Vietnam, US eye deeper bilateral relations

Vietnam consistently regards the US as a top strategic partner and hopes for close cooperation with the US to deepen bilateral relations in a substantive manner, Party General Secretary To Lam said while receiving US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper in Hanoi on March 31.

During the reception, the Vietnamese Party chief highly valued the progress in bilateral relations across all fields, notably, the steady growth of economic, trade, and investment ties.

He emphasized the effective implementation of the joint statement and the action plan for the comprehensive strategic partnership, for common interests of the two nations, and for peace, cooperation, and sustainable development in the region and the world.

Lam spoke highly of efforts made by Knapper and the staff of the US Embassy in promoting and effectively implementing high-level agreements and cooperation initiatives under the Vietnam-US comprehensive strategic partnership, which focus on strengthening high-level engagements, building and consolidating political trust, and expanding all-around cooperation, including business, culture, and education.

The Party chief stated that Vietnam's relevant ministries, sectors and agencies are actively addressing the US' current concerns. He emphasized Vietnam's commitment to encouraging the import of US products that Vietnam needs, particularly farm produce, liquefied natural gas, and high-tech products.

The Party and State of Vietnam always pay attention to and create a favorable investment environment, and support foreign enterprises, including US firms, in expanding cooperation and investment in Vietnam, towards maintaining a balanced economic relationship with sustainable growth, and bringing tangible benefits for the countries’ people, Lam said.

For his part, Knapper affirmed that the interest and support of Vietnamese Party and State leaders, along with the coordination of ministries and sectors of Vietnam, have been a significant motivation in fostering the Vietnam–US relations in recent years and for many years to come, VNA reported.

Party General Secretary To Lam (R) meets with US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper in Hanoi on March 31. (Photo: VNA)

The US values the comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam and hopes the two countries will continue to strengthen and further deepen their cooperation to bring tangible benefits to their people, he stated.

The diplomat said the US highly values Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence and self-reliance and always supports Vietnam in upholding its growing role and influence in promoting peace and cooperation in the region and the world. He described a "strong, independent, prosperous, and resilient" Vietnam as a positive contributor to regional and global peace and stability, saying that this is something the US consistently supports.

Knapper showed his deep appreciation for the Party, State, and Government leaders of Vietnam in effectively addressing the US’s concerns. He also valued Vietnam’s practical measures to promote a harmonious and sustainable trade relationship with the US.

He affirmed that US businesses and partners attach importance to economic, trade, and investment cooperation with Vietnam, recognizing the Southeast Asian country as one of key partners in the global supply chain. He also noted that the Vietnamese market is creating many opportunities for US products and services.

He promised to make efforts in promoting relevant US agencies to coordinate with Vietnam to effectively implement the comprehensive strategic partnership on all pillars, especially promoting high-level meetings, expanding substantive cooperation in terms of economics - trade - investment, defense - security, education - training, handling immigration issues, preventing and combating transnational crimes, and other priority areas.

2025 Vietnam Culture Festival held in Osaka

The Vietnam Culture Festival 2025 was held in Sakai city, Japan’s Osaka prefecture on March 30.

In his opening remarks, Vietnamese Consul General in Osaka Ngo Trinh Ha said that the festival is not only an opportunity to preserve and promote Vietnamese culture but also serves as a bridge to bring the image of Vietnam and its people closer to Japanese friends.

He expressed his belief that this is an occasion for the Vietnamese community in Osaka, as well as across Japan, to meet, strengthen solidarity, and support each other in integrating into the local society, cited VOV.

The 8th reenactment of the Hung Kings' Death Anniversary ceremony organised at the Vietnam Culture Festival 2025 in Osaka.

President of the Vietnam Association in the Kansai region Le Thuong stated that this year’s festival features a variety of exciting activities, including the 8th reenactment of the Hung Kings' Death Anniversary ceremony in Osaka, the formation of a map of Vietnam with the participation of hundreds of people, traditional costume displays, and cultural performances by famous artists from Vietnam. It also includes booths introducing Vietnamese products, a food space, and traditional folk games.

Director of Sakai city’s culture and tourism bureau Yamasaki Hisaki said that since Sakai established a twinning relationship with Vietnam’s Da Nang city in February 2019, its exchanges and cooperation with Vietnam have grown stronger and expanded across many fields.

He expressed his hope that through this festival, the Japanese people will better understand the culture and allure of Vietnam, contributing to further strengthening the friendship between Vietnam and Sakai city, as well as between Vietnam and Japan.

Vesak 2025: Vietnam finalizes plan for global Buddhist summit in HCM City

The United Nations Day of Vesak 2025 is scheduled to take place in Ho Chi Minh City from May 6 to 8, drawing around 2,700 domestic and international delegates. One of the event’s highlights will be the “Ho Chi Minh City Declaration,” alongside a series of meaningful cultural and spiritual activities.

At a recent meeting with the Ministry of Ethnic Affairs and Religious Affairs, Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh emphasized: “The UN Day of Vesak 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City is a major international cultural and spiritual event with significant global influence.”

Deputy PM Chinh instructed the Ministry and relevant agencies to closely coordinate with the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha to ensure the event is thoroughly prepared. Once finalized, the proposal will be submitted to the Government, which will assign ministries and sectors to support the event according to their mandates.

According to Vu Hoai Bac, Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, Vietnam has hosted the UN Day of Vesak three times: in 2008 (My Dinh National Convention Center, Hanoi), 2014 (Bai Dinh Pagoda, Ninh Binh), and 2019 (Tam Chuc Pagoda, Ha Nam).

The 2025 edition, organized by the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, will be held in Ho Chi Minh City under the theme: “Solidarity and Tolerance for Human Dignity: Buddhist Wisdom for World Peace and Sustainable Development.”

To date, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has revised its proposal for Vesak 2025 four times. The latest version, Proposal No. 85 (dated March 25), was developed after the Government’s interagency working group tasked the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs with leading preparatory coordination with relevant ministries and Ho Chi Minh City authorities.

A key feature of the event will be the “Ho Chi Minh City Declaration”, reflecting Vietnam’s political stance on religion and belief.

Numerous notable cultural activities are scheduled, including the enshrinement of the Indian Buddha relics (recognized as India’s national treasure) at four venues: Thanh Tam Pagoda (HCMC), Ba Den Mountain (Tay Ninh), Quan Su Pagoda (Hanoi), and Tam Chuc Pagoda (Ha Nam); as well as the enshrinement of the heart relic of Bodhisattva Thich Quang Duc at Vietnam Quoc Tu (HCMC).

Other highlights include a candlelight vigil for world peace at Ba Den Mountain, the ceremonial planting of 108 bodhi trees, and an international cultural gala at the Sala Theater in the Dai Quang Minh urban area (HCMC), cited VNN.

Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh affirms the UN Day of Vesak 2025 in Ho Chi Minh City as a major cultural-spiritual event of international scale. Photo: Le Anh Dung

Spiritual leaders from Vietnam and across the globe will also visit a center caring for the elderly, children with disabilities, and disadvantaged individuals at 38 Tu Xuong Street, Ho Chi Minh City.

Since late 2024, the Government Committee for Religious Affairs has advised Deputy PM Nguyen Hoa Binh and participated in interagency meetings to support the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and Ho Chi Minh City in preparation for Vesak.

“We are continuing to closely coordinate with ministries, sectors, and localities - especially Ho Chi Minh City, Long An, and Tay Ninh - to implement necessary components such as security, food safety, and volunteer mobilization,” said Bac.

So far, the organizing committee has received 725 academic papers for presentation during Vesak 2025 - 445 in English and 280 in Vietnamese. Bac emphasized the need for the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to assist in vetting the content of these submissions.

He also proposed that Deputy PM Mai Van Chinh assign the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs to lead continued collaboration with the interagency task force and the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha to finalize the detailed proposal and submit it to the Government in early April.

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