VN, Cambodia speed up drug fight cooperation

Vietnam and Cambodia pledged to continue working closely in fighting and preventing drug trafficking and drug-related crimes across the common border.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met his Cambodian

counterpart before the talks.

The pledge was made during the talks between Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Chairman of the National Steering Committee for Drug, AIDS and Prostitution Prevention and Control and his Cambodian counterpart, General Ke Kim Yan, in Phnom Penh on August 15.

During the talks, the two Deputy PMs briefed each other on their respective socio-economic situation. They expressed their delight that the two countries’ friendship and comprehensive cooperation have been increasingly consolidated and developed in all fields.

In particular, the two sides have coordinated in organising practical activities to celebrate the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year of 2012 and the 45 th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties. These activities have helped raise the public awareness of preserving and developing the already sound relationship between both countries.

Ke Kim Yan expressed his deep gratitude to the Vietnamese Party, Government, Army and people for immense assistance to Cambodian people to escape from the genocidal regime in the past and to build their country at present.

Phuc and Ke Kim Yan, who is also President of the Cambodian National Agency for Drug Prevention and Control, reviewed cooperation of the agencies and gave high estimations to their cooperative outcomes.

They exchanged information and experience in the fight against drugs, especially experience in educating the community and youngsters on impacts of drugs as well as methods to prevent drug use and encourage the involvement of all walks of life in combating the scourge.

The two sides also proposed measures to strengthen the two agencies’ ties, focusing on exchanging delegations of all levels and holding bilateral discussions to seek specific and practical ways to investigate and crack down dug-related crimes.

They will also concentrate on intensifying the fight against drug-related crimes along the border line and carrying out training courses to improve capacity of staff engaging in drug prevention and control.

Deputy PM Phuc asserted that fine traditional ties provide a foundation for the two countries to continue launching comprehensive cooperative programmes and that between the two drug watchdogs in the future.

Later the same day, Phuc attended the talks between Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Thi Hai Chuyen and Cambodian Minister of Social Affairs, War Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation, which focused on orientations for boosting the two ministries’ cooperation.

Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Police Academy under construction

The Ministry of Public Security will provide US$1.2 million to build the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Police Academy, with a capacity to handle training courses for 300 students.

Construction on the 26-hectare campus started on August 14 in Cambodia’s Komgpong Speu province, 85km from Phnom Penh.

Addressing the ground-breaking ceremony, Senior Lt. General and Minister of Public Security, Tran Dai Quang, said the project represents the special friendship between the two police forces and commemorates the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Lt. General Quang said the Vietnam People’s Police Force applauds the close, effective coordination and valuable assistance from their Cambodian counterparts in combating crime and ensuring border security and safety. The establishment of the academy is a specific result of cooperation based on “Good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term stability.”

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Home Affairs, Sar Kheng, expressed sincere thanks to the Vietnamese Party, Government and people for helping Cambodia in every field, especially the assistance the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security has offered to the Cambodian police force.

Cooperation between the Cambodian Ministry of Home Affairs and the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security in building the academy is a wise decision for the right purpose, said Minister Sar Kheng.

Once completed, the academy will serve as a training centre for the Cambodian police task force dealing with emergencies and ensuring social order and public safety.

Vietnam, Singapore trade unions boost ties

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) wants to receive more support and learn experience from the Singapore National Trade Union Congress (SNTUC) in building a trade union movement in Vietnam.

VGCL President Dang Ngoc Tung made the remark in his talks with SNTUC’s high-ranking delegation led by Heng Chee How, SNTUC’s Deputy Secretary-General, Senior Minister of State in charge of the Prime Minister’s Office and Deputy Leader of the House of Representatives, in Hanoi on August 15.

Tung highly valued solidarity and cooperation between the two trade unions, expressing his hope that the visit will contribute to further strengthening their sound relationship.

Since setting up friendship and cooperation with the VGCL, the SNTUC has spared no effort to help the Vietnamese side organise numerous conferences, training courses and received many trade union officials of Vietnam to study in Singapore, he said.

For his part, Heng Chee How congratulated the Vietnamese side on the significant achievements Vietnam has gained in ensuring legitimate rights and interests for labourers.

He expressed his hope that in the future, the two trade unions will continue to work closely for the development of both sides.

Vietnam-Singapore bilateral ties were officially established in 1973 and have been raised to strategic partnership. The two countries signed the Connectivity Framework Agreement in 2005.

Singapore is now the fourth biggest investor in Vietnam with total investment of more than 23 billion USD in over 1,000 projects, mainly in the fields of oil and gas, agro-forestry and fisheries processing, infrastructure building, education and healthcare.

VNN/VOV/VNA