Australia appreciates Vietnamese defence minister’s visit

Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith has spoken highly of the visit by a senior delegation of the Vietnamese military headed by Defence Minister Phung Quang Thanh.

The visit was a milestone in the relations between the two countries in general and the two armies in particular, Smith told the Vietnamese guests at a meeting in Canberra on March 19.

Australian Defence Minister Stephen Smith receives Defence Minister Phung Quang Thanh. (Source: VNA)

He affirmed that Australia will continue cooperation with the Vietnamese army in the coming time, especially in the field of training.

The country also supports Vietnam’s viewpoint that disputes must be resolved by peaceful measures in line with international law, Smith added.

He said Australia welcomes Vietnam’s initiative to set up a group of experts under the framework of ASEAN Defence Ministerial Meeting Plus (ADMM+), to deal with consequences of mine and bombs left by wars.

Thanh said Vietnam attaches importance to developing the comprehensive relations with Australia, including defence ties.

He suggested the two sides increase naval cooperation and work together in after-war mine and bomb clearance in the coming time.

The minister also asked Australia to back Vietnam’s bid to join the International Hydrographic Organisation (IHO).

The same day, Thanh paid a courtesy visit to Australian Governor General Quentin Bryce and called at the Defence Force Academy and the Fleet Command.

On March 20, the delegation left for an official friendship visit to New Zealand.

Vietnam welcomes Swiss insurer

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh said Vietnam welcomed such a prestigious insurer as Swiss Re to the country, as he received Swiss Re Chairman Global Partnership Martyn Parker in Hanoi on March 19.

The Deputy PM said the local insurance market, which was opened to foreign investors in 1993, has registered an average growth of 23-25 percent over the past five years.

Currently 57 businesses are operating in the country, offering a diverse range of services, including life and non-life insurance, reinsurance and brokerage

He briefed Parker about Vietnam’s efforts to curb inflation, maintain macro-economic stability and achieve sustainable development.

Martyn Parker said his group, which is a strategic shareholder of Vietnam National Reinsurance Corporation (VINARE) with a 25 percent stake worