PM’s attendance at COP28 and Turkey visit looks towards sustainable development

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet made the statement in a recent media interview given ahead of the PM’s trip to attend the World Climate Action Summit (WCAS) within COP28, holding bilateral activities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and paying an official visit to Turkey from November 29 to December 3.

The Vietnamese diplomat highlighted the significance of the summit amid that climate change being the biggest challenge and the greatest public concern globally this year.

Therefore, the country hopes that COP28 will reap tangible outcomes, especially in the areas of top concern, according to the official.

Deputy Minister Viet elaborated that participating countries are expected to take stronger measures aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and embarking on sustainable, just energy transition.

Developed countries should therefore seek to fulfill their commitments, especially with regard to financial support and technology transfers carried out to developing nations in this process, he continued, adding that the conference is expected to put forth a clear and feasible global adaptation target framework.

The Loss and Damage Fund should be put in place soon to ensure a new and larger financial source in support of developing countries and others most severely affected by climate change, he said.

For Vietnam, after the PM announced the nation’s commitments to net zero emissions by 2050 at COP26, which was held in the UK back in 2021, the Government, ministries, agencies, and localities have taken drastic and specific actions in a bid to achieve this goal, Deputy Minster Viet noted. He went on to give examples of the approval of National Power Development Plan VIII and the country’s joining the political declaration on the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP) in order to attract resources to its just energy transition.

Asked about PM Chinh’s upcoming Turkey visit and bilateral activities in the UAE, the Deputy FM said they are of special importance as the country is celebrating the 45th anniversary of its diplomatic ties with Turkey, as well as the 30th anniversary of its diplomatic ties with the UAE.

This is also to be the first official visit by a Vietnamese PM to Turkey, Deputy Minister Viet stressed.
The trip is expected to contribute to further consolidating political trust and creating new breakthrough momentum for ties between the nation and both Turkey and the UAE in all fields, ranging from economics, trade, and investment to new areas like innovation, science-technology, and energy.

It will also help to implement the Vietnamese foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, and multilateralisation and diversification of foreign relations, the official said.

This marks the PM's second visit to the Middle East within two months, following his attendance at ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (ASEAN-GCC) summit and bilateral activities in Saudi Arabia in October, thereby demonstrating the country’s clear interest in enhancing all-around cooperation with the region, he continued.

Apart from meetings with high-ranking leaders and politicians from other countries, the PM will attend and deliver speeches at business forums and seminars, as well as receiving representatives from leading enterprises, corporations, and investment funds of Turkey and the UAE This will thereby help to facilitate Vietnamese exports, attracting new and high-quality investment flows whilst expanding collaboration in new fields, towards the goal of sustainable development, Deputy Minister Viet added.