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| Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yván Gil Pinto sees off Vietnam's rescue and relief team at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Caracas on July 9 (local time) (Photo: Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs) |
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam reaffirmed its role as a proactive, responsible and reliable member of the international community during the week of July 6–12 through humanitarian assistance, economic diplomacy and regional cooperation.
Moving closer to signing Vietnam–EFTA Free Trade Agreement
Vietnam and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states – Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein – announced the official conclusion of negotiations on the Vietnam–EFTA Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on July 2.
Speaking at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' regular press briefing on July 9, spokesperson Pham Thu Hang described the completion of negotiations as the result of the strong determination and sustained efforts of both sides after 14 years of talks.
Vietnam highly values the negotiation outcome, viewing the deal as a milestone in the country’s efforts to expand its FTA network, bringing the total number of FTAs signed with partners to 18 while strengthening comprehensive economic ties with Europe, she said.
The agreement, negotiated through 21 formal rounds, goes far beyond tariff reductions. It covers key areas of the digital economy and sustainable development, including rules of origin, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, investment promotion, intellectual property protection, government procurement, trade remedies, and capacity-building programmes for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Representatives of the EFTA bloc stressed that amid growing global economic uncertainties, strengthening cooperation with trusted partners such as Vietnam has become increasingly important, helping improve market access and enhance future economic cooperation.
Completing humanitarian mission in Venezuela
In response to twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, the Vietnamese Party, State and people decided to provide emergency humanitarian assistance worth 300,000 USD to support Venezuela's recovery efforts.
Vietnam also dispatched a 124-member rescue team comprising military and police personnel, along with specialised equipment. More than 50 tonnes of relief supplies were handed over to Venezuelan authorities upon arrival.
The deployment marked Vietnam's third overseas emergency humanitarian mission, following rescue operations in Türkiye in 2023 and Myanmar in 2025.
Between June 29 and July 6, the Vietnamese team worked under demanding conditions, often from early morning until late evening and, on several occasions, throughout the night. The rescuers remained on standby around the clock, responding to requests from local authorities and residents regardless of weather or terrain.
During the mission, the team recovered and handed over 57 victims to local authorities and families. Using rescue dogs and specialised equipment, they identified 46 locations where victims were trapped, enabling local rescue forces to recover another 38 bodies.
The Vietnamese contingent also established a field medical station that provided examinations and medicines to 132 local residents and international rescue personnel.
In addition to distributing relief supplies and medical assistance, the delegation shared part of its own food and essential provisions with residents in three of the hardest-hit communities, while helping local people move belongings and providing free medical treatment.
Senior Lieutenant General Lockiby Benmontes, Commander-in-Chief of Militia Forces of Venezuela, praised Vietnam's support as a vivid demonstration of solidarity and friendship between the two countries.
In recognition of the delegation's outstanding service, Venezuela awarded the First-Class "Hero of Venezuela" Medal to the Vietnamese rescue team, Second-Class "Hero of Venezuela" Medals to all 124 members, and a Meritorious Service Order to the team's rescue dog unit.
The delegation returned safely to Vietnam on July 11. On the same day, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung presided over a ceremony to honour the team, where prestigious awards were presented to outstanding organisations and individuals.
Strengthening ASEAN cooperation and regional partnerships
Vietnam also continued to demonstrate its active and responsible role within ASEAN through a series of diplomatic and regional cooperation activities.
Hanoi hosted a series of activities marking the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Philippines diplomatic ties (July 12, 1976 – 2026). The two countries reviewed five decades of cooperation, marked by the establishment of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership during Party General Secretary and State President To Lam’s state visit to the Philippines in late May and early June this year.
Meanwhile, Da Nang hosted the 13th ASEAN Occupational Safety and Health Network (ASEAN-OSHNET) Forum on July 7, focusing on promoting digital transformation in occupational safety and health management.
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| At the opening ceremony of the 27th ASEAN-OSHNET Coordinating Board Meeting. (Photo: VNA) |
The event attracted around 120 delegates from ASEAN member states, the ASEAN Secretariat and international organisations, including the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the International Association of Labour Inspection (IALI).
Participants discussed common regional policy frameworks on digital transformation, ethical artificial intelligence, data protection, the application of big data and AI in workplace safety, inclusive digital transformation and recommendations for the ASEAN Labour Ministers' Meeting as part of the ASEAN-OSHNET Action Plan for 2026–2030.
This marked the third time Vietnam has hosted the ASEAN-OSHNET Forum, following previous editions held in 2006 and 2016./.
