NA Vice Chairwoman greets Czech guest

National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan has expressed her hope that Czech businesses and investors will boost investment in Vietnam, especially in the fields of their strength.

While receiving Vice Chairman of the Czech House of Representatives’ Economic Committee Ales Radl in Hanoi on March 11, Ngan thanked the Czech Government and people for providing Vietnam with official development assistance, and affirmed that the Vietnamese Government has used the aid efficiently.

National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan greets Vice Chairman of the Czech House of Representatives’ Economic Committee Ales Radl (Source: VNA)

Ngan suggested the Czech Republic legislature and the Czech House of Representatives’ Economic Committee further boost cooperation with the Vietnamese NA in experience sharing and law making, strengthening the friendship between the two nations.

Informing Ngan of the outcomes of working sessions with several committees of NA, Radl stressed that the two sides share similar law systems, and cooperation between the two legislatures is growing.

He proposed the two sides work closely together to devise agreements, especially on policymaking in various fields.

Vietnam, Thailand to boost military ties

Vietnam and Thailand agreed to step up friendly and cooperative military relations between the two countries, based on the “National Defence Agreement of Vietnam and Thailand’s Ministries of National Defence” signed in September, 2012.

The two sides reached the consensus during the working visit of Vietnam’s national military delegation to Thailand from March 11–14, at the invitation of General Sukumpol Suwanatat, Thailand’s Minister of Defence.

Head of the delegation, Vietnam’s Minister of National Defence, General Phung Quang Thanh, highly valued the cooperation relations between Vietnam and Thailand, adding that the two countries should work together to foster bilateral and multilateral relations towards the formation of an ASEAN community by 2015.

The minister affirmed the necessity of boosting friendship and cooperation ties to speed up the execution of agreements in national defence cooperation signed earlier by the two countries, particularly in naval cooperation.

The Vietnamese defence minister’s visit aims to evaluate the two countries’ national defence cooperation, and look at detailed measures to foster future cooperation, enhancing friendship, mutual understanding and trust between the two countries and their military forces for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Vietnam, Japan strengthen ties

Vietnam attaches importance to the strengthening of ties with Japan , in the interest of the people from both countries, and for peace, stability and development in the region and the world, said To Huy Rua, Politburo member and Party Central Committee Secretary.

Meeting Takebe Tsutomu, former President of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance in Hanoi on March 11, Rua, who is also President of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians Group, expressed his pleasure with the growing ties between the countries.

The countries’ joint activities to celebrate 40 years of their diplomatic ties in 2013 will boost friendship and mutual understanding between Vietnamese and Japanese people, especially the youngsters. It will consolidate the firm foundation the stable and long-lasting friendship and cooperation between both countries is built on, he said.

Rua highly values Takebe’s contributions to the political and economic cooperation between Vietnam and Japan. He said he hopes Takebe will continue his efforts to foster ties between the two countries in all fields.

Takebe spoke highly of the development of the all-around cooperation between Vietnam and Japan , and affirmed that Japan pays much attention to the strengthening of the strategic partnership that the two countries enjoy.

He asserted that as a former President of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance and current Honorary President of the Japan-Vietnam Business Forum, he will continue making contributions to the comprehensive cooperation and strategic partnership between the two countries, especially in the implementation of large-scale joint projects in Vietnam.

PM’s visit to Laos fosters development links

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will pay a working visit to Laos from March 12-15 to foster regional development links.

He will attend the 6th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Summit (CLMV 6), the 5th Ayeyawadi-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Summit (ACMECS 5) and the talks between ACMEC leaders and business representatives.

PM Dung will also chair the 7th Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Summit (CLV 7) and visit some northern provinces of Laos.

Held every two years, the CLV 7 will start on March 12 with the participation of the Prime Ministers of the three countries as well as leaders of relevant ministries, sectors and localities.

The CLV 7 is held at a time when bilateral ties between Vietnam and Laos, and Vietnam and Cambodia have strengthened and developed in the spirit of solidarity, friendship and comprehensive cooperation.

Cooperation among the 13 provinces in the development triangle has yielded encouraging results, especially in the implementation of the socio-economic development master plan until 2020, which was adopted in 2010. The localities maintained high economic growth, with their economic structures shifting towards more promising fields. Infrastructure has improved and positive economic, trade and education achievements have been made.

The event will review the implementation of agreements reached at CLV 6, and define the directions to promote future cooperation among the three countries. The three PMs will also adopt a joint statement.

The CLMV 6, which will also get underway on March 12, will examine the implementation of the 2011–2012 action plan, and discuss specific areas of cooperation and orientations to increase links among countries.

The ACMECS 5, to be held on March 13, will look at the implementation of the Phnom Penh Declaration and the 2010–2012 ACMECS action plan, cooperation in eight priority fields, and orientations for future cooperation including the 2013–2015 action plan.

Cooperation in the Mekong region is growing. Despite challenges, the cooperation mechanisms of CLMV and ACMECS have yielded some success, especially in the hosting of regional trade fairs and exhibitions. Cooperation has boosted tourism and facilitated trade among countries through building a one-stop service system and one-door customs at international border gates.

Vietnam has taken part in cooperation activities under these mechanisms, played a leading role in devising annual action plans, and put forward initiatives for more efficient cooperation.

Meanwhile, Dung’s visit to Laos’ northern provinces aims to tighten the Vietnam–Laos friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation by discussing measures to enhance links and investment and sharing experiences in local socio-economic development.

The two countries are actively implementing the economic, cultural and science-technology cooperation strategy for the 2011–2020 period, the 2011-2015 agreement on economic, cultural and science-technology cooperation between the two Governments, and the Vietnam–Laos cooperation strategy in the Lao provinces of Houaphan and Xieng Khouang.

Vietnam’s investment in Laos has surged with 440 projects worth 5.38 billion USD, making it one of the largest investors in the country. Two-way trade hit nearly 900 million USD last year and is expected to reach 2 billion USD by 2015.

Former diplomat gets certificate of merit

The People's Committee of central Da Nang city has presented Pete Peterson, President of the Alliance for Safe Children, a Certificate of Merit for contributions to SwimSafe.

Pete Peterson was Ambassador to Vietnam, between 1997 and 2001.

Da Nang 's SwimSafe programme has helped 22,000 children swim over the past few years.
Portable swimming pools have been set up throughout the city, which create an opportunity for everyone to learn swimming during summer.

Mozambique keen on Vietnam’s agriculture experience

Mozambique’s Minister of Agriculture Jose Pacheco has expressed his wish to exchange experience with Vietnam, especially in the field of agriculture and food security.

During his March 11 meeting in Hanoi with Le Hong Anh, Politburo member and Standing member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Jose Pacheco briefed his host on his country’s current situation, including the results of the FRELIMO 10th Congress. He also mentioned cooperation plans and projects between the agriculture sectors of the two countries.

Pacheco, who is also a Politburo member and Secretary of the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) Central Committee, voiced his hope to further strengthen cooperation between the two Parties and States in all fields, especially in economics, trade and investment.

He praised Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements over the past years, as well as its increasing role in the region and world.

Lauding Pacheco and his delegation’s visit, Anh congratulated the guest on the success of the FRELIMO 10th Congress, and expressed his belief that with resolutions passed during the congress, Mozambique’s people will reap further achievements in their national construction and development cause.

He showed his delight at the developing cooperation between the Parties and States of Vietnam and Mozambique, especially in telecommunications, agriculture, and oil and gas.

He suggested that in the future, the two sides should further foster their economic cooperation, increase two-way trade and create favourable conditions for businesses of both countries to strengthen their links.

Officials prepare for CLMV, ACMECS summits

Senior officials of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV) and Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy (ACMECS) discuss preparatory drafts to be submitted to the 6th CLMV and the 5th ACMECS Summits, scheduled for March 12-13 in Laos’s capital Vientiane.

According to KPL, the meetings in Vientiane on March 11 looked at future cooperation and reviewed the outcomes of previous cooperation projects in the nine prioritised frameworks of CLMV cooperation plans and eight cooperation frameworks of the ACMECS.

They highly valued the progress in the implementation of cooperation projects in human resources development, road and rail connectivity, the opening and upgrading of international border checkpoints and development projects funded by Japan and other development partners.

Participants sought ways to attract and mobilise investment and assistance from development partners and business community to implement prioritised cooperation projects.

They agreed that creating more favourable conditions was needed to encourage the growth in trade, investment and tourism by implementing a single window inspection mechanism at border checkpoints among CLMV and reducing the development gap between them and other ASEAN member countries to prepare for effective integration into the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015.

CLMV are currently focusing their cooperation on nine spheres including trade and investment, agriculture, industry and energy, transport, information communication technology, tourism, human resources development and health.

There are eight prioritised cooperation sectors for ACMECS including trade and investment facilitation, agriculture, industry and energy, transit transport, tourism, human resources development, health and environment.

The Vientiane Declaration of the 5th ACMECS and ACMECS Action Plan for 2013-2015 are expected to be approved on this occasion.

ACMECS was established in 2003 in Myanmar. It consists of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.

Tributes paid to Venezuelan President Chavez

More than 20 Vietnamese delegations have paid tributes to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Frias at the Venezuelan Embassy since it opened the funeral register book on March 6.

The delegations represented the ministries of foreign affairs, national defence, and science and technology, as well as the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Popularisation and Education, Hanoi municipal People’s Committee and the Vietnam News Agency, among others.

In the funeral register book, the delegations expressed their profound regret to the Bolivarian revolutionary soldier Chavez Frias, who strived for an equal and civilised Venezuela.

They wrote that they believe the Venezuelan people will overcome this great loss to inherit and bring into full play the noble ideals of the Bolivarian revolutionary soldier, and continue making great achievements in national development.

Philippine corruption fight a valuable lesson

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales of the Philippines that Viet Nam hopes to learn from the anti-corruption experiences of countries across the world, including their regional neighbours, during a meeting in Ha Noi yesterday, March 11.

Dung emphasised that the Party and State of Viet Nam pay much attention to the prevention and combat of corruption, a constant struggle that requires drastic and long-term measures to increase the transparency of Government procedures and uphold the punishment of offences.

As a neighbour of the Philippines and fellow ASEAN member, Viet Nam attaches a great deal of importance to nurturing their relationship to achieve mutual benefits for both countries, the PM added.

Applauding the co-operation between the two partners, Dung declared his support for the quick and effective implementation of agreements reached during Morales's visit.

Inspector General Huynh Phong Tranh of the Government Inspectorate of Vietnam held talks with Conchita Carpio Morales from the Office of the Ombudsman of the Philippines in Hanoi.

Morales earlier briefed Dung on the results of her talks with her Vietnamese counterpart, Inspector General Huynh Phong Tranh. She described the newly-signed memorandum of understanding on collaboration in the area of transparent governance.

She added that her agency wants to further boost co-operation with the Government Inspectorate of Viet Nam so that the two parties can learn from each other in the fight against corruption.

The same day, Inspector General Tranh held extensive talks with the visiting Filipino guests.

He said he believed the delegation's visit to be a valuable opportunity for progress in the battle against corruption, and would subsequently lead to more efficient state management, increased accountability and greater transparency in the countries' inspection activities.

In reply, Ombudsperson Morales said corruption negatively impacts human beings and socio-economic development.

The newly-signed memorandum of understanding is a chance for both inspection agencies in both nations to share their anti-corruption expertise.
 

VNN/VNA