Spokesperson reaffirms top priority given to safety of Vietnamese citizens in Ukraine
Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang on March 17 reaffirmed that ensuring security and safety for the lives and assets of Vietnamese citizens in Ukraine is the top priority of the Party, State, and Government of Vietnam.
Some Vietnamese people repatriated from Ukraine. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang on March 17 reaffirmed thatensuring security and safety for the lives and assets of Vietnamese citizens inUkraine is the top priority of the Party, State, and Government of Vietnam.
At the ministry’s regular pressmeeting held virtually, she noted when the Ukraine situation recorded tensedevelopments, the Prime Minister issued Official Dispatch No. 201/CD-TTg, datedFebruary 26, 2022, on the protection of Vietnamese citizens and legal entities,and some issues needing attention in the face of the Ukraine situation.
Recently, Foreign Minister Bui ThanhSon has continually held phone talks with his counterparts of Russia, Ukraine,and Romania, sent a letter to the Foreign Minister of Poland, and received therelevant countries’ ambassadors to Vietnam, asking for their assistance in guaranteeing maximum security and safety for Vietnamese citizens and theirfamilies and to create conditions for repatriation flights, according to Hang.
Amid extremely fast and complex developmentsof the situation in Ukraine, Vietnam’s ministries, sectors, and representative bodies in related countries have exerted all-out efforts to promptly arrange repatriationflights for Vietnamese people and their families, and help them deal withissues emerging and complete necessary procedures for bringing them home in ashortest period of time, with transparency ensured and priority given to theelderly, pregnant women, children, patients, and people with disabilities, the spokesperson said.
She informed that so far, five flights have beenconducted, safely repatriating about 1,400 Vietnamese people and their familymembers who wish to return to Vietnam.
Hang also said certain problems have arisen during the citizenprotection process, such as some people changed their mind and chose to go in their own ways, or wanted to waitfor the war to end to come back to Ukraine. Others lacked or lost necessarypapers, or their papers were out of date, needing support from therepresentative agencies. Vietnam’s representative bodies have made utmostefforts and worked closely with authorities and Vietnamese people’s associationsin the host countries to address those problems, continually update information and swiftly handle emerging issues to quickly evacuate the expatriates from war zones, andsafely bring them to Vietnam.
Efforts by domestic authorities,overseas representative bodies, airlines, and business sponsors have won oversupport and high evaluation from both the expatriates and people in Vietnam,Hang added./.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov discussed the conflict in Ukraine in a candid and constructive manner during a phone talk on March 15.
Ambassador Le Thi Hong Van, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to UNESCO, stressed that cultural heritage sites need to be protected in any forms while addressing an extraordinary session of the UNESCO Executive Board, held in Paris on March 15 and 16 to "examine all the consequences of the current situation in Ukraine, in the different aspects of UNESCO's mandate."
As a traditional friend of both Russia and Ukraine, Vietnam hopes that the sides will exercise restraint, ease tensions and continue dialogue efforts to seek a long-term solution in conformity with international law, with legitimate interests of each side taken into account, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son has said.
A flight bringing home Vietnamese people who fled conflict areas in Ukraine to Romania successfully landed at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on the morning of March 17.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
Deputy PM Le Thanh Long proposed countries promote shared values, including building trust, sincerity, and solidarity among nations and peoples; fostering cooperation spirit and responsible behaviour as well as upholding international law and the UN Charter; and placing people at the centre and as the goal, the key player, and the driving force of all policies.
The show, together with a grand parade to be held silmutaneously at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, the National Day, and the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
In particular, in April 2023, the two sides successfully carried out a joint operation that dismantled a major organised, transnational drug trafficking ring involving both Vietnamese and Cambodian suspects.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel is closely coordinating with relevant local agencies to stay informed and provide the utmost support possible for Vietnamese nationals.
The launch of Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, even before the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is considered a testament to President Ho Chi Minh’s strategic foresight and strong belief in the guiding power of the revolutionary media.
New Zealand is currently one of Vietnam’s most important partners in the region, marked by a high level of political trust, strong and reliable defence and security cooperation, and increasingly open economic, trade, and investment ties.
Party General Secretary To Lam stressed that the Central Public Security Party Committee must be fully aware of the extremely important role of the People's Public Security force in the country's new revolutionary phase, so as to guide each branch and level of the force as the nation undergoes transformation.
Addressing concerns over university education spending, Son explained that as public universities gain greater autonomy, the Ministry of Finance has scaled back recurrent state funding. “Over the past decade, as autonomy has increased, the State's support has steadily declined”, he noted
Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane affirmed that the presence of Vietnamese press offices in Laos vividly demonstrates the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, as the press is not only a means of communication but also an important bridge for spreading consciousness about the history, values, and strategic depth of the Laos – Vietnam relationship to the people of both countries and the international community.
The country is willing to participate in collective efforts to promote cooperation and mobilise resources to advance the current priority issues of developing countries, such as trade, investment, infrastructure connectivity, making the most of scientific and technological advances for development, and people-to-people exchanges, Hang said.
During the negotiations, the US highly evaluated Vietnam’s goodwill and efforts, affirmed its appreciation for the bilateral relationship, acknowledged Vietnam’s proposals and concerns, and considered these an important basis for continuing discussions and moving towards a final agreement.
The Chairman stressed the need for stricter fiscal discipline, faster digital transformation, and more efficient management of State budget revenues and expenditures.
Some Vietnamese people repatriated from Ukraine. (Photo: VNA) 
