The inspection delegation will also supervise and monitor the cleaning, deodorization, disinfection, sanitization, and maintenance of toilets to ensure safety in schools.

In addition, the inspection delegations of the Departments of Education and Training of Thu Duc City and 21 districts will carry out periodic and unexpected inspections of meals, environment, hygiene, and sanitation in schools.

Deputy Director of the HCM City Department of Education and Training Duong Tri Dung said that each educational units needs to regularly self-inspect and promote the role of the parent representative board in directly inspecting and implementing regulations on school meals and environmental sanitation.

Yellow apricot villages in Central region busy for Tet crops

Despite the rainy weather in recent days, yellow apricot growers in An Nhon town, Binh Dinh Province, the home of apricot blossoms in the Central region, are busy taking care of the trees and harvesting for Tet.

Hundreds of workers were gathered in the apricot fields to pick the leaves of yellow apricot trees before the harvest.

Due to unusual weather, many apricot growers had planned to grow 500-1,000 yellow apricot pots to supply local markets for Tet celebrations.

The People’s Committee of An Nhon town also planned to host a festival displaying 5,300 ornamental yellow apricot trees to help farmers get a bountiful season. The festival will open on January 26 and end on January 29.

Over the past few days, apricot growing in An Nhon town has been developing strongly with a total area of more than 145 hectares to supply millions of apricot pots during Tet.

Bulgarian NA Speaker’s Vietnam visit to create great cooperation opportunities: legislator

The official visit to Vietnam by Speaker of the Bulgarian National Assembly (NA) Rosen Dimitrov Jeliazkov from January 5-9 will bring about great cooperation opportunities to both countries, Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese NA Committee for External Relations Don Tuan Phong has said.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on this occasion, Phong said since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1950, they have maintained the traditional friendship, especially after the visit to Bulgaria by President Ho Chi Minh in 1957.

Vietnam has received holehearted support from Bulgarian people during its past struggle for national independence and liberation as well as in the present cause of national construction and defence, he noted.

In the new period, the traditional friendship has been promoted and the bilateral cooperation covers across spheres, he said, adding that despite geographical distance, the two countries still wish to maintain and deepen the relationship.

Regarding legislative cooperation, Phong said it has been enhanced after the first memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by legislative leaders of the two countries in 2012.

Last year, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and his Bulgarian counterpart signed another in the former’s official visit to the European nation, aiming to elevate the legislative ties in all areas, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

Jeliazkov’s visit is the first by a foreign legislative leader to Vietnam in 2024, he said, emphasising that it demonstrates the importance Bulgaria attaches to the relationship with Vietnam and its wish to foster, upgrade and deepen the bilateral relationship, including the legislative ties.

The visit is also set to materialise the MoU reached by the two NAs in September 2023, he added.  

Jeliazkov is scheduled to hold talks with his Vietnamese counterpart, witness the signing of a number of cooperation documents, and attend a banquet to be hosted by NA Chairman Hue.

The Bulgarian leader will pay a courtesy visit to State President Vo Van Thuong, meet Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and visit some localities and the Vietnam National University – Hanoi, where he will also deliver a speech.

The Bulgarian side hopes to boost the bilateral relations in all fields, especially economy, trade, science-technology, education-training, culture, sports, tourism and cooperation between localities, among others, Phong said.

Parliamentary cooperation – important pillar in Vietnam-Bulgaria ties

The official visit to Vietnam by Speaker of the National Assembly of Bulgaria Rosen Dimitrov Jeliazkov from January 5-9 at the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue affirms that parliamentary cooperation is an important pillar in the relationship between the two countries.

Vietnam has paid due regard to multifaceted cooperation with countries in Central and Eastern Europe, with Bulgaria being its top priority partner. Last September, NA Chairman Hue paid an official visit to the country, and received the hearty welcome from Bulgarian leaders. During the visit, the two top legislators signed a new Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the two parliaments.

Over the past time, the bilateral parliamentary cooperation has been consolidated and developed robustly, with regular exchanges of high-ranking delegations, including the official visit to Bulgaria in 2007 by NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong, and the visits to Vietnam by Speakers of the Bulgarian NA in 2004 and 2012.

The two parliaments have maintained contact, coordination and support for each other at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership.

According to Vietnamese Ambassador to Bulgaria Do Hoang Long, Rosen’s trip marks the first by a high-ranking Bulgarian leader to Vietnam over a decade, following the visit by Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev in October 2013. Particularly, it is a reciprocal visit following the official trip to the European country by NA Chairman Hue in September last year.

This is a vivid illustration for the appreciation and sentiment that the Bulgarian State and people always extend to Vietnam as a traditional, reliable and loyal friend, and one of the most important partners in Southeast Asia, he said, highlighting the trip will open up new opportunities to bolster collaboration both bilaterally and multilaterally, towards the celebrations of the 75th founding anniversary of the Vietnam-Bulgaria diplomatic relations (February 8, 1950-2025).

With the above significance, the visit will focus on further nurturing the already robust political relations between the two countries through the Party, State, Government and people-to-people channels. On the other hand, it will present an opportunity for both sides to engage in discussions on global and regional issues of mutual concern; intensify substantial and effective bilateral ties, particularly in areas of their strengths such as trade-investment, education, health care, culture, tourism, labour, and locality-to-locality cooperation.

Through a busy agenda between the Bulgarian delegation and Vietnamese high-ranking leaders, ministries and agencies, he said, the Vietnamese side will affirm its consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of ties for peace, cooperation and development. It will also convey a message that Vietnam is a reliable and responsible partner in the international community, and seeks continued invaluable support from the European country on issues of shared interest, he added.

Education sector pledges to push ahead with innovation efforts

The Ministry of Education and Training held a conference to review the work in 2023 and deploy tasks for 2024 in Hà Nội on Thursday.

Minister of Education and Training Nguyễn Kim Sơn said 2023 was an important year in the roadmap for innovation in preschool, general, and higher education; a year with many significant tasks, challenges overcome, and practical achievements gained.

The education and training sector has gained more trust, support, consensus, and understanding from the leadership of the State, Party, National Assembly, Government, National Assembly deputies, and the people.

Within the sector, there is also great unity and agreement. "This is the strength for us to continue the challenging work in 2024," said minister Sơn.

The education chief noted that 2024 is a crucial year with a turning point in the innovation of general education, as the final grades are entering the implementation and preparation for the assessment of the entire reform cycle.

Alongside this, a series of tasks will need to be carried out according to the conclusions of the National Assembly's supervisory committee on the reforms of the curriculum and textbooks for general education.

Minister Sơn stressed 'Determination - Practicality - Quality - Spread' as keywords guiding the spirit of implementation for 2024.

"Innovation is never easy. We must demonstrate consistency and determination to continue the path of innovation. Additionally, education at all levels must always use quality as a measure for all activities," Sơn remarked.

The education sector will need to address issues of resources for innovation, especially human resources, tackling the shortage of teachers and improving the quality of the teaching staff.

The ministry will also work to submit to the Government the planning for the university and teacher training education network for 2021-30, with a vision to 2050; and planning for a specialised education system for people with disabilities and a system of centres supporting the development of inclusive education for 2021-30, with a vision to 2050.

Other work areas highlighted by the minister include intensifying the construction of a learning society with lifelong learning, institutional activities, and building legal documents, including the draft Law on Teachers, which is a significant task for 2024.

In 2023, the education ministry continued to promote administrative reform in association with digital transformation, implement online public services in education and training, and build a database for the education sector and connect this database with national databases on population and insurance.

Coast guard force continues focusing on IUU fishing prevention, combat in 2024

The coast guard will continue to focus on implementing drastic and synchronous measures to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in 2024, heard a conference held by the Vietnam Coast Guard (VCG) Command on January 3.

Along with protecting national sovereignty, maintaining security, order and safety on islands and at sea, the force will strictly maintain readiness to combat as well as prevent disasters, search and rescue, while speeding up reform, enhancing the quality of political and ideological education, and promoting the study and following of President Hồ Chí Minh’s ideology, moral example and lifestyle.

At the same time, the coast guard will continue to effectively promote international cooperation, and roll out measures to prevent and fight all kinds of crimes, said participants.

A report on the VCG operations in 2023 showed that the force completed all tasks for the year, while recommending policies and solutions to deal with arising problems to the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence.

During the year, coast guard officers conducted 18 search and rescue missions, saving 36 people, two fishing boats, one cargo ship and recovering three bodies.

It discovered and handled six cases of IUU fishing regulation violations involving seven vessels.

The VCG also showed strong performance in criminal prevention and control, investigating and handling 1,759 cases with 2,075 suspects, an increase of 573 cases and 672 suspects compared to 2022. The force collected VNĐ85 billion (US$3.48 million) of administrative fines and seized exhibits.

Agricultural sector urged to continue role in economic growth

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has urged the agricultural sector to keep its crucial role as the backbone of the economy, ensuring robust food security, contributing significantly to overall economic stability in 2024.

At the online conference to review the activities of 2023 and outline plans for 2024 organised by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on Wednesday, PM Chính affirmed that the agriculture sector has become more proactive and innovative with many initiatives to transform the challenging situation and make breakthroughs.

Reports at the conference evaluated that 2023 was a year of innovative thinking and growth model transformation in agriculture. The sector shifted strongly from a production-oriented mindset to an agricultural economic development perspective, moving from single-sector development to cooperation and diversification, promoting the integration of multiple values in agro-forestry-fishery products, and transitioning from agricultural product supply chains to developing industry-specific chains.

The agricultural sector witnessed a GDP growth of 3.83 per cent, the highest in recent years, contributing significantly to the overall economic growth of 5.05 per cent.

Rice production reached 43.5 million tonnes, an increase of 1.9 per cent compared to the previous year; pork production amounted to 7.79 million tonnes, an increase of 6.38 per cent; and aquatic product output reached 9.32 million tonnes, an increase of 2.3 per cent.

The total export turnover of agriculture, forestry and fishery maintained a high level, exceeding US$53 billion, with the highest trade surplus ever at $12.07 billion, an increase of 43.7 per cent compared to the previous year. Some items achieved record high growth, such as vegetables and fruits at $5.69 billion and rice at $4.78 billion, increases of 69.2 and 38.4 per cent, respectively.

Việt Nam succeeded in producing and exporting commercial vaccines to prevent African swine fever.

The "One Commune, One Product" (OCOP) programme has created diverse and rich products. The number of OCOP products rated three stars or above has now reached over 11,000 products, an increase of more than 2,000 compared to 2022.

For the first time, Việt Nam successfully sold 10.3 million carbon credits to the Carbon Partnership Fund, earning $1.2 trillion. This serves as a basis for continuing research and improving mechanisms and policies in the future.

In 2024, the agricultural sector has set the targets with indicators, including a GDP growth rate of 3-3.5 per cent, and total export turnover of agriculture, forestry and fishery at around $54-55 billion.

It has also targeted to reach 80 per cent of communes meeting new rural standards, the stable maintenance of forest coverage at 42.02 per cent, 58 per cent of rural households using clean water, and 82 per cent of communes meeting environmental and food safety criteria.

Speaking at the conference, PM Chính highly appreciated the results and achievements the agriculture sector has attained.

The ministry has focused on efficiently implementing numerous significant programmes, mechanisms and policies for the development of the sector, such as the strategic development plan for rural agriculture, the sustainable development project for one million hectares of high-quality rice cultivation with low emissions linked to green growth in the Mekong Delta region by 2030, and support policies to enhance livestock efficiency and farm economic development. Many events such as the International Rice and Rice Products Festival, and Cà Mau Shrimp Festival have been organised successfully, he said.

He noted that the ministry worked with relevant ministries and sectors to address difficulties in production and business activities. The VNĐ15 trillion credit package for the timber and fisheries industry has been disbursed quickly and effectively.

The Prime Minister also highlighted some limitations and challenges in the sector, such as not yet resolving IUU yellow card issues and some prolonged issues like the Bản Mồng water reservoir project.

PM Chính requested the agriculture sector to set higher overall growth targets of around 3.5-4 per cent in 2024, with agricultural, forestry and fishery exports reaching over $55 billion.

The Prime Minister emphasised the need to focus on innovation, promote digital and green transformation and circular economy. In the short term, attention should be given to building a database for the agriculture sector and developing the carbon credit market.

Efforts should continue to improve institutional frameworks, develop policies, strategies and planning, especially the remaining three national sector plans, including forestry development plan, protection of fisheries resources plan, and plan for the fishing port system, sheltering areas for fishing boats.

Efficient implementation of the "One Commune, One Product" (OCOP) programme and the "Sustainable Development of One Million Hectares of High-Quality Rice Cultivation with Low Emissions Linked to Green Growth in the Mekong Delta Region by 2030" project.

PM Chính also urged the application of high-tech, smart and automated technologies in agricultural production. The sector should improve supply and demand forecasting, market information, connect producers with consumers, and take advantage of benefits from free trade agreements to restructure the export market.

He stressed the development of the maritime economy, sustainable marine aquaculture and fisheries exploitation, and the addressing of the European Commission's recommendations to lift the yellow card in 2024.

PM Chính asked the sector to enhance the management, protection and development of forests, especially natural and protective forests, and complete the 2024 plan to implement the plantation of one billion trees in the 2021-2025 period.

He called on the sector to strengthen international integration and cooperation to develop agriculture and rural areas, while proactively fighting to protect the rights and interests of the country, safeguard Vietnamese agricultural products, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of citizens and businesses.

Autonomous universities should be given more money: University association

The Việt Nam Association of Universities (VNAU) is calling for the State to increase budget for autonomous universities.

“The State should not cut the budget of self-financing autonomous universities but on the contrary, it should increase budget support for schools that successfully implement the policy of university autonomy.”

That is one of recommendations in a report to the Government that the association has researched since 2014 on university autonomy.

Accordingly, VNAU recommended that university autonomy should not be implemented at the same time across all public universities, but there needs to be an appropriate roadmap.

In addition, the State needs to have different levels of autonomy for higher education institutions.

Legally, there are currently only 23 public universities that have the right to pilot university autonomy, the remaining universities are still operating under the governing mechanism.

Therefore, before broadly implementing university autonomy, the Government should periodically evaluate the pilot innovation of the operating mechanism of 23 public higher education institutions according to Resolution 77 on Pilot Innovation for New Operating Mechanism for Public Higher Education Institutions in the period 2014-2017.

"However, in the past few years, the Law No 34/2018/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Higher Education and Decree 99/2019 detailing and guiding the implementation the amendment and supplements of the Law on Higher Education as well as directions from some management agencies have made universities and the whole society mistakenly believe that all higher education institutions are given the right of full autonomy," VNAU’s report states.

Recent surveys showed that many universities, including many major ones, that have piloted autonomy, are not yet ready to voluntarily switch to an autonomy mechanism.

Therefore, in the near future, the Government needs to divide public universities into three groups of fully-autonomous, semi-autonomous and non-autonomous universities.

Autonomy can only be given to a collective leadership (i.e the school councils), not to individual principals. Otherwise, the principals can easily become dictators.

Therefore, only autonomous public universities really need school councils.

Notably, the report states: "It is completely unreasonable for the Ministry of Education and Training to have, in recent years, directed the mass establishment of school councils in universities that have not yet been converted to autonomous mechanisms or in universities where the governing agency has not voluntarily given up its direct management role over the institutions."

The association believed that eliminating the governing body or the governing body mechanism will stop the ‘asking and giving’ mechanism  and help the school councils have real power, but cannot deny their leadership role of State management agencies and Party committees.

"It should not equate autonomy with self-sufficiency in resources as currently thought.”

“The State should not cut the budget of autonomous universities, but on the contrary, it should increase budget support for schools that successfully implement the university autonomy policy, considering them as places worthy of the State's focused investment to quickly improve the quality of these schools, helping them soon become national key schools," the report said.

Meanwhile, for private universities, the association said that under Law 34/2018/QH14 and Decree 99/2019/NĐ-CP, there is a drawback that investors are given too much power, even being able to easily neutralise the school councils.

Therefore, it is necessary to study adjustments and supplements to complete the regulations for private universities.

Mekong province unveils major organic palmyra programme

An Giang Province plans to expand the area under organic palmyra palm trees and linkages between various stakeholders making products from their fruit for domestic and export sales.

The province has the largest number of palm trees in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta, predominantly in Tri Tôn District and Tịnh Biên Town, which have more than 35,000 of them.

The palm, which can live for up to 100 years, is utilised in its entirety: The flower nectar is employed in sugar production, while the fruits are consumed fresh or used in various food products. The leaves find purpose in thatching and crafting other items.

Thriving in dry areas in Tri Tôn and Tịnh Biên, this tree serves as a source of livelihood for many Khmer ethnic people.

Harvesting its fruits and flower nectar for sugar-making remains a traditional occupation, providing essential income for the locals.

Chau Don, located in Tri Tôn’s Châu Lăng Commune, owns 30 trees and usually harvesting flower nectar between the 11th and fifth lunar months. 

He manages to harvest approximately 50-80 liters of nectar daily, enough to make 15-20 kg of sugar.

Having grown up accompanying his father and others in nectar harvesting, he is used to climbing the trees.

He said this occupation supported his family's upbringing and continues to do so for his family, with he and his wife carrying on the tradition to support their two children.

Palmyra sugar, rich in vitamins and minerals, is highly sought after.

However, despite high demand, the traditional methods used by the Khmer mean quantity and quality fall short of market requirements.

To enhance quality and increase incomes for the Khmer, the province People’s Committee has approved a plan for until 2025 to zone areas for growing palmyra and produce organic products from it.

It aims to have 200 40-year-old palm trees in Tri Tôn and Tịnh Biên by 2025, with a focus on organic products.

The trees are known to produce more flower nectar as they age, with year-round fruit-bearing starting at 30-40 years.

The province's goal is to establish at least one certified production chain that links stakeholders producing and selling organic palmyra palm products by 2025.

It envisions profits from organic palm products being 1.5 – 2 times higher than from regular ones.

The province also aims for 80 percent of organic palmyra products having guaranteed company buyers by 2025 and 100 percent by 2030.

By 2030 Tri Tôn and Tịnh Biên are projected to have 500 trees for organic production, 200 trees in Tri Tôn and 300 in Tịnh Biên.

Nguyễn Thị Minh Thuý, deputy chairwoman of the province People’s Committee, emphasised that successful plan implementation involves providing knowledge about organic palmyra farming to households, co-operatives, co-operative groups, and production establishments.

The province would help them improve their farming techniques and make the transition to organic products, she promised.

It plans to pilot a model of producing organic palmyra products that involves collaboration with companies for guaranteed outlets, she said.

“The province will turn farming areas that intercrop palmyra with rice and other crops into organic farming areas.”

It aims to support the development of co-operatives and co-operative groups involved in organic palmyra growing and having linkages with companies. 

Assistance will be provided for producers to create brand names, promote sales and advertise their organic palm products.

To meet export market requirements, the province will identify markets for each type of product. 

Relevant departments and agencies are tasked with persuading companies to invest in producing organic palm products and collaborating with other stakeholders to sell them.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and Tri Tôn and Tịnh Biên have been assigned to survey areas for establishing organic palm growing areas.

They will collaborate with production establishments for palm sugar production.

Soil and water will be tested in palm growing areas for organic certification, and the province aims to have 11 such areas by 2030.

The province has helped producers of palm products such as sugar and wine get recognition under the national "One Commune-One Product" programme. 

Land use quota adjustment creates conditions for localities’ development: Deputy PM

Adjustment of land use targets did not take away land or other resources of localities, but only created conditions for further development, said deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà.

The Deputy Prime Minister yesterday chaired a meeting on plans to adjust land use targets as per Prime Minister’s Decision 326/QĐ-TTg, dated March 9, 2022.

The decision is to allocate quotas for national land use for the 2021-2030 period, vision to 2050, and a five-year National Land Use Plan of the 2021-2025 period.

The conference was held online in 63 provinces and centrally-run cities nation-wide.

The Deputy PM emphasised that the recent development of plans to allocate and adjust land use targets still encountered many difficulties and problems in planning, legal basis and practice.

Therefore, it is necessary to continue to adjust the allocation of land use targets to keep up with development requirements, from the perspective of ‘national interests first’, he told the meeting.

The adjustment needs to give priorities for key and national infrastructure projects to promote inter-provincial and inter-regional linkages and connection among economic and tourist zones, and the projects of economic restructuring and national development in localities with big advantages in attracting investment and effectively using land resources, he said.

Land quotas for industrial zones and urban areas must be adjusted based on the current status, forecast and potential assessments with scientific, objective, public and transparent performance, and flexible market requirements.

"Adjusting land targets does not take away local resources and land resources, but only brings opportunities for development. The Government will listen to localities to continue to adjust," Hà said.

He also noted that the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) has to strengthen the legal basis for older land funds in the spirit of ‘both encouraging and controlling this process with a scientific basis’.

According to the MONRE’s report, three types of land use criteria that receive a lot of comments from localities are industrial park land, transportation land and urban land.

The National Assembly decided that by 2025, the whole country will have 152,840ha of industrial park land (including existing industrial parks) while localities proposed to increase more than 49.5ha compared to the approved target.

Notably, some provinces have very low implementation and filling rates of industrial parks and are not in key industrial development areas but still propose additional increases.

MONRE has developed a plan to supplement industrial park land for provinces in development driving regions and industrial belts that have urgent needs, attracted investors, and have synchronous technical and social infrastructure meeting the conditions for industrial parks.

For provinces that do not receive adjustment or adjust downward, the public industrial land target still ensures the implementation of industrial parks that are proposing investment policies and attracting investment.

Regarding the transport land target, the ministry said that a few localities have demand to accelerate progress or supplement key national transport projects after reviewing and evaluating the medium-term public investment plan.

According to the ministry, most provinces have not reviewed land use targets allocated to the district level so when new projects arise, they proposed land quotas instead of reviewing and adjusting the local planning.

Moreover, the localities have not yet determined the order of priority for transport works and projects associated with the medium-term public investment plan and the ability to attract off-budget investment capital.

In the meeting, representatives of the provincial People's committees of Hà Nam, Đắk Nông, Đắk Lắk, Tuyên Quang, Thừa Thiên-Huế and Thái Nguyên requested to clarify the proposal of adjusting and supplementing land quotas for industrial parks and high-tech zones, and transport land to implement key national works and projects, as well as meet local socio-economic development requirements.

Leaders of ministries and sectors discussed and clarified principles and criteria of adjustment of land use targets allocated to localities, in the spirit that this is a very important development resource and must balance needs and efficiency, and have a long-term vision.

MONRE’s deputy minister Lê Minh Ngân said that the principle of adjusting land use targets must ensure publicity, transparency, savings and efficiency on the basis of balancing land use needs of sectors, fields and localities in accordance with reality for the common development goals of the country.

Lao newspapers highlight Laos – Vietnam cooperation achievements

Major newspapers in Laos on January 5 ran front-page articles on the official visit to Vietnam by Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone from January 6-7, highlighting that the visit will help strengthen the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

The Pasaxon (The People), the official newspaper of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, ran an article titled “Laos-Vietnam relations develop comprehensively”, affirmed that over the past year, the cooperation between the two countries has continuously developed, growing more comprehensive and achieving results in many aspects.

Political relations between Laos and Vietnam continue to be deepened, with the two sides jointly organising visits and experience exchanges at high-level and other levels from central to local. 

In 2023, Laos welcomed several top leaders of Vietnam including President Vo Van Thuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

Through all-level visits, both sides affirmed to continue to strengthen and enhance the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

In the fields of economics, trade, and investment, Vietnam continues to be one of the major foreign investors in Laos, and many projects invested by Vietnamese enterprises have made important contribution to local economic development and job creation.

In 2023, Vietnam also handed over to Laos several large aid projects such as the Laos-Vietnam Friendship hospital in Xiengkhouang province or the upgraded Xaysomboun hospital.

The article concluded that all the above-mentioned results have great and important significance and are the foundation for the further development of the two countries’ relations.

An editorial on the Pathet Lao also underlined the special significance of Laos-Vietnam relations and their cooperation achievements during the past time.

The article affirms that for the past over 60 years since the two countries established their diplomatic ties, Laos and Vietnam are always proud of their growing special solidarity.

It is this special solidarity that greatly contributes to the national protection and development of the two countries, the editorial said, adding that it is also a priceless asset that generations of people of Laos and Vietnam should continue to protect, foster and develop.

Lao PM’s Vietnam visit expected to create new momentum for bilateral ties

The upcoming trip to Vietnam by Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone is expected to create new impulse for the special cooperation between the two countries, especially economic collaboration, making it a firm pillar of the bilateral ties.

The Lao PM and his spouse will pay an official visit to Vietnam from January 6-7 at the invitation of Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh. During the visit, Sonexay Siphandone will also co-chair the 46th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee.

This is not only the first official visit to Vietnam by Sonexay Siphandone in his capacity as the PM of Laos, but also the first official visit to the Southeast Asian nation by a foreign high-ranking leader this year.

It takes place in the context that the bilateral cooperation is growing fruitfully, and agreements reached by Party leaders and Governments as well as joint statements being implemented effectively in all areas, contributing to maintaining the growth pace of the relationship.  

The trip holds great importance as it reaffirms the close ties between the two Parties, Governments and peoples, while demonstrating special characteristics of the relationship, and joint efforts in maintaining it.

The year 2023 witnessed significant achievements in the Vietnam-Laos collaboration across fields, contributing to ensuring stable development in each country, and consolidating and strengthening their great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation.

The bilateral political cooperation was reinforced, maintaining its core role in the relationship. Cooperation agreements in national defence and security were put in place, helping maintain social stability and order in each country, and build a common borderline of peace, stability, friendship, and comprehensive development.

The two sides coordinated in searching and repatriating remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who laid down their lives during the wartime in the neighbouring country.

Economic, investment, trade, cultural, and scientific-technological ties have been expanded and deepened over the past time. Notably, economic collaboration has served as important momentum for the bilateral relationship.

Laos always ranks first among the 79 countries and territories where Vietnam has invested, and Vietnam remains a leading investor in Laos.

The two countries have worked together to handle obstacles to their economic and trade cooperation, and step up transport infrastructure connectivity, as well as cooperation in energy, telecoms and tourism.
 
Such projects as the Hanoi-Vientiane Expressway and the Vung Ang-Vientiane railway have been accelerated by both sides.

Progress has also been made in collaboration in education and personnel training, as reflected through the number of scholarships Vietnam has given to its neighbor, which reached 1,120 last year, raising the total to 14,050 so far.

Vietnamese and Lao border localities have cooperated and supported each other, especially in infrastructure construction, health care, education-training, human resources development, and guaranteeing security and order.

The two countries have maintained their close, effective coordination at multilateral forums, particularly the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), ASEAN-led mechanisms, the United Nations (UN), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and Mekong sub-regional cooperation mechanisms, helping raise their position in the international area.

As part of the trip, PM Sonexay Siphandone and his Vietnamese counterpart will co-chair the 46th meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee, one of the most important annual cooperation mechanisms between the two countries.

The meeting will review the implementation of commitments made at the previous edition, and set out cooperation plans and orientations for 2024 and beyond.

It is hoped to create breakthroughs in the bilateral economic cooperation, making its more intensive in the time ahead.

Ambassador wants press to continue connecting Vietnam, Indonesia

Vietnamese Ambassador to Indonesia Ta Van Thong held a New Year meeting with the media in Jakarta on January 4, during which he expressed his hope that the press of Vietnam and Indonesia will continue contributing to promoting the partnership between the two countries and acting as a bridge for friendship between the two peoples.

The diplomat expressed his delight at the progress in the Vietnam-Indonesia relations in 2023, with the exchange of many delegations at all levels, including high level.

Notably, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the 43rd ASEAN Summit and related meetings in Indonesia, and met with Indonesian President Joko Widodo on the sidelines of the 28th UN Climate Change Conference in the UAE. Meanwhile, Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue paid an official visit to Indonesia and attended the 44th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-44) in Indonesia.

The high-level visits and meetings contributed to making the Vietnam-Indonesia strategic partnership more substantial, and promoting bilateral ties to a new height in the coming time, he said, adding that many cooperation agreements were also reached.

The diplomat underlined that Indonesia is one of the leading important partners of Vietnam in the region, with big steps forwards made in bilateral economic cooperation.

Both countries are active members of ASEAN and actively engage cooperation for the development of the ASEAN Economic Community, Thong stated.

At the meeting, the ambassador answered many questions on various issues, including potential economic and trade cooperation areas between the two countries, popular tourist destinations of Vietnam, opportunities for Halal food products in the Vietnamese market, and Vietnam’s experience in selling and exporting products that both countries produce such as coffee, rice, peppercorn and aquatic products.

Source: VNA/SGT/VNS/VOV/Dtinews/SGGP/VGP/Hanoitimes