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ITV News
30-04-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
A parade of pride and peace: Vietnam marks 50th 'Reunification Day' with grand display
When we walked out of our hotel at four in the morning to make our way to the main stage of Vietnam's Reunification Day parade, we found the streets full of people who had slept out overnight to make sure they would get the best view of the procession. I have never seen that level of enthusiasm and dedication for a national day event. A majority of them were also wearing red or had the country's flag painted on their face or a traditional Vietnamese cone hat. When it began, just after 6.30am local time, the Grand parade, as it was billed in the local press, was packed with patriotism and Vietnamese character. A troop of traditional drummers kicked off the affair, followed by a series of male and female singing duos. But the most popular and impressive part of the show was the military parade. Many of the military units which fought to secure victory on April 30 1975, took centre stage, putting on a practised performance for the crowds, drawing huge applause for their goosestep march. This was the biggest event Vietnam has staged for its Reunification Day. It was a ceremonial show of strength, when the main message from the Communist government was to uphold peace. The Communist Party General Secretary Tô Lâm made a speech, in which he said his party, the people and the army vowed to make Vietnam a country of peace, unity, prosperity and development. It was only in the early nineties that Vietnam opened up to the world, and it has become an emerging manufacturing powerhouse, with one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. The country has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the manufacturing shift away from China, but at the same time has been one of the biggest sources of Chinese investment. People packed the streets in Ho Chi Minh to celebrate the anniversary. The scenes of celebration we saw in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday were a far cry from the chaotic evacuation that had defined the day North Vietnamese troops declared victory and the Fall of Saigon, as the city was formerly known. Our journalists were among those forced to flee on helicopters from the American embassy, a humiliating retreat for the US and a failure to halt the Communist forces. According to retired Viet Cong Lieutenant Colonel Nien, the US Army was bound to fail, trying to come between the Vietnamese people. He was awarded several medals for his role in the war and shared his memories of Liberation Day, as he calls April 30. He described fierce fighting taking place right up until the morning of the 30th. He said that when his troop entered Saigon, they headed straight to the government headquarters of South Vietnam. He was a signaller at the time, so it was his job to pass on the news of victory to his comrades. It is one of his best memories, it was a wonderful day, he said. He also shared a message of peace, saying the cost of war is too high, and is paid by the most vulnerable. He wanted the events of April 30 to spread a message of peace at a time when the world still suffers so much conflict. On the streets, we met veterans, families and groups of young people from all over Vietnam who wanted to be a part of their country's special day. Pride and peace were the two words I heard the most from them all. It was an occasion not just to remember the end of the war, it was a display of the resilience and unity that followed. Vietnam is trying to look forward, not back, to a brighter and more peaceful future.
Associated Press
14-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
President Xi Jinping's visit to Vietnam: Marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations and boosting bilateral trade in agriculture, forestry and fisheries
HA NOI, VIETNAM - Media OutReach Newswire - 14 April 2025 - China is Vietnam's largest export market for agricultural, forestry and fishery products. This market will continue to allow more Vietnamese agricultural goods to be officially exported. The state visit to Vietnam by Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping is expected to enhance bilateral relations, particularly in agricultural trade. China shows strong demand for Vietnam's high-quality agricultural products. Nurturing the traditional friendship General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping is going to pay a state visit to Vietnam from April 14 to 15. The visit will be made at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Tô Lâm and State President Lương Cường. Vietnam and China are friendly neighbouring countries, and the peoples of both nations share a long-standing traditional relationship. In 2008, the two countries established a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. It aims to strengthen and deepen Vietnam-China relations in the interests of both peoples and for the sake of peace, stability and prosperity in the region. Bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation has grown increasingly substantial. In recent years, high-level delegations from the two Parties and States have frequently exchanged visits, elevating Vietnam-China comprehensive cooperation to a new height. Political trust has been strengthened, while economic, trade and investment cooperation maintain its growth momentum. Notably, the agricultural and rural development sector has consistently received close attention and guidance from the leaders of both Parties and States. For 20 consecutive years, China has remained Vietnam's largest trading partner. Vietnam is currently China's largest trading partner in ASEAN. China is also the largest export market for Vietnam's agricultural, forestry and fishery products. According to the General Department of Vietnam Customs, two-way trade reached US$205 billion in 2024. Of this, Vietnam's exports amounted to $60.6 billion, while imports rose significantly to $144.6 billion. The enormous potential of the Chinese market is further reflected in its GDP, which is close to $20 trillion. With a population 14 times that of Vietnam and consistent GDP growth, Chinese consumers are increasingly receptive to Vietnam's unique agricultural products. China also shares similar cultural traditions and consumption habits with Vietnam. Both countries have maintained economic and trade ties for centuries. Economic and trade relations with China are one of the top priorities in Vietnam's foreign economic policy. China shows strong demand for Vietnam's high-quality agricultural products During the official overseas visit to China by Party General Secretary Tô Lâm in 2024, Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping affirmed that China is ready to increase imports of high-quality goods from Vietnam, especially agricultural products. The strategic significance of building a 'Vietnam-China Community with a shared future' is also emphasised. Meanwhile, at his official visit to Vietnam in 2024, Chinese Premier Li Qiang affỉmed that China considers Vietnam a priority direction in its neighbourhood diplomacy. China will further open the market to Vietnamese goods, particularly high-quality agricultural, fishery and fruit products. He also highlighted plans to upgrade trade infrastructure, enhance 'soft connectivity' in smart customs systems and explore new models for cross-border economic cooperation. With a population of over 1.4 billion and a rapidly growing middle class, China is a massive market for high-quality agricultural, forestry and fishery products. Yet Vietnamese agricultural products currently account for less than 5 per cent of China's total imports in this category. This presents a major opportunity for businesses to expand their market share in China. In 2024, the bilateral trade turnover in agricultural, forestry and fishery products between Vietnam and China reached $17.8 billion, a 14.6 per cent increase compared to 2023. Of this, Vietnam's exports to China were estimated at $13.5 billion (up 14.3 per cent year-on-year), while imports were estimated at $4.3 billion (up 21 per cent). China currently accounts for nearly 54 per cent of the total value of Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports. Of this, about 90 per cent of exported lychee volume, 80 per cent of dragon fruit and over 90 per cent of cassava and cassava-based products. The two sides have signed 24 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and Protocols on the import-export of agricultural, forestry and fishery products. The protocols signed have significantly facilitated Vietnam's fruit and vegetable exports to China. Currently, Vietnam is officially exporting 12 types of agricultural products to China. Six items for which two sides have signed official export protocols, including watermelons, mangosteens, black jellies, durians, fresh bananas and sweet potatoes. Vietnam also exports dairy products, 128 species/product types of seafood products and 48 species of live aquatic animals. Passion fruit and chilli peppers are currently undergoing pilot export procedures. Enhancing agricultural product quality to meet China's standards Vietnam possesses significant agricultural potential, with a wide variety of speciality products highly favoured by Chinese consumers. Its geographic proximity to China gives Vietnam a logistical advantage over other countries. Fresh produce, including vegetables, fruits and seafood, can be transported to China in a short time, helping preserve their natural freshness and quality by the time they reach consumers. To reaffirm the quality and reputation of Vietnamese agricultural products and expand access to the Chinese market, Vietnam is set to intensify efforts to monitor agricultural exports following China's import regulations. Key focus areas include regularly updating information on market demand and China's regulations regarding quality standards and food safety, and strictly managing and monitoring product quality and traceability. Negotiations on official export will be promoted, ensuring that products meet standardised and synchronised requirements on quality, packaging, labelling, food safety, traceability and national branding (including logos and trademarks). Vietnam will standardise cross-border trade practices and maintain close coordination with China to address and resolve logistical bottlenecks. Hashtag: #MARD The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
