On January 21st, 2022, Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted an online meeting with participation of cities and provinces across the country and Vietnam’s Embassies overseas. At Hai Phong City’s connection point chaired by Mr. Hoang Minh Cuong, the Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee, representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Planning and Investment, and Hai Phong Economic Zone Authority attended the meeting.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs gave the opening speech at the meeting. Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs
The Vice Chairman of Hai Phong City People’s Committee hosted the meeting at Hai Phong connection point with the attention of related departments’ representatives. Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs
Mentioned by Mr. Bui Thanh Son, Minister of Foreign Affairs, external affairs set people and enterprises center of gravity to serve, demands for integration in the context of economic globalization, advantages and disadvantages brought by current situation globally, regionally and nationally have drawn pros and challenges that need to be met. Particularly, during COVID-19 pandemic, changes have taken place and made countries change their views on economy, trade, investment, health care, energy, etc. The meeting was held to review achievements gained in 2021 and direction for tasks in 2022 regarding external affairs at both Central and local levels. Indeed, with regards to results gained in 2021, as listed in a brief report presented by Mr. Nguyen Minh Vu, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, vaccine diplomacy led the top with fruitful outputs that were proved with a number of vaccine doses supported and/or cooperated by foreign partners including States, international organizations, companies and Vietnamese communities overseas. Grounded on that, numerous vaccine packages were delivered to localities across the country, vaccination was deployed to cover a majority of the population in Vietnam. Besides, attempts have been made by the Central Government and local authorities in handling and easing difficulties caused by the COVID-19 to domestic and foreign companies, in order to maintain supply chains and national economic stability. For instance, many foreign direct investment companies have got back to manufacturing, receiving support in terms of procedures, expertise travels, the epidemic prevention and control measures, tax deferral and reduction packages that have facilitated productivity recovery, labors’ income, and social welfare. Also, in 2021, policy consultancy in foreign affairs has been strengthened with strategic and specific plans to access foreign markets regarding exporting agricultural products in particular and goods in general to markets in Europe, North America and North Asia. Economic activities were shifted from offline to online to tackle traveling and social distance obstacles and to serve promotion demands of stakeholders; meanwhile, there were 15 official visits of high-level delegations in combination with investment and trade promotion to countries, and local economic promotion activities with foreign partners such as Japan, Korea, EU, USA, India, Saudi Arabia, China, etc. Those facts have revealed strict cooperation between the Central Government, localities, and enterprises in economic diplomacy deployment. In 2022, catch up with three main trends: i) globally economic recovery (with an estimate of 4% economic growth), ii) adaptation and living with the COVID-19; iii) green and digital transformation in all fields, in the context of unpredictable threats coming from the pandemic, inflation, untraditional risks, etc., important tasks were noted in external affairs. Indeed, research and consultancy would be continuously enhanced; new resources from foreign partners would be more optimized; cooperation between Ministry of Foreign Affairs, localities, and Vietnam’s diplomatic offices overseas would be more tightened and effective; information connection would be boosted at levels for in-time consultancy and support; cooperation with big groups equipped abundant resources, important pillars implementation, vaccine guaranteeing, soft skills for localities’ officials engaged in external affairs would be paid attention.
Vietnam’s Ambassadors in France, the USA, the United Nations, and China gave speeches and comments at the meeting. Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs
At the meeting, Vietnamese Ambassadors at France, the United Kingdom, Thailand, the United States, China, Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Chief Representative of Vietnam at the United Nations, gave speeches and comments regarding achievements gained in economic diplomacy in 2021 and plans and suggestions to catch up opportunities from economic integration and international support for economic recovery and development of the country and localities. Indeed, the Vietnamese Ambassador in France clarified that, fields including trade, investment, and cooperation by topics would be essential to hold in opportunities brought by the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). In fact, Vietnam’s exported goods have accounted for 1% in France’s market, hence, room for exporting goods to France’s market needs to be optimized, and connection between Vietnamese and French enterprises has required to be tightened. On January 25th 2022, direct flights would be reopened between Vietnam and France that would facilitate trade, tourism and travel between the two countries and people. To continue, Vietnamese Ambassador in the UK shared some figures regarding: i) bilateral trade exchange between Vietnam and the UK gained over $6 billion in 2021, ii) 25 agreements with big values signed between Vietnam and the UK, iii) Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s engagement that Vietnam would have reached zero CO2 by 2050, at COP26 receiving international high consideration and commitment to cooperate/support Vietnam in realizing that target ongoing years. In 2022, the UK would focus on implementing infrastructure projects and trade activities mainly in terms of agricultural products and construction and furniture materials that would be an opportunity for Vietnam to dig in for goods export. To add, health care and green economy cooperation would be strategic fields to be exploited between the both countries in 2022. Vietnamese Ambassador in the USA commented on Vietnam’s success in vaccine diplomacy and informed that Vietnam was one in six countries leading in getting vaccinated population in 2021, giving specific suggestions regarding trade and investment promotion, digital transformation and multilateral mechanisms participation; and engaging support connection between Vietnamese and American enterprises and localities. Agreeing with aforementioned Ambassadors, the Vietnamese Ambassadors to China, Korea, and Saudi Arabia shared trends and characteristics of Chinese, Korean and Saudi Arabian markets and potentials for cooperation in trade and investment, and opportunities for cooperation in news fields such as digital economy or renewable energy.
VCCI, Vietnam’s Ambassadors in Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand gave speeches. Photo: Department of Foreign Affairs
Attending the meeting, representatives of Vietnam Logistics Associate and private companies which doing business in fruits exporting overseas expressed their interests and concerns regarding cooperation opportunities in logistics and agricultural products export.
To wrap up the meeting, the Minister of Foreign Affairs highly appreciated all comments, suggestions and concerns of participants and reaffirmed his commitment to carry out foreign affairs work with the focus on people and enterprises./.