G20 foreign ministers travel to the resort island of Bali this week for a meeting that will be overshadowed by the war in Ukraine, with Russia's attendance creating rifts in the bloc as host Indonesia tries to mediate. The Group of 20 includes Western countries that have accused Moscow of war crimes in Ukraine and rolled out sanctions, but also countries like China, Indonesia, India and South Africa that have not followed suit. The gathering will be the first time that foreign ministers from some of the world's top economies meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov since Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Speaking ahead of the G20 meeting that runs from Thursday (July 7) to Friday, German foreign ministry spokesperson Christian Wagner said it would not be a "normal summit" nor "business as usual". Germany holds the presidency of the Group of Seven industrialised nations and would coordinate in Bali over how to respond to Lavrov in light of the war in Ukraine, he said. Top … [Read more...] about Not ‘business as usual’ for G20 foreign ministers meeting in Bali
Engagement in un peacekeeping missions
Sotheby’s presents its first exhibition in Vietnam
Over 50 works by modern Vietnamese masters from the early generation of École des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine (Indochina School of Fine Arts) will be showcased at Sotheby’s first exhibition in Vietnam - Timeless Souls: Beyond the Voyage – Hồn Xưa Bến Lạ. As well as the first exhibition in the country held by the leading arts brokers in the world, the public event is also one of the largest Indochine Art exhibitions ever staged in the country. Taking place from July 11–14 at Park Hyatt Saigon, HCM City, the non-selling exhibition features over 50 works by Lê Thị Lựu (1911 – 1988), Lê Phổ (1907 – 2001), Mai Trung Thứ (1906 – 1980) and Vũ Cao Đàm (1908 – 2000), the four renowned early generation graduates from the École des Beaux-Arts de l'Indochine, who migrated to France in early 20th century. Fillette aux Nattes avec Son Panier de Fleurs (Girl with Mats and Her Basket of Flowers) by Lê Thị Lựu. With a mission to foster cultural dialogue between artists and the … [Read more...] about Sotheby’s presents its first exhibition in Vietnam
Vietnam contributes to U.N. Human Rights Council with meaningful messages: official
Viet, who led the Vietnamese delegation to the event, told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s resident correspondent in Geneva, Switzerland, that the country has engaged in specific initiatives, especially those on climate change and the right to food, and issues regarding gender equality. Vietnam’s advocacy to dialogue and cooperation has drawn the attention of other countries, he said, adding that Vietnam shared its experience in climate change response, COVID-19 combat and post-pandemic recovery to ensure social welfare and rights of its citizens in health care, economy, social affairs and education. The country promotes women’s role in families, will continue to prioritize commitments to gender equality and women’s empowerment, and stands ready to cooperate with countries in this regard, he affirmed. Mentioning a photo exhibition on ethnic groups and religions in Vietnam on the sidelines of the session, Viet stressed that the photos capture the harmonious life of 54 Vietnamese … [Read more...] about Vietnam contributes to U.N. Human Rights Council with meaningful messages: official
Trade, investment between Viet Nam and UK expand steadily in all sectors
Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce Vietnam Kenneth Atkinson. The trade and investment relationship between Viet Nam and the UK has grown significantly a year after the UK-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) came into effect. Viet Nam News spoke to Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce Vietnam Kenneth Atkinson about the effectiveness of the trade deal as well as opportunities for further cooperation between the two countries. How do you assess improvements in trade and investment between Viet Nam and the UK a year after implementing the UKVFTA? The UK-Viet Nam FTA came into effect on May 1, 2021 but with retroactive benefits starting January 1, 2021. This was one of the speediest negotiations of any FTA, in large part due to the strong strategic partnership established by the Governments of Viet Nam and UK. The Strategic Partnership has been in place for 10 years and is stated as being at its strongest ever. The UK is the European country that has maintained … [Read more...] about Trade, investment between Viet Nam and UK expand steadily in all sectors