☕ Afternoon briefing on March 29

Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

- Vietnam has emerged as one of Malaysia’s closest partners over the years, both economically and socially, Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Dato Tan Yang Thai has said.

Then Acting President Vo Thi Anh Xuan (R) receives Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Dato Tan Yang Thai, who comes to present his credentials on February 22, 2023. (Photo: VNA)

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam - Malaysia diplomatic ties (March 30, 1973 - March 30, 2023), the diplomat also said the two countries entered into a strategic partnership in 2015, adding that implementing the Plan of Action (POA) for the 2021-2025 period, both countries are further strengthening bilateral relations and have reaped tremendous benefits. Read full story

– Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son received the visiting Secretary of the Communist Party of China Committee of China’s Yunnan province, Wang Ning, in Hanoi on March 28.

Both host and guest highly valued the progress in the Vietnam - China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, especially in politics, economy, trade, and investment, saying the official visit to China by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong in October 2022 was an important milestone opening up a new development period for relations between the two Parties and the two countries. Read full story

– Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien discussed measures to promote economic and trade ties between Vietnam and China’s Yunnan province, while meeting with Secretary of the Yunnan Party Committee Wang Ning in Hanoi.

The meeting between officials of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and China's Yunnan province in Hanoi (Source: Ministry of Industry and Trade)

Dien said Yunnan province holds an important role in economic and trade ties as it has a large market and diverse goods demand while serving as a crucial gateway for Vietnamese products to enter the southwest of China. Read full story

– Four Japanese banks - the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Mizuho Bank, Joyo Bank, and Shiga Bank - will co-finance a total of 300 million USD in credit lines to power producers using renewable energy in Vietnam to help the growing Southeast Asian country decarbonize, according to the Nikkei Asia.

The banks will provide funds through the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) which will in turn provide subleasing loans, mainly to local businesses. Read full story

– Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Han Duck-soo hosted a reception in Seoul on March 29 for Vietnamese Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang who is on an official visit to the RoK at an invitation of his Korean counterpart Lee Jong-sup.

Defence Minister Gen. Phan Van Giang (L) meets with RoK Prime Minister Han Duck-soo (Photo: VNA)

Han said the visit holds special significance as the two countries just upgraded their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership last December. Read full story

– Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) has grown about 3.32% year on year in the first quarter of 2023, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

The expansion is only higher than the 3.21% recorded in Q1 of 2020 during the 2011 - 2023 period, the GSO told a press conference on March 29. Read full story

– The Steering Committee for External Information Service, the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education, the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), and relevant agencies launched the ninth National External Information Service Awards on March 29. 

The press conference launching the ninth National External Information Service Awards on March 29. (Photo: VNA)

The awards aim to honour outstanding authors, works, and publications in the field of external information service and help popularise the country’s development achievements in various areas. The Vietnam News Agency is the standing body of the ninth National External Information Service Awards. Read full story

– A forum discussing measures to promote cooperation between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) in developing green industries and smart mobility was held in the RoK on March 28.

Jointly organised by the Vietnam-Korea Businessmen and Investment Association (VKBIA), the Vietnam – Korea Alliance for Green Mobility (VKERC), the Office of the RoK National Assembly, the event saw the participation of representatives from six RoK government’s agencies, businesses, organisations, research institutes and universities which are involved in the green industry and smart mobility./.Read full story