December 13-19: First National Conference on Foreign Affairs opens

Nhan Dan Online reviews the notable events that made headlines over the past week.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (middle) and other Party, State and Government leaders chair the National Conference on Foreign Affairs. (Photo: VNA)
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (middle) and other Party, State and Government leaders chair the National Conference on Foreign Affairs. (Photo: VNA)

First National Conference on Foreign Affairs opens

The National Conference on Foreign Affairs opened on December 14 in both in-person and virtual forms, under the chair of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

This is the first national foreign affairs conference organised by the Politburo and the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee to discuss the foreign affairs of the Party, the State's diplomatic activities, and people-to-people diplomacy.

Speaking at the conference, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said that over the past 90 years under the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam has built a unique and special diplomacy of the Ho Chi Minh era with strong “Vietnamese bamboo” characters.

Like bamboo with strong roots, solid stems and flexible branches, Vietnamese diplomacy is soft and clever but still persistent and resolute; flexible and creative but consistent, valiant and resilient against all challenges and difficulties for the national independence and people’s happiness; united and humanitarian but resolute, persistent and patient in safeguarding the national interests, he said.

Party General Secretary Trong suggested that the diplomatic sector should reform its mindset and seek suitable solutions in external affairs.

Party chief chairs third meeting of Central Military Commission

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong speaking at the meeting. (Photo: VGP)

The Central Military Commission in the 2020-2025 tenure convened its third meeting in Hanoi on December 16 under the chair of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, who is also Secretary of the Commission.

The meeting investigated a report on military and national defence affairs in 2021, and put forth leadership orientations to implement military, national defence and Party building tasks in 2022.

For orientations to fulfil tasks in 2022, the Commission determined to focus its leadership and instructions on the implementation of the Resolutions adopted at the 11th Congress of the Army's Party Organisation and the 13th National Party Congress, along with 16 key tasks set for the 2020-2025 term.

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue pays official visits to RoK, India

Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Vuong Dinh Hue led a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese National Assembly to pay official visits to the Republic of Korea (RoK) and India from December 12 – 19.

The visits will be made at the invitation of Speaker of the National Assembly of the RoK Park Byeong-seug, Speaker of the Lok Sabha (House of Representatives) of India Om Birla, and Chairman of the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) of India Venkaiah Naidu.

Vietnamese top legislator’s official visit to the RoK is of great political importance as he had been elected Chairman of the Vietnamese NA earlier this year. This is the first visit to the RoK by a senior leader of Vietnam in the two years since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. It is expected to further deepen and create new momentum for the Vietnam-RoK strategic cooperative partnership while looking towards the 30th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2022.

NA Chairman Hue’s current official visit to India aims to further consolidate and promote the Vietnam-India relationship, which is at its finest stage since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It also affirms that Vietnam is willing to, together with India, open a new and more effective period of their ties.

Self-quarantine for fully vaccinated arrivals with negative COVID-19 tests cut to three days

Fully vaccinated foreign arrivals with negative COVID-19 test results will only need to self-quarantine at home or places of accommodation for three days upon entry into Vietnam by air. (Illustrative photo/Source: VNA/VNS)

Fully vaccinated foreign arrivals with negative COVID-19 test results will only need to self-quarantine at home or places of accommodation for three days upon entry into Vietnam by air, according to the latest guidance from the Ministry of Health issued on December 16.

The new regulations will take effect from January 1, 2022, the day Vietnam is set to resume regular international flights on a pilot basis.

According to the guidance, the arrivals must have proof of negative COVID-19 test results (using the gold-standard PCR method) from within the 72 hours prior to entry (except in the case of children under two years old), and must declare their health status before entry and install Vietnam’s PC-COVID app (available on both Android and iOS) for contact tracing and medical declaration purposes. The installation of the app is only on a ‘recommended’ basis for diplomats and entrants on official businesses.

Arrivals that are Vietnamese citizens, including Vietnamese citizens residing overseas and the spouses and children of Vietnamese citizens, who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19, can be vaccinated for free during the quarantine period if they want to.

Almost 23 billion USD in foreign ODA and concessional loans earmarked for 2021-2025

About 527.1 trillion VND (over 22.9 billion USD) in foreign official development assistance (ODA) and concessional loans will be allocated during the 2011 - 2025 period.

This is part of a plan on orientations for attracting, managing, and using ODA and concessional loans from foreign sponsors during the five years. The plan was recently approved by Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh.

Accordingly, non-refundable ODA capital is prioritised for implementing socio-economic infrastructure development programmes and projects; enhancing capacity; assisting policy and institutional building and reform; preventing, controlling and mitigating natural disaster risks while adapting to climate change; ensuring social welfare; and preparing for investment projects or co-funding projects that use foreign concessional loans.

Xoe Thai recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Celebrating the moment when Xoe Thai gained the UNESCO's accreditation from Vietnam (Photo: VNA)

The art of Xoe dance of the Thai ethnic minority people in Vietnam has been listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity at the 16th session of the UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, which is taking place from December 13-18.

According to the UNESCO's Intergovernmental Committee, the art meets all five of the criteria set by UNESCO.

Xoe Thai is a unique type of traditional dance that is associated with and plays a significant role in the daily life of Thai ethnic communities in the northwest of Vietnam, especially in the provinces of Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La and Yen Bai. It is performed in various community activities, from festivals to funeral rituals.

Vietnam’s Kim Duyen among top 16 at Miss Universe 2021

Vietnam representative Kim Duyen won a placement in the top 16 of the Miss Universe 2021 on the morning of December 13 (Vietnam time) thanks to votes from the audience.

After the master of ceremony (MC) named her, Kim Duyen greeted the Israeli audience in the local language, expressing her hope that she would be lucky to become Miss Universe 2021.

Prior to that, Kim Duyen was highly praised by websites regarding beauty for her figure and performances from the semi-finals.

Vietnam cruise past Cambodia 4-0 to reach AFF Cup last four

Quang Hai (#19) chips a delightful through ball for Tien Linh to open the scoring. (Photo: Vnexpress)

Vietnam thumped Cambodia 4-0 on December 19 as forward Nguyen Tien Linh’s double sent them through to the AFF Suzuki Cup 2020 semifinals in an emphatic style and set up a showdown with Thailand.

Park Hang-seo’s impressive side hit a tally of four goals for the first time and kept a clean sheet for fourth consecutive match in this year’s tournament.

The result is enough to hand the Golden Star Warriors a last-four berth but not enough to send them on the top of Group B, as Indonesia brilliantly stunned Malaysia 4-1 on the same day to advance as the group winners.

Vietnam named Asia's Best River Cruise Destination 2021

The World Cruise Awards 2021 have just honoured Vietnam as "Asia's Best River Cruise Destination 2021".

Winning the category for "Asia's Best River Cruise Destination 2021", Vietnam surpassed other candidates in the region including Cambodia, China, Laos and Thailand.

Votes were cast by cruise industry professionals and the public, with the nominee who gained the most votes in a category being named as the winner.