International Cooperation

Vietnam and Thailand held the seventh political consultation under the chair of Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung and Permanent Secretary of the Thai Foreign Ministry Busaya Mathelin in Hanoi on January 20th.

Chilean Vice Minister of Trade Rodrigo Yáñez has said his Vietnam visit aims to further boost the Vietnam - Chile ties and expand cooperation within the framework of the bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) signed in 2011, especially in investment and services.

Head of Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations (UN), Ambassador Dang Dinh Quy on January 17th met President of the UN General Assembly’s 74th session Tijiani Muhammad-Bande to discuss improving the efficiency of the UN’s operations.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Pham Vinh Quang had a working session with the host Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Edhy Prabowo on January 17th.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on January 17th received Douglas Elmendorf, Dean of the Harvard Kennedy School at the Harvard University; Thomas Vallely, Director of the Vietnam Programme at Harvard University; and representatives of the Fulbright University Vietnam (FUV).

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh received Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof in Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province, on January 17th on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ retreat.

Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong has exchanged greetings with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the VN-China diplomatic ties.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Tran Ngoc An has affirmed that Vietnam, as Chair of ASEAN in 2020, supports stronger collaboration between ASEAN And the UK across trade and investment, as well as cooperation for peace, security and development.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh highly appreciated the significant contributions of journalists to the external work in 2019, which helped increase the image and position of Vietnam in the world.

​Developing the Vietnam-China traditional relationship in a more fruitful, stable and healthier manner is the common responsibility of both sides and also an inevitable and objective requirement in accordance with the basic interests and aspirations of the two countries’ people, said a senior Party official.

The Foreign Ministry, in coordination with the Hanoi People’s Committee, held a gathering on the occasion of the Vietnamese traditional New Year for the diplomatic corps in the capital city on January 14th.

The Vietnamese Embassy in China held a ceremony on January 13th marking the 70th anniversary of the Vietnam – China diplomatic ties.

The central city of Da Nang will step up cooperation with its Japanese partners to promote investment, trade, tourism, education and cultural exchanges with the Japanese side, a municipal leader has said.

Advancing ASEAN’s contribution to maintaining regional peace, security and stability has been identified as one of five key priorities for Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2020, wrote Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh in an article. Below is a translation of the article.

Leaders of the United Nations and officials of some countries highly valued Vietnam’s international stature while meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in New York on January 9th – 10th.

The 10th Meeting of the Committee of the Whole for the ASEAN Economic Community (CoW 10) was held in Hanoi on January 11th by the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The first-round meeting of the joint working group on Vietnam-Cambodia border gates was held in Hanoi on January 9th.

Given the recent tensions in the Middle East, Vietnam’s representative agencies in the region and domestic relevant parties are ready to take citizen protection measures when necessary, said Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang.

Vietnam is developing an e-government and cyber security, hence the country wants to cooperate with Japan – a reliable partner – in these fields, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

​At a reception in Hanoi on January 8th for visiting first CEO of the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Adam Boehler, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc highlighted that the visit manifests the trust and good will for cooperation with practical contributions to the bilateral relations.

Vietnam always attaches importance to the relations of friendship and cooperation with Japan, taking it as the country’s long-term partner of top importance, a leading Party official said on January 8th.

Vietnam’s assumption of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)’s non-permanent membership for the 2020-2021 tenure and the UNSC’s presidency in January 2020 is a valuable opportunity for the country to contribute constructively and responsibly to the international community’s common affairs.

The 41st anniversary of the victory over the Pol Pot genocidal regime in Cambodia was marked at a get-together in Ho Chi Minh city on January 7th.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Japanese FM Motegi Toshimitsu expressed their delight at the impressive development of the Vietnam - Japan extensive strategic partnership over the past years, during their talks in Hanoi on January 6th.

​Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on January 6th sent sympathies to his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison over massive fires which has caused huge losses to the country.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on January 6th sent sympathies to his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Techo Hun Sen over the recent collapse of an under-construction building in Cambodia’s Kep province, which claimed many lives.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Lao counterpart Thongloun Sisoulith affirmed that the 42nd meeting of the Vietnam – Laos Inter-Governmental Committee is a success.

Vietnam is ready to take on the role of ASEAN Chair in 2020, making contributions to building a cohesive and responsive ASEAN Community, said Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung.

Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith is leading a delegation to Vietnam for a visit and to co-chair the 42nd meeting of the Vietnam – Laos Inter-Governmental Committee from January 2nd to 4th at the invitation of his counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

While the world saw profound instability in 2019, the Pacific – Asia region proved to be the leading region in terms of economic integration, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh has said.