Deputy PM calls for global unity to overcome COVID-19 crisis
International and regional cooperation is more important than ever before for the world to overcome the COVID-19 crisis, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said on September 3 when attending a virtual conference of the Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh attends the virtual conference of the Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – International and regional cooperation is more importantthan ever before for the world to overcome the COVID-19 crisis, Deputy PrimeMinister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said on September 3 when attendinga virtual conference of the Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers.
Minh spoke highly of G20 countries’ efforts and contributions to the battleagainst the pandemic, and thanked them for supporting Vietnam to response tothe outbreak and bring its citizens home safely.
Vietnam, in its role as the Chair of ASEAN in 2020, has worked closely withinternational partners to maintain cooperative activities, as well as proposedmany initiatives to promote joint work in fighting the pandemic and recoveringthe economy, Minh said.
Sharing ASEAN and Vietnam’s experience in the prevention and control of thecoronavirus epidemic, he laid stress on enhancing border management based on thepremise of ensuring epidemic prevention and facilitating cross-border trade,investment and travel at the same time.
Minh expressed his hope that the G20 members will join hands with internationalorganisations and other countries to form a set of principles on cross-border managementand international travel facilitation.
All parties should share information and experience in ensuring health safetyat border gates, apply technologies in detecting and tracing COVID-19 cases,while working together in vaccine development at rational costs, he added.
At the event, leaders of major international organisations and foreign ministersof G20 countries and invited countries reiterated the commitment to internationalcollaboration in response to the COVID-19 pandemic so as to lessen its impacts onthe economy and support post-pandemic recovery. They said they will promotejoint cooperation frameworks to enhance preparedness and response capacity forfuture medical crises.
The special G20 foreign ministers’ conference took place amid the complexdevelopment of the COVID-19 pandemic in the world. It drew the participation offoreign ministers of G20 members and guest countries, along with leaders ofinternational organisations such as the UN, WHO, WB and OECD.
Vietnamwas invited to attend the event in its capacity as Chair of ASEAN in 2020./.
Amid the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam, as ASEAN Chair, has managed to formulate a regional comprehensive economic recovery plan, the New Straits Times of Malaysia reported.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc assigned five political missions to the diplomatic sector in Hanoi on August 27, while addressing an event marking its 75th anniversary (August 28, 1945).
The Saigon Children’s Charity organisation (Saigonchildren) said on September 3 that it has raised over 10 billion VND (434,000 USD) from domestic and foreign entities and individuals, equivalent to over 7,000 aid packages since April.
Since the signing of the Vietnam-Cambodia trade and economic cooperation agreement, trade and investment ties have seen remarkable growth, substantially contributing to each country's socio-economic development and facilitating collaboration in various spheres, said Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu.
Representatives of the overseas community and students expressed their gratitude for the Party and State’s support, their delight at growing Vietnam–China ties, and their commitment to preserving the Vietnamese identities abroad.
PM Pham Minh Chinh reiterated Vietnam’s readiness to continue dispatching agricultural experts to support Senegal’s food security through increasingly effective and innovative methods.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man expressed confidence that the legislature will soon apply AI and digital transformation more broadly, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of its legislative, supreme supervision, and decision-making functions on critical national matters.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and President and CEO of the World Economic Forum Borge Brende discussed Vietnam’s new development vision and its experience in building an independent, self-reliant and globally-integrated economy, and navigating global instability through proactive diplomacy.
Peter Brabeck-Letmathe, Interim Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF), and Borge Brende, WEF President and CEO, commended Vietnam’s flexible and effective economic governance and its strong economic performance.
The two PMs agreed on measures to strengthen bilateral relations in the future, especially the prompt signing of an action plan for implementing the countries' comprehensive strategic partnership, and the launch of upgraded VSIPs to include hi-tech parks, urban areas, and commercial zones.
PM Chinh requested ERIA to maintain close coordination with Vietnamese agencies and research institutes to promote policy research and consultations, and help the country increase productivity, quality, and competitiveness of the economy, especially in digital transformation, green transition, and circular economy, to contribute to achieving the rapid, sustainable development and double-digit economic growth goals it has set out for the coming decades.
The new Quang Tri province will include 78 commune-level units and features key assets such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a long coastline, historical landmarks, three international border gates, deep-water ports, a modern transport network, and two airports.
The rehearsal took place at the National Military Training Centre No. 4, the Vietnam National University - Hanoi, and the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism, involving more than 7,400 officers and soldiers.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a meeting with Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa on June 25 on the sidelines of the 16th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Tianjin city, China, during which he affirmed Vietnam attaches great importance to its multifaceted cooperation with Ecuador and proposes continued dialogue, negotiation, and signing of cooperation agreements in trade, investment, finance, and agriculture.
A working visit to Toulouse by Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang from June 23–25 has laid important groundwork for expanding multi-sector cooperation between Vietnam and the Occitanie region.
Prof. Dr. Georgy Toloraia, Executive Director of the National Committee for BRICS Research and Director of the Centre for Russian Strategy in Asia at the Institute of Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences, expressed his confidence that Vietnam will become a substantial and influential partner of BRICS.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed enhancing economic and trade cooperation, including the development of railway connectivity between Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan, which will also strengthen links with Central Asian nations.
The new law abolishes the death penalty for eight criminal offenses: the crime aimed at overthrowing the people’s government; the crime of sabotaging state infrastructure and technical facilities; the crime of producing and trading counterfeit medicines for treatment and prevention; the crime of destroying peace and causing aggressive war; the crime of espionage; that of illegally transporting narcotics; embezzlement; and bribe taking.
Vietnam will continue to coordinate closely with and make positive contributions to the initiatives and collective work of the Group of 77 (G77) developing nations, said Ambassador Do Hung Viet, head of the Vietnamese Permanent Mission to the UN.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh attends the virtual conference of the Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers. (Photo: VNA) 
