting Ben Tre’s culture and tourism. 222 coconut-based dishes presented at an event (Photo: VNA) The dishes show the creativity of the chefs to create unique, attractive and healthy dishes. Ben Tre, the country’s largest coconut-producing province, plans to develop more organic coconut farming as the tree is resistant to saltwater and … [Read more...] about Ben Tre coconut-based dishes set World Record

Vietnam has banned swimming and scuba diving at a popular central tourist spot in an attempt to revive its damaged coral reef, officials said Monday. The Southeast Asian nation boasts more than 3,200 kilometres of coastline with crystal clear waters, vibrant sea life and sandy beaches that are a huge tourism draw. Coral reefs across Southeast Asia have been badly hit by global warming, with scientists warning their degradation could have devasting environmental and economic knock-on effects. Recent photos taken off Hon Mun island -- about 14 kilometres from the city of Nha Trang and popular with divers thanks to its diverse ecosystem -- showed the reef bleached and damaged. "The Nha Trang bay management authority decided to halt swimming and scuba diving activities in areas around Hon Mun island," officials said. In a statement they said the ban was to "evaluate the condition of sensitive area so that an appropriate plan to enact the sea conservation area" could be made. … [Read more...] about Vietnam halts scuba diving off popular island to protect coral