South African paper praises Vietnam’s comprehensive, modern diplomacy
South Africa’s Pretoria News on January 29 ran an article entitled “Historic milestone for Vietnam” by its Editor-in-Chief Valerie Boje, highlighting the success of the comprehensive and modern diplomacy of Vietnam with focus on the three pillars of Party diplomacy, State diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy.
A screen capture of the article on Pretoria News (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – South Africa’s Pretoria News onJanuary 29 ran an article entitled “Historic milestone for Vietnam” by itsEditor-in-Chief Valerie Boje, highlighting the success of the comprehensive andmodern diplomacy of Vietnam with focus on the three pillars of Party diplomacy,State diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy.
The article noted that Vietnam has diplomatic relations with189 members of the United Nations - including South Africa - and long-termcooperation frameworks with 30 strategic and comprehensive partners, includingall ASEAN countries and most of the G20.
As a key member of the Association of Southeast AsianNations (ASEAN), Vietnam has negotiated, ratified and signed key free tradeagreements, namely the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement forTrans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA),the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the UK-Vietnam FreeTrade Agreement (UKVFTA), promoting international economic integration andcreating new impetus for economic recovery, it said.
In 2020, as ASEAN Chair, Vietnam was particularly involvedin coordination with other nations in the region in responding to the pandemic,and outlining the post-pandemic economic recovery and development plan.
In November last year, South Africa along with Cuba andColombia, signed the documents of accession to ASEAN’s Treaty of Amity andCooperation (TAC), opening the way to greater trade in the region.
Vietnam is also a non-permanent member of the UN SecurityCouncil in the 2020-2021 tenure, and among its duties organised a meeting onstrengthening the implementation of the UN Charter, highlighted the issue ofcooperation between the UNSC and ASEAN, and participated in the UN peacekeepingforce, read the article.
The UN General Assembly also approved a resolution draftedby Vietnam to designate December 27 as the International Day of EpidemicPreparedness, it added.
It held that the 13th National Congress of the CommunistParty of Vietnam, which is being held in Hanoi from January 25 to February 2,will set out the country’s vision and proposed future development directions interms of its domestic and international policies./.
Foreign reporters who could not come to Vietnam to cover the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) due to the COVID-19 pandemic have praised the country’s initiative to allow their online coverage.
International reporters have affirmed the great role of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) in leading Vietnam to successes during its 35-year Doi Moi (renewal) process.
The 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) has all elements to become an important political event in Vietnam’s history, opening a new era for the nation’s development, said Prof. Dr. Vladimir Nikolaevich Kolotov, Director of the Ho Chi Minh Institute under the Saint Petersburg State University.
The Vietnamese community and US scholars in New York have expressed belief that the 13th National Party Congress will work out targets and orientations for Vietnam’s development in the future.
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Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
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The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
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Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
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Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
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Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
A screen capture of the article on Pretoria News (Photo: VNA) 
