Category: Governance

Lao Cai boasts potential to become a growth pole and a tourism centre of the northern midland and mountainous region, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said at a working session with local officials as part of his pre-Tet visit to the province on January 15.

The top legislator urged Lao Cai to better tap its potential, advantages and important position in terms of economy, social affairs, and national defence and security.

The province should map out projects on border trade and tourism, he suggested, asking the locality to review its policies on industrial development, continue with forest protection, and preserve and build a border line of peace, cooperation and development.

More attention is needed in Party and political system building, as well as the fight against corruption and other negative phenomena, the leader continued.

Economic development should go in tandem with socio-cultural development, and the sustainable exploitation of natural resources, he reminded, asking Lao Cai to make better performance in education-training, science-technology and health care.

Lao Cai is home to 25 ethnic groups with a total population of more than 761,000, of whom more than 66% are ethnic minorities. Its GRDP grew about 9.02% last year. Its budget contribution tripled from 3 trillion VND (127.98 million USD) in 2012 to more than 10 trillion VND in 2022./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on January 15 visited and presented gifts to 200 disadvantaged people in Buon Ho town in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak ahead of the Lunar New Year festival (Tet).

Talking with local people, the President hailed the town for its achievements in poverty reduction and ensuring social welfare as the town’s poverty rate last year dropped to about 3%.

He asked provincial and town authorities to pay more attention to improving infrastructure which helps facilitate trade and economic activities.

He also asked agencies to step up the preservation of Central Highlands culture which is a competitive advantage of the region.

On the same day, the President visited and offered Tet presents to teachers and students of the Krong Buk district boarding school and poor households in the district.

At the school, he gave 100 presents, 50 bikes to disadvantaged students and families plus 300 million VND to the school to improve its canteen./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Saturday urged the labour, invalids and social sector to work harder in 2023 to complete its tasks, towards spreading the spirit of kindness; accelerating human resources development and promoting social progress and justice, and sustainable social development in line with the motto of “leaving no one behind”.

Addressing a conference held by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), the PM said that social policies have been well performed and poverty reduction, child protection and care, and gender equality promotion carried out comprehensively and effectively.

However, he pointed out a number of shortcomings and limitations, stressing the ministry must fine-tune mechanisms and policies to create a legal corridor and an open environment for people and businesses to easily access policies on labour, employment, and social security.

The sector and localities must ensure the effective and transparent implementation of policies towards people with meritorious services to the revolution, and mobilise all resources to take care of national contributors.

Source: VOV5

WASHINGTON — As he urged a united front on a rising China and bellicose North Korea, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told Western powers that East Asia could be the next Ukraine.

Kicking off Japan’s year as head of the Group of Seven, Kishida visited leaders of all members of the elite club except Germany, where he plans to go soon. Closing his trip in Washington, Kishida said on Saturday that he shared with G-7 leaders his “strong sense of crisis regarding the security environment in East Asia.”

“Ukraine may be the East Asia of tomorrow,” Kishida told a news conference a day after meeting U.S. President Joe Biden, calling security concerns in the two regions “inseparable.”

“The situation around Japan is becoming increasingly severe with attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force in the East China Sea and South China Sea and the activation of North Korea’s nuclear and missile activities,” he said.

Kishida was referring to China’s growing assertiveness in the surrounding waters where Beijing has a slew of island disputes including with Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam.

China in August also fired missiles into waters that lie in Japan’s economic zone as part of major military exercises around Taiwan, a self-governing democracy that Beijing considers part of its territory and has not ruled out taking by force.

Kishida came to Washington after his government announced that Japan would double defense spending over the next five years, a sea change for a country that has been officially pacifist since its defeat in World War II.

Kishida said he would work to “explain thoroughly to the public” the need to use tax money to ramp up defense spending to two percent of GDP — a goal separately set by NATO that more countries are accepting since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Growing military power

Among other steps taken under the new defense strategy, Japan will develop “counterstrike” capacity to hit threatening launch sites and hopes to buy hundreds of Tomahawk cruise missiles, now only in the arsenals of the U.S. and Britain.

Kishida said he spoke to the British and Italian prime ministers, Rishi Sunak and Giorgia Meloni, about moving ahead on three-way development of a next-generation fighter-jet that uses artificial intelligence.

Kishida indicated Japan has not yet decided whether to join the United States on one measure that has especially irritated China — cutting the economic power off from imports of semiconductors critical for advanced technology.

“Semiconductors are part of economic security including for the United States and like-minded countries. We want to have closer communication to think about how to treat this issue,” Kishida said.

Japan is proud to be the only Asian member of the G-7 and Kishida has said that his response on Ukraine effectively internationalized Western-led opposition to Russia’s invasion.

In turn, Kishida said earlier in a speech in Washington, Japan needs to be able to rely on “allies and like-minded countries” on risks from China.

“China needs to make a strategic decision that it will abide by the established international rules and that it cannot and will not change the international order in ways that are contrary to these rules,” he said Friday at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies.

Kishida said that Japan still sees itself as a “peace-loving” nation and will use the G-7 to push for the eventual abolition of nuclear weapons.

The leaders of the G-7 — Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the U.S. — will hold their summit in May in Hiroshima, Japan, the site of the world’s first nuclear attack and Kishida’s parliamentary constituency.

Source: Voice of America

President Joe Biden told Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Friday the United States was “fully, thoroughly, completely” committed to Japan’s defense and praised Tokyo’s security build up, saying the nations had never been closer.

Kishida is in Washington on the last stop in a tour of the G7 industrial powers and has been seeking to bolster long-standing alliances amid rising concern in Japan, and the United States, about mounting regional security threats.

In a meeting at the White House, Biden called it a “remarkable moment” in the US-Japan alliance.

Kishida said that “Japan and the United States are currently facing the most challenging and complex security environment in recent history.” He said Tokyo had formulated its new defense strategy released last month “to ensure peace and prosperity in the region.

Source: VOV5

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called on the Japanese Government to support Viet Nam in building the North-South express railway.

The Government chief made the request during his reception for Japan’s Minister of Finance Suzuki Shunichi in Ha Noi on Friday.

Pham expressed his delight at the strong and comprehensive development of Viet Nam-Japan comprehensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia with high political trust.

Viet Nam considers Japan as a top and long-term strategic partnership, backing Japan to make active contribution to peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world, he affirmed.

The host reiterated that Viet Nam will continue creating favorable conditions for Japanese firms to launch effective operation in the country.

Prime Minister Pham suggested the two countries organize practical activities to mark the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties this year.

He suggested Japan assist Viet Nam in restructuring capital contributions at Nghi Son refinery and petrochemical project, and enhancing digital transformation in customs, corporate bond and securities markets.

For his part, Suzuki Shunichi spoke highly of the Vietnamese Government’s efforts in the COVID-19 fight and socio-economic recovery.

He also briefed the host about the outcomes of his working session with Vietnamese Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc, asserting that the two sides will continue fostering collaboration in infrastructure development.

Source: PRIME MINISTER OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIET NAM

Ho Chi Minh City is an attractive destination with numerous opportunities for foreign investors, including those from Hong Kong (China), heard the Hong Kong – Ho Chi Minh City Investment & Business Forum and Networking Dinner held in the city on January 12.

Vo Van Hoan, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of HCM City, said that strong growth has been seen in the partnership between the city and Hong Kong across all fields, especially economy, trade, investment and tourism.

Amid the unpredictable COVID-19 situation, bilateral trade between Hong Kong and Vietnam still maintained a good growth momentum in 2022. Currently, Hong Kong is one of the major trading partners of Ho Chi Minh City, ranking 8th out of 117 countries and territories with direct investment in this city.

As of the end of 2022, Hong Kong investors run 619 direct investment projects worth 3.23 billion USD in the city, accounting for 5.79% of the total FDI the city attracted in the year, mostly in manufacturing-processing and real estate.

Hoan underlined that HCM City has enjoyed stable growth. Last year, the city’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) expanded 9.03% year on year, making up 22% of the country’s GDP and 28% of the State budget. Its per capita GRDP in 2022 reached nearly 7,000 USD, double that of the country’s average.

He said that the city is focusing on reforming administrative procedures, promoting digital transformation and improving investment environment to attract more FDI and investors, including those from Hong Kong.

With around 10 million population and the growth of the middle class, Ho Chi Minh City is a huge and potential market for businesses.

Cao Thi Phi Van, Vice Director of the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre of the city, said that the city is not only a promising investment destination but also a gateway for businesses to reach other markets in Southeast Asia.

As the city is calling for investment to many large-scale projects in various fields, including urban infrastructure, innovation and hi-tech agriculture, this is a good time and a chance for foreign investors to invest in the city, she said.

Jonathan Choi, Chairman of the Hong Kong-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of Sunwah Group, Chairman of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong and Chairman of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area Entrepreneurs’ Union, noted in his opening remarks that Sunwah Group has been operating in Vietnam since the 1970s and its Vietnam Headquarters is in Ho Chi Minh City, the most dynamic and vibrant city in Vietnam.

Dr. Jonathan Choi, Chairman of Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of Hong Kong – Vietnam Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of GBA Entrepreneurs Union, and Chairman of Sunwah Group, speaking at the opening of the event (Source: Organisers)

“This time I am delighted to lead a business delegation of more than 60 business leaders and industry experts of different sectors from Hong Kong to Vietnam to explore partnership and collaboration. Some of the delegates have been investing in Vietnam, some have not, but they all share the same interest in exploring more investment opportunities in Vietnam. For those who have not visited Vietnam before, I am sure they are all impressed with the charm and abundant opportunities of this country,” he said.

The Hong Kong – Ho Chi Minh City Investment & Business Forum and Networking Dinner is an international forum co-organized by the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce (CGCC), the Guangdong – Hong Kong – Macao Bay Area Entrepreneurs Union (GBA Union), the Hong Kong – Vietnam Chamber of Commerce (HKVCC) and the Investment & Trade Promotion Centre of Ho Chi Minh City (ITPC).

The event aimed to strengthen the investment and cooperation ties between Hong Kong and Vietnam in general and Ho Chi Minh City in particular.

The Business Forum and Networking Dinner in Ho Chi Minh City is part of a business trip to Vietnam from January 8-14 by the Hong Kong delegation of more than 60 entrepreneurs and high-level representatives from various sectors including financial services, manufacturing, real estate, education and training, and many more.

Sunwah Group, with more than 50 years doing business in Vietnam, is the coordinator and main sponsor for the delegation’s activities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The Investment & Trade Promotion Centre of Ho Chi Minh City (ITPC), the Young Business Association Ho Chi Minh City (YBA) and IBP Vietnam are supporting organizations for the Ho Chi Minh City activities.

Earlier, the Vietnam – Hong Kong – Greater Bay Area Partnership Business Forum and Networking Luncheon was successfully organized in Hanoi on January 10. The success of both Business Forums in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with the participation of many large associations and enterprises promise to bring in more bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Hong Kong in the post-COVID-19 era.

Vietnam and Hong Kong (China) have enjoyed fruitful trade and investment partnerships despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the latest report of Vietnam General Statistics Office, as of October 2022, Hong Kong was the fifth largest investor in Vietnam after the Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan (China) with 2,133 projects and 28.9 billion USD of total investment capital registered. The main industries that Hong Kong has invested in Vietnam include processing, manufacturing, apparel, services, real estate, hotels and restaurants, and construction./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency