US offers to help fight emerging epidemics

US Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius has said her country is committed to working with Viet Nam to combat emerging epidemics, especially infectious diseases, and to promote the transfer of technology to fight HIV/AIDS.

Received by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Ha Noi yesterday, June 17, Sebelius stressed that the US and Vietnamese health sectors enjoyed close collaboration through the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, especially in the fight against HIV/AIDS and emerging pandemics like SARS and avian flu.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung and US Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius. (Source: VNA)

Dung said he highly valued the outcomes of talks between Sebelius and Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien as well as agreements reached during Sebelius' visit.

Particularly, the agreement on health and medical science signed between the two Governments would help cement co-operation between the two countries.

He said he hoped the two ministries would work closely together to implement the agreement and assist the Vietnamese health sector in human-resources training.

Dung suggested the US continue helping Viet Nam with funding and expertise to fight HIV/AIDS as well as control the outbreak of avian influenza.

Earlier yesterday, the Vietnamese Health Ministry and the US Department for Health and Human Services reached an agreement on health and medical science co-operation.

Under the deal signed by Tien and Sebelius, the two sides will co-operate in the fields of medical science and training.

Accordingly, the US will help Viet Nam enhance the capacity of staff responsible for controlling the quality of drugs. New methods and techniques will be transferred to the Vietnamese side.

The two sides will work together to quickly discover and prevent fake and low-quality drugs. They also agreed to join hands in establishing medical standards and improving the quality of laboratories and setting up biological safety labs.

Tien and Sebelius discussed priorities for co-operation, including preventive medicine, HIV/AIDS prevention and global health security.

In 1979, Viet Nam and the US first began health and medical co-operation through non-governmental organisations. Since the two countries normalised diplomatic ties in 1995, the two sides have carried out health co-operation in various sectors, including HIV/AIDS prevention and medical staff training.

In July 2006, the first agreement on health and medical science co-operation between Viet Nam and the US was signed, focusing on fighting HIV/AIDS, enhancing the capacity of those working in the fields of food safety and hygiene, and pharmacy.

The Health Department of HCM City last Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Welfare and Health Bureau of the South Korean city of Busan on an exchange of human resources and technology transfer in the medical sector.

Under the five-year document, the two cities will co-operate with and support each other in organising conferences, seminars and exhibitions in the medical field.

Da Nang to host ASEAN meeting on crime

Viet Nam will host the 13th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Transnational Crime, to be held in central Da Nang City from tomorrow until Saturday.

The annual rotary meeting among ASEAN countries aims to strengthen co-operation and share experiences in prevention and fighting of crime, with the participation of ASEAN members and dialogue countries.

The dialogue countries are China, Japan, the USA, South Korea, Russia, Australia, New Zealand, European Union and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Asia Regional Trafficking in Persons Project.

The event, which is also a forum for ASEAN members reporting on their battle and prevention activities in areas of anti-terrorism, drug and human trafficking, pirates, money laundering and cyber criminality, is part of the preparations for ASEAN Ministers Meeting on Transnational Crime.

"At the meeting, Viet Nam will explain its role and responsibilities in the prevention of and fight against crime in Asia and the world," Lieutenant General Do Kim Tuyen, deputy head of the Criminals Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security, told a press conference yesterday, June 17.

Russians talk up trade in Far East

President Truong Tan Sang greeted visiting Russian Minister for Far East Development V. I. Ishaev in Ha Noi yesterday, June 17, expressing the country's support for Vietnamese companies investing in the Far East.

Welcoming preparations for the second round of negotiations for a bilateral free trade agreement, Sang proposed the Russian side devise concrete incentives for Vietnamese businesses and workers in the Far East.

He suggested the two sides specify the contents of the comprehensive strategic partnership during Ishaev's visit, adding that political trust laid a strong foundation for ministries and departments to increase co-operation - and for the economic development of the Far East.

Ishaev said his ministry had worked with Russian agencies to develop a strategic socio-economic development scheme for the Far East until 2025.

He said the region was focusing on spearheading economic sectors such as natural... resources, the chemical industry, shipbuilding, aquaculture, the trans-Siberian railway and airports, which according to him, offer the two nations' businesses a chance to fortify their strengths.

Informing his host of land and assets incentives for foreign investors in the Far East, the minister called on Vietnamese companies to invest and get projects underway.

In the January-April period, two-way trade between Viet Nam and Russia surged 19 percent year-on-year to US$861 million. Russia now invests in 93 projects worth over US$2 billion in Viet Nam, ranking 18th among foreign countries and territories in this regard.

HCM City, Brest boost multifaceted cooperation

Ho Chi Minh City hopes to cooperate with France’s Brest City in urban and port development, said Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan on June 17.

At the reception for Brest’s Mayor Francois Cuillandre, who is on a working visit to the City, Chairman Quan called upon businesses and investors of the city and France to invest in HCM City, particularly in the Hiep Phuoc Port urban area.

He said many practical activities have been organised this year to mark the 40 th anniversary of Vietnam–France diplomatic ties.

In the past, the city has worked closely with many localities in France in trade, cultural exchange, education and healthcare, he said, adding that French enterprises have invested in 152 projects in the city, with capital totalling 750 million USD.

Quan expressed his hope that Cuillandre’s visit will contribute to fostering the multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and France, and between Ho Chi Minh City and Brest in particular.

For his part, Mayor Cuillandre said during his visit, 50 parliamentarians, businesspeople and education officials will have meetings with Vietnamese enterprises to seek cooperation opportunities and strengthen links between the two sides.

According to him, urban transport development is an urgent problem since it is not simply the matter of travelling but also a way to improve the livelihood of citizens.

Brest’s Mayor expressed his hope that HCM City will succeed in its projects, especially the construction of its metro system.

HCM City boost multifaceted cooperation with France

Ho Chi Minh City is keen to cooperate with France’s Brest city in urban and port development.

At a reception for Brest Mayor Francois Cuillandre on June 17, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan called for investment cooperation, particularly in the Hiep Phuoc Port urban area.

In recent years, HCM City has worked closely with many French localities in trade, cultural exchange, education and healthcare, he said, adding that French businesses have invested in 152 projects in the city, with a total capitalisation of US$750 million.

In reply, Brest Mayor Cuillandre said he is accompanied by 50 parliamentarians, businesspeople and education officials who will meet with Vietnamese counterparts to seek cooperation opportunities.

He regarded urban transport development as an urgent problem that is not simply as a matter of travelling but a way to improve the livelihood of citizens.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA