Singapore (VNA) – The Vietnamese Defence Attaché Office in Singapore held a ceremony on December 3 tomark the 75th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army.
The event saw the attendance of ambassadors and deputy ambassadorsof the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries,high-ranking Singaporean defence officers and more than 200 guests.
In her remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador Tao Thi Thanh Huonghighlighted Vietnam’s motto for national defence, which is “of the people, bythe people, for the people.”
Vietnam aims to combine economy with national defence and securityand foreign relations in order to serve national construction and protection,she added.
Colonel Do Mai Khanh, Vietnamese Defence Attaché in Singapore, briefed the guests on the 2019 WhitePaper on Vietnam’s National Defence that features major policies as well aschallenges to the country’s defence.
The release of the documentaims to make Vietnam’s national defence policy transparent, thus contributingto enhancing understanding and trust between the Vietnamese army and peoplewith their foreign counterparts, and improving cooperation between Vietnam andother countries along with regional and international organisations in dealingwith emerging security issues.
Khanh stressed that defenceties between Vietnam and Singapore have developed strongly, especially in termsof delegation exchanges, personnel training and coordination at multilateralforums.
On the basis of a defencecooperation agreement signed in 2009, the two countries have effectivelyimplemented their annual defence policy dialogue mechanism at thedeputy-ministerial level, stepped up naval cooperation, worked together toensure maritime security and safety, and joined hands in intelligence, securityand anti-terrorism efforts, the officer said./.
The Defence Ministry on December 17 held a banquet in Hanoi to celebrate the 69th founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army and the 24th All-People’s National Defence Day (December 22).
The Becamex IDC company, the Vietnam – Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP), and Sembcorp Smart Energy Solutions Vietnam signed a contract on solar power development in the southern province of Binh Duong on September 24.
Vietnam Singapore Technologies Engineering Aerospace Co. Ltd. (VSTEA) officially made its debut on September 26, becoming the first joint venture of its kind in the Vietnamese aviation market.
Based on the developments of disasters, epidemics, national defence and security conditions, and public order and safety, and upon proposals from relevant ministries or provincial-level People’s Committee chairpersons, the Prime Minister may request the NA Standing Committee to declare a state of emergency, according to a draft law.
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.
At the ceremony (Photo: VNA) 
