Vietnam Today

Two agreements on investment cooperation in the construction of the Vientiane - Vung Ang railway line and the development of energy along the Vietnam - Laos border for electricity production were signed within the framework of the Vietnam - Laos business seminar. The seminar aimed to promote the implementation of large-scale investment projects of Vietnamese enterprises in Laos and promote a number of new and strategic investment cooperation projects.

According to Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang, as of March 17, Vietnam had reached agreement on the mutual recognition of vaccine passports with 17 countries and territories, including the US, the UK, Northern Ireland, Japan, Australia, Belarus, and India. It is still temporarily recognizing vaccination certificate samples from 79 countries and territories.

At a meeting during Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob’s official visit to Vietnam on March 21, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Malaysian counterpart assessed economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. Investment is a bright spot in the relationship, and there is still a lot of potential for joint exploitation and development. It is targeted that, by 2025, bilateral trade turnover will reach $18 billion.

As a key industrial area in Vietnam and favored by many domestic and foreign investors, southern Binh Duong province is striving to quickly become a modern industrial center and smart city. To achieve this goal, during a working visit to the province on March 19, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directed it to develop a green, smart, and sustainable industrial ecosystem and use science, technology, and innovation as a driving force.

On March 20, during a working visit to southern Binh Phuoc province, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said it must have better infrastructure, human resources, public administration, planning, management, and environmental protection in order to promote its development and attract more investment. Investment in traffic networks is key in boosting local development, he added.

At a breaking ground ceremony for the Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Park III (VSIP III) in southern Binh Duong province on March 19, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that it will be another symbol of relations between the two countries. VSIP III covers 1,000 ha with total investment of over VND6.4 trillion ($281 million). Binh Duong has three of the eleven VSIPs in the country.