Senior leaders receive Indian Vice President

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung separately received visiting Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari in Hanoi on January 15.

Photo: VNA

The Party chief said that the Vietnamese Party and Government attach great importance to further strengthening strategic partnership with India in all fields.

Trong suggested that the two sides should build on the 2012 Friendship Year achievements, deepen the relations between parties, and improve people-to-people diplomacy and coordination at regional and international forums.

Ansari affirmed that India wants to boost cooperation with Vietnam in various aspects, including politics, security, defence, economics, trade, investment, finance, education and training, and science and technology.

All political parties in India support the strengthening of bilateral ties with Vietnam, he noted.

At a reception for the Indian Vice President, PM Dung said the strategic partnership between the two countries has benefited the development of both countries.

Dung said he hopes the two sides will further promote cooperation in economics, trade, investment and tourism to lift two-way trade to a higher level.

He underscored the need to open a direct air route between Vietnam and India and boost cooperation in culture, education, information technology and human resource training.

Ansari affirmed that India is willing to work with Vietnam to bolster cooperation in areas of each other’s strengths and demand.

He emphasised his country’s support for the peaceful settlement of differences in the East Sea, adding that this is the only way to ensure peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.

Nation eyes stronger ties with S Korea

Viet Nam and the Republic of Korea (South Korea) should facilitate the strengthening of co-operation and investment between their business sectors, according to Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang.

Sang made the suggestion yesterday, Jan 15, to Kang Chang-hee, Speaker of the South Korean National Assembly.
Sang said that similarities in history and socio-culture, with large communities from both nations residing in each other's country, were the foundations for long-lasting mutual friendship and co-operation.

The State leader said he hoped the numerous achievements made by both sides in the last 20 years would be multiplied in the next two decades.

Kang said he hoped Viet Nam would create favourable conditions for South Korea's businesses to seek investment opportunities.

The guest expressed his belief that the two countries would have more chances to foster bilateral relations via high-ranking delegation exchanges.

He thanked Viet Nam for its support at multilateral forums, expressing his hope that the two countries would continue to back each other at regional and international meetings.

Vietnam, Japan strengthen strategic partnership

Japan is one of Vietnam’s top economic partners and the first country in the Group of Seven (G7) to recognize Vietnam’s market economy status.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is paying an official two-day visit to Vietnam, starting on January 16 at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung.

This is the first overseas trip by Shinzo Abe after being elected as Japanese PM and the second visit to Vietnam in his capacity as PM following his visit in 2006.

Japan is Vietnam’s biggest ODA donor, number one investor and third largest trade partner. The two countries are working on devising an industrialization strategy for Vietnam under the Vietnam-Japan cooperation framework through 2020 with a vision for 2030.

Shinzo Abe’s visit is capturing the attention of people from both countries as it meets their wish to deepen the fine relationship and enhance the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan.

Japanese ambassador to Vietnam Yasuaki Tanizaki said Abe has selected Vietnam- an important country in Japan’s external and economic policy- as the first destination for his Asian trip.

Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership was established in 2006 by Prime Ministers Nguyen Tan Dung and Shinzo Abe as signatories.

The Japanese PM’s visit aims to improve bilateral ties in line with the new situation, adding fresh impetus to boosting future cooperation, Tanizaki said.

Regarding the Vietnam-Japan cooperation plan to enhance the strategic partnership in the coming time, the Japanese diplomat said Japan-Vietnam relationship is based on mutual economic interests. Japan is willing to help Vietnam achieve its national industrialization target by 2020 and get more ODA funding and direct investment from Japanese businesses.

Tanizaki said the two countries’ leaders have agreed to observe 2013 as the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Year which will see a host of diverse cultural activities to promote people-to-people exchanges.

Vietnamese ambassador to Japan Doan Xuan Hung affirmed that Abe’s visit will strengthen the Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership and boost bilateral cooperation in politics, national security and defense, economics, trade and investment.

On the occasion, the two PMs are expected to announce the launch of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Year 2013 and the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

Conference reviews VFF’s 2012 activities

The Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee’s 10th conference was held in Hanoi on January 15, with VFF President Huynh Dam serving as chair.

