Deputy PM meets leaders of int’l organizations, foreign officials in Geneva

At a meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Eduardo Rodriguez Parrilla, the two sides agreed to coordinate in organizing activities marking 50 years since the visit to the liberated zone in the south of Viet Nam by leader Fidel Castro (September 1973) and the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Committee for Solidarity with South Viet Nam (September 1963).

The two countries should effectively implement outcomes of the 40th meeting of their Inter-governmental Committee which took place in December 2022, Tran said.

Viet Nam will promote cooperation projects on rice, food and aquatic products, and encourage firms from both sides to seek investment and business opportunities, he continued.

Bruno Parrilla affirmed that the relationship with Viet Nam remains a top priority of Cuba.

Both sides agreed to closely coordinate and support each other at international forums, especially in the context of Cuba assuming the Presidency of G77+ China, and both Viet Nam and Cuba serving as members of the UN Human Rights Council for 2023-2025.

Meeting Indonesian FM Retno Marsudi, Tran stressed that Viet Nam will closely coordinate with and support Indonesia in performing the ASEAN Chairmanship 2023, and maintain the coordination at regional and international multilateral forums.

Marsudi also emphasised that Viet Nam is a priority partner of Indonesia, and agreed to step up the bilateral cooperation across spheres in the time ahead.

On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister Tran met French FM Catherine Colonna, during which he suggested the two sides effectively materialize the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and urged France to raise its voice so that the EU will soon remove the "yellow card" on Vietnamese seafood.

Colonna stated that France always considers Viet Nam a priority partner in the region, saying the two countries should enhance all-level delegation exchanges this year as they are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties and 10 years of the signing of the bilateral strategic partnership.

The French side promised to coordinate with Viet Nam in addressing the "yellow card" issue.

The two sides said they will coordinate with each other at regional and international forums, especially as both are holding the membership of the Human Rights Council.

At his meeting with Palestine's FM Riad Al-Malki, Tran affirmed Viet Nam's consistent stance of supporting Palestinians' struggle for justice and fundamental national rights.

Viet Nam is willing to create favorable conditions for Palestine to organize activities promoting its culture and enhancing economic and trade links in Ha Noi, he said.

The Palestinian FM noted that his country always regards Viet Nam as a success model in socio-economic development.

The two sides concurred to foster cooperation and mutual support at multilateral forums, including the Non-Aligned Movement.

Tran also met FM of Maldives Abdulla Shahid, during which the two sides agreed to intensify all-level delegation exchanges, both bilaterally and multilaterally, and people-to-people exchanges, while boosting partnerships in such areas as tourism and aquaculture.

On this occasion, Tran had a working session with UN General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi. Tran proposed the two sides partner with other countries in achieving sustainable development goals by 2030.

The Deputy Prime Minister suggested the General Assembly help Viet Nam fulfill its climate commitments by coordinating efforts in order to call on developed nations to provide resources in climate change response.

Kőrösi lauded Viet Nam as one of the leading countries in responding to climate change and promoting human rights at the Human Rights Council.

The President expressed his hope that Viet Nam will back the initiative on a global water information system which is expected to be presented at the UN 2023 Water Conference this month.

At a meeting with WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo-Iwala, Tran said Viet Nam will closely coordinate with the WTO and other countries in implementing commitments in the Geneva Package and handling issues regarding the "special and differential treatment" to developing countries. Okonjo-Iweala said she would like to visit Viet Nam this year, expressing her hope that Viet Nam will be one of the first to ratify the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies and coordinate in organising the 13th Ministerial Conference scheduled for February 2024.

Meeting Petteri Taalas, Secretary General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Tran appealed to the organization to continue its assistance to Viet Nam in developing meteorological and hydrological products and services, and the national climate service framework, modernizing infrastructure and utilizing technologies and AI in forecasting and improving the capacity for warning and hydrographic monitoring in the East Sea.

Taalas hailed the hydro-meteorological forecasting capacity of Viet Nam, calling it a success model and an important center for the region in this field.

During a meeting with Gilbert F. Houngbo, Director General of the International Labor Organization (ILO), Tran affirmed that Viet Nam will continue fulfilling its ILO membership by promoting fundamental principles and rights at work, making reports on its implementation of ILO conventions to which the country is a member, and considering joining the remainder.

Houngbo said he hopes that Viet Nam will send representatives to the 111th of the International Labor Conference this June.

At a meeting with Director General of the UN at Geneva Tatiana Valovaya, the Deputy PM called on the UN to help Viet Nam in multilateral diplomatic activities in general in the time ahead, especially during the country's membership at the Human Rights Council, and in enhancing cooperation with UN organizations.