Vietnamese Foreign Minister joins regional meetings    

Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh is joining his Southeast Asian counterparts at a series of meetings in Banda Seri Begawan, Brunei from April 10-11 to prepare for the 22nd ASEAN Summit later this month.

Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. (Photo: VNA)

The meetings include the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM), Politico-Security Council Meeting (APSC), and Coordination Council Meeting.

During these meetings, the ministers will discuss regional and international issues of common concern.

They will focus on the development progress of the ASEAN Community, the association’s external relations, its central role in shaping the regional structure, as well as issues of strategic importance relating to peace, security and cooperation in the region, including ensuring peace, stability, maritime safety and security in the East Sea and the stepping up of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

A number of meetings were also held earlier between April 7-9, including the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting and a preparatory meeting of senior officials responsible for the economy, politics-security and culture-society.

The 10-member Association Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Vietnam, Wallonia enhance cooperation

Minister-President of Wallonia and Belgium’s French-speaking community Rudy Demotte has said his region treasures its friendship and bilateral ties with Vietnam, and hopes the two sides will further broaden their cooperation in the 2013-2015 period.

Demotte was speaking at a meeting with Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh in Hanoi on April 10 to review cooperation between the two sides over the past years and outline their future direction.

He said that the Belgian side is willing to share its experience with and transfer technology to its Vietnamese partners, focusing on tackling existing issues and the sustainable exploitation of natural and human resources.

Belgium-supported intellectual projects in Vietnam are suitable for its sustainable development requirement and the modernisation of its economy, he noted.

Vinh expressed his delight at the sound cooperative results between the two sides over the past years, citing that the Belgian side has agreed to provide non-refundable aid and technology for 28 projects in Vietnam in the 2013-2015 period.

The projects, with total capital of about 4.5 million EUR, focus on French and vocational training, health, communications and personnel training in environmental management field, he noted.

During the meeting, the two sides agreed to continue strengthening cooperation in various fields including tertiary and vocational training, logistics, environment, agriculture and food, mechanical engineering, scientific research and French language.

They agreed to prioritise sustainable development, while making full use of each other’s strengths and capacity.

The two ministers both said they hope to increase cooperation in the future.

Vietnam attends 9th AEC Council meeting

A Vietnamese delegation led by Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang attended the 9th meeting of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Council in Banda Seri Begawan, Brunei on April 10.

At the meeting chaired by Brunei’s Second Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Pehin Dato Lim Jock Seng, ASEAN delegates discussed the AEC Scorecard, which evaluates the implementation of the AEC Blueprint and the goal for the establishment of the AEC by 2015.

They reviewed the progress made in further facilitating and boosting the flow of services and experts across the borders, developments in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) negotiations since its launch in November 2012, and the implementation of the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity.

Proposals to strengthen connectivity and regional economic integration made at the meeting will be submitted to ASEAN leaders at the 22nd ASEAN Summit scheduled to take place in Brunei from April 24 to 25.

The AEC Council is one of the three community councils established under Article 9 of the ASEAN Charter to monitor the implementation of the AEC Blueprint. It is also tasked to coordinate with relevant agencies to make necessary recommendations to the ASEAN Summit for its consideration.

The effective realisation of the AEC cooperation covers various policy areas, including trade, investment, finance, agriculture and forestry, energy, transport, tourism, telecommunications and information and technology.

Vietnam, Brazil look to strengthen ties

President of the Vietnam-Brazil Friendship and Cooperation Association Nguyen Van Lang met a delegation from the Communist Party of Brazil (PCB) led by President Jose Renato Rabelo, in Hanoi on April 10.

President Jose Renato Rabelo briefed Lang on his delegation’s talks with a delegation of the Vietnam Communist Party (CPV), in which they discussed the situation of each party and country, regional and international issues of mutual concern.

They also sought measures to boost future cooperation between the two parties, he said.

He appreciated the Vietnam-Brazil Friendship and Cooperation Association’s efforts over the past years, and hoped the association would continue to serve as a bridge to further strengthen the solidarity, friendship and bilateral cooperation between Vietnam and Brazil.

Lang noted the cooperation results between the two countries over the past years, stressing the coordination between his organisation and relevant Vietnamese agencies in implementing bilateral agreements in various fields including culture, sports, science and technology.

The association has performed its tasks to link businesses from both countries, he said, adding that through the President Jose Renato Rabelo and his delegation’s visit, the two sides can exchange experiences on how to boost cooperation among businesses and between the association and similar Brazilian organisation.

Vietnamese business representatives attending the meeting expressed their hope to study the nation, its people and business culture, while finding trustworthy Brazilian partners to expand cooperation.

Da Nang cooperates with Japanese city

The central city of Da Nang and Japan’s Yokohama city on April 9 signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on technical cooperation in a range of areas, particularly urban development.

Accordingly, the two sides will conduct joint surveys of investment environment and infrastructure in Da Nang.

The two cities also plan to work together to encourage Japanese businesses to invest in Da Nang’s hi-tech zones; develop the East-West Economic Corridor II; and accelerate the establishment of direct flights between Da Nang and Japan.

The two sides will also seek investment for infrastructural development in Da Nang such as subway construction, rubbish and waste water treatment and the second phase in upgrading Tien Sa port.

Yokohama, the second largest city in Japan with a 3.7 million population, is a prominent port and also a major commercial hub of the Greater Tokyo Area.

VNN/VOV/VNA