I. ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh will attend the 27^th International Conference on the Future of Asia during his working visit to Japan (from 26 to 27 May 2022)

From 26 to 27 May 2022, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh will attend the 27^th International Conference on the Future of Asia, at the invitation of Mr. Naotoshi Okada, CEO of Nikkei, the organizer of the conference. Under the theme, “Redefining Asia’s role in a divided world”, the 27^th International Conference on the Future of Asia’s focus will be on discussions on the vision, role and direction for cooperation within Asia in addressing global issues.

On this occasion, Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh will pay a working visit to Japan. His visit takes place as the Viet Nam - Japan Extensive Strategic Partnership has continued to develop positively and effectively in many areas, and as the two countries are preparing for activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of Viet Nam - Japan diplomatic relations in 2023.

2. The Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Algeria will pay a visit to Viet Nam from 26 to 27 May 2022

From 26 to 27 May 2022, Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria Chakib Rachid Kaid will pay a visit to Viet Nam and co-chair the 3^rd Political Consultation with Deputy Foreign Minister of Viet Nam Pham Quang Hieu. The trip takes place as the two countries are celebrating the 60^th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

At the meeting, the two sides will review recent cooperation, exchange directions and measures to strengthen cooperation in the traditional Viet Nam - Algeria friendship for the time to come in areas such as politics - diplomacy, economy and trade, and discuss regional and international matters of mutual interest.

II. Q&A

1. Thanh Nien: During his visit to Europe, Prime Minister Hun Sen stated that Viet Nam and Cambodia have reached an agreement on 6% of the remaining not yet demarcated borders. What is Viet Nam’s comment on this matter, and can you provide any additional information?

The completion of the land border demarcation to build a peaceful, sustainable Viet Nam - Cambodia border of friendship and development has been a long-standing legitimate aspiration of the two peoples.

In this spirit, in the last few years, Viet Nam and Cambodia have worked closely together to complete about 1,045 km of the land border, amounting to 84% of the total border length. This is an important achievement that will facilitate the travel, trade and exchange between the two peoples, and the socioeconomic development in each country. At present, both sides are in the process of negotiating to demarcate the remaining 16% of the border.

2. Central News Agency: Viet Nam is among the first members of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity. There are external opinions stating that the IPEF serves as a means to counter China. What is Viet Nam’s position on this interpretation?

As you may have been informed and as widely reported by the press, on the afternoon of 23 May 2022, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the launching ceremony of discussions on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF).

I would like to reiterate that this marks the launching of discussions on IPEF. During these discussions, Viet Nam will join ASEAN countries and relevant partners to discuss and elaborate on the contents of IPEF, focusing on four pillars. These include (i) trade, (ii) supply chain, (iii) clean energy, decarbonization and infrastructure, and (iv) taxation and anti-corruption. This aims to bring about a positive, effective and feasible economic agenda for the region and for each country, with a view to achieving a cooperation framework that can bring about substantive benefits to the people, for peace, stability, cooperation, development and prosperity in the region and the world.

Viet Nam believes that the IPEF should be based on the principles of openness, inclusiveness, and transparency. It should also abide by international law, uphold ASEAN centrality, and support existing economic linkages.

With the policy of building an independent and self-reliant economy that is closely associated with proactive, effective and substantive international integration, Viet Nam has also participated in a number of international economic linkage initiatives, thereby making the most of domestic and external resources for national construction and development.

3. Central News Agency: To date, China has maintained its “Zero Covid” policy, which has caused many businesses to leave. There has been information that many businesses in China have moved production to Viet Nam. Can you verify this information?

It is Viet Nam’s policy to consider foreign investment an important resource. It drives the development of the economy, strengthens international cooperation, and encourages participation in global value chains. Viet Nam always pays particular attention to the improvement of the investment environment, and creates favorable conditions for foreign businesses conducting long-term business and investment in Viet Nam.

Recently, to strengthen production and business, and promote post-pandemic economic recovery, the government of Viet Nam has resolutely and synchronously implemented various measures to reform the system and procedures, improve the business and investment environment to build trust and attract foreign businesses to Viet Nam.

In the time to come, Viet Nam’s focus will be to further implement measures to increase productivity of the business and production sector, to complete and upgrade the quality of infrastructure, train high-quality human resources, add policies to encourage foreign investors to expand investment in Viet Nam in areas that align with Viet Nam’s development direction which involves prioritizing projects that utilize new, advanced and clean technology, modern governance with high added value and far-reaching impacts, connecting the production chain and global supply.

4. Phoenix TV: So far, have Chinese businesses come to Bac Giang to purchase lychees? As China is tightening its pandemic prevention measures, how do the two sides coordinate to ensure favorable conditions for export of Vietnamese lychees to the Chinese market?

Recently, the authorities and localities of Viet Nam and China have worked closely in introducing and creating favorable conditions for businesses supermarket chains of the two sides to visit and learn about each other’s markets. The promotion of bilateral trade in agricultural products has achieved many positive results.

For lychees, the authorities and localities of Viet Nam and China have actively coordinated to successfully organize many activities to introduce, connect, and promote lychee consumption in both countries, attracting the attention of many Chinese enterprises. At the same time, the two sides regularly exchange information on import and export regulations, contributing to improving the efficiency of customs clearance and goods circulation on the basis of fulfilling each country's disease prevention requirements.

On 25 May, Bac Giang province held an "online conference to promote lychee consumption" with the participation of 80 domestic and international attendees and representatives of a number of Ministries, agencies, leaders of the People's Committees of provinces and cities, local fruit and vegetable import and export associations, retail groups, supermarket chains, domestic and foreign businesses and traders, including some localities in Guangxi, Yunnan, and Sichuan in China.

Vietnamese authorities and localities, including Bac Giang province, are committed to creating favorable conditions for Chinese businesses and traders to come to Viet Nam to purchase lychees. As far as we’re aware, hundreds of Chinese businesses and traders have been facilitated to buy lychee in Bac Giang province.

5. Tri Thuc Tre: Does Viet Nam joining the launching of discussions on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity mean that Viet Nam is joining this Framework? If not, does Viet Nam have any plans of joining?

As I mentioned, this is merely the launching of discussions. Whether countries, including Viet Nam, end up joining depends entirely on the results of the discussions.