Vietnam always attaches importance to its traditional friendship and comprehensive partnership with Argentina, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has said.While receiving the Argentinean Minister of Foreign Affairs , International Trade and Worship, Santiago Andrés Cafiero, in Hanoi on July 11, PM Chinh said Vietnam has always treasured and remembered the solidarity and traditional friendship that the Argentinean people reserved for their Vietnamese counterparts in the past struggle for national liberation and the current cause of national construction, reflected by the Argentinean Government’s donation of 500,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnam in November 2021.He expressed his belief that Cafiero’s visit would contribute to strengthening and developing the Vietnam – Argentina comprehensive partnership for the sake of their people and contributing to peace, stability and development in the two regions and the world as well.The PM noted with pleasure the fruitful outcomes of the talks between the two foreign ministers in the morning of the same day and asked the two sides to closely coordinate with each other to promote high-level visits and meetings and build plans to organise celebrations for the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties (October 25, 1973 – 2023).He requested the two sides to enhance the efficiency of existing cooperation mechanisms such as the Inter-Government Committee for Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation and the Political Consultation between the two foreign ministries; and maintain bilateral coordination and mutual support at international organisations and multilateral forums, thereby contributing positively to dealing with regional and global issues.PM Chinh spoke highly of the growth of two-way trade which reached 4.5 billion USD in 2021, adding that Argentina continued to be the third biggest trade partner of Vietnam in Latin America.He proposed Argentina create favourable conditions for Vietnam’s goods to enter the Argentinean market, especially agro-forestry-aquatic products, and agreed to Argentina’s proposals on cooperation in energy development and hi-tech agriculture.The government leader also suggested Argentina, which has advantages in science and technology, to increase technical assistance, technology transfer and share its experience with Vietnam in sustainable agricultural development, ensuring energy security, energy transition in response to climate change, and digital transformation.The two countries should also step up cooperation in the fields of culture – sports, security – defence and people-to-people exchange, he added.Cafiero congratulated Vietnam on its great achievements in the renewal process and the fight against COVID-19, and expressed his belief in the country’s post-pandemic socio-economic recovery and development programme, thus maintaining macroeconomy and ensuring social security and sustainable development.He affirmed that the Argentinean Government attaches great importance to Vietnam’s growing role and position in the region and the world, and wants to bring the bilateral comprehensive partnership to a new height.The minister also pledged to urge Argentinean ministries and sectors to coordinate with the Vietnamese side to concretise PM Chinh’s proposals, thereby making the bilateral friendship and multifaceted cooperation more practical and effective, towards building a strategic partnership in the spheres of energy and agriculture./.

Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Head of the External Relations Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee (Photo: VNA)Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Lao counterpart Phankham Viphavanh attend the launching ceremony of the Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam 2022 Solidarity and Friendship Year on January 8. (Photo: VNA)– The unceasing development of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam, particularly after the two countries signed a Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in 1977, has brought practical benefits to their people, said a senior Party official of Laos.Thongsavanh Phomvihane, Head of the External Relations Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee, made the affirmation in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the treaty’s signing (July 18, 1977-2022) and the 60th anniversary of Laos-Vietnam diplomatic relationship (September 5, 1962-2022).The official described the signing of the treaty as a historical landmark and an important legal foundation for the two countries to elevate their relations.After the treaty’s signing, the bilateral relations have unceasingly developed despite complicated developments in the world situation, contributing to not only boosting national socio-economic growth and enhancing people’s living standards in each country, but also raising the countries’ positions in the regional and international arena, he said.He took the occasion to express profound gratitude to the fraternal Vietnamese Party, State and people for their valuable and timely help to Laos in the past struggle for national liberation and the current cause of national construction and defence, especially in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and tackling economic and financial difficulties.In the present complex and unpredictable situation in the region and the world, Laos and Vietnam should further strengthen mutual political trust and deepen their cooperation in security-defence and diplomacy, enhance the efficiency of their bilateral partnership in economy, culture, education, health care, and science-technology, according to the Lao official.He also proposed that the two sides increase the exchange of information, timely coordinate viewpoints on important issues and support each other at regional and international forums such as the ASEAN, the UN, WHO and Mekong sub-region, thus maintaining the in-depth development of their great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation, and contributing to peace and stability in the region and the world as a whole./.

Hanoi, (VNA) - The following is a list of selected news summaries last weekend by Vietnam News Agency. Read full story-Capital reallocation plans announced by multinational corporations will offer opportunities for Vietnam to attract foreign direct investment, experts said. Read full story-The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has launched a video clip Vietnam: Di de yeu! – Wonders of Vietnam (Vietnam: Travel to Love! The clip is part of a programme promoting Vietnamese tourism on YouTube, organised by the VNAT, with support from Vinpearl and Google.

Lee Jae Hoon, chief representative of KTO in Vietnam, said in Vietnam there is great interest in K-pop as well as the Korean culture. On display are images and documents on famous tourist attractions built by the French in three Indochinese countries - Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia - since the 19th century, namely Sa Pa, Tam Dao, Ba Vi in northern Vietnam; Ba Na, Bach Ma, Da Lat in central Vietnam; Bockor in Cambodia; and Parksong in Laos. Video clip launched to promote Vietnamese tourismThe Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has launched a video clip Vietnam: Di de yeu! – Wonders of Vietnam (Vietnam: Travel to Love! While in Vietnam, the Venezuelan official had working sessions with representatives from the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, the National Assembly’s Committee for Foreign Affairs, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), the Vietnam Women’s Union and the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Health workers administer COVID-19 vaccine to people in Phnom Penh, Cambodia . (Photo: AFP/VNA)– Cambodia has announced that it will lift quarantine requirements for unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated inbound travelers, but they will be required to undergo a rapid antigen test upon their arrivals.In a statement on July 8, Health Minister Mam Bunheng said the new rule will take effect on July 11.He said if the rapid antigen test's result is negative, the visitor will be allowed to travel to his/her respective house or destination without observing quarantine obligations.In case the test's result turns out to be positive, but the patient has mild symptoms, he/she will be allowed to undergo treatment at home with self-isolation.However, patients with severe symptoms must seek medical treatment at licensed COVID-19 hospitals, the minister said.According to Bunheng, a rapid antigen test will cost 5 USD.With a high vaccination rate, Cambodia has resumed all socioeconomic activities and reopened its borders to fully vaccinated travelers without quarantine since November last year.To date, the Southeast Asian nation has administered COVID-19 vaccines to almost 15.1 million people, or 94.3% of the population, its Health Ministry said./.

A health worker gives a person a dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in Bangkok, Thailand . (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Thailand has decided to extend the state of emergency, introduced in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, for another two months, according to its centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA). The online newspaper Krungthep Turakij quoted CCSA Spokesman Taweesin Visanuyothin as announcing on July 8 that the state of emergency has been extended from August 1 to September 30, 2022. According to Taweesin, Thailand should be ready to recognise COVID-19 as an endemic disease. The CCSA’s data showed that there are currently 25,082 COVID-19 patients being treated in hospitals across Thailand.

Vietnam’s exports to Algeria stood at 151.1 million USD in 2021 and 65.2 million USD in the first five months this year. (Illustrative image: VNA)– A virtual conference will be held on July 13 and 14 to promote trade and business links between Vietnamese localities, enterprises and cooperatives with potential partners in Algeria.The event is part of the national trade promotion programme in 2022. Around 40 Vietnamese and Algerian businesses are expected to attend. B2B sessions will be arranged for participating companies.According to statistics of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, Vietnam’s exports to Algeria , the fourth largest economy in Africa, were modest at 151.1 million USD in 2021, and reached 65.2 million USD in the first five months this year, up 17.6% year on year.Coffee tops Vietnam’s exports to Algeria , accounting for 65% of the total export value. Other main export items are rice (16%), spices such as pepper bean and cinnamon, cashew nuts and aquatic products./.

(Photo: VNA)HCM City (VNA) – Vo Van Hoan, Vice chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has highlighted the role of foreign mission representatives to the city’s achievements in COVID-19 prevention and control. Congratulating the Service Company to Foreign Mission (FOSCO) on its 43rd founding anniversary, Hoan spoke highly of the performance of the company, especially in providing services to consular delegations, international and non-governmental organisations, foreign economic representative offices, helping realise the external relations work of the city. Addressing the event, Kho Ngee Seng Roy, Consul General of Singapore in HCM City and head of the Consular Delegation in the city, thanked FOSCO for supporting diplomatic missions and foreign organisations to work in Vietnam. He believed that the relations between foreign diplomatic agencies and FOSCO as well as the city’s administration will further develop in the future for mutual benefit. In addition to guiding foreign organisations to strictly observe Vietnamese laws and create favourable conditions for them to have a safe and effective working environment, FOSCO has contributed to the city’s success in the implementation of foreign policy, she said./.

A photo by Nguyen AMore than 100 photos capturing Vietnamese peacekeepers in South Sudan are on display at an exhibition that opened in Hanoi on July 8.Selected from thousands of photos taken by Nguyen A, the exhibits feature the image of the Vietnamese “blue beret” soldiers while performing their international tasks.At the opening ceremony, the 54-year-old artist introduced a photo book telling about his one-month journey with the peacekeepers in the African nation through 300 photos.Nguyen A has so far organised 17 exhibitions on Vietnam’s land, people, and tangible and intangible cultural heritages.Last month, Vietnam sent its Engineering Unit Rotation 1 to the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).Established in 2014 and debuted in November 2021, the 184-member unit has been the biggest of Vietnam to join UN peacekeeping mission to date.The first 28 members arrived in Abyei on May 5 and the remaining 156 on June 15 (local time)./.

