Vietnam attends first Friends of Mekong Ministerial Meeting
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son attended the first Friends of the Mekong (FOM) Ministerial Meeting, which was held on August 5 via videoconference.
Delegates attend the first Friends of the Mekong (FOM) Ministerial Meeting (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son attended thefirst Friends of the Mekong (FOM) Ministerial Meeting, which was held on August5 via videoconference.
Addressing the meeting, Minister Son affirmed Vietnam’scommitment to working with other members to build an environment of peace,stability, prosperity and sustainable development in the region.
FOM cooperation needs to originate from development demandsof Mekong countries, and helps promote regional cooperation, strengthen theintegration of collaboration mechanisms to mobilise all resources forsustainable development and addressing challenges effectively, he stated.
Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son attends the first Friends of the Mekong (FOM) Ministerial Meeting. (Photo: VNA)
The Vietnamese official suggested FOM prioritize cooperationin COVID-19 prevention and control, building high-qualityinfrastructure, green growth, and step up policy dialogueon sustainable development in the Mekong sub-region.
The meeting agreed that FOM should intensify cooperation inaddressing common challenges and promoting sustainable and inclusive growth,including supporting socio-economic development and promoting greengrowth during and after the pandemic, ensuring food, water source and energy security,building high-quality infrastructure, and backing the implementation of theUnited Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (SGD) and the Paris Agreementon climate change.
Participants agreed that FOM has made positive contributionsto consolidating friendship between member countries, assisting Mekongcountries in responding to the pandemic and promoting sustainable development andprosperity of the region.
FOM cooperation should continue to promote the common valuesand principles in the UN Charter and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation inSoutheast Asia (TAC), uphold the central role of ASEAN as well as principles ofequality, consensus and mutual benefit, and respect for international law, soas to help connect FOM cooperation with ASEAN and existingMekong cooperation frameworks.
The meeting was chaired by US Secretary of State AntonyBlinken, with the participation of Foreign Ministers and representatives ofCambodia, the Republic of Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Japan, New Zealand, Australia,Thailand and Vietnam, together with the ASEAN Secretary-General andrepresentatives from the European Union, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) andthe Mekong River Commission (MRC). India and the United Kingdom attended the event as invited guests./.
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son has underlined four groups of solutions to boost post-pandemic economic recovery and development in the Mekong sub-region, including the prompt implementation of COVID-19 vaccination, stronger cooperation in high-quality vaccine technology transfer, production and distribution and the enhancement of public health system to respond to medical challenges.
Vietnam officially assumes the role as coordinator for ASEAN-the Republic of Korea (RoK) relations for 2021-2024 at the ASEAN-RoK Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held via videoconference on August 3.
Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, as the coordinator of ASEAN-Japan relations, co-chaired the ASEAN-Japan Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held via videoconference on August 3 together with his Japanese counterpart Motegi Toshimitsu.
Cambodian Deputy Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn said on August 3 that Cambodia will cooperate with the US within the Mekong River connectivity frameworks.
Foreign ministers of ASEAN member countries and the US agreed to continue prioritising the COVID-19 response and support for sustainable recovery during a meeting held via videoconference on August 4.
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son attended the virtual ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference (PMC) with Australia on August 4 as part of the 54th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-54) and related meetings.
The ASEAN-New Zealand Ministerial Meeting was held via avideo conference on August 5 within the framework of the 54th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting (AMM-54) and Related Meetings.
The Party chief attributed the achievements in the first half to the continuous, direct, and comprehensive leadership of the Politburo and the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee, and the close and effective coordination of relevant ministries, sectors and localities.
General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the VPA’s General Staff and Deputy Minister of National Defence reaffirmed Vietnam’s unwavering gratitude for Cuba’s invaluable support during its struggle for independence and nation-building efforts, and pledged to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Cuba as it navigates current challenges.
Vietnam is a country with which Russia shares a special relationship. In the 1950s and 60s, particularly during Vietnam’s struggle for independence, the two countries forged a deep bond. While much has changed over time, the friendship and cooperation between our nations have endured, said Russian President Vladimir Putin.
For 50 years, Vietnam and New Zealand have worked together to uphold peace and prosperity for their peoples and the region. The friendship, cooperation, and mutual understanding Vietnam and New Zealand nurtured have grown from a seed into a deeply rooted, strong, and thriving tree, she stressed.
Since the Strategic Partnership was established in 2020, Vietnam and New Zealand have witnessed steady growth in the relations. Beyond the remarkable 40% increase in bilateral trade over five years, political relations and multilateral interactions, particularly within the CPTPP framework, have remained highly positive.
Known as the “four pillars for Vietnam’s ascend”, the Pobiburo's Resolutions 57, 59, 66, and 68 focus on cultivating a robust national entrepreneurial spirit, unlocking resources for innovation across society, and accelerating the development of digital economy, knowledge-based economy, green economy, and circular economy, propelling Vietnam forward rapidly and firmly on the path of modernisation and international integration.
Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang cleared up deputies' concern regarding how to spur socio-economic growth, renew traditional growth motives and establish new momentum for development.
Vietnam proposed several priorities: narrowing the digital divide, strengthening women’s leadership in the digital economy and AI governance, and mobilising sustainable financing for gender equality initiatives in line with each country’s national priorities and context. Vietnam also advocated for genuine women’s participation and leadership across all areas of public life.
Ha expressed his hope that cooperation in science and technology, agriculture, and natural resources would emerge as new focal points and engines of growth in Vietnam–China relations.
Giang said he believes that building on the solid foundation nurtured over the past half-century and the strong determination of both nations, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will continue to grow in a more robust, comprehensive, and extensive manner, thus bringing more practical benefits to the two nations' people.
Highlighting the transformative potential of the draft law in revitalising Vietnam’s railway industry, Hoang Van Cuong, a deputy of Hanoi, expressed his support for Article 39, which empowers the Prime Minister to issue a list of railway-related goods and services to be assigned or ordered from domestic enterprises for production.
According to the Ministry of Public Security, Hoan, formerly Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, is under investigation for allegedly taking bribes in connection with a case involving the Hoang Long Construction and Manpower Supply JSC and related units.
Chairing a national conference on the organisation of the examination on June 18, the PM highlighted the historical significance of the examination, as the restructuring of provincial-level administrative units is underway and the two-tier local administration model is set to officially begin operations on July 1.
Right on the same day, the ministry issued its highest-level travel warning, urging Vietnamese citizens not to travel to Israel or Iran, and advised those already in these countries to swiftly consider evacuation or relocation plans.
From the struggles against colonialists and imperialists to the period of Doi moi (renewal) and international integration, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has always played a pioneering role on the ideological and cultural front, he said.
The Party leader's working session with the standing boards of the Party Committees of HCM City, Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Binh Duong, the VNA General Director's remarks on the occasion of the 19th OANA General Assembly, the launch of new NIC - Google initiatives aimed at bolstering AI entrepreneurship and digital literacy in Vietnam are among news highlights June 18.
Vietnam and Indonesia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in combating terrorism as it remains a threat to peace, security, and stability across their respective nations, the broader region, and the international community.