☕ Afternoon briefing on May 4

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

- State President Vo Van Thuong's participation of the coronation of King Charles III of the UK from May 4 to 6 shows Vietnam’s respect and support for the Royal Family and the Government of the UK as well as the two countries’ strategic partnership, a diplomat has said.

Talking to the Vietnam News Agency, Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Nguyen Hoang Long said President Thuong’s working trip is a high-level diplomatic activity of great importance that affirms Vietnam’s stature and role in the region and the world. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Luxembourg counterpart Xavier Bettel held talks in Hanoi on May 4, affirming both sides’ wish and determination to lift bilateral relations to a new development stage that is more substantive and effective.

PM Chinh stated Vietnam treasures the friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Luxembourg and that his guest’s official visit from May 3 to 5 holds great significance, especially as the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties and this is the first by a Luxembourg Government leader in over 20 years. Read full story

Vice President of Vietnam Vo Thi Anh Xuan (L) meets with President of the UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on May 3. (Photo: VNA)

- Vice State President Vo Thi Anh Xuan underlined the importance Vietnam attaches to its relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), during a meeting with President of the UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on May 3 morning.

The meeting, following a welcome ceremony for the Vice President of Vietnam, was also joined by Vice President of the UAE Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed. Read full story

- Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan received Director-General of the Emirates News Agency (WAM) Mohamed Jalal Al Rayssi on May 4 as part of her working trip to the UAE to attend the 2023 Global Summit of Women and some bilateral activities.

Speaking highly of the position and reputation of WAM - one of the leading news agencies in the Middle East, Xuan hailed the fresh signing of a professional cooperation agreement between WAM and the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), which, she said, is an important milestone in the cooperation between the two news agencies, especially on the occasion of Vietnam and the UAE celebrating the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic ties (August 1, 1993 - 2023). Read full story

- Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court Nguyen Hoa Binh visited the Netherlands from May 2-3, aiming to enhance relations between Vietnam and relevant organisations and agencies.

During the visit, Binh and his entourage also learned about some issues in judicial reform in service of amendments to the Law on the Organisation of People’s Courts, and the compilation of a law on justice for juveniles. Read full story

- In a world riddled with uncertainties and strategic complexities, trust plays a critical role in conflict prevention and solution, and is the bedrock for a multilateral system that can achieve and sustain peace, Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, told the UN Security Council’s open debate on “Futureproofing trust for sustaining peace” on May 3.

Stressing that trust cannot be coerced or manufactured but rests on the principles of fairness and equality, Giang called on all actors in international relations, especially the major powers, to act in good faith and uphold their responsibility, while fully considering the legitimate interests of all parties and stakeholders. Read full story

- The Government has proposed the National Assembly (NA) to consider a 2% reduction in the value-added tax (VAT) on goods and services subject to a 10% VAT during its coming meeting stated to start on May 22.

The Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Justice were asked to complete the proposed draft resolution. Read full story

- Vietnam’s export-import value in the first four months of this year was estimated at 210.79 billion USD, down 13.6% year-on-year, with a trade surplus of 6.35 billion USD, the General Statistics Office (GSO) reported.

In April alone, the import-export turnover stood at 53.57 billion USD, representing decreases of 7.7% from the previous month, and 18.8% from the same period last year. Read full story

- A Vietnamese military delegation led by Rear Admiral Nguyen Dinh Hung, Deputy Commander of the Vietnam People's Navy, attended the International Maritime Defence Exhibition (IMDEX) Asia 2023 that opened at the Changi Exhibition Centre of Singapore on May 3.

The three-day exhibition drew 47 delegations from more than 40 countries in the region and the world, and 250 enterprises from 25 nations, showing the latest technologies in the fields of defence and navigation. Read full story

Total revenue from the tourists was estimated at 24 trillion VND (over 1.02 billion USD), up 9% compared with the same period last year. (Photo: VNA)

- Vietnam welcomed more than 300,000 foreign visitors and served 7 million domestic tourists during the five-day holidays of Hung Kings Commemoration Day, Reunification Day and International Workers’ Day from April 29 to May 3, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Total revenue from the tourists was estimated at 24 trillion VND (over 1.02 billion USD), up 9% compared with the same period last year./. Read full story