A medical worker takes care of a mother and her newborn child. Yet a few weeks after her child was born, her mental state began to get worse.While her pregnancy had been normal, she started experiencing insomnia after the delivery. She was also diagnosed with behavioural and mental disorders associated with pregnancy.“After going under treatment at the hospital, she has become more cooperative and her mental state has become more stable. They should not force themselves more than they can bear or expect themselves to be perfect mothers.“After the delivery, they should make sure to get enough sleep. They could take a rest when their child is sleeping, take time for self-care and going out with their friends.“New mothers who show signs of depression should seek treatment at psychology departments as soon as possible to receive a suitable treatment plan and avoid severe consequences.”/.

According to a project approved recently by the Ministry, the productivity is expected to rise to 3.5 tons of coffee bean per hectare, with an income increasing by 1.5-2 times compared to the previous time. The combined area in the five Central Highland provinces is projected at around 91,000ha, with Lam Dong making the largest share, followed by Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai and Kon Tum. The attention will be paid to stepping up scientific and technological application, as well as technological transfer, while building standardised irrigation systems. Supportive policies will also be rolled out, aiming to reduce losses, encourage cooperation and connectivity in production and consumption, and promote organic agriculture. In 2021, Vietnam's coffee exports reached 1.5 million tons, worth of about 3 billion USD, down 2.7 percent in volume, but up 9.4 percent in value year on year./.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh was on a visit to the city of Wernigerode on July 6 – 7 to seek ways to enhance ties between the German city and its Vietnamese sister city Hoi An and potentially other cities and provinces in Vietnam.Talking to newly-elected mayor Tobias Kascha and his predecessor Peter Gaffert, Ambassador Minh emphasised the huge potential for further accelerating partnership between Wernigerode and Hoi An as well as other Vietnamese localities.The bilateral relations will be built on the solid foundation of the Vietnam – Germany strategic partnership which has been growing strong in all areas, from economy, energy, environment, education-training, to culture and science-technology, over the last 12 years, he said.Wernigerode and Hoi An set up a sister-city relations hip in 2013, he recalled, since then, the first has provided support for the latter in many major projects, for example, developing a solar power system at Song Hoai (Hoai River) Square, promoting efficient use of renewable energy, and minimising waste, among others.He called on enterprises from the German city to explore investment opportunity in Vietnam to reap benefits from the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).As Wernigerode and Hoi An are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their ties next year, the ambassador proposed the two sides to organise several activities for promotion of trade, investment and tourism.Former mayor Gaffert affirmed that maintain the sister-city relations with Hoi An was among his city’s top priorities and a major highlight during his term of office. He expected the new mayor will facilitate the further development of the bilateral ties. He suggested the two sides further expand ties in vocational training, tourism services, hospitality and handicraft making.Kascha, for his part, pledged to foster the sister-city relations in a long term during his upcoming sever years in office.On the visit, Ambassador Minh also visited a German mechanic corporation and representatives of Vietnamese community in Wernigerode./.

President Biden hails positive developments in US - Vietnam relationsUnited States President Joe Biden lauded considerable progress in the relations between the United States and Vietnam while receiving newly accredited Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Quoc Dung in Washington DC recently. Ambassador Dung conveyed to President Joe Biden the greetings and invitations to visit Vietnam by senior Party and State leaders. The vast majority of them strictly comply with the laws of their host nations, contributing to creating a good image of Vietnam and its people. At the ministry’s regular press briefing on July 7, when reporters mentioned the US’s wish to cooperate with Vietnam to fight illegal fishing, the diplomat affirmed that Vietnam is interested in the information. With three points from the match, Vietnam now rank third in Group B after Laos and Myanmar.

Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. (AFP/VNA)Jakarta (VNA) – Multilateralism is the only way to coordinate effective responses to global challenges, Indonesia’s Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said on July 8. “Global challenges require global solutions. But honestly, we cannot deny that it has become more difficult for the world to sit together,” the Indonesian diplomat said. The current world situation has made people lose faith in multilateralism and its capacity to respond effectively to global challenges.

Foreign Ministry’s Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang (Photo: VNA)- Various measures have been taken to protect and support Vietnamese citizens facing difficulties in Cambodia, Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang said at a press conference on July 7 while answering reporters’ questions regarding the situation of Vietnamese workers being forced to work in the neighbouring country.Hang said that solutions have been implemented with collaboration between Vietnamese representative agencies in Cambodia and authorised agencies and localities at home, especially localities along the shared border with Cambodia.She said that specialised working teams have been set up to respond to citizens’ requests, post warnings on websites and social network accounts of Vietnamese representative agencies in Cambodia , and work with Cambodian agencies to support Vietnamese victims The Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia has set up a citizen protection hotline, along with a hotline of the Consular Department to receive reports on victims and other information, while coordinating with authorised agencies at home, especially media agencies, to provide information and raise public awareness of the issue.Thanks to the efforts of domestic agencies, and with coordination from the Cambodian side, to date, about 400 citizens have been brought home, while guidance and legal support have been supplied to about 1,500 workers meeting difficulties in exiting, traveling and extending their residence or violating the host country's laws, the spokeswoman stated.Hang said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese representative agencies abroad will continue to coordinate with domestic and Cambodian authorities to step up investigations and roll out necessary citizen protection measures./.