G20 trade ministers meeting 2018

It would be the first such meeting of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations since the member country's military ousted the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1. The Kyodo News Agency quoted sources as saying that most ASEAN countries have expressed readiness to attend the meeting, with Myanmar's military-appointed Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin also asked to attend. The meeting is likely to be a hybrid form with some attending in person and others joining virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to one of the sources. An in-person meeting would be held in the Indonesian capital Jakarta, where ASEAN has its secretariat. In Thailand on February 24, Wunna Maung Lwin arrived in Thailand to hold diplomatic negotiations related to recent political developments in the country. Wunna Maung Lwin’s engaging in the negotiations showed Myanmar’s efforts in cooperating with ASEAN to seek solutions to political issues in the country. ASEAN comprises 10 member countries. Myanmar joined the association in 1997. In early February, in a statement, ASEAN called on the sides to seek dialogue and reconciliation to bring the situation back to normal soon. The statement highlighted the importance of ASEAN member states’ political stability in achieving peace, stability, and prosperity for the ASEAN Community. The military of Myanmar pledged to hold an election and transfer the power, while rejecting the accusation of conducting coup d'état as well as violence in protests inside the country. Source: VNA …

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Prof. Dr. Andreas Stoffers - Country director, Vietnam The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom The United Kingdom is an important trading partner of Vietnam. In 2020, trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $6.6 billion. With $5.8 billion in exports, Vietnam’s trade balance was clearly positive, which also underlines the country’s strong interest in reaching an amicable agreement with the UK. In recent years, despite the uncertainties associated with Brexit, the growth of trade relations has been unbroken, averaging 12.1 per cent per annum in 2011-2019. The trade relations between the EU and Vietnam are naturally greater given the fact that the EU is the world’s largest market. In 2019, the EU was the second-most important overseas market for Vietnamese products with a total trade volume of $56.45 billion, of which Vietnam’s exports accounted for two-thirds ($41.55 billion). This is 16 per cent of the country’s total export volume. In 2020, exports to the EU increased to $34.8 billion, and imports to $14.5 billion. Vietnam benefits significantly more from bilateral economic relations than the EU. The continuous surplus Vietnam enjoys in its bilateral trade relations with the EU has been instrumental in offsetting Vietnam’s huge trade deficits with China and South Korea. Vietnam exports mainly electronics, footwear, clothing and textiles, coffee, seafood, and furniture. The most important goods of EU exports to Vietnam are high-tech products including boilers, machinery and mechanical products, electrical machinery and equipment, pharmaceuticals, and a very limited number of motor vehicles. The EVFTA opens many opportunities for producers and traders on both sides, including small- and medium-sized enterprises. The EVFTA is of course one of the most modern and far-reaching agreements of its kind. It plays an important role in promoting trade liberalisation between Vietnam and the EU. Combined with the new Law on Investment which …

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Senior Colonel Quach Huu Trung, Director of Hospital 199 said that in 2020, the hospital combined with medical facilities and other relevant sectors in the city to meet the requirements of examining, treatment and handling emergency situations related to epidemic, flooding, accident, massive injuries, etc. As for the Covid-19 prevention and control, the hospital has received, isolated, monitored and treated 368 Covid-19 suspected cases, including 96 foreign cases from 32 countries and territories, 528 patients from other local hospitals. In addition, the hospital took sample for SARS-CoV-2 testing from 2,829 police officers, 659 medical staffs and 1,718 patients and other subjects. Besides that, the medical facility has also widened remote examining and treatment for soldiers and people in the Central and Central Highlands regions. On the occasion, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Van Son highly appreciated the great efforts by medical staff and doctors during the passing time although 2020 was remembered as a year of difficulties and challenges for the medical sector. On the other hand, the delegation leader suggested that the hospital should enhance cooperation and connection with local and international medical facilities for experience exchange and studying. By Xuan Quynh- Translated by Huyen Huong …

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