The conference discussed a report on the VFF’s 2012 activities and the front’s action programme for 2013.

The 2013 action programme focuses on stepping up communication, encouraging the reinforcement of the great unity bloc, promoting emulation movements that work towards meeting 2013’s socio-economic targets, and harnessing the people’s combined strength in building and protecting the nation.

It will also aim to expand cross-cultural exchanges, consolidate international solidarity, and renew the front’s operational forms.

Dam explained the conference’s participants will discuss personnel changes according to VFF regulations, outline the seventh VFF Central Committee’s agenda, and adopt any resolutions agreed upon.

Vietnam-Italy cooperation grows sustainably

The time-honoured friendship that bonded Vietnamese and Italian peoples is a firm foundation for the two countries to enjoy sustainable, ceaseless multi-faceted cooperation over the past time.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Nguyen Hoang Long made the statement in his recent interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s upcoming State-level visit to Italy and the 40 th anniversary of Vietnam-Italy diplomatic ties.

Since they established their diplomatic ties on March 23, 1973, the two countries have maintained the regular exchange of high-ranking delegations to seek various ways to promote their ties.

Italy was one of the first countries in West Europe assisting Vietnam against the embargo and blockage by sending Italian Foreign Minister Gianni De Michelis to visit Vietnam in 1989 and resuming bilateral development cooperation in 1991.

The country was a destination in Party General Secretary Le Kha Phieu’s West European tour in 2000, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s working visit in 2007 and State President Nguyen Minh Triet’s in 2009.

The two countries’ specific and practical cooperation has been supported by a series of important framework agreements signed in the fields of economics, culture, education, security and defence.

Italy is one of Vietnam ’s leading trade partners in the European Union (EU), Long noted.

Despite the global economic slowdown, two-way trade between the two countries has increased considerably in recent time, reaching 2.53 billion USD in 2011 and 2.8 billion USD in 2012, up 38 percent and 10 percent year-on-year respectively.

Italy’s investment in Vietnam has climbed to nearly 200 million USD, with many of its big companies operating efficiently, including scooter manufacturer Piaggio and water boiler manufacturer Ariston.

The country has strongly supported economic cooperation between Vietnam and the EU and is one of few EU countries that have officially backed Vietnam ’s market economy.

Over the past years, Italy has boosted its cultural ties with Vietnam, especially in the domains of museum, cultural heritage preservation and restoration, and the training of staff for the work.

Bilateral cooperation in other areas, including sports and tourism, are planned, the ambassador said.

He also emphasised education-training in Vietnam-Italy cooperation. In 2012, Vietnam sent 300 Vietnamese students and postgraduates to Italy and is about to sign with the country a series of cooperation documents to support Vietnamese students studying and conducting joint research projects there.

Many Italian localities have been twined with Vietnamese localities, such as Hanoi and Rome, HCM City and Milan , Haiphong and Genoa , and Hue and Venice.

About 5,000 Vietnamese people residing in Italy are acting as a bridge for economic and trade ties between the two countries.

According to the ambassador, in 2013, the Vietnamese Embassy in Italy will organise the Vietnam Year in Italy with Vietnamese Weeks in Rome, Florence, Bologna, Milan, Turin, Venice and Napoli to mark the two countries’ 40-year diplomatic ties.

Procuracy sector urged to accelerate reforms

The People’s Procuracy must make stronger and more comprehensive reforms and better fulfill its functions.

President Truong Tan Sang made the request at a conference hosted by the Supreme People’s Procuracy to launch its 2013 tasks in Hanoi on January 15.

Sang, who is head of the Central Steering Committee for Judicial Reform, urged the sector to duly perform its judicial stewardship and take more resolute and just measures to ensure the law is followed in all prosecutions and legal matters.

Failing to prosecute criminals not only threatens the lives of people but also causes social instability and erodes people’s trust in legal agencies, including the procuracy, he stressed.

The President affirmed that improvements in management and monitoring will enhance supervisory activities, curb the increase in the number of criminals and ensure equality, democracy and discipline in investigations and prosecutions.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA