Vietnam welcomes the US Pacific Fleet

Deputy Minister of National Defence cum Commander of the Vietnamese Navy, Admiral Nguyen Van Hien, received Commander of the US Pacific Fleet Admiral Cecil D. Haney on July 13 during the fleet's courtesy visit to Vietnam.

At the reception, Admiral Hien highly appreciated the recent cooperation, especially bilateral exchanges, between the two navies.
He said he hopes that the US Commander will help strengthen relations between the two countries for peace, friendship, cooperation and development based on international law.

During his stay in Vietnam, the US commander is scheduled to pay a courtesy visit to leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nghe An province in the central region.

He will make a fact-finding inspection of a humanitarian project funded by the US Pacific Fleet in Nghe An, and visit Hanoi capital.

Army general visits Lao embassy

A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lt. General Nguyen Chi Vinh paid a visit to the Lao embassy in Hanoi on July 13 to celebrate the 2012 Vietnam-Laos Year of Friendship and Solidarity and other major anniversaries between the two countries.

General Vinh praised the special Vietnam-Laos solidarity that has developed well over the years. He recalled the combat alliance of the Vietnamese and Lao armies, in which the two armies and peoples fought side-by-side against the same enemy and sacrificed for the revolution and national independence.

He also mentioned the contributions Vietnamese soldiers have made to strengthening the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos.

The Lao Ambassador to Vietnam, Somphone Sychaleun, affirmed that the Lao Party, State and people will always remember the service and assistance Vietnam has provided during the past struggles as well as the current national construction process.

Vietnam seeks closer ties with China and ASEAN

Vietnam is keen to boost cooperation with China and ASEAN nations based on equality, mutual benefit and respect for international laws, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Thanh Bien made this statement at the seventh expanded Tonkin Gulf Economic Cooperation Forum which took place on July 12-13 in Nanning, Guangxi province, China.

More than 400 delegates from China and ASEAN nations attended the event, along with experts, scholars and entrepreneurs from within and outside the region.

Deputy Minister Bien said the current regional and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms in the expanded Tonkin Gulf cooperation framework have been revamped, which will enhance infrastructure connectivity and boost regional economies.

The main topics covered at the forum included urban development, information and technology (IT) development and China-Malaysia industrial cooperation. There was also a separate session for scholars to discuss issues related to rebalancing the global economy to expand cooperation in the Tonkin Gulf region.

They compared notes on the prospects for the global economy and East Asia’s role in its recovery, as well as regional impact of free trade agreements (FTAs) such as the East Asian Free Trade Agreement (EAFTA), the Comprehensive Economic Partnership in East Asia (CEPEA), and the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP).

The scholars also highlighted the role of financial support mechanisms for the cooperation framework and economic links between regional countries.

The forum participants discussed promoting cooperation and connectivity between cities along the Nanning-Singapore economic corridor to develop infrastructure and help modernize industries in the area.

Regarding opportunities for economic cooperation within the expanded Tonkin Gulf cooperation framework, they stressed that IT is a potential area for development and proposed creating a connectivity mechanism between businesses and governments to encourage research and develop talent.

Economic cooperation between China and ASEAN nations following the model of industrial parks like the China-Malaysia industrial park was also raised for discussion.

The first annual forum took place in 2006 in Nanning, China, where it will continue to be held in the future.

Vietnam Fatherland Front receives Cambodian Buddhist delegation

The General Secretary of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, Vu Trong Kim, has welcomed the Vietnam visit by a Cambodian Buddhist delegation as a practical contribution to promoting the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

While receiving Cambodia’s Buddhist Supreme Patriarch Venerable Tepvong in Hanoi on July 13, Kim said the visit is part of many friendship exchanges to celebrate the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year and the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

He said the VFF has cooperated with the National Council of Solidarity Front for the Development of Cambodia’s Motherland in carrying out many cooperation programmes to strengthen good relations between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Kim also spoke of the active participation of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) in doing charity work, taking care of the elderly and orphans, helping flood victims and promoting other social activities.

Venerable Tepvong congratulated the VFF on its recent achievements and sincerely thanked Vietnam for its great assistance to the Cambodian people in building and developing the country.

VNN/VOV/VNA