Vietnamnet.vn
Podcast
At the reception, Chairman Quan said he believed that the Governor General’s visit will contribute to boosting Vietnam-Canada bilateral cooperation, as well as cooperative ties between Ho Chi Minh City and Toronto city and other localities of Canada.
He also spoke highly of the support and cooperation Canada has provided for the city through cooperative programmes and projects with enterprises and universities in the city.
Governor General Johnston said bilateral cooperative relations between Vietnam and Canada have developed steadily, and these ties should be further developed, especially in trade, education, culture and tourism.
Governor General Johnston also called at the HCM City University of Industry, where he delivered a speech in front of 200 students who had completed an education programme of the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) as part of an education linkage between Canada and educational establishments in Vietnam .
The HCM City University of Industry and SIAST set up a partnership in 1997 and they have cooperated via many channels, including the exchange of lecturers and students.
Vietnam, Italy step up solidarity
The Italy-Vietnam Friendship Association in the Lombardy region (IVFA-L) on Saturday convenes its regular meeting in Milan city.
Addressing the event, Senator Fausto Co, President of the Italy-Vietnam Friendship Association (IVFA), spoke highly of friendship activities of the IVFA-L as well as its efforts to organize the annual exchange, which, he said, helps Italian people, including those from the Lombardy region, have more chances to explore the land and people of Vietnam.
The senator called on the association to continue coordinating with other branches in providing support for Vietnam, especially in projects on poverty reduction, environment, health care and assisting Vietnamese Agent Orange/dioxin victims.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Dang Khanh Thoai praised the IVFA and the IVFA-L in consolidating the relations between the two countries over the past decades.
Tran Minh Chau, a member of the IVFA’s management board, said since 2002 the IVFA has partnered with the IVFA-L to organize a wide range of charitable activities such as presenting scholarships, each worth VND1.5 million, to 500 students in Ha Tinh, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh and Can Tho provinces.
They have also helped hospital and schools in several central provinces of Vietnam buy medical equipment and upgrade the infrastructure system, Chau said.
NA disagrees on when to pass a demonstration law
At a National Assembly meeting yesterday, some deputies said a bill on demonstrations should be issued as soon as possible, while others said such a document should only be passed when the intellectual level of the Vietnamese people is higher than at present.
On the sideline of the meeting, Tuoi Tre interviewed some NA deputies about the issue.
Hoang Huu Phuoc, a deputy from Ho Chi Minh City, who had earlier said that the bill should not be considered by the NA in its 2011-2015 term, agreed that the right to demonstrate was one of the basic rights stipulated in the Constitution, but that it was not the time to promulgate such a law.
“Vietnam’s conditions are different from others,” he explained. “Many other countries are not facing outside opposition, but Vietnam is coping with many hostile forces which always seek opportunities to act against the country.”
Phuoc was concerned that such a law would likely be abused by such hostile forces to sabotage Vietnam.
“In some countries that have higher civilization levels than Vietnam, such as the US and UK, many recent demonstrations have given to violent acts and robberies. What if such a situation were to happen in Vietnam?” he said.
Deputy Truong Trong Nghia: “It’s thus unacceptable to say that the bill should be delayed due to the people’s low intellectual level." (Photo: Tuoi Tre)
Regarding some other deputies’ opinions that such a law will ensure the legality of demonstrations and encourage people to demonstrate peacefully, Phuoc said saboteurs would still abuse demonstrations to carry out their schemes.
“We do not wish to deprive the people of one of their basic rights, but that right should be enforced only when the people’s intellect and the country’s economic development reach certain levels.”
Meanwhile, Truong Trong Nghia, also of HCMC, had a different view.
“Many administration and police agencies said that such a law would enable them to better manage demonstrations, since it would create a legal framework for law enforcement agencies to strictly punish anyone who violates or abuses the law,” he said.
“Under the Communist Party of Vietnam’s leadership, the people’s intellectual level has developed to a relative height,” he said. “It is thus unacceptable to say that the bill should be delayed due to the people’s low intellectual level. Such an opinion underestimates the country’s intellectual level.”
According to Nghia, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has also realized the need of having a law on demonstrations and has requested the NA to develop it.
Nghia said any law, not just a law on demonstrations, could be abused or violated, but that any violator would be punished.
Duong Trung Quoc, of Dong Nai Province, agreed with Nghia, saying that the term “demonstrations” was mentioned in the 1959 Constitution and that the bill on demonstrations wouldn’t just help to enforce one of the basic rights of people, but would also be a management tool for law enforcement agencies.
Quoc said the government had recently used the phrase “gathering in crowds” to refer to the gathering of demonstrators because Vietnam doesn’t have a law to give the act its correct name.
Many demonstrators have recently conducted their demonstrations in their own ways, and they may be improper because there has yet to be a law to govern such acts, he said.
“A law on demonstrations should be passed as soon as possible,” he said.
VN enhances co-operation with German state
Germany wants to further promote its co-operation with Viet Nam, attaching much importance to developing a mutually beneficial strategic partnership.
State Secretary for European Affairs of the German Ministry of Justice, Integration and Europe, Nicola Beer, made the statement at a meeting with the Vice Chairwoman of Viet Nam's National Assembly, Tong Thi Phong, in Ha Noi yesterday.
The NA Vice Chairwoman praised the cooperative programme in law between the two countries, expressing her hope that both sides will continue sharing experience and that the German government would continue its support of the Vietnamese National Assembly.
She acknowledged the support of the German Government and people in recent times, especially in the fields of education and training, saying that the Viet Nam-Germany University was a symbol of successful cooperation.
The German official later met with Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan, who expressed his hope that Germany would co-operate and assist Viet Nam in education and vocational training.
Russian expert awarded Friendship Order
Alexander Mukhin, a software engineer from Russia's Gazprom Group, was awarded the Vietnamese Friendship Order for his contribution to national oil and gas industry development alongside friendly relations between the two countries.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Russia yesterday hosted a ceremony to hand over the award.
Speaking during the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Pham Xuan Son reviewed the recent development of traditional friendship and bilateral trade between Vietnam and Russia, especially in the oil and gas sector.
For his part, Mukhin thanked the Vietnamese State for the award, affirming that he would make additional contributions in promoting and developing friendship between the two countries.
Vietnam contributes to ASEAN priorities
Vietnam has made important contributions to implementing ASEAN priorities, including building the ASEAN Community, strengthening ASEAN connectivity and expanding the association’s foreign relations.
The statement was made by Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in a press interview on November 19 as Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation left Bali after attending the 19th ASEAN Summit and related meetings.
Minister Minh said that at the summits, the Vietnamese delegation made proposals on strengthening the core role of ASEAN in the evolving regional structure and coordinating viewpoints at international forums such as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the G20, and the UN, as well as deepening relations between ASEAN and its partners, thus contributing to peace and stability, strengthening regional links, narrowing development gaps and boosting sustainable development in sub-regions such as the Mekong Sub-region.
Vietnam also called on the region to join hands with other countries for peace, maritime security, safety and freedom in the region and in the East Sea, which are common concerns and interests among the region and related countries.
The Vietnamese also delegation discussed issues of mutual concern with Mekong countries Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, including boosting sustainable development and the use, protection and management of Mekong River water resources, the minister said.
As the coordinator for dialogues at the ASEAN-China Commemorative Summit, Vietnam, together with the other ASEAN countries and China, contributed to further strengthening the ASEAN-China Strategic Partnership as well as coordinating activities to mark the 20th anniversary of ties between the two sides.
ASEAN and China should continue following the 2011-2015 Plan of Action, including fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) towards establishing a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
PM Dung also met with leaders of many countries to discuss bilateral ties and issues of common interest on the sidelines of the summits.
Minister Minh said the 19th ASEAN Summit and related meetings that took place in Bali , Indonesia, on November 17-19 focused on accelerating building the ASEAN Community as well as regional connectivity and expanding and deepening relations between ASEAN and its partners.
They also discussed regional and international issues of common concern, particularly those related to peace, security and cooperation in coping with emerging challenges such as natural disasters, climate change, maritime security and transnational crime.
Bringing Vietnam-South Africa relations to higher level
Vietnam and South Africa have agreed to promote exchanges and cooperation between their two legislative bodies, with a view toward making bilateral relations more substantial and effective in the future.
During the visit to Vietnam from November 16-19, the Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa, Max Vuyisile Sisulu, and his delegation held talks with NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and met with State President Truong Tan Sang and Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
At these meetings, Mr Sisulu expressed his belief that his visit will mark a new step in developing the ties of friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and South Africa, while opening up prospects for boosting bilateral cooperation at regional and international levels.
Both sides compared notes on political and diplomatic issues and the socio-economic situation in their respective countries, and agreed to do their best to strengthen solidarity, cooperation and mutual understanding between the two countries at bilateral and international forums.
During their stay in Vietnam, Mr Sisulu and his entourage laid wreaths at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, and visited the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and Ha Long Bay – one of the world’s natural wonders.
On the evening of November 19, the South African NA speaker, his wife and delegation left Hanoi for their home country,successfully concluding their visit to Vietnam.
