I. ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan attends the 3rd Eurasian Women’s Forum via videoconference (13 to 15 October)

At the invitation of Chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Valentina Ivanova Matviyenko, Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan will attend the 3rd Eurasian Women’s Forum under the theme “Women: A Global Mission in a New Reality” from 13 to 15 October 2021 via videoconference.

The Eurasian Women’s Forum was first organized in 2015 with the regular participation of Viet Nam’s high-level leaders. It aims to promote the role of women in all areas to build a world of peace, prosperity and sustainable development. The 3rd Eurasian Women’s Forum will focus on discussing issues that the world is facing, women’s opportunities and challenges in the new circumstance, and women’s mission in promoting international cooperation.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan will deliver her remarks at the Opening session, affirming Viet Nam’s policy in promoting gender equality and enhancing women’s role in all facets of life, and upholding Viet Nam’s active participation at and responsible contributions to multilateral forums.

2. Virtual ASEAN - UN Ministerial Meeting (8 October 2021)

The ASEAN - UN Ministerial Virtual Meeting will take place on the evening of 8 October 2021, Viet Nam time.

This is an annual meeting between ASEAN Foreign Ministers, the President of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations to review and map out directions for the comprehensive cooperation between ASEAN and the UN, and discuss international and regional issues of mutual interest.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son will lead the Vietnamese delegation to attend this Meeting.

II. Q&A

1. Central News Agency: The Council of Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce in Viet Nam recently sent a letter to the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade, stating that Taiwan’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) will bring about complementary benefits for both Viet Nam and Taiwan, and asking for Viet Nam’s support in this endeavor. What is Viet Nam’s response to this matter?

I have already made a statement regarding this matter. The CPTPP is an open free trade agreement. Members of the CPTPP have also agreed on the regulations regarding states and separate customs territories eligible for accession, as well as criteria and procedures for accession. Viet Nam will engage in close consultation with other members of CPTPP on requests for accession.

2. Central News Agency: Viet Nam seems to be looking into vaccine passports with other countries to draft relevant procedures and issue regulations pertaining to types of vaccine required for people entering Viet Nam. Is the Taiwan-made Medigen vaccine accepted by Viet Nam? In addition, Viet Nam has not received incoming tourists for a year and a half. Thus, when does Viet Nam plan to receive tourists again?

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold in a complicated manner, and is unlikely to be fully placed under control,the Government of Viet Nam has thus changed its“zero-COVID” policy to “safe and flexible adaptation to novel circumstances, and effective containment of the COVID-19 pandemic.” This strategy entails effective pandemic prevention and control, while fostering socio-economic recovery, among which “vaccine passports”, “green cards”, and “digital health certificates” are feasible solutions to help gradually reopen the economy, particularly tourism and service sectors.

Recently, Vietnamese governmental leaders have approved of the set of criteria for the recognition and use of vaccine passports of countries and territories in Viet Nam, as per the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. One of the important points in these criteria is types of vaccine, in which Viet Nam accepts all types of vaccine licensed for emergency use by the World Health Organization, the US’ Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the European Medicines Agency, and the Ministry of Health of Viet Nam.

In addition, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Viet Nam is working with relevant agencies to draft a pilot plan to receive fully vaccinated tourism in Viet Nam, to be initially implemented in Phu Quoc in the near future.

3. VnExpress: What is Viet Nam’s comment on the presence of UK Carrier Strike Group, led by flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth and frigate HMZNS Te Kaha, in the South China Sea, its operation in the area for a week, and its participation inan exercise near Singapore?

Viet Nam’s consistent position is that all activities of and cooperation among countries at sea need to observe the provisions of the 1982 UNCLOS, make responsible contributions to common interest in line with the aspiration of all countries in upholding the rule of law, particularly the 1982 UNCLOS, and serve to maintain peace, stability, security, safety, and cooperation in the South China Sea.

4. VnExpress: Last week, China’s social media platform Baidu showed the trailer of the movie “Ace Troops”, with certain segments pertaining to Viet Nam’s fight to protect its Northern border in the 1980s. The Vietnamese audience has pointed out multiple details that are considered to be falsification of history, painting a different picture of this war. Please elaborate on the response of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to this matter.

Vietnamese competent authorities have taken note of this information.

Viet Nam’s consistent position on historical matters is to “put away the past and strive towards the future.” It is necessary to perceive history in an accurate and objective manner, and take concrete action to enhance the mutual understanding and friendship among the people, and bolster the ties, cooperation and development among countries worldwide. 

We also ask that China fulfil the shared consensus between the high-level leaders of the two countries on stepping up communications on the basis of friendship and objectivity, thereby creating a social foundation conducive to strengthening the Viet Nam - China bilateral ties.

5. VnExpress: Many Asian countries are hard at work to purchase the molnupiravir antiviral pills, as the vaccination rate has yet to meet expectations. Can the Ministry of Foreign Affairs comment on the achievements recorded in our vaccine diplomacy work, and plans to gain access to this medication via diplomatic means?

Having identified medications and vaccines as integral solutions to contain the pandemic and safely adapt to novel circumstances, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has promptly instructed overseas Vietnamese representative missions to study the development of medications around the world, and provide the Ministry of Health with necessary information and assistance in gaining access to medications that are considered to be highly effective for research and trials in Viet Nam. The import of and cooperation to produce COVID-19 medications constitute one of the core missions of the Governmental Working Group on vaccine diplomacy, and will continue to be promoted in the time to come.

6. Zing: Can you elaborate on the progress in implementing vaccine passport?

As I have stated above, recently, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has received requests from a number of relevant partners on mutual recognition of vaccine certificates, or vaccine passports. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also discussed with foreign partners and relevant Vietnamese agencies on this matter.

In addition, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has put forth a proposal on a set of criteria for the recognition and use of vaccine passport, highlighting a number of factors such as types of vaccine. Viet Nam accepts all vaccines licensed for emergency use by the World Health Organization, the US’ Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the European Medicines Agency, and the Ministry of Health of Viet Nam. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported to the Government on this matter, and Vietnamese governmental leaders have approved of this proposed set of criteria. We will soon provide detailed information and guidance on this issue.

7. Zing: Recently, the Foreign Minister of Malaysia hinted that the Senior General of Myanmar would not be welcomed at the ASEAN Summit in late October if Myanmar refused to cooperate with the ASEAN Special Envoy. Please provide your comment on this matter.

The ASEAN Summit and other relevant Summits are planned to be organized via videoconference from 26 to 28 October 2021. Preparatory work for these Summits is well under way. ASEAN has also convened Ministerial meetings and SOM meetings. All issues pertaining to these Summits are discussed and agreed upon among ASEAN members on the basis of the ASEAN Charter and in line with relevant procedures of ASEAN.

8. Zing: There’s information that a 17-year-old Vietnamese national H Xuan Siu has died after having worked in Saudi Arabia for two years. Prior to her death, she was physically abused by her employer. Can you verify this information, and provide an update on the investigation process?

According to information from the Embassy of Viet Nam in Saudi Arabia, on 18 July 2021, a female Vietnamese laborer (born in 1996, Dak Lak) passed away while receiving treatment at the North Medical Tower Hospital in Saudi Arabia.

Upon receiving the information, the Embassy of Viet Nam in Saudi Arabia contacted the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other competent authorities to verify the information, and worked with businesses in charge of labor export to implement citizen protection measures as necessary

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has worked with domestic agencies and local authorities on this matter, and provided the family of the victim with necessary information and guidance on after-death arrangements. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also instructed the Embassy of Viet Nam in Saudi Arabia to continue working closely with local authorities to promptly finalize relevant procedures, ensuring the lawful rights and interest of Vietnamese citizens.