Defence Minister holds talks with Ukrainian counterpart

Vietnamese Defence Minister, General Phung Quang Thanh held talks with visiting Ukrainian Defence Minister Salamatin Dmitry Albertovich in Hanoi on September 13.

They discussed issues relating to the global, regional and each country’s situations, as well as cooperation results between the two ministries and cooperative directions in the future.

General Phung Quang Thanh said that Minister Albertovich’s visit to Vietnam makes a positive contribution to boosting the two countries’ cooperative-friendly relationship, opening up a new development for Vietnam-Ukraine defence ties.

Minister Albertovich said the cooperation between Vietnamese and Ukrainian Armies has been developed, but was not far still matching with each country’s potentials and demands.

He suggested that the two sides should speed up exchanges, work out specific orientations in order to lift bilateral defence relations to a new height, more effectively and practically.

The two ministers agreed that the two armies need to focus cooperation on the areas that they have capacity and demand, including all-level delegation exchange, training cooperation and experience-sharing on military construction.

Vietnam persists with unswerving policy on human rights

The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry’s spokesman has confirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of respecting, protecting and promoting human rights.

Spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi made the statement while answering reporters’ question regarding the US Lower House of Representatives’ adoption of the Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2012 (H.R. 1410) and Resolution H. Res. 484 on September 11 calling on the “Government of Vietnam” to respect human rights.

“In the past years, Vietnam has obtained many achievements in securing human rights in all civil, political, economic, cultural and social areas, which have been recognized by the international community,” Mr Nghi said.

Human rights’ promotion and people’s active involvement in the country’s all socio-economic aspects are important elements to the success of the renewal process in Vietnam, he added.

Vietnam and US have seen positive progresses in relations in recent years, Mr Nghi said, adding that both countries have regularly discussed issues of common concern, including human rights, in the spirit of frankness, constructiveness and mutual respect.

This is the best measure to increase mutual understanding and narrow differences, contributing to developing the two countries’ relations for the benefit of both sides, the spokesman stressed.

Bill H. R. 1410 and Resolution H. Res. 484 were based on erroneous and biased information on the enforcement of human rights in Vietnam, Mr Nghi said, adding that the adoption of the bill and resolution is wrongful and goes counter to the development trend of Vietnam-US relations.

State President receives Ukrainian Defense Minister

Vietnam always attaches great importance to its traditional partners, including Ukraine.

State President Truong Tan Sang was speaking at the reception for Ukrainian Defense Minister Slamantin Dmitry Albertovich in Hanoi on September 13.

He praised the increase of high-level political exchanges between the two countries over the years, which he said helped promote bilateral cooperation in politics, national defense, foreign affairs, economy and trade.

Mr Sang also acknowledged the effective cooperation between the two Defense Ministries and expressed his belief that Albertovich’s visit will be a success.

The Defense Minister confirmed that the Ukrainian leaders want to strengthen traditional ties and expand cooperation with Vietnam.

He briefed his host the results of the meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart and stressed that Ukraine is willing to share its defense experiences with Vietnam.

He also thanked Vietnam for its support to Ukraine at some regional and international forums.

HCM City hosts first Mekong tourism city mayor meeting

Leaders from Ho Chi Minh City of Vietnam, Phnom Penh of Cambodia and Vientiane of Laos gathered in HCM City on Sept. 13 for the first meeting of Mekong sub-regional tourism cities’ mayors.

The event, which took place within the framework of the 2012 International Travel Expo-HCM City, aims to the implement sustainable tourism development strategy, contributing to prioritizing toursim cooperation between cities in the Mekong sub-region.

Speaking at the meeting, Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee, Le Hoang Quan, said the city’s tourism sector has developed strongly in recent years. In the 2006-2011 period, the number of international tourists to the city saw an average increase of more than 10 percent, accounting for about 60 percent of the country’s total number of foreign visitors. The sector contributed 43 percent and 11 percent to Vietnam’s total turnover from the non-smoke industry and the city’s GDP, respectively

He pointed out that the municipal authorities always create favourable conditions to develop tourism through a series of policies, promotion solutions and programmes on human resources training.

At the conference, the mayors of Ho Chi Minh, Phnom Penh and Vientiane signed a joint statement on intensifying and encouraging travel agencies to cooperate in information exchange and experience sharing on the tourism development planning and promotion.

They agreed to cooperate in training and developing human resources for tourism, implementing joint promotion programmes to build the Mekong Sub-region into an attractive destination, and further tighten the relations between countries in the region while strengthening exchanges with other cities outside the region.

Vietnam Party delegation visits Myanmar

A delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) led by Deputy Head of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Vuong Thua Phong, paid a working visit to Myanmar from Sept. 11-13.

The visit was made in the framework of activities of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) Standing Committee in Myanmar at the invitation of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP).

During the visit, the delegation attended the meetings between ICAPP and Speaker of the Lower House of Myanmar U Shwe Mann and USDP’s General Secretary U Htay Oo, during which they discussed the recent political and socio-economic reform process in Myanmar.

Phong also met with USDP leaders to promote the friendship and cooperation between the two parties and nations.

Vietnam condemns attack on US Consulate in Libya

Vietnam strongly condemns a recent attack on the US Consulate General in Benghazi , Libya , killing the Ambassador and some diplomats, the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on September 13.

“We would like to convey our deep condolences to families of the victims,” spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi said in response to reporters’ question on Vietnam’s reaction to the September 11 attack.

“We request that the Libya administration implement necessary measures to ensure safety for diplomatic agencies of foreign countries and their staff in Libya,” he added.

Italian President pleased with ties with Vietnam

Italian President Giorgio Napolitano received Vietnam’s new Ambassador Nguyen Hoang Long, who presented his credentials before officially taking up his duties in Italy.

During their talks on September 12, President Napolitano congratulated Vietnam for its achievements in socio-economic development since the country embarked on its renewal process. He also expressed his pleasure at the fine friendship and multifaceted cooperation shown between the two countries in the recent years.

He went on to say that the Italian government will do everything it can to help the diplomat fulfill his tasks during his tenure in Italy.

Ambassador Long gave the President a briefing on the country’s current socio-economic situation as well as its goals and strategies for the future.

He briefed his host on the organisation of the ‘Vietnam Year in Italy’ in 2013, to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The diplomat stated that he will make every effort to boost diplomatic ties between both countries to take bilateral cooperation to a higher level, especially in the fields of trade and economics, culture, education and training and science and technology.

Vietnam grateful for Austria’s support

Vietnam is grateful to the Austrian people for their support for Vietnamese people’s past struggle for national independence, said a senior official.

This was stated by Vietnamese Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien while delivering a speech at a ceremony marking the 40 th anniversary of Austria-Vietnam diplomatic ties and Vietnam ’s 67 th National Day in Vienna on September 12.

Austria’s decision to officially set up diplomatic ties with Vietnam 40 years ago when the latter was entering the fiercest period of war of resistance against the US invaders represented not only its love for peace but also its support for Vietnamese people’s just war for national independence and reunification, Tien said.

Today, the minister said Vietnam and Austria have seen new prospects for cooperation, especially since Austrian President Heinz Fischer’s visit to Vietnam in May.

Many agreements and contracts signed between the two countries’ businesses on various fields, including infrastructure, energy, environment, tertiary education, industry, trade, tourism and health have been urgently implemented, she said.

On the occasion, Tien thanked Austrian donors for their support for AO victims in Vietnam .

During her September 10-13 visit, the Vietnamese Health Minister had a working session with her Austrian counterpart and visited some health care establishments in the country.

She will pay a working visit to the Czech Republic from September 13-16 to exchange views on health cooperation programmes between the two countries.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA