VN, Russia discuss military ties

Military co-operation between Viet Nam and Russia is growing efficiently in accordance with the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership.

The view was shared by Deputy Defence Minister Truong Quang Khanh and Deputy Director of the Russia Federal Agency on Military Cooperation V.K. Dzirkaln at their talks for the Viet Nam-Russia Intergovernmental Committee for Military Technique Cooperation in Ha Noi yesterday, April 11.

Khanh, who is Chairman of the Vietnamese Sub-committee and Dzirkaln, who is Chairman of the Russian Sub-committee also exchanged views on regional and international security issues of common concern.

Prioritised fields of co-operation and the agenda for bilateral co-operation on military techniques were also discussed.

The Russian officials started their three-day working visit to Viet Nam on Wednesday.

Vietnam appreciates Slovakia’s increased cooperation

President Truong Tan Sang receives Slovakian Deputy Minister of Economy Pavol Pavlis. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam treasures the traditional ties with Slovakia and appreciates Slovakian leaders’ support for stepping up cooperation with Vietnam.

State President Truong Tan Sang made the remarks at his reception in Hanoi on April 11 for visiting Slovakian Deputy Minister of Economics Pavol Pavlis.

Sang told the Slovakian official that there are possibilities for the two sides to expand cooperation in various fields such as industry, agriculture, education and training.

He also asked the guest to spend time making a fact-finding tour to localities in Vietnam in order to collect useful information for consulting his government on bilateral cooperation possibilities.

Pavlis, who attended a meeting of the Vietnam-Slovak Intergovernmental Committee on Economic Cooperation in Hanoi, gave high estimation to Vietnam’s human resources.

He said his country is ready to create conditions for Vietnamese students to come to study and do research.

Pavlis said the purpose of his visit is to seek ways to help the two sides’ businesses increase their cooperation as well as two-way trade.

Vietnam, Slovakia enhance economic links

Slovakian Deputy Minister of Economy Pavol Pavlis has said his Government prioritises the development of trade and economic cooperation with Southeast Asian countries, especially Vietnam, one of its important trade partners.

Speaking at the Vietnam-Slovakia Business Forum in Hanoi on April 11, Pavlis said his country possesses strengths in the defence industry, military technology, energy, food, finance, banking, plastic manufacturing, construction, mineral exploitation, information technology and petrochemistry.

Doan Duy Khuong, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Chamber of Industry and Commerce (VCCI), said with 60 years of diplomatic ties and similarities in economic structure, political stability and market attraction, Vietnam and Slovakia have abundant potential to develop their trade ties in a deep and broad manner.

Vietnam, an official member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), can serve as a door for Slovakia’s products to penetrate the ASEAN market. On the other hand, Slovakia, a member of the European Union, can help Vietnamese goods enter the EU market as well as Eastern European countries, Khuong said.

According to Ho Thi Kim Thoa, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, bilateral trade cooperation between Vietnam and Slovakia has yet to match the potential and aspirations of both countries.

Two-way trade between the countries reached only 300 million USD in 2012. Vietnam primarily exports electronic goods, footwear, garments and textiles to Slovakia.

As of the end of 2012, Slovakian businesses had five projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of 235 million USD, ranking 31 out of 98 foreign investors in Vietnam.

The forum, jointly organised by VCCI, Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade, Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO Slovakia) and the Slovakian Embassy in Vietnam, is expected to create opportunities for businesses from both sides to find partners, boosting bilateral economic cooperation between the two countries in the future.

Paris workshop highlights Vietnam-Paris relations

Diplomats and scholars reviewed 40 years of Vietnam-France ties and discussed measures of future cooperation at a workshop in Paris on April 11.

Christian Poncelet, President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarian Group at the French Senate, hailed the effective cooperation between France and Vietnam in various areas, from politics, economics and culture, to science-technology.

France was one of the first European countries that supported Vietnam’s Doi Moi (Renewal) process starting in 1986, he said.

He noted that Vietnam is a key player in the Asia-Pacific region and is a gateway to Southeast Asia, and in turn France is a gateway for Vietnam to strengthen ties with the European Union.

He recounted his group’s contributions to bilateral cooperation and said a French Senate delegation led by him will visit Vietnam this September to elevate the two countries’ legislative ties to a new level.

At the workshop, Vietnamese ambassador to France Duong Chi Dung recalled major milestones in bilateral relations and said both countries have valuable resources that can support each other in developing a future strategic partnership.   

Kader Arif, Minister for Veteran Affairs, reviewed the result of decentralised cooperation between the two countries’ localities over the past 24 years.

Since the Paris region and Hanoi signed their first decentralised cooperation agreement in 1989, nearly 20 French localities have established partnerships with their Vietnamese counterparts.

The areas of cooperation are diverse, ranging from Francophonie cooperation to culture, education-training, research, environmental sanitation, urbanisation, vocational training, rural economic development, health care, and sustainable development.

More than 70 projects have been developed between their localities.

Speakers from the French Development Agency and the French Ministry of Education and Research spoke of economic and tertiary education cooperation between France and Vietnam and examined prospects for future cooperation.  

They agreed that a future strategic France-Vietnam partnership will offer France and the EU an opportunity to play their greater role in Southeast Asia and Asia, and help Vietnam bolster stronger cooperation with France and other EU member countries for mutual benefit and on the basis of equality and mutual trust.

PM visits Central Highlands mobile police force

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and leaders of ministries and branches visited the Central Highlands mobile police force in Gia Lai Province on April 11.

Talking with police officers, Dung praised their achievements. He suggested they continue to grasp the Party and State’s policies and guidelines on protecting national security and social order.

The work of building the Party, and political and ideological education should receive the unit’s due attention, Dung added.

The Government leader stressed that the Party and State always pay attention to the security forces and do their best to support them.

“Italian house” inaugurated in Hanoi

An Italian house, “Casa Italia,” was inaugurated on Le Phung Hieu Street in Hanoi on April 11, as part of celebrations for the 40th anniversary of Vietnam-Italy diplomatic ties.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Italian Ambassador to Vietnam Lorenzo Angeloni said that the house will help Vietnamese people understand more about Italian culture, products and style.
It will be a venue for Italian activities in Vietnam such as press conferences, exhibitions and film screenings, he said, adding that the house, which was funded by Italian businesses in Vietnam, will illustrate bilateral friendship.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh said events introducing Italy’s culture, country, people, design and cuisine at the house will help connect cultural values and tighten the friendship and solidarity between the two countries.

Vietnam, German local cooperation strengthened

Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Nguyen Thi Hoang Anh had a working session with Stephan Weil, Governor of the Niedersachsen State, in Hannover on April 10, with the aim to strengthen comprehensive cooperation between the two countries’ localities.

Addressing the meeting, Anh affirmed that Germany is Vietnam’s strategic partner and a priority in its foreign policy. The country is now Vietnam’s biggest trade partner in Europe while Vietnam is a potential market for German investors in Asia.

She asked the state’s authorities to boost cooperation with Vietnam in motor manufacturing, logistics services, wind power, seaport and maritime economy.

The diplomat expressed her hope that local authorities will continue supporting the Vietnamese community there, therefore contributing to the state’s economic development and cultural diversification.

Weil said that he supports cooperation between his state and Vietnam, adding that the German state will create favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to participate at fairs in Hannover to introduce their products and promote trade in German and European markets.

HCM City, Phnom Penh tighten ties

On the occasion of Cambodia’s Chol Chnam Thmay New Year Festival, a delegation from Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee led by Vice Chairman Hua Ngoc Thuan met with Phnom Penh Mayor Kep Chuk Tema on April 11.

On behalf of Ho Chi Minh City’s people, Thuan conveyed his best wishes to the people and authorities of Phnom Penh.

Thuan and the Cambodian mayor agreed that friendly relations between the two cities are strengthening and developing in many fields.

They expressed delight with the construction progress of the Cho Ray–Phnom Penh Hospital, a friendship project between the two cities.

They agreed to further boost cooperative activities in the interest of the two cities’ inhabitants as well as for the ties between the two countries.

Earlier, the deputy chairman visited and inspected the progress of the hospital’s construction.

Activity celebrates Vietnam-Israel diplomatic ties

The Israeli Embassy in Vietnam, in conjunction with the National Academy of Music, held a performance in Hanoi on April 11 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Vietnam-Israel diplomatic ties (July 12) and the 65th Independence Day of Israel.

At the event, Israeli Ambassador Meirav Shahar conveyed Israeli President Simon Peres’ message to the Vietnamese State and people, which said that Israel highly values bilateral relations with Vietnam and will continue making every effort to strengthen and expand their relationship.

Shahar said that in the time to come, the embassy will work closely with other authorised agencies to organise more cultural and diplomatic events in 2013, marking 20 years of bilateral diplomatic ties.

Speaking at the event, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan highlighted the Israeli President’s visit to Vietnam in November, 2011, considering it an important factor that helped intensify the two countries’ multi-faceted cooperation.

The two sides also signed a decree on establishing the Vietnam-Israel Inter-Governmental Committee.

Colombian foreign delegation visits Vietnam

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ho Xuan Son on April 11 held talks with his Colombian counterpart Patti Londono who is in Vietnam from April 10-12.

During their talks, the two sides expressed wishes to expand cooperation in many fields and highly valued their initial achievements in approaching trade and investment opportunities and cooperation initiatives in agriculture, culture, education and technology.

Both sides agreed to intensify bilateral cooperation and support each other in international organisations, and at multilateral forums and interregional cooperation mechanisms, namely the United Nations (UN), the Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey and South Africa (CIVETS) group and the Forum for East Asia–Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC).

On the same day, Londono held meetings with Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh and Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Doan Duy Khuong.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA