Policy and implementation

The event was chaired by Deputy Defense Minister Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien and attended by Deputy Chief of the General Department of Political Affairs (GDP) Lieutenant General Trinh Van Quyet and Deputy Chief of the General Staff Sr. Lt. Gen. Phung Si Tan. The conclusion on international integration and defense diplomacy by 2030 and the years to come holds important significance. It is to implement Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation, and development, diversification and multilateralization of external relations; ensuring the highest national interests based on fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, equality, cooperation, and mutual benefits; being a friend, a reliable partner, and an active and responsible member of the international community. To effectively actualize the conclusion, the MND assigned the GDP to direct its relevant agencies to study and cooperate … [Read more...] about Conference implements conclusion on international integration and defense diplomacy

The event was chaired by Second-in-Command and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Hai Duong provincial Military Command Senior Colonel Nguyen Trong Hung. Over the past time, units under the provincial military command have strictly observed combat readiness regulations and guard duties; ensured personnel, equipment, and vehicles for missions. In 2022, the provincial armed forces cooperated with local units to mobilize 600 troops to help locals respond to dike-related incidents, fires and explosions, and forest fires and overcome their consequences. At the conference, delegates discussed and proposed measures to enhance the efficiency of the work in the coming time. In particular, the province’s armed forces will continue to study and strictly carry out documents on responding to disasters, incidents, natural disasters, and carrying out search and rescue operations; focus on dissemination and education to enhance troops’ awareness and responsibility. Senior Colonel Nguyen Trong Hung … [Read more...] about Hai Duong’s armed forces implement natural disasters response missions

Earlier, ASEAN member countries convened a meeting to coordinate their stances. Ambassador Vu Ho, Acting Head of ASEAN SOM Vietnam, led a Vietnamese delegation to the meetings. Myanmar, the coordinator of ASEAN - China ties, and China co-chaired the 20th SOM-DOC which took place after nearly two years of hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the meeting, delegates reaffirmed the value and importance of DOC in the region. They highly appreciated the positive results in the DOC implementation over the past time. They highlighted the effective implementation of specific cooperation activities in marine environment protection, marine scientific research, humane and fair treatment of fishermen, search and rescue operations at sea. They also noted activities in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the signing of the DOC in 2022. The delegates showed their concerns about the complex developments in the East Sea (South China Sea) which erode trust, increase tensions, and affect … [Read more...] about ASEAN, Chinese senior officials meet on DOC implementation

Jakarta (VNA) - Indonesia will continue exporting some raw minerals in 2024 in the context that domestic companies are rushing to finish smelters to process the metal ore, said Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif. The resource-rich country had planned to ban exports of all metal ore starting in June 2023 to encourage investment in the domestic processing industry . But copper, iron ore, lead, zinc and anode mud from copper concentrates will be allowed to leave the country until May next year so smelters, many of which were delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, would be ready to handle the materials. The minister said banning exports prematurely would cost the country revenue and jobs. Companies can keep exporting if they pay export duties and if their smelters were at least half-completed as of January. But they will be fined for every month of delay, Arifin noted. The Indonesian government has said it would exempt copper miners Freeport Indonesia and … [Read more...] about Indonesia to allow exports of five raw minerals

Head of the Centre for Bilateral Regional Policy of the Indonesian Finance Ministry’s Fiscal Policy Agency Nella Sri Hendriyetty speaks at the Plenary and Caucus Meeting of the ACAFTA Sub Working Group on Financial Services  from May 22–24, 2023. (Photo: antaranews.com) Jakarta (VNA) - The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has continued to strengthen economic cooperation through the ASEAN-Canada Free Trade Agreement (ACAFTA) negotiations to respond to the impacts of the ongoing global economic slowdown . According to Nella Sri Hendriyetty, head of the Centre for Bilateral Regional Policy of the Indonesian Finance Ministry’s Fiscal Policy Agency (BKF), the negotiations are important for Indonesia to expand market access for both goods and services. In her opening remarks at the Plenary and Caucus Meeting of the ACAFTA Sub Working Group on Financial Services held in Banten province from May 22–24, Nella affirmed that the effort could also increase … [Read more...] about ASEAN speeds up FTA negotiations with Canada

Chief of Staff of the Coast Guard Region 3 Command Senior Colonel Nguyen Minh Khanh and Director of the MRCC III Nguyen Bao Anh co-chaired the conference. Under the deal, the two units will promote coordination in exchanging information, supporting each other in search and rescue missions, giving recommendations to higher levels to deal with arising issues in a timely and effective manner, and implementing the “four on-the-spot” motto in search and rescue at sea. Meanwhile, both sides will organize training activities and exercises to raise expertise, carry out dissemination activities among fishermen and ship owners to raise their awareness of ensuring safety for personnel and vehicles during maritime activities and other activities taking place at sea, among others. Over the past years, the MRCC III and the Coast Guard Region 3 Command have clearly defined their position and missions in coordination activities in search and rescue at sea while promoting practicing search and … [Read more...] about Coordination regulation on search and rescue at sea signed

At the event, Naval Brigade 125’s officers updated locals on the strategic role of sea and islands in the national construction and defense cause, the outcomes of the fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing from 2022, the developments of political and security situation at sea and on islands, and the Party’s guidelines and State’s policies on settling sea-related issues. The naval officers popularized the core role of the Vietnam People’s Navy in the search and rescue at sea and its policies to attract resources to develop a revolutionary, regular, elite, and modern service. Deputy Head of the provincial Party Committee’s Information and Education Commission Vo Thanh Do affirmed the importance of Brigade 125’s information dissemination activity in Ben Tre. He said that such an activity would contribute to raising cadres, Party members, and locals’ awareness of and responsibility for protecting national sovereignty over sea and islands. The activity would … [Read more...] about Naval Brigade 125 disseminates sea and islands-related information in Ben Tre

Like the dry locks of Sinh Ton (Sin Cowe), Song Tu Tay (Southwest Cay), and Da Tay (West Reef) islands, the dry lock of Truong Sa Island is seen as a firm fulcrum for the task of marine economic development on Truong Sa archipelago. Stepping off fishing trawlers moored in the dry lock, captain of trawler NT 90228 TS Le Xuan Du received me. Du and crew-members on board come from Phuoc Dinh commune, Thuan Nam district, Ninh Thuan province. He shared that on average the trawler conducts fishing in the open sea for about 16 days, unless the trawler experiences some problems. They often make thorough preparations for the trip; however, things sometimes do not go as planned. In the past, Truong Sa archipelogo did not have any dry locks. When receiving the information about the upcoming storms, fishing trawlers ran back to the shore, resulting in the loss of money and materials. The dry lock is a place for fishing boats to take a rest and receive logistic and technical services. Thanks to … [Read more...] about Happy smiles on dry lock of Truong Sa

Participants at the meeting (Photo: VNA) Can Tho (VNA) - Offcicials of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho city and relevant departments and sectors had a working session with representatives from Russian businesses on May 27 to discuss investment cooperation opportunities in terms of supply chain, import-export, technical infrastructure and logistics in the locality. Shigabutdinov Ruslan - Member of the Board of Directors of TAIF Group said that with its strength in petrochemical refining, the firm wishes to learn about the fields of seaport services, logistics and petrochemical refining in the locality. Local representatives briefed Russian investors on Can Tho’s potential, orientation and policies for calling for investment, while infỏrming guests about the development plan of industrial park infrastructure projects and logistics centres in the city. Tran Phu Loc Thanh, Deputy Chief of Office of the municipal People's Committee said the locality prioritises … [Read more...] about Russian enterprises explore investment opportunities in Can Tho