National Women's Congress set to open in capital today

Viet Nam's 11th National Women's Congress will convene in the capital today.

The three-day congress, themed "Unity, Creativity, Integration and Development", marks the Viet Nam Women Union's (VWU) attempt to enhance the role of women in national industrialisation and modernisation.

Thousands of delegates are expected to attend the event.

The congress will review the activities of the VWU during its 2007-12 term as well as its direction for the next five-years.

The gathering will also elect the VWU's Executive Committee for 2012-17, adopt amended VWU regulations and honour individuals and branches for their achievements.

Party Commission delegates pay visit to the Philippines

Hoang Binh Quan, Head of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations. (Source: VNA)

During the visit, made at the invitation of the Liberal Party of the Philippines, the current ruling party, Quan held talks with Party President Mar Roxas and other high-ranking officials.

Roxas praised the role of the Communist Party of Viet Nam in the country's development and called for co-operation on food production and natural resources management.

Quan said Viet Nam respects its relations with regional countries for peace, stability and development purposes.

The two sides further discussed ways to enhance bilateral and multilateral ties between them.

Vietnam, Cambodia share ASEAN experiences

Vietnam is ready to share its experience in hosting ASEAN national defence summits with Cambodia, Minister of National Defence General Phung Quang Thanh told Secretary of State for the Cambodian Ministry of National Defence Neang Phat in Hanoi on March 9.

Thanh spoke highly of the visit by General Neang Phat and his delegation to Vietnam. He added that Vietnam has been very active in regional conferences, particularly with regard to national defence and security co-operation.

Vietnam successfully hosted the 4th ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM-4) in 2010 and the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM +).

Thanh also said that with the support of the State and ASEAN country members, the Cambodian Royal Army will be able to effectively organise the ADMM-6 this year.

Earlier, the Cambodian delegation met senior Lieutenant-General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Minister of National Defence.

President’s condolences to East Timor

President Truong Tan Sang on March 9 sent a message of condolence to East Timor's President Jose Ramos Horta on the death of Francisco Xavier do Amaral, the country's first president.
East Timor declared independence in 1975.

Vietnam, Belgium boost economic ties

Belgian Crown Prince Philippe, accompanied by executives from 200 businesses, arrived in Vietnam on March 11 for a weekly visit to promote trade and economic linkages between the two countries. 

The Belgium businesses are engaged in a wide range of fields, including water and waste management, transport, port, logistics, space technology and agriculture. 

The Belgian firms, especially export ones, are interested in middle-income developing markets like Vietnam, Belgian Minister of Economy, Benoit Cerexhe, told a press conference in Hanoi the same day.

At present, import-export turnover between businesses of Belgium and Vietnam in general and between the Brussels region and Vietnam in particular remains modest, he said, expressing hope that the two countries’ trade will grow robustly following the visit. 

In 2011, two-way trade between Vietnam and Belgium reached about US$1 billion. Belgium’s foreign direct investment in Vietnam is estimated at about US$108 million and its businesspeople are very keen on increasing their operations. 

Flanders’ Minister of Economy Kris Peeters said the visit will help Belgian firms share experience with Vietnamese partners in various fields, especially in transport development, logistics and ports, water and waste water treatment, food and agricultural technology and aquaculture and health services.

During the visit which will last till March 16, the Belgian businesspeople are scheduled to take part in workshops, make a fact-finding tour of some Vietnamese localities and sign 13 memoranda of understanding with Vietnamese partners.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA