I. ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Kim Jin Pyo pays an official visit to Viet Nam (12 - 18 January 2023)

At the invitation of President of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue, Speaker of the National Assembly of the ROK Kim Jin Pyo and his Spouse will lead the ROK National Assembly delegation on an official visit to Viet Nam from 12 to 18 January 2023.

This is the first official visit to Viet Nam by Speaker Kim Jin Pyo since taking office (in July 2022), and the first visit by a high-level leader from the ROK to Viet Nam since the two countries upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s state visit to the ROK in December 2022. The relations between the two National Assemblies are flourishing and recording meaningful results in the spirit of the Cooperation Agreement signed in July 2013. Both sides have maintained exchanges of delegations at the high level, at the Committee level, exchanges between the Parliamentary Friendship Groups, and other National Assembly agencies in diverse, flexible formats.  

During the visit, Speaker of the National Assembly Kim Jin Pyo will hold talks with President of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue, meet with Viet Nam’s top leaders, and visit a number of Vietnamese localities. 

2. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha attends the the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos, Switzerland (16 - 17 January 2023)

At the invitation of Professor Klaus Schwab, founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha will attend the 53rd World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland from 16 to 17 January 2023.

This year’s WEF Davos meeting’s theme is “Cooperation in a Fragmented World”. It takes place as the cooperation between Viet Nam and WEF is increasingly enhanced. Leaders of both sides have promoted exchanges and discussions. Cooperation areas such as environmental protection, plastic waste management, agricultural innovation, skill building and digital transformation have been continuously strengthened.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha is expected to deliver remarks at the WEF sessions, hold bilateral meetings with the founder and Executive Chairman of WEF, leaders of countries, international organizations and global enterprises attending the meeting, among other activities.

3. The 50^th anniversary of the “Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Viet Nam” (27 January 1973 - 27 January 2023)

To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Viet Nam (27 January 1973 - 27 January 2023), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working with relevant agencies to organize a series of activities to spread awareness on the historical significance of the Paris Agreement, to pay tribute to the accomplishments and great sacrifice of previous generations of leaders and revolutionaries, and the invaluable support of international friends, particularly toward the officials who participated in and contributed to the negotiation process, the signing and the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

Notable among the activities are two events:

- The commemorative ceremony under the theme, “Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Viet Nam - a milestone of victory on the diplomatic front in the Ho Chi Minh era” will be held on 17 January in Hanoi. The event will have the participation of President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, leaders, former Party and State leaders, representatives of the two negotiation delegations, leaders and former leaders of foreign affairs agencies, agencies participating in the negotiation and implementation of the Paris Agreement, experts, history researchers, and foreign representative agencies in Viet Nam.

- Prior to that, on 16 January 2023, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, the Party Central Committee's Commission on Communication and Education and the Ministry of Defense, will hold the scientific conference titled “50 years of the Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Viet Nam: Historical significance and lessons learned”. The conference will have the participation and remarks of leaders of Ministries and agencies, and over 300 delegates.

II.Q&A

1. Tuoi tre: Recently, UK press reported that the court has ordered the owner of the transport company involved in the deaths of 39 Vietnamese to pay 180,000 pounds (over 217,000 USD) to the victims’ families. What has the Ministry of Foreign Affairs done in working with the UK to help the victims’ families receive the compensation? After the ruling, what is the Ministry’s next move?

According to the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK, on 6 January 2023, the UK Supreme Court ruled that Ronan Hughes, head of an illegal human trafficking ring, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence, will be ordered to pay 180,000 pounds to the families of Vietnamese victims who died in the 2019 incident. The ruling is merely an initial legal decision, and the execution may require some time, in accordance with UK law. In case Ronan Hughes fails to compensate the victims, his prison sentence will be increased by 2 years.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has directed the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK to maintain contact with British authorities to closely follow the developments of the case to keep themselves updated and to stand ready to take necessary measures to ensure the rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens.

2. Tuoi tre: On 10 January, the Supreme Court of the Philippines announced that the 2005 Energy Exploration Agreement with Chinese and Vietnamese companies is illegal, for the Philippine Constitution does not allow foreign entities to exploit natural resources. This agreement had expired in 2008. What is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ comment on this ruling? What is Viet Nam’s opinion on joint energy exploration projects with the Philippines?

Viet Nam has full legal basis and historical evidence to assert its sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly islands in accordance with international law, as well as its sovereignty and jurisdiction toward the waters as established in UNCLOS 1982.

As a littoral country and a signatory of UNCLOS 1982, Viet Nam believes that all international cooperation activities, including maritime cooperation, needs to adhere to international law, particularly UNCLOS 1982, and need to respect the sovereignty, sovereign rights, jurisdiction and interests of countries in line with international law and UNCLOS 1982.

3. Tuoi tre: Recently, China announced that it would reopen borders and would not quarantine travelers from overseas starting from 08 January 2023. Please advise us on whether the two countries have discussed the granting of tourist visas and other visas for Vietnamese citizens traveling to China? What recommendations does the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have for Vietnamese citizens traveling to China? What preparations has Viet Nam made in welcoming Chinese tourists? Have tourist visas been resumed? How has the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other agencies cooperated in ensuring the smooth export of Vietnamese goods to China, and vice versa, after 08 January?

Since 15 March 2022, the Government of Viet Nam has restored the process of granting visas and visa exemption certificates for foreigners and overseas Vietnamese to what they were prior to the Covid-19 prevention measures, in accordance with the regulations of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Viet Nam, amended and supplemented in 2019, and documents instructing on the implementation. This will facilitate the entry of tourists, experts and investors into Viet Nam and contribute to the fulfillment of socio-economic recovery and development goals, on the basis of ensuring Covid-19 prevention in the new era.

With China officially reopening and the pandemic being well controlled in Viet Nam, Vietnamese competent authorities are working closely to implement cooperation activities suitable to the new era and the interests of both sides.

Vietnamese citizens who wish to travel to other countries, including China, need to follow the updates on visa policies, immigration and Covid regulations of other countries. While abroad, should they require assistance or additional information, they may contact Vietnamese diplomatic missions and local authorities in a timely manner.

Regarding the question on cooperation activities to ensure the flow of goods between Viet Nam and China after China’s reopening on 08 January, I would like to answer as follows:

Implementing the Joint Statement signed during the official visit to China by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, and in the spirit of the discussions between Vietnamese and Chinese high-level leaders, competent agencies of both sides maintained regular exchanges, and made joint efforts to ensure that trade activities and supply chains are maintained smoothly, facilitating exports between the two countries.

It is known that China Customs announced that from January 8, 2023, it will remove all nucleic acid amplification test for imported goods, including frozen goods, at the border gates. During the Lunar New Year, a number of Chinese border gates will apply measures to facilitate customs clearance, including customs clearance by prior appointment. Localities, especially domestic enterprises, need to update themselves on this information to work with their Chinese partners to develop a plan for transportation and customs clearance of goods after China reopens.

4. Central News Agency: A number of countries have imposed requirements on pandemic control on Chinese travelers, or tightened requirements for all icoming travelers. Does Viet Nam plan to apply any pandemic control measures?

I believe part of the answer to this question was included in my answer to Tuoi Tre News.

The entry of foreign citizens in Viet Nam will be carried out in accordance with the law, in order to create the most favorable conditions for tourists, experts and foreign investors to enter Viet Nam and contribute to the fulfillment of socio-economic recovery and development, and ensure Covid-19 safety in the new era.