Talking to First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel, PM Chinh affirmed that the Party, State, Government, National Assembly, and people of Vietnam never forget Cuba’s wholehearted assistance for Vietnam’s struggle for national liberation, always treasure and stay determined to further intensify the traditional solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, and support the just revolutionary cause of the Cuban people.

He underlined Vietnam’s consistent stance of not supporting but demanding the unilateral sanctions against Cuba be removed.

The PM held that the two sides should maintain close cooperation to enhance trade and investment links and develop their economic ties on par with the sound political relations as directed and wished by the countries’ Party and State leaders.

He pledged to direct Cuban ministries and sectors to work more closely with Vietnam to promote bilateral economic, investment, and trade ties, especially in agriculture to guarantee food security.

Both leaders also affirmed coordination to organise activities marking the 50 years since Cuban leader Fidel Castro Ruz visited the liberated zone in South Vietnam in September 1973, especially during the coming trip to Vietnam by President of the Cuban National Assembly of People’s Power Esteban Lazo Hernandez.

Meeting with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, PM Chinh stressed the great importance Vietnam attaches to the traditional friendship and cooperation with Romania, and thanked the European country for its vaccine support for Vietnam during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To continue fostering bilateral ties, he called on both sides to increase meetings and mutual visits, especially at the high level, continue making trade and investment breakthroughs so that the relations live up to the countries’ potential and advantages. They also need to boost cooperation in labour and education - training, which are their traditional cooperation fields, and share experience in the sustainable management of the Mekong and Danube deltas.

President Iohannis applauded the development of the countries’ partnership, particularly in economy - trade.

He pledged that Romania will work to further promote all-round ties with Vietnam, especially in economy, trade, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges, so that bilateral relations match the development of the countries’ ties.

At the meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda, PM Chinh highlighted Vietnam always treasures and hopes to reinforce the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Poland, a priority partner in Central and Eastern Europe. He also thanked the Polish Government and people for actively assisting Vietnam in the pandemic response.

He suggested both countries step up all-level delegation exchanges via all channels to enhance mutual political trust and understanding and expand cooperation in all fields. He called on the Polish Government to continue creating optimal conditions for the Vietnamese community in Poland to live, work, and integrate well into the local society.

President Duda highly valued Vietnam’s achievements in socio-economic recovery and development after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Polish leader expressed his special attention to fostering economic ties and perceived that there remains much cooperation potential in education - training, information technology, health care, pharmaceutical, and agriculture. He also asked for the Vietnamese Government’s support for Polish businesses to invest in the Southeast Asian nation.

Also on September 20, PM Chinh told Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar during their meeting that Vietnam always attaches importance to and wishes to strengthen the traditional friendship with Slovenia, one of its priority partners in Europe.

He asked the countries to boost mutual visits at all levels, especially in 2024 when they celebrate the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations, and effectively implement the EU - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). The PM also called on the Slovenian Parliament and Government to soon complete the ratification of the EU - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and raise their voice so that the European Commission (EC) will lift the “yellow card” warning over illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing for Vietnam’s fisheries sector.

Noting PM Chinh’s opinions, President Musar said Slovenia always views Vietnam as one of its propriety partners in Southeast Asia, and that it will bolster multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam.

She also asked both sides to enhance cooperation in some potential areas such as labour, science - technology, natural resource protection, pharmaceutical, and environmental protection.

At the meeting with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, PM Chinh said Vietnam always attaches importance to the traditional friendship and sound cooperation with Finland.

To further boost bilateral ties, he recommended the countries increase all-level delegation exchanges to develop their relations in a more substantive and effective manner, while continuing to foster trade and investment ties to create momentum for bilateral relations to grow strongly. He also highlighted Vietnam’s hope to boost exporting farm produce, leather - footwear, textile - garment, and other products to Finland.

The PM appealed to the Finnish Parliament and Government to soon finalise the EVIPA ratification to facilitate equal and mutually beneficial investment ties. He also asked Finland to support the EC’s removal of the “yellow card” warning for Vietnam’s fisheries sector.

Hailing the development of bilateral cooperation, especially since the EVFTA took effect, President Niinisto expressed his hope that their countries will not only promote bilateral cooperation but also serve as bridges linking Finland with ASEAN, Vietnam with the EU, and between ASEAN and the EU.

At the meetings, PM Chinh and the European leaders affirmed that their countries will keep strengthen cooperation and mutual support at multilateral forums, including the United Nations, and step up coordination within ASEAN and EU cooperation mechanisms.

Talking to his Thai counterpart Srettha Thavisin also on September 20, PM Chinh noted that Thailand is an important and trustworthy partner of Vietnam in the region, expressing his delight at the progress of bilateral ties amid the 10th anniversary of the countries’ strategic partnership.

To keep fostering the Vietnam - Thailand cooperation, he pointed out four focuses that should be promoted, namely effectively carrying out the action plan for implementing the enhanced strategic partnership for 2022 - 2027; further opening their markets and providing more favourable conditions for both sides’ businesses so as to achieve the trade target of 25 billion USD in a balanced and mutually beneficial manner; enhancing cooperation in education - training, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges; and maintaining close coordination at multilateral mechanisms, especially ASEAN.

PM Thavisin agreed on his counterpart’s opinions, adding that Thailand wishes to join Vietnam in bolstering collaboration in trade, investment, tourism, infrastructure connectivity, and locality-to-locality ties.

He also suggested Vietnam consider opening more direct air routes to Thailand.

Both leaders agreed that their countries will jointly implement the cooperation focuses to boost the effective and substantive development of their strategic partnership.

PM receives US National Security Advisor in New York

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has proposed relevant agencies of Vietnam and the US work together to complete new cooperation frameworks to lay a foundation for the two sides further promote and deepen bilateral cooperative relations, especially in the strategic fields of science-technology; innovation, green growth; sustainable and green energy transition; response to climate change; and cyber security.

PM Chinh, who has been in New York to attend the high-level week of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly, made the suggestion while hosting a reception for US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on September 20.

The move aims to realise the outcomes of the recent state visit to Vietnam by US President Joe Biden, he said, hailing the US National Security Council’s support to bolster the Vietnam – US relations over the past years.

The PM took this occasion to thank Sullivan for successfully arranging the US President’s visit to Vietnam from September 10-11 and the upgrade of the bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He asked the US official to convey General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong's thanks and regards to President Biden.

He suggested the US side to prioritise accelerating the recognition of Vietnam’s market economy regulations, and not to apply trade defence measures to Vietnamese products, especially farm produce to avoid livelihoods of farmers, on the basis of ensuring balance, equality and mutual benefits.

The Vietnamese leader also spoke highly of the US’s clear stance on the recent terrorist attack in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, and proposed the two sides to work together to reduce the opposition from reactionary and hostile forces towards the Vietnamese State and people.

Sullivan, for his part, underlined the significance and importance of President Biden’s state visit to Vietnam and the establishment of the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, describing it as an opportunity for the two nations to build a good future together.

The official said he will promote the US’s recognition of Vietnam’s market economy and affirmed that he supports the Vietnam-US stronger cooperation in the fields of high-tech, green energy transition, response to climate change, education and training so as to develop the bilateral collaboration in a more extensive, practical and effective fashion.

Sullivan also welcomed Vietnam’s continued participation in discussions and negotiations within the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework.

 PM Pham Minh Chinh hosts a reception for US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on September 20. (Photo: VNA)
Regarding issues of mutual concern, PM Chinh applauded the US’s promotion of comprehensive and responsible cooperation with ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean. Meanwhile, Sullivan affirmed ASEAN’s central role and spoke highly of Vietnam’s active role at regional and international forums such as ASEAN, APEC and the UN.

The two sides also emphasised the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, as well as handling disputes via peaceful means and on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the SEA (UNCLOS), thus contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Vietnam supports UN’s central role: PM

Vietnam attaches importance to and supports the United Nations (UN)’s central role in the global administration system in order to cope with current big common challenges, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed while meeting with President of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) Dennis Francis in New York on September 20 (local time).

Vietnam commits to actively contributing to major priorities of UNGA 78, including the consolidation of peace through enhancing trust, fostering cooperation, easing tensions between powers, strengthening solidarity, promoting multilateralism, reforming international financial institutions towards more equality, and realising the sustainable development goals (SDGs), the PM stressed.

He held that a global, all-people and comprehensive approach is needed to tackle such challenges, and affirmed that Vietnam supports and is resolved to implement the SDGs and respond to climate change, particularly achieving the target of net zero emissions by 2050.  
 
Chinh briefed Francis on Vietnam’s National Power Development Plan VIII, which guides the development of power plants and power grids between 2021 and 2030, with a vision until 2050. The country will soon announce a resources mobilisation plan for the implementation of the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), he added.

The PM also highlighted Vietnam’s efforts in ensuring rice exports, contributing to guaranteeing global food security.

For his part, Francis spoke highly of the UN-Vietnam relations, saying he is impressed by socio-economic achievements the Southeast Asian nation has recorded. He highly evaluated the country's active and dynamic role, and increasing position, including its participation in UN peacekeeping operations.

Francis also commended Vietnam’s achievements in poverty reduction and national development, saying its experience in this field should be shared to the world, and spoke highly of the country’s cooperation in the SDGs implementation, climate change response and food security.

The President of UNGA 78 agreed to cooperate with Vietnam to promote the compliance with the UN Charter and international law, and multilateralism.

On this occasion, Chinh invited Francis to visit Vietnam in the coming time.

Source: VNA