VIETNAM FOREIGN MINISTER CALLS FOR FULL FLIGHT RESUMPTION WITH CHINA
Recently, Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son received Chinese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Nong Rong at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Headquarters on March 10.
During the reception, Minister Bui Thanh Son congratulated The First Session of the 14th Annual Legislative and Political Advisory in China on a smooth run as well as expressed his belief with the new State Leadership Board, China would achieve the goals and tasked in socio-economic development set out during the session, contributing to the successful of implementation of Resolution 20th Congress of the Communist Party of China.
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son (right) and Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Nong Rong in a meeting on March 10, 2023. Photo: BNG.
“Vietnam consistently attaches importance to consolidating and developing its comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China, considering this a top priority in the country's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, and diversification and multilateralization of external relations”, affirmed by Minister Bui Thanh Son.
He believes that the relationship between the two Parties and the two countries is at a new starting point with great potential for cooperation, especially after the important visit of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to China (10/2022). Minister Bui Thanh Son suggested that the two countries continue to maintain high-level exchanges and contacts; further enhance the quality and efficiency of cooperation, develop trade in a balanced and sustainable manner, expand investment cooperation while settling obstacles in key projects, promote transport connectivity, and resume all flights between the two to facilitate people's travel and goods transport, especially in the context that both countries have opened up after Covid-19.
Mr. Nong affirmed that China treasures its relations with Vietnam and is willing to work with Vietnam to increase exchanges, consolidate political trust, and constantly enhance the partnership between the two countries.
Regarding Vietnam, in accordance with the direction of Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh in document number 9370/VPCP-CN dated December 22, 2021 of the Government Office on urgently implementing tasks to restore regular international commercial flights, the Ministry of Transport has issued document number 13791/BGTVT-HTQT requiring the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam to:
- Promoting the implementation of assigned tasks in document number 13352/BGTVT-HTQT dated December 15, 2021, and document number 13575/BGTVT-CYT dated December 21, 2021 of the Ministry of Transport, in which it is urgent to:
- Actively working with relevant agencies such as the Health Environment Management Bureau (Ministry of Health), Immigration Management Bureau (Ministry of Public Security), etc. to unify guidance on health regulations and visas for incoming passengers;
- Presiding over the early organization of a meeting between functional agencies of Vietnam (Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam, Health Environment Management Bureau, Immigration Management Bureau, etc.) with domestic and foreign airlines, relevant aviation companies to guide and answer concerns of airlines, aviation companies to implement the Plan to restore regular international commercial flights that have been approved by the Government's leaders (implemented on a trial basis from January 1, 2022);
- Urgently negotiating and unify with aviation authorities of countries, territories to implement the above-mentioned Plan;
- Actively disseminating information to the public through various forms about the Plan to restore regular international commercial flights carrying passengers as well as Covid-19 prevention and control requirements for incoming passengers according to the guidance of the Ministry of Health.
- Organizing meetings with forces at Noi Bai and Tan Son Nhat airports, such as Port Authority, Terminal Operators, Border Police, Quarantine, Customs, etc. to unify the process of facilitating and expediting procedures for passengers from the time of immigration procedures to leaving the terminal for their residence or accommodation, with convenience but ensuring safety in COVID-19 prevention and control, and avoiding congestion in the terminal area, right from the first regular international commercial flight carrying passengers.
In addition, Minister Bui Thanh Son welcomes China's inclusion of Vietnam in the pilot list of tourist groups opening from March 15, said the two countries should create favorable conditions for exchanging tourists, exploiting efficiently and sustainably the huge potential for tourism cooperation between the two countries, for the benefit of both sides and meeting the practical needs of the people.
To implement this thoroughly, Vietnam has made specific preparations since February 17, 2022, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has issued Official Letter No. 465/BVHTTDL-TCDL on guiding the pilot reception of international tourists in phase 2. New regulations allow foreigners and Vietnamese residing abroad to enter Vietnam by regular international commercial flights, instead of only charter flights as before.
The new regulations also allow tourists to continue to visit other localities after 3 days of participating in the tour if they have negative nCoV (RT-PCR) test results (Quang Ninh, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Khanh Hoa, Phu Quoc, Binh Dinh, Ho Chi Minh City). Tourists who want to visit other localities need to register in advance with the tour operator for procedures. In case of positive test results, they will be isolated and treated.
In addition, international tourists need to have medical insurance covering COVID-19 treatment costs of at least 20,000 USD, instead of 50,000 USD as before.
Tourists still have to meet the old requirements such as participating in the tour program of the travel company, certifying that they have received a full dose of Covid-19 vaccine or a certificate of recovery from the disease within the last 6 months, and obtaining a negative nCoV test result (RT-PCR) within 72 hours before departure.
For tourists under 16 years old, over 65 years old, or pregnant women and those with underlying medical conditions who have not been vaccinated, they must have a negative test certificate. Children under 2 years old are not required to be tested. These cases must be accompanied by a guardian and participate in the tour for 7 days before moving to other destinations. Guests will be tested on the 3rd and 7th days of the trip.
On March 15, Vietnam will fully open up tourism and lift travel restrictions. International guests do not need to register for a tour, but still need to have a certificate of full vaccination or recovery from the disease, as well as a negative nCoV test result before boarding the plane (24 hours for rapid tests, 72 hours for RT-PCR tests). Within 24 hours of arriving in Vietnam, guests must have a negative nCoV test before participating in tourist activities.
Overview of the meeting
Expressing agreement with the orientation views of Minister Bui Thanh Son on promoting bilateral cooperation in the coming time, Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Nong Rong affirmed that China highly values its relationship with Vietnam and is ready to enhance exchanges, strengthen political trust through high-level and multi-level contacts, constantly consolidate the friendly relationship and comprehensive partnership between the two countries.
Emphasizing that Vietnam is increasingly becoming an important cooperative partner of China with a bilateral trade turnover of nearly USD 235 billion (according to Chinese figures), Deputy Foreign Minister Nong Rong expressed the desire for both sides to continue to promote economic and trade cooperation, investment, transportation connectivity, culture, education, and tourism, He also requested that Vietnam continue to create a fair and favorable business environment for Chinese enterprises.
Regarding the sea issues, both countries emphasized the importance of strictly implementing the agreements and common perceptions of the high-level leaders of the two Parties and two countries, controlling and resolving differences at sea. Minister Bui Thanh Son proposed that both sides respect each other's legitimate rights and interests in accordance with international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, making efforts to maintain peace and stability at sea, contributing positively to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Therefore, the meeting on March 10 contributed to creating favorable conditions for expanding the cooperative relationship between the two countries while promoting the strengths of both sides.