Geneva (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister TranLuu Quang met leaders of international organisations and foreign officials onthe sidelines of the 52nd regular session of the UN Human Rights Council inGeneva on February 27-28.

At a meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister BrunoEduardo Rodriguez Parrilla, the two sides agreed to coordinate in organisingactivities marking 50 years since the visit to the liberated zone in the southof Vietnam by leader Fidel Castro Ruz (September 1973) and the 60th anniversary of the Cuban Committee for Solidarity with South Vietnam (September1963).

Quang suggested the two countries effectivelyimplement outcomes of the 40th meeting of their Inter-governmentalCommittee which took place in December 2022.

Vietnam will promote cooperation projects on rice,food and aquatic products, and encourage firms from both sides to seekinvestment and business opportunities, he continued.

Bruno Parrilla affirmed that the relationshipwith Vietnam remains a top priority of Cuba.

The officials consented to closely coordinate andsupport each other at international forums, especially in the context of Cuba assumingthe Presidency of G77 China, and both Vietnam and Cuba serving as members ofthe UN Human Rights Council for 2023-2025.

Meeting Indonesian FM Retno Marsudi, Quang stressedthat Vietnam will closely coordinate with and support Indonesia in performingthe ASEAN Chairmanship 2023, and maintain the coordination at regional andinternational multilateral forums.

Marsudi also emphasised that Vietnam is a prioritypartner of Indonesia, and agreed to step up the bilateral cooperation acrossspheres in the time ahead.

On this occasion, Quang met French FM CatherineColonna, during which the Deputy PM suggested the two sides effectivelymaterialise the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and urged France to raiseits voice so that the EU will soon remove the “yellow card” on Vietnameseseafood.

Colonna stated that France alwaysconsiders Vietnam a priority partner in the region, saying the two countriesshould enhance all-level delegation exchanges this year as they are celebrating the50th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic ties and 10 years ofthe signing of the bilateral strategic partnership.

The French side promised to coordinate with Vietnamin addressing the “yellow card” issue.

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

At another meeting with Palestine’s FM RiadAl-Malki, Quang affirmed Vietnam’s consistentstance of supporting Palestinians’ struggle for justice and fundamental nationalrights.

Vietnam is willing to create favourable conditionsfor Palestine to organise activities promoting its culture and enhancing economicand trade links in Hanoi, he said.

The Palestinian FM noted that his country alwaysregards Vietnam as a success model in socio-economic development.  

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

Quang also met FM of Maldives Abdulla Shahid, duringwhich the officials agreed to intensify all-level delegation exchanges, bothbilaterally and multilaterally, and people-to-people exchanges, while boostingpartnerships in such areas as tourism and aquaculture.

On this occasion, Quang had a working session withUN General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi, where the Vietnamese officialproposed the two sides partner with other countries in achieving sustainabledevelopment goals by 2030.

Quang suggested the General Assembly to help Vietnamfulfill its climate commitments by coordinating efforts in order to call ondeveloped nations to provide resources in climate change response.   

Kőrösi lauded Vietnam as one of the leadingcountries in responding to climate change and promoting human rights at theHuman Rights Council.

The President expressed his hope that Vietnam willback the initiative on a global water information system which is expected to bepresented at the UN 2023 Water Conference this month.

At a meeting with WTO Director General NgoziOkonjo-Iweala, Quang said Vietnam will closely coordinate with the WTO andother countries in implementing commitments in the Geneva Package and handlingissues regarding the “special and differential treatment” to developingcountries.

Okonjo-Iweala said she would like to visit Vietnamthis year, expressing her hope that Vietnam will be one of the first to ratifythe Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies and coordinate in organising the 13th Ministerial Conference scheduled for February 2024.

Meeting Petteri Taalas, Secretary General of the WorldMeteorological Organisation (WMO), Quang appealed to the organisation tocontinue its assistance to Vietnam in developing meteorological andhydrological products and services, and the national climate service framework,modernising infrastructure and utilising technologies and AI in forecasting andimproving the capacity for warning and hydrographic monitoring in the East Sea.

Taalas hailed the hydro-meteorological forecastingcapacity of Vietnam, calling it a success model and an important centre for theregion in this field.

During a meeting with Gilbert F. Houngbo, DirectorGeneral of the International Labour Organization (ILO), Quang affirmed thatVietnam will continue fulfilling its ILO membership by promoting fundamentalprinciples and rights at work, making reports on its implementation of ILO conventionsto which the country is a member, and considering joining the remainder.

Houngbo said he hopes that Vietnam will send representativesto the 111th of the International Labour Conference this June.

At a meeting with Director General of the UN atGeneva Tatiana Valovaya, the Deputy PM called on the UN to help Vietnam inmultilateral diplomatic activities in general in the time ahead, especially duringthe country’s membership at the Human Rights Council, and in enhancing cooperationwith UN organisations.

Valovaya said she hopes that Vietnam will supportthe UN’s initiative on encouraging countries to select 17 outstanding womenrepresenting the 17 sustainable goals, and hold an exhibition on them./.