Foreign affairs

During the working session, Ngoc highly valued the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on legal and judicial cooperation (MOU) in 2018 between the Vietnamese Ministry of Justice and the Swiss Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP), and thanked the FDJP for its practical implementation of this MoU. He said that apart from international justice, the two ministries should expand cooperation to other areas within their functions and tasks such as civil status, nationality, international adoption, especially Switzerland's acceptance of Vietnam's accession to the Hague Convention on Taking of Evidence. Ngoc suggested the Swiss side continue to support Vietnam in studying the experience of joining and implementing the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction; implementing the U.N. Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards 1958, and experience in formulating and implementing international judicial laws, …

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On the September 3 flight that brought the Vietnamese football team home from the Saudi capital Riyadh, there were also women domestic workers who had been stuck for months in a deportation center. One of them was Lang Thi Thu, an ethnic Thai from Con Cuong, Nghe An Province. Thu had gone to Saudi Arabia in 2017 on a two-year contract. However, after the contract expired, she continued to work for her employer to earn enough money to build a house for her family. During her six years as a domestic worker, she had no days off and had to work from 9 a.m. to 4 a.m. Thu says: "I asked my employer to let me go home, I wanted a break to go home since my limbs had become numb; I could not feel them any more." But after many unsuccessful requests, she decided to run away and complain to the police. However, under the abusive Kafala sponsorship system that governs migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, people like Thu do not have the right to quit or change jobs, except in certain special …

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President Phuc said Vietnam always attaches importance to consolidating and enhancing the traditional friendship and cooperation with Switzerland, which has been nurtured by people of the two countries over the past 50 years. On behalf of the Vietnamese State and people, he thanked Switzerland for its official development assistance (ODA) and support to Vietnam in socio-economic development, helping the Southeast Asian country to achieve many millennium development goals (MDGs) ahead of schedule. President Phuc highlighted Switzerland’s donation of medial supplies to aid Vietnam in the COVID-19 combat in August. For his part, Aebi affirmed that Vietnam is an important partner of Switzerland in Southeast Asia and Asia-Pacific at large, expressing his hope that President Phuc’s visit will create momentum to boost the bilateral ties in all spheres in the time ahead. The two leaders noted with pleasure the positive development of the Vietnam - Switzerland relationship, both …

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The Swiss-designed conference room reflects the city’s natural surroundings with the lake of Geneva and its mountain scenery. It carries special symbolism and offers a new and inspiring connection between Geneva and Hanoi. As European headquarters of the United Nations, Geneva is the operational heart of the multilateral system. The city earned itself the title of capital of peace, acting as place of dialogue, including for facilitating peace conferences and processes. Geneva’s open mind and spirit, allowing for inclusive and tolerant debates among people of different views and opinions, aims at nurturing constructive discussions. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, Ambassador Sieber stated that the conference room’s inauguration is part of activities to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries, thereby spotlighting the long-term friendship, mutual trust and solid foundation between the two countries. He said the recent visit to Vietnam by Swiss Vice …

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Scagliotti and her husband, who is President of the Italy - Vietnam Chamber of Commerce, travelled a long distance from Italy to Switzerland to meet President Phuc. The Vietnamese government leader highly valued positive contribution of the Honorary Consul and the Vietnamese Honorary Consular Office in Turin to Vietnam - Italy relations over the years, and praised Scagliotti for conducting research activities and publishing works on Vietnam. The Vietnamese Honorary Consular Office and the Center for Vietnamese Studies in Turin have become bridges for Italian and European readers and friends to understand more about traditional values, culture and history, and people of Vietnam, President Phuc said. Scagliotti said she have loved Vietnam since she was a student. Scagliotti operated actively in the antiwar movement to oppose the U.S. invasion of Vietnam in the early 1970s. The Honorary Consul said she always considers President Ho Chi Minh as a shining example of patriotism, who …

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The official made the affirmation in an interview granted to the press after Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended the 13th ASEM Summit and relevant activities via videoconference from November 25-26 at the invitation of his Cambodian counterpart Samdech Techo Hun Sen. According to Giang, PM Chinh put forward four proposals to enhance cooperation among Asian and European countries while addressing the 13th ASEM Summit on November 26. The PM said the countries should stay united and join hands to boost global cooperation since no country can single-handed deal with global issues. The government leader said they should cooperate to share and ensure equal access to COVID-19 vaccines and treatment drugs and developed nations should assist developing countries to improve the capacity of coping with global issues. PM Chinh said it was necessary to step up digital transformation and human resource training for developing and poor countries, while enhancing public-private partnership …

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Demand for industrial, logistics estates at core of enquiries next year: Savills Demand for industrial and logistics estates in addition to ready-built factories and warehouses will continue to be the core of enquiries next year, according to an expert from property consultancy Savills Vietnam. “However, in terms of new trends, data centres and cold storage facilities are in demand and have gained traction in 2020 and 2021,” John Campbell, manager of Industrial Services at Savills Vietnam told the Vietnam Investment Review. “Next year, we expect this to continue, as Vietnam is now on the radar for hyperscale facilities.” Low-value industries are beginning to set up elsewhere in Southeast Asia as Vietnam no longer offers the same incentives, he said, adding that these industries such as textiles and furniture struggle to source affordable labour and land in Vietnam. However, foreign and high value-added investors remain bullish on Vietnam’s long-term growth, …

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