Vietnam, Russia boost national defence cooperation
Lieutenant General Do Ba Ty, Deputy Defence Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, received General Vladimir Pronichev, First Deputy Director and Head of the Border Guard Service at the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) in Hanoi on November 18.
At the reception, General Ty said the Vietnamese Government, army and people have always attached great importance to developing the ties of solidarity and friendship with the Russian Government, army and people. He also expressed gratitude for Russian assistance and support in Vietnam’s past struggles for independence and during its current process of national construction and development.
Bilateral cooperation in national defence has proved effective, helping to raise the friendship between the two countries and armies to a higher level, General Ty said.
General Pronichev informed General Ty about the Russian delegation's work with the Vietnamese Border Guard High Command, saying the visit gave his delegation and the FSB a good chance to share experiences in management and protecting sovereignty and border security with the Vietnam People’s Army.
The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence and FSB also reviewed the implementation of cooperative agreements on border issues and discussed orientations for future cooperation.
South Africa Parliamentary leader visits Ha Long Bay
Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa Max Vuyisile Sisulu, his wife and the entourage paid a visit to the northern province of Quang Ninh on November 18.
They had a working session with local leaders who informed the guests about the potential for and advantages of the province’s socio-economic development.
They also gave a brief of the beauty of Ha Long Bay which was recently voted as one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.
Ha Long Bay has been recognized twice as World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).
South African NA Speaker Sisulu thanked his hosts for the warm welcome and said he was impressed by the breathtaking beauty of Ha Long Bay.
The Speaker also lauded the rapid economic development of Vietnam, including Quang Ninh, in recent years.
Judicial reform under revision in Hanoi
The Steering Committee of the Judicial Partnership Program has convened its annual meeting to discuss measures to ensure the program’s effective operations.
Addressing the event, attended by representatives of the Supreme People’s Court and Supreme People’s Procuracy, Vietnam Bar Federation, donors, and related agencies; Deputy Minister of Justice Hoang The Lien and Danish ambassador to Vietnam John Nielsen emphasized that the meeting presents a chance for stakeholders to report on the implementation of the program, the lesson learnt, as well as necessary adjustments in the future.
Nguyen Van Quyen, Vice Head of the Steering Committee introduced five priorities in judicial reform in 2012 and the coming years and devise orientations for judicial agencies to carry out the program.
The five priorities include building institutions related to judicial reforms, consolidating the organizational structure of judicial agencies, establishing judicial support agencies, developing the human resources, and promoting international cooperation in judicial reform.
In their action plans for 2012, partner agencies proposed working hard on “constitutional amendments in the context of judicial reforms in Vietnam” and “judicial reforms to boost access to judiciary.
Participants agreed that 2012 will be an important transitional year for reviewing the implementation of the 1992 constitution and addressing issues that need revision.
The event offered a platform for reflecting the recent achievements of judicial reform and discussing related controversial issues.
Vietnam attends ILO Governing Body session
A Vietnamese delegation actively took part in the 312th session of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) Governing Body in Geneva, Switzerland, from November 3-18.
Vietnam chaired the drafting of documents and made presentations as a full member of the ILO Governing Body, a coordinator of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and a member country of the Asia-Pacific region.
Representatives of the Permanent Vietnamese mission to the UN, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international organizations made recommendations concerning the election of the ILO Director-General, completion of the operational structure of the ILO General Assembly, integration of policymaking and capacity building into national employment and technical cooperation programmes, as well as employment issues in Myanmar.
More than 200 delegates representing governments, employees and employers discussed implementation of General Assembly resolutions, ILO agenda in the 2011-2013 period and the reassessment of international labour standards. They also gave opinions on a General Assembly reform programme and other issues related to the organisation’s operation.
Vietnam, Thailand bolster cooperation in many fields
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met with his Thai counterpart Yingluck Shinawatra on November 18 to discuss measures to promote relations between the two countries.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ongoing 19th Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Bali, Indonesia.
The two PMs agreed on the need to promote bilateral relations in many areas, especially in trade and rice exports, and arrange for cabinet meetings in the near future.
They emphasized the importance of strengthening co-ordination among countries in the region in order to use water resources sustainably.
PM Dung affirmed that Vietnam will do the best for development of bilateral relations in a comprehensive and effective manner for the prosperity of ASEAN and for peace, stability and development in the region and the world.
He asked both countries and related nations in the Mekong River Commission (MRC) to use the natural resources of the Mekong River effectively for the common benefit and sustainable development of countries in the region.
The Thai Prime Minister said she will visit Vietnam in the near future and proposed the two countries to closely cooperate in food production in the interests of both countries and for the sake of food security in the world.
.svg){kind=icon}
