President of Sierra Leone begins official visit to Vietnam
President of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio, his spouse, and the country’s high-ranking delegation arrived at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on March 14 afternoon, starting a seven-day official visit to Vietnam.
Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and his Sierra Leone counterpart Julius Maada Bio meet on the sidelines of the general debate of the UN General Assembly's 76th session in New York on September 23, 2021. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – President of SierraLeone Julius Maada Bio, his spouse, and the country’s high-ranking delegationarrived at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on March 14 afternoon,starting a seven-day official visit to Vietnam.
The visit is made at the invitation ofPresident Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse.
An official welcome ceremony for theSierra Leone leader will be held at the Presidential Palace on March 15.
Following that, the two Presidentsare scheduled to hold talks and witness the signing of agreements between theircountries.
President Julius Maada Bio will havemeetings with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and National Assembly ChairmanVuong Dinh Hue.
He is set to pay tribute to latePresident Ho Chi Minh, lay wreaths at the Monument to Heroes and Martyrs, visitthe Temple of Literature and the FPT University, and attend a business forum inHanoi. He will also take part in some other activities in Can Tho city and HoChi Minh City.
The official trip to Vietnam by the Presidentof Sierra Leone is the first visit by a head of state between the twocountries. It is also a stride in bilateral relations in the context that Africancountries, including Sierra Leone, attach importance to the establishment anddevelopment of their cooperative ties with Asia-Pacific nations, includingVietnam./.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc received the ambassadors of Sierra Leone, Nepal, Guatemala, the Maldives, and the Dominican Republic, who came to present their credentials, in Hanoi on March 9.
Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio's official visit to Vietnam from March 14-20 is expected to be a new step forwards in the development of ties between Vietnam and the West African country.
Since the Strategic Partnership was established in 2020, Vietnam and New Zealand have witnessed steady growth in the relations. Beyond the remarkable 40% increase in bilateral trade over five years, political relations and multilateral interactions, particularly within the CPTPP framework, have remained highly positive.
Known as the “four pillars for Vietnam’s ascend”, the Pobiburo's Resolutions 57, 59, 66, and 68 focus on cultivating a robust national entrepreneurial spirit, unlocking resources for innovation across society, and accelerating the development of digital economy, knowledge-based economy, green economy, and circular economy, propelling Vietnam forward rapidly and firmly on the path of modernisation and international integration.
Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang cleared up deputies' concern regarding how to spur socio-economic growth, renew traditional growth motives and establish new momentum for development.
Vietnam proposed several priorities: narrowing the digital divide, strengthening women’s leadership in the digital economy and AI governance, and mobilising sustainable financing for gender equality initiatives in line with each country’s national priorities and context. Vietnam also advocated for genuine women’s participation and leadership across all areas of public life.
Ha expressed his hope that cooperation in science and technology, agriculture, and natural resources would emerge as new focal points and engines of growth in Vietnam–China relations.
Giang said he believes that building on the solid foundation nurtured over the past half-century and the strong determination of both nations, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will continue to grow in a more robust, comprehensive, and extensive manner, thus bringing more practical benefits to the two nations' people.
Highlighting the transformative potential of the draft law in revitalising Vietnam’s railway industry, Hoang Van Cuong, a deputy of Hanoi, expressed his support for Article 39, which empowers the Prime Minister to issue a list of railway-related goods and services to be assigned or ordered from domestic enterprises for production.
According to the Ministry of Public Security, Hoan, formerly Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, is under investigation for allegedly taking bribes in connection with a case involving the Hoang Long Construction and Manpower Supply JSC and related units.
Chairing a national conference on the organisation of the examination on June 18, the PM highlighted the historical significance of the examination, as the restructuring of provincial-level administrative units is underway and the two-tier local administration model is set to officially begin operations on July 1.
Right on the same day, the ministry issued its highest-level travel warning, urging Vietnamese citizens not to travel to Israel or Iran, and advised those already in these countries to swiftly consider evacuation or relocation plans.
From the struggles against colonialists and imperialists to the period of Doi moi (renewal) and international integration, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has always played a pioneering role on the ideological and cultural front, he said.
The Party leader's working session with the standing boards of the Party Committees of HCM City, Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Binh Duong, the VNA General Director's remarks on the occasion of the 19th OANA General Assembly, the launch of new NIC - Google initiatives aimed at bolstering AI entrepreneurship and digital literacy in Vietnam are among news highlights June 18.
Vietnam and Indonesia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in combating terrorism as it remains a threat to peace, security, and stability across their respective nations, the broader region, and the international community.
The Vietnamese representative also emphasised the shared responsibility of relevant parties to build trust, enhance cooperation, and jointly manage the risks of conflict, thus safeguarding long-term peace and stability in the East Sea.
The National Assembly on June 18 passed the law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality, with 408 out of 420 participating deputies voting in favour, accounting for 85.36% of the total.
The Party leader asked the new HCM City to embrace a multi-centre and integrated urban ecosystem where each development pole functions as a link complementary to and intelligently connected with each other in a harmonious whole.
The resolutions issued by the PM as well as ministries and ministry-level agencies reassign responsibility for 346 administrative procedures - 18 from district to provincial levels, 278 to commune level, and 50 eliminated.
Legislators are due to pass several amended laws, including the Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Economical and Efficient Use of Energy, and the Law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Product and Goods Quality.
Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and his Sierra Leone counterpart Julius Maada Bio meet on the sidelines of the general debate of the UN General Assembly's 76th session in New York on September 23, 2021. (Photo: VNA) 
