The administration of Nonsan City (Republic of Korea) and three businesses from Ho Chi Minh City sign a memorandum of co-operation on the import and export of agricultural products on February 17. (Photo: Congthuong.vn)

Vietnam and RoK businesses to boost trade connection

The administration of Nonsan City (Republic of Korea) and three businesses from Ho Chi Minh City signed a document of co-operation on the import and export of agricultural products at a ceremony on February 17.

The deal will see Nonsan cooperate alongside three local firms, including Annam Gourmet, Imexco, and Farmers Market, to export Korean agricultural products to the Vietnamese market, as well as to ship Vietnamese products to the RoK market, between February 2 and January 2025.

Ginseng, strawberries, fish sauce, grapes, apples, pears, persimmon, and sweet potatoes will be among the import-export items.

The two sides will also exchange information, transfer technology and techniques for growing and processing high-tech agricultural products, cited VOV.

Nonsan will provide financial support in order to promote Vietnamese agricultural products there, including freight costs, the cost for sales promotion activities, high technology transfer, and a marketing campaign.

Both sides will also push for more cooperation in the exchange of human resources to develop projects in both Vietnam and the RoK, and to accelerate Korean investments in Vietnam in various fields.

Foreign Minister: Vietnam ready to join post-quake reconstruction in Turkey

Vietnam is ready to join reconstruction efforts in earthquake-hit areas in Turkey, Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son told Turkish Ambassador to Vietnam Haldun Tekneci during a reception in Hanoi on February 17.

At the event, Son also conveyed Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s letter of sympathy to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the ambassador and informed him about what Vietnam has been doing to help Turkey overcome the consequences of the disaster.

He asked Turkish authorities to continue creating favourable conditions and ensure the safety of the Vietnamese search and rescue teams as well as citizens living there.

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son (R) and Turkish Ambassador to Vietnam Haldun Tekneci (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

Ambassador Tekneci, for his part, said the Turkish Government and people are deeply moved by the friendship and support shown by their Vietnamese counterparts. They highly appreciate Vietnam's first-ever deployment of search and rescue teams with a donation of 100,000 USD to Turkey. This is seen as evidence of the friendship, cooperation and mutual support between the two countries in difficult times.

He affirmed that Turkey always values relations with Vietnam and will do its best to lift bilateral ties to a greater height.

As the two nations are celebrating the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties, both sides agreed to facilitate the exchange of delegations at all levels, jointly hold economic and cultural events, and strengthen people-to-people exchanges, toward further deepening bilateral friendship and cooperation.

Regarding the earthquake on February 6, Son previously cabled messages of condolences to his Turkish and Syrian counterparts Mevlut Cavusoglu and Faisal al-Mekdad.

The same day, the Vietnamese Embassy in Turkey and representatives of the Ministry of Public Security’s search and rescue team visited and presented gifts to a Vietnamese family in Adiyaman city, according to VNA.

Following the Foreign Ministry’s directions, the Vietnamese embassies in Turkey and Syria will continue to closely follow the situation and actively work with the host authorities and Vietnam’s working delegations to offer the best support to search and rescue work, contributing to the Vietnamese Government’s common efforts to help the two nations recover from the disaster.

3.9 magnitude earthquake reported in central Vietnam

An earthquake measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale jolted Kon Plong district of the Central Highland province of Kon Tum on early on February 18.

The earthquake occurred at nearly 4 o’clock at a depth of 8.2km and it did not pose a disaster risk, according to the Earthquake and Tsunami Warning Centre under the Institute of Geophysics of Vietnam.

In early February 2023 two other earthquakes measuring approximately 3.0 on the Richter scale also hit the Kon Plong district of Kon Tum province, reported VOV.

A 3.9 magnitude earthquake hit Kon Plong district of the Central Highland province of Kon Tum on early on February 18. (Illustrative image)

Kon Tum province in general and Kon Plong district in particular belong to the small fault zone. Previous studies show that earthquakes in the area have a magnitude of no more than 5.0.

According to the Institute of Geophysics of Vietnam, earthquakes have occurred more frequently in the area in recent times and they have tended to increase in magnitude. Despite no damage recorded, seismic activities caused by the earthquake have made a certain impact on local people’s lives in the area.

The Institute has set up observatory devices in the earthquake-prone area to monitor and release warnings in advance.

Vietnamese and Cambodian Parties hold a high-level meeting in Hanoi

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong and President of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) and Prime Minister Hun Sen co-chaired a high-level meeting between the two Parties in Hanoi on February 18.

The event aims to enhance good neighborliness, traditional friendship, and comprehensive, sustainable and long-term cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia.

At the meeting, the leaders briefed each other on the situation of their respective Parties and countries, and compared notes on the regional and international situation.

They also looked into cooperation outcomes between the two Parties over the past time and orientations for the time ahead.

The leaders called the solidarity between Vietnam and Cambodia, as well as Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos a priceless asset, one of the most important factors and a great source of strength for the past struggle for national liberation, and the present cause of independence defence, construction and development of each country.

At the high-level meeting between the two Parties (Photo: VNA)

They rejoiced at the intensive and extensive developments of the relations between the two Parties, States and peoples across spheres, with stronger political, defence and security cooperation, and improvements in collaboration in economy, culture, education, and science-technology.

Both extended their congratulations on major achievements recorded by the two peoples in national construction and development, VNA reported.

Trong stressed the strategic significance of the Vietnam-Cambodia relations to security and development of each country, for peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

For his part, Hun Sen suggested that apart from consolidating and promoting the bilateral political ties, the two countries should step up partnership in economy and trade in service of their development cause.

On this occasion, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh spoke highly of the bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, investment, culture, education, science-technology, national defence and security, and proposed some specific cooperation orientations.

The two sides consented that the two Parties need to strengthen their solidarity, continue their close coordination and mutual support, and consider the political ties leading importance to orienting the relations between the two Parties and States.

The two countries will also work to consolidate collaboration in national defence and security, and forge the bilateral diplomatic ties, as well as cooperation in economy, culture, education and science-technology by utilising their potential and advantages.

They will intensify cooperation between agencies of the Parties and the National Assemblies, Governments, Fatherland Fronts, people’s organisations and localities of the two countries.

Hanoi named as one of top 10 beautiful destinations in Southeast Asia

The Travel Magazine has compiled a list of top tourist attractions in Southeast Asia, which includes Hanoi.

Hanoi - the capital of Vietnam - opened its doors to foreign tourists in the 1990s and is now one of the best destinations for those who want to learn deeply about Vietnamese culture. Visitors can find many hotels, shops and eateries in the Old Quarter.

Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi. Photo: Truong Dinh Minh

The Temple of Literature is one of the most beautiful architectural works in the city. This was originally built as a university in the 11th century. Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum is also a must-visit site in Hanoi.

In 2022, Hanoi was honored as the World's Leading City Break Destination 2022 by the World Travel Awards (WTA).

In the list of the most attractive destinations in Southeast Asia, The Travel also named Siargao Island (Philippines), Koh Yao Yai (Thailand), Bagan (Myanmar), Penang Island (Malaysia), Bolaven Plateau (Laos), Angkor Wat (Cambodia), Nusa Island and Tegalalang terraces (Indonesia).

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