High-level visits to strengthen relations

The visits are hoped to bolster Vietnam’s international standing both in terms of trade and diplomacy

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh has been attending the Vietnam Discovery programme in the UK and paying a working visit to Switzerland and the EU from September 9-18, while Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will pay an official visit to China from September 16-20.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Ninh’s visits aim to “materialise Vietnam’s active international integration policy, especially in economic integration, boosting the negotiation and implementation of free trade agreements, and furthering Vietnam’s bilateral economic and trade co-operation with its partners”.

The September 10-13 Vietnam Discovery programme in the UK was co-organised by the MoFA and Vietnam’s Embassy to the UK, in celebration of the 5th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership. It included many activities on the promotion of trade, investment, culture, and education.

Vietnam-UK trade turnover reached almost $4.5 billion last year. British investors have invested $3.18 billion in Vietnam.

During Ninh’s September 13-16 stay in Switzerland, he visits the UN headquarters, and meet with the World Trade Organization’s Director-General Roberto Azevedo, and the UN Conference on Trade and Investment’s General Secretary Mukhisa Kituyi.

Vietnam-Switzerland trade turnover anually hit about $800 million. Swiss investors currently have 104 valid investment projects in Vietnam, registered at $2 million.

During his visit to Belgium, Ninh will meet with the EU trade representative, and leaders of the European Commission and the European Parliament.

Vietnam-EU trade turnover has annually increased 20 per cent, hitting $36.8 billion last year. EU investors currently have over 1,600 investment projects in Vietnam, with total registered capital of over $19 billion.

The EU and its member states are Vietnam’s biggest non-refundable donor, with a committed 400 million euros ($447.12 million) for the 2014-2015 period, up 30 per cent against the 2007-2013 period.

Meanwhile, during Phuc’s visit to China, he will hold bilateral talks with his counterpart Zhang Gaoli, and pay courtesy calls to other high-ranking leaders of the nation.

He will also attend the China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and the 12th China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS) in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region’s Nanning city.

According to the MoFA, Vietnam-China relations have been improving since early this year. Phuc’s visit to China reflects Vietnam’s consistent policy to develop stable and healthy relations with China.

The CAEXPO and CABIS have been co-organised annually in Nanning by China and 10 ASEAN member states. The CAEXPO 2015 will house more than 4,000 booths. About 100 Vietnamese enterprises will participate in the event, with over 200 booths.

Last year, the total export-import turnover between Vietnam and Guangxi was $16.3 billion, up 28.7 per cent on year. By late 2014, Guangxi had 147 valid investment projects in Vietnam, with total disbursed capital of $340 million. Some 23 Vietnamese enterprises also invested in Guangxi, with total disbursed capital of $90 million.