ANNOUNCEMENTS

+ Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh pays an official visit to China and attends the 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (25 to 28 June 2023)

At the invitation of Premier of the People’s Republic of China Li Qiang and founder, chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Klaus Schwab, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will pay an official visit to the People’s Republic of China and attend the 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of WEF from 25 to 28 June 2023.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s first official visit to China takes place as both countries are maintaining positive ties, particularly since General-Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s official visit (30 October to 01 November 2022). Economic and trade cooperation, and cooperation in other areas continue to be deepened. Viet Nam is China’s fourth largest country trading partner, with bilateral trade turnover in 2022 reaching 175 billion USD.

During the visit, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is expected to attend the official welcome ceremony, hold talks with Premier Li Qiang, meet with Chinese senior leaders, discuss major measures to strengthen cooperation between the two countries to implement the high-level agreements achieved during General-Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit and the realization of the Viet Nam - China Joint Statement (November 2022), to strengthen the Viet Nam - China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership in a stable, sound and sustainable manner. Both sides will also discuss the maintenance of peace and stability in the region and regional and international issues of mutual interest. In addition, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is expected to attend the Viet Nam - China Business Forum, meet with the Vietnamese community in China, and a number of Chinese scholars and major businesses.
Viet Nam - WEF relations have continued to flourish recently. Cooperation between both sides have grown more meaningful, focusing on a number of important areas such as macropolicy, plastic waste reduction, sustainable agriculture, human resource training, and digital transformation. Under the theme, “Entrepreneurship: The Driving Force of the Global Economy”, the 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions will focus on growth adjustment, energy transformation, environmental and climate protection, and post-pandemic consumer trends. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh is expected to deliver remarks at the plenary session, “Braving the Headwinds: Rewiring Growth Amid Fragility”, attend and deliver remarks at the leaders’ session on, “Preventing a Decade of Loss”, meet with founder and chairman of WEF Klaus Schwab, co-chair the Viet Nam - WEF Country Strategic Dialogue, meet with a number of Heads of Governments and leaders of WEF businesses.

+ President of the Republic of Korea Yoon Suk Yeol and his Spouse pay a State visit to Viet Nam (22 to 24 June 2023)

At the invitation of President Vo Van Thuong, President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Yoon Suk Yeol and his Spouse will pay a State visit to Viet Nam from 22 to 24 June 2023. This is President Yoon Suk Yeol’s first State visit to Viet Nam since taking office in May 2022.

The visit takes place as Viet Nam - ROK relations are reaching unprecedented heights. Both sides officially upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2022. Currently, the ROK is the largest foreign direct investor in Viet Nam, with a total registered capital of 82 billion USD, second largest ODA provider, and third largest trading partner. In the first quarter of 2023, bilateral trade turnover between Viet Nam and the ROK reached 18.1 billion USD. Cooperation in other areas is increasingly strengthened.

During the visit, both sides will focus on discussing major measures to further strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, enhance economic cooperation, expand investment, strengthen supply chain resilience, promote cooperation in other areas such as finance, banking, digital transformation, and human resource training. Both sides will also exchange views on international and regional issues of mutual interest.

President Yoon Suk Yeol will hold talks with President Vo Van Thuong, meet with Vietnamese senior leaders, attend the Viet Nam - ROK Business Forum, among other activities.

+ Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha attends the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact, pays working visits to France and the Netherlands (21 to 27 June 2023)

From 21 to 27 June 2023, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha will attend the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact, the meeting of the Viet Nam - Netherlands Intergovernmental Committee on Water Management and Climate Change Adaptation (IC8) in the Netherlands, as well as conduct a number of bilateral activities in France and the Netherlands.

The Summit for a New Global Financing Pact was organized to promote reforming the international finance system, addressing the climate crisis, biodiversity and growth through enhancing finance and providing preferential capital to Southern developing countries. This year’s Summit is expected to include 300 delegations representing countries, political-social organizations, and businesses,including 100 leaders of countries and international organizations. Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha is expected to attend the opening and closing ceremonies, attend and deliver remarks at a number of important sessions, hold bilateral meetings with Heads of Delegations and leaders of international organizations.

The Strategic Partnership between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the Government of the Netherlands on climate change adaptation and water resources management was signed on 04 October 2010 and determined the strategic goals and cooperation priorities between the two countries in climate change adaptation and water resources management. To implement the agreement, a Viet Nam - Netherlands Intergovernmental Committee on Climate Change Adaptation and Water Management was established, convening on a rotating basis in each country. So far, 07 meetings have been convened.

In France, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha is expected to work with French Minister of Energy Transformation, meet with French leaders, and visit a number of localities.

In the Netherlands, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha is expected to hold meetings with Dutch leaders, meet with other leaders, and attend the Viet Nam - Netherlands Meeting with Businesses.

Q&A

1. Tuoi tre:On 15 June, the U.S. Department of State released its annual Trafficking in Persons Report. What is Viet Nam’s comment on the report detailing the human trafficking situation in Viet Nam?

The policy of the Government of Viet Nam is to promote legal, safe and orderly migration, while resolutely fighting against illegal migration, human smuggling and human trafficking.

Recently, Viet Nam continued its strict implementation of the Program on Human Trafficking Prevention and Combat for 2021-2025, with directions toward 2030, and achieved a number of important results such as: effectively increased interdisciplinary cooperation, improve statistical work, enhance investigation and handling of human trafficking crimes, and increase awareness on human trafficking. Viet Nam is making every effort to realize the goals of the Global Compact for Migration (GCM) according to the Plan issued by the Prime Minister on 20 March 2020, to reinforce a transparent migration environment, safeguard the lawful rights and interests of migrants, and prevent the risks of human trafficking in international migration activities.

Viet Nam recognizes that the United States’ assessment in its 2023 Report has been more positive. In this spirit, we wish to further cooperate with the U.S. in the time to come, to provide an objective, accurate, and more comprehensive assessment on the situation in Viet Nam, and of Viet Nam’s substantive efforts. We stand ready to discuss with the U.S. as well as relevant parties on specific cooperation issues to further effectively implement human trafficking prevention and combat.

2. AFP:Can the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirm, or provide further information on the report that this weekend, the USS Ronald Reagan will visit Viet Nam? Can you comment on the implication this has on a potential conflict in the South China Sea?

According to the information we’ve been given, the USS Ronald Reagan will pay a port visit to Da Nang from 25 to 30 June 2023.

Viet Nam receiving visits from other countries’ naval vessels, including the U.S. this time is an ordinary activity to foster friendship, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

3. Phoenix TV: We’ve received information that Japan’s largest destroyer is currently visiting Cam Ranh, Khanh Hoa. Can you comment on this visit?

According to the information we’ve been given, the Japanese destroyer is visiting Viet Nam from 20 to 23 June 2023.

Much like previous visits by other countries’ naval vessels to Viet Nam, this, too, is an ordinary cooperation activity, for peace, stability and cooperation in the region.

4.Central News Agency: Recently, the lives of the people and industrial manufacture in Northern Viet Nam have been affected by power shortages. A number of businesses from Chinese Taipei have said that the unexpected and at times unannounced power cuts have caused them difficulties in managing their work schedules. In addition to increasing power generation capacity, does Viet Nam plan to expand cooperation with other countries in generating and supplying power, or to negotiate the import of power?

 We understand the businesses’ concerns, including foreign businesses on the power shortages currently plaguing Northern Viet Nam.

Vietnamese competent authorities are making every effort, with encouraging results, to mitigate this situation at the earliest and ensure the demands of the people as well as the businesses’ operations.