I. ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. 2^nd Viet Nam - Republic of Korea (ROK) Deputy Prime Minister-level Economic Dialogue (10 March)

On 10 March in Hanoi, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai will co-chair the second Viet Nam - ROK Deputy Prime Minister, Economic Dialogue with Deputy PM, Minister of Economy and Finance of the ROK Choo Kyung-ho.

The dialogue takes place as the two countries have just upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in December 2022. Economic cooperation is a highlight in the two countries’ bilateral ties. The ROK is Viet Nam’s largest investor, the second largest partner in Official Development Assistance (ODA), labor and tourism, and third largest trading partner.

During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai and Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Finance of the ROK Choo Kyung-ho will discuss matters related to trade and investment cooperation, energy and infrastructure development, cooperation development, information technology, labor and healthcare.

2. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland pays a visit to Viet Nam (16 - 17 March)

At the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Zbigniew Rau will pay an official visit to Viet Nam from 16 to 17 March.

Viet Nam and Poland have enjoyed a positive traditional relationship that has lasted over 70 years. Bilateral economic and trade ties have grown continuously, the bilateral trade turnover for 2022 reached 2.57 billion USD. Agriculture is a highlight, with agricultural products export turnover reaching 165.4 million USD, and education and training is a long-standing cooperation area, with a number of scholarships for Vietnamese students to study in Poland.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland Zbigniew Rau is expected to meet with Vietnamese high-level readers, and hold talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son to discuss measures to strengthen the two countries’ bilateral ties, as well as regional and international matters of mutual interest.

3.International Day of Francophonie (17 March)

On 17 March, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, working alongside the OrganisationInternationale de la Francophonie (OIF), will organize a ceremony for the International Day of Francophonie (20 March) with the participation of Ministry leaders and representatives from Ministries, agencies, localities, schools, organizations and businesses which are part of the Interdisciplinary Working Group on Cooperation with the OIF, or which share close ties with Francophonie countries, leaders and representatives of the GADIF group, representatives of diplomatic agencies and international organizations with close ties to the Francophonie community. This is the most important political and cultural event in the series of events celebrating International Day of Francophonie. On this occasion, the GADIF group will also grant honorary awards to individuals with important contributions to the promotion of the French language in Viet Nam, as well as the cooperation between Viet Nam and the OIF.
 Vietnamese and foreign press agencies interested in covering the event, please register with the Department of Information and Press of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

II. Q&A

1. Phoenix TV: Has Viet Nam received official information from the Chinese government about including Viet Nam among eligible countries for Chinese outbound tours? Does Viet Nam plan to resume direct flights to China in the time to come?

Tourism cooperation is an important area of cooperation between Viet Nam and China, and in people-to-people exchange. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, Chinese visitors made up the largest number of total visitors to Viet Nam, while Viet Nam was China’s leading tourism partner in the region.

Recently, Viet Nam has maintained close exchanges with China on strengthening tourism cooperation, which including resuming tours. According to the latest information, the Government of China is expected to include Viet Nam as a destination for outbound tours from 15 March.

Viet Nam hopes both sides will continue to work more closely together so that both countries’ tourism may soon recover and flourish, for the benefit of both sides and to meet the demands of the people.

We always support the opening of international flight routes to and from various destinations in the region to strengthen people-to-people exchange and enhance mutually beneficial cooperation in economic, trade, tourism and other areas between Viet Nam and its partners, including China.

2. Phoenix: On the sidelines of the Two Sessions meeting, the Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs held a press conference on China’s foreign policy. What is Viet Nam’s comment on this? What are the prospects for Viet Nam - China ties post-Two Sessions?

Viet Nam always attaches great importance to the strengthening the neighborliness, friendship and comprehensive cooperation with China. Viet Nam hopes that the Viet Nam - China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership will continue to flourish and deepen effectively and sustainably for the benefit of the people of both countries, for peace and development in the region and the world.

3. VnExpress: Can you comment on the information that on 5 March, Russian Defense Minister Yevgeny Ivanov stated that Russia is preparing a draft for an inter-governmental agreement to simplify visa procedures for Viet Nam, Angola, Indonesia, Syria and the Philippines?

Recently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam and the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia have maintained regular exchanges and contact with their Russian counterparts on the simplification of immigration procedures for Vietnamese citizens.

Viet Nam welcomes Russia’s consideration to simplify visa procedures for Vietnamese nationals, and supports measures that encourage citizens of Viet Nam and other countries to increase trade, travel and people-to-people exchanges, therefore further enhancing the friendship between Viet Nam and other countries.

4. VnExpress: What is your comment on the Government of the Republic of Korea appealing the court’s ruling in the lawsuit of Nguyen Thi Thanh?

We find it regrettable that the Government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) has appealed the court’s ruling. This does not reflect the objective truth of this issue.

Viet Nam’s policy is to “put the past behind and look toward the future”, but this does not mean “denying history”. In the spirit of the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”, Viet Nam asks that the ROK understand and respect the truth of history, encourage meaningful and effective actions to address war legacy issues, contributing to strengthening the friendship and positive cooperation between the two countries and their peoples.

5. VietNam News: During the visit of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea (ROK) on 10 March, will the appeal against the massacres will brought up, or will it be limited to economic and investment issues?

As I have announced at the beginning of the press conference, tomorrow’s dialogue between the Prime Ministers of Viet Nam and the ROK is a Deputy Prime Minister-level Economic Dialogue. The meeting will discuss matters related to trade and investment cooperation, energy and infrastructure development, cooperation development, information technology, labor and healthcare.

From my understanding, the Organizing Committee will provide more information on the meeting to the press agencies after its conclusion.