Vietnam pledges to contribute to ASEAN Economic Community

ASEAN economic integration is always an important part of Vietnam’s foreign economic policy and the country commits itself to making active contributions to building a strong ASEAN Economic Community.

Vietnam affirmed its stance at the 43rd ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting (AEM-43) that took place in Indonesia on August 10 and 11.
At the two-day conference, economic ministers reviewed the recent results in trade in goods, trade services and investment during the economic integration process.

They agreed that ASEAN economic cooperation has seen real and intensive developments on the basis of the legal framework of the ASEAN Charter, the Master Plan for the ASEAN Economic Community and the strategic roadmap for the implementation of the ASEAN Economic Community by 2015.

ASEAN economic ministers reached consensus on focusing resources to develop the third pillar of equal development in the master plan on the ASEAN Economic Community, paying attention to implementation of programmes within the framework of the ASEAN Integration Initiative (IAI), the development and assistance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), boosting cooperation in the protection of intellectual property rights and devising competition policies, consumer protection and trade statistics.

The ministers acknowledged the negotiation and implementation of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreements between ASEAN and its dialogue partners, including China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and India. They discussed orientations to solve existing issues in the negotiation and measures to maintain ASEAN’s central role in the shaping regional architecture.

They assigned senior officials to soon build modes of economic cooperation between ASEAN and partners in East Asia with priority given to trade in goods.

This model will be a tool for ASEAN to put forward a common rule in which ASEAN keeps the leading role and maintains its equal and proactive connectivity in the relationship with its partners.

The 25th ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) Council Meeting and the 14th ASEAN Investment Area Council Meeting took place on the sidelines of the 43rd AEM.

Leader stresses commitment to science, technology sector

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has reiterated the Party and State's commitment to developing the science and technology industry.

Investment in this sector would be sustainable, he said on Saturday at a meeting with the Viet Nam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA) and the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST).

The Party General Secretary stressed the need for VAST to develop a long-term development strategy, as well as plans to train high-quality workers to boost national construction and development. Chau Van Minh, the VAST president, said the association now had 32 members with a staff of about 2,500 cadres, including 1,100 Party members, since its formation in 1975.

The VAST is now leading the country in research and the application of high technologies, such as nanotechnology, remote sensing satellites and space technology, Minh said.

Dang Vu Minh, the VUSTA president, said the union had paid due attention to improving the quality of its professional activities.

It has attracted leading scientists to act as consultants on many national projects, such as the master plan for bauxite exploration up to 2020.

He also said its members were involved in nuclear power plant construction, a master plan for the capital, the North-South Express Railway and the 2011-2020 socio-economic development strategy.

The VUSTA has also promoted the dissemination of scientific and technological knowledge to the public and been actively involved in education and training, environmental protection, health care, development of the community, hunger eradication and poverty reduction, he said.

However, scientists complained that salaries were still far too low, making it difficult to attract the most talented scientists.

Those attending the meeting said the State should increase investment in scientific and technological development, while creating more favourable working conditions for researchers.

State President receives Vientiane Mayor

On August 12, State President Truong Tan Sang received Party Secretary and Mayor of Vientiane Capital Soukan Mahalath in Hanoi.

State President Sang praised the cooperation between Hanoi and Vientiane which has contributed to developing the special friendship and comprehensive collaboration between the two Parties, States and peoples.

Hanoi and Vientiane will play an important role in celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 2012 - the “Year of Vietnam-Laos Solidarity and Friendship”.

Both sides will promote friendship and cultural exchanges to make the year more practical and successful.

Mr. Mahalath said his capital city will join hands with Hanoi to organise the 50th anniversary celebration successfully. He thanked the city of Hanoi for helping Vientiane build cultural and educational establishments and vocational training centres, along with training highly skilled workers.

Leaders bid farewell to outgoing ambassadors

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and State President Truong Tan Sang met with outgoing ambassadors of Laos, Ireland, Finland and Germany at separate receptions in Hanoi on Aug. 12.
Receiving Lao Ambassador Sounthon Sayachak at the Government’s headquarters, PM Dung expressed his joy at the development of the special friendship and comprehensive cooperation in all fields as it has benefited both sides and worked for each country’s prosperity and peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
He praised the ambassador for her cooperation with relevant agencies of Vietnam, contributing to boosting cooperation between the two countries.
Ambassador Sounthon Sayachak highly valued Vietnam’s assistance to Laos, especially in personnel training and confirmed to try her best to continue strengthening bilateral relations in all fields.
Meeting Irish Ambassador Maeve Collins, PM Dung praised the ambassador’s contributions to developing relations between the two countries to a new level and said that it was Vietnam ’s consistent policy of boosting cooperation with Ireland in the economic sector and in education and training and culture as well as at international forums.
PM Dung thanked the Irish Government and people for their support, especially for ODA capital, which effectively helped Vietnam in socio-economic development and poverty reduction.
He expressed his wish that Ireland would continue to provide assistance to Vietnam.
Ambassador Collins said that Ireland provided over 50 million EUR to Vietnam during the past five years and pledged to give more in the future, focusing on poverty reduction to help improve living conditions for the Vietnamese people.
The Lao and Irish Ambassadors were also received by President Truong Tan Sang at the Presidential Palace.
President Sang also received outgoing Finland Ambassador Pekka Hyvonen and German Ambassador Rolf Schulze, who paid him visits before ending their terms of office in Vietnam.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA