• TravelBizNews > News > Nepal News > Nepal, Vietnam agree to start direct air service, strengthen cooperation : Text of Joint Statement

    Nepal, Vietnam agree to start direct air service, strengthen cooperation : Text of Joint Statement

    May 11, 2019
    Nepal News
    ,
    Nepal, Vietnam agree to start direct air service, strengthen cooperation : Text of Joint Statement

    TravelBizNews –

    Kathmandu – Nepal and Vietnam have emphasized the need for establishing direct air service between the two countries and instructed the concerned Ministries to consider an Agreement on Air Services at the earliest to promote trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people contacts.

    The Vietnamese side expressed its support to Visit Nepal Year 2020 by sending more tourists to Nepal, including Buddhist pilgrims to Lumbini, the birth place of Buddha.

    Nepal and Vietnam have agreed to step up exchanges and cooperation in culture, tourism, people-to-people exchange, science-technology, information-communications, aviation, and the fight against disaster catastrophe.

    Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Nepalese PM K P Sharma Oli held talks in Hanoi on May 11 during the official visit to Vietnam by the Nepalese Prime Minister on May 9-13.

    The two PMs discussed joint visions to deepen the traditional friendship, agreeing to boost the exchange of high-level visits and meetings, and people-to-people activities, and work together to organize activities to celebrate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2020.

    Joint Statement between the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal issued on the Official Visit to Viet Nam by Prime Minister of Nepal

    1. H.E. K P Sharma Oli, Prime Minister of Nepal and his spouse paid an official visit to Viet Nam from 9 – 13 May, 2019 at the invitation of H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Viet Nam. Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli was accompanied by his spouse Radhika Shakya, Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Advisors to the Prime Minister, Members of Parliament and high ranking government officials. A business delegation also accompanied the Prime Minister of Nepal.

    2. The official welcoming ceremony was solemnly held at the Presidential Palace on 11 May 2019. After the welcoming ceremony, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli held talks with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, met with President of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli also addressed the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and the Viet Nam – Nepal Business Forum. Prior to the welcoming ceremony, Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli paid floral tribute and deep respect at President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, and laid a wreath at the Memorial of the Unknown Martyrs and Heroes. Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli will attend and address the United Nations Day of Vesak on 12 May 2019.

    3. The official talks were held in a warm, cordial and friendly atmosphere. The two leaders discussed all aspects of the bilateral relations, and exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli expressed his admiration for President Ho Chi Minh and congratulated Viet Nam on the latter’s tremendous achievements in socio-economic development. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli for having chosen Viet Nam as his first destination in Southeast Asia since he took office in February 2018, underlining that the first visit of a Nepali Prime Minister to Viet Nam would contribute to strengthening the multifaceted relations between the two countries in the coming days. Prime Minister of Viet Nam congratulated the people of Nepal for the historic political achievement and for its’ unique and homegrown peace process and its institutionalization through a democratic constitution and the formation of a stable government. He lauded Nepal Government’s efforts to bring about visible transformation in the living standard of Nepali people and expressed his best wishes for the realization of the national resolve of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali’. Following the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of the Agreement on Visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders, the MOU on establishment of bilateral consultation mechanism between the two Ministries of Foreign Affairs and the Letter of Intent on negotiating and signing the framework Agreement on trade and investment cooperation.

    4. Both leaders underlined the cultural and historical similarities between their countries, and recognized the importance of Buddhism as a strong binding thread between the people of the two countries. The two leaders noted that both Viet Nam and Nepal had to undergo various kinds of struggle to preserve sovereignty, territorial integrity and national independence.

    5. Both sides welcomed practical commemorative activities to be held in 2020 for the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. Both sides shared the views that the visit – a key milestone in their relations, would pave the way for a new stage and an enhanced level of cooperation in tourism, trade and people to people contact between the two countries.

    6. Acknowledging the remarkable progress in their bilateral relations and on the basis of mutual understanding and trust, the two leaders shared a vision on further widening and deepening the Viet Nam – Nepal traditional friendship across all areas.

    7. Recalling their meeting on the sidelines of World Economic Forum in Davos in January 2019, the two leaders agreed to enhance mutual visits and exchanges at the high and all levels, between their political parties, governments, legislative institutions, local bodies and peoples.

    8. Both sides welcomed the signing of the Agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders, the MOU on establishment of a bilateral consultation mechanism between their Foreign Ministries, the Letter of Intent on negotiating and signing the framework Agreement on trade and investment cooperation and underlined the importance of those agreements in promoting bilateral relations and cooperation in the years ahead.

    9. Both leaders shared the assessment that their bilateral economic and trade cooperation remained far below their potentials and strengths. They welcomed the renewal of the MoU on cooperation between the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) in April 2018, and tasked their relevant authorities to explore establishment of bilateral economic and trade cooperation mechanisms, encourage their businesses to survey each other’s market and participate in trade promotion activities, particularly in such areas as electric appliances, coffee, tea, seafood, textile, leather footwear and to explore new areas of cooperation, including energy, renewable energy, high-tech agriculture, and tourism.

    10. Both leaders agreed to look into proposals of market access for the agricultural products that they held competitive edge, encourage information exchange and cooperation in agricultural science and technical research, and promote exchange of agricultural experts. Recognizing the desire of Nepal to graduate from LDC status at an early date, the Vietnamese side welcomed further imports of Nepali products into Viet Nam’s market and agreed to encourage Vietnamese investors and entrepreneurs to invest in productive sectors in Nepal.

    11. Both sides agreed to exchange experience on law enforcement, information on criminals and consider negotiation and signing of agreements in order to create the legal framework for their cooperation in combating crimes and criminal justice, with immediate priority given to the signing of an agreement on crime prevention and combat between the Ministry of Public Security of Viet Nam and the Ministry of Home Affairs of Nepal.

    12. The two sides agreed to enhance exchange and cooperation in culture, tourism and people-to-people interaction. Both leaders welcomed the success of the Nepali tourism promotion program in Ho Chi Minh City in March 2019, and agreed to encourage more tourists to each other’s tourist attractions. The Vietnamese side expressed its support to Visit Nepal Year 2020 by sending more tourists to Nepal, including Buddhist pilgrims to Lumbini, the birth place of Buddha and the fountain of Buddhism. Both sides underlined the need for establishing direct air service between the two countries and instructed the concerned Ministries to consider an Agreement on Air Services at the earliest to promote trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people contacts. Both leaders commended the effective performance of the Nepal – Viet Nam Research Centre since its inception in November 2018 and agreed to promote establishment of the Viet Nam-Nepal Friendship Association in Ha Noi in the time to come.

    13. Both sides agreed to bolster cooperation in other potential areas such as science and technology, information and communication, logistics, and disaster preparedness.

    14. Both leaders shared similar views on various regional and international issues of mutual interest. They reiterated the importance of faithfully observing the Charter of the United Nations, principles of international law and norms. They reiterated their resolve to preserve multilateralism and find common solutions to common problems. They further reiterated the need to work together for a just, equitable, inclusive, rules-based and democratic world order.

    15. Both Prime Ministers spoke highly of the cooperation and coordination between the two countries at regional and international forums, including the United Nations, and agreed to further strengthen this tradition. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc expressed his gratitude to the Government of Nepal for supporting Viet Nam’s bid to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the term of 2020-2021.

    16. Prime Minister of Nepal K P Sharma Oli expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the people of Viet Nam for the warm and gracious hospitality, and extended his cordial invitation to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to visit Nepal in the near future. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc gladly accepted the invitation.

    May 11 , 2019

    Image : VNA

    Other News

    • Connecting you with the world of travel and tourism

      An Opportunity to enter South-East Asian market in 2023

      KAZAKHSTAN International Exhibition “Tourism & Travel” Almaty, Kazakhstan

      CHINA- Beyond your imagination

      UNWTO becomes “UN Tourism” 

      The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) enters a new era  with a new name and brand: UN Tourism. With this new brand, the Organization reaffirms its status as the United Nations specialized agency for tourism and the global leader of tourism for development, driving social and economic change to ensure that “people and planet” are always center stage.

      UN Tourism: Transforming tourism for a better worldTo achieve this goal, UN Tourism engaged the services of Interbrand, the leading global branding agency. Interbrand successfully translated the Organization’s renewed vision for tourism into a new visual identity and brand narrative.

      This involved renaming the Organization, transitioning from UNWTO to UN Tourism. At the same time, a new brand narrative was meticulously crafted, one that seamlessly aligns with UN Tourism’s central mission and priorities. This narrative pivots around three main messages: the UN as a global altruistic organization, the notion of connecting humans around the world, and the concept of proactivity and movement.

      Enhancing the well-being of individuals, safeguarding the natural environment, stimulating economic advancement, and fostering international harmony are key goals that are the fundamental essence of UN Tourism

      By moving away from acronyms, UN Tourism adopts a more approachable stance and capitalizes on its strengths: the “UN”, signifying authority, and tourism, a simple and relatable concept for all. This change has been endorsed by the Organization’s membership, highlighting its united support for the profound transformation and reinvention of UN Tourism in recent years, as it has become more agile, visible, and ever closer to its Member States, partners and the sector as a whole.

      With 160 Member States and hundreds of private sector affiliates, UN Tourism has its headquarters in Madrid, Spain, and Regional Offices in Nara (Japan) covering Asia & Pacific, Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) for the Middle East, as well as forthcoming Regional Offices for the Americas (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) and Africa (Morocco). Its priorities center on promoting tourism for sustainable development in line with the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Global Goals. UN Tourism promotes quality education, supports decent jobs in the sector, identifies talent and drives innovation and accelerates tourism climate action and sustainability . – UN Tourism Jan. 2024

      TAT launches

      “Thais Always Care” Campaign 

      “The Tourism Authority of Thailand launches ‘Thais Always Care’ campaign in collaboration with other organizations to ensure tourists’ safety and enhance positive image.”

      The “Thais Always Care” online communication campaign was officially launched by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in collaboration with the Tourist Police Bureau, Grab Taxi (Thailand), and Central Pattana (CPN) to ensure the safety and welcome of tourists from around the world. The campaign aims to provide seamless travel experiences for visitors to Thailand while also reinforcing the positive image of the country as a safe destination.

      The campaign reflects Thailand’s renowned hospitality and warmth to visitors, showcasing the country as a desirable destination for tourists. “CARE” stands for Compassion, Assistant, Relief, and Elevate, encompassing the generosity of the Thai people and their commitment to providing a safe and enjoyable travel experience for tourists.

      Partners involved in the campaign have strengthened their safety measures and are utilizing technology to ensure the safety of tourists in Thailand. This includes installing CCTV cameras, implementing strict security checks at department stores, and utilizing technology like the “POLICE I LERT U” application to offer emergency assistance to international visitors. The campaign will also involve working with international KOLs to enhance the positive image of Thailand’s tourism assets and reinforce the country’s reputation as a safe destination. -Tourism Authority of Thailand

      China’s resort island receives

      90 m tourists in 2023

      More than 90 million domestic and overseas tourists visited south China’s tropical island province of Hainan in 2023, up 49.9 percent year on year, local authorities said .

      Hainan’s total tourism revenue surged 71.9 percent year on year to about 181.3 billion yuan (about 25.5 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023, according to the provincial department of tourism, culture, radio, television and sports.

      Last year, Hainan experienced rapid development in cruise tourism. Cruises to the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea saw 400 trips, up 277.8 percent year on year, and received 149,400 domestic tourists, up 405.33 percent.

      This year, Hainan aims to receive 99 million tourists and its tourism revenue is expected to reach 207 billion yuan. The province aims to receive more than 1 million inbound tourists in 2024.

      China aims to build Hainan into an international tourism and consumption center by 2025 and a globally influential tourism and consumption destination by 2035. – Xinhua

      Vietnam  to welcome 17-18

      million tourists  this year

      Việt Nam’s tourism industry has set a target to welcome 17-18 million foreign visitors in 2024, approaching the pre-pandemic record in 2019 when COVID-19 had yet to disrupt global travel.

      In 2023, the figure hit 12.6 million, surpassing the initial target set earlier in the year (before China, which accounted for a third of foreign arrivals to Việt Nam pre-pandemic, announced reopening plans) by 57 per cent and achieving the adjusted goal of 12-13 million.

      The number of domestic travellers, meanwhile, stood at 108 million, up 6 per cent compared to the set target. Tourism activities generated about VNĐ678 trillion (US$27.85 billion) in revenue, 4.3 per cent higher than the yearly plan.

      Despite substantial recovery in 2023, the Việt Nam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) said the domestic tourism recovery will still face challenges in the year ahead. This is particularly true in the context of the unpredictable global developments stemming from economic uncertainties, regional conflicts and climate change.

      Việt Nam’s socio-economic conditions remain stable; the economy continues to grow and inflation has been kept in check. But the persistent threat of disease and natural disasters are likely to create uncertainty affecting production, business activities and the daily lives of citizens.

      According to forecasts from the UN World Tourism Organisation and the World Travel and Tourism Council, international travel activities may fully recover by the end of 2024, reaching the levels achieved in 2019. However, the recovery is expected to be uneven across different regions.

      The ever-changing demands of international tourists require higher standards in product quality, diversity and unique experiences. The trends of integrating information technology, artificial intelligence and digital transformation are envisioned to drive the emergence of new forms of tourism.

      Based on these analyses and projections, Việt Nam aims to serve 17-18 million foreign and 110 million domestic visitors this year, with an expected total revenue from tourism nearing VNĐ840 trillion.

      To achieve the stated objectives, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyễn Văn Hùng has instructed the VNAT to continue focusing on advising and improving the institutional framework, policies, reviewing identified deficiencies for adjustment, and international commitments in the field of tourism. Collaboration with other ministries and sectors is emphasised to formulate policies for developing various types of products such as agricultural tourism and digital transformation in tourism. He also noted the need for attention on strengthening tourism statistics and digital transformation to enhance the effectiveness of data collection, providing reliable figures to efficiently support tourism policy planning.

      The ministry also calls for enhanced training for tourism officials and workers to meet requirements of new situations, especially in terms of language proficiency and technology expertise. — VNS

      Global Medical Tourism market 

      USD 136.93 billion in 10 years

      Newark, Jan. 01, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Brainy Insights estimates that the USD 20.07 billion in 2022 global Medical Tourism market will reach USD 136.93 billion by 2032. There is a growing trend towards health and wellness tourism, with individuals seeking medical treatments, preventive care, wellness programs, and holistic health experiences. Medical tourism destinations can capitalize on this trend by offering comprehensive health and wellness packages.

      Furthermore, integrating digital health technologies, including telemedicine, virtual consultations, and electronic health records, can enhance the accessibility and coordination of medical tourism services. Digital platforms can streamline pre-travel consultations, post-treatment follow-ups, and information exchange between healthcare providers and patients. Introducing new and advanced medical treatments, therapies, and procedures can attract medical tourists seeking cutting-edge healthcare solutions. Countries and healthcare providers that stay at the forefront of medical innovation can position themselves as leaders in the industry.

      In addition, customized and personalized medical tourism packages catering to individual patient’s unique needs and preferences present an opportunity for service providers. Tailoring experiences that include cultural activities, recovery retreats, and concierge services can set providers apart in a competitive market.

      Besides, wellness tourism, including genetic testing and personalized health assessments, is gaining traction. Medical tourism destinations can offer specialized wellness packages, including genetic evaluations and preventive health screenings, to attract individuals interested in proactive healthcare.

      China eases visa application for US tourists

      BEIJING: China will simplify visa applications for tourists from the United States from Jan 1, cutting the documents required, according to a notice on Friday (Dec 29) on the website of the Chinese embassy in Washington.

      The move is the latest by China to revive tourism and boost the world’s second-largest economy following a slump during the COVID-19 pandemic.

      Tourist visa applicants in the US will no longer need to submit air ticket bookings, hotel reservations or an invitation letter, the embassy’s notice said.

      Beijing earlier cleared the way for passport holders from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Malaysia to visit the country without visas from Dec 1.Visa-free treatment will run for 12 months, during which tourists from those six countries can visit China for up to 15 days. China also expanded its visa-free transit policy to 54 countries in November.

      The number of inbound tourists to the country plummeted during the pandemic due to the country’s strict COVID-19 control policies.

      China’s visa-free policy facilitates

      travels from 6 countries

      Around 214,000 people from France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia entered China in December 2023, an increase of 28.5 percent compared with November, according to the National Immigration Administration (NIA).

      China’s unilateral visa-free policy for ordinary passport holders from these countries took effect on December 1, facilitating inbound travels from there.

      Of these inbound trips, 118,000 were made by ordinary passport holders without a visa, accounting for 55.1 percent of all inbound trips from the six countries during this period. Around 91,000 visa-free entries were made for travel and business.

      Thanks to the visa-free policy, ports in the southern Chinese city of Nanning welcomed many inbound travelers. Data showed that 121 inbound travel groups of nearly 2,800 people entered China through ports in Nanning in December.

      Since the inception of the visa-free policy, ports in Beijing had, by December 31, witnessed more than 12,000 visa-free entries from the relevant countries.

      The NIA pledged more optimized entry-exit management policies for foreigners to facilitate their business, study, work, and life in China.

      International flights to China have picked up since Beijing dropped COVID-19 restrictions a year ago but are still only at 60 per cent of 2019 levels. – Xinhua

      FACTS —

      Tourism helps in:

      👉Reducing poverty

      👉Reducing Inequalities

      👉Promoting gender equality

      👉Fostering decent work and economic growth

      World Tourism Day 2021: ‘Tourism for Inclusive Growth’

      In 2019, Travel & Tourism’s direct, indirect and induced impact accounted for:
      -US$8.9 trillion contribution to the world’s GDP
      -10.3% of global GDP
      -330 million jobs, 1 in 10 jobs around the world
      -US$1.7 trillion visitor exports (6.8% of total exports,
      28.3% of global services exports)
      -US$948 billion capital investment (4.3% of total
      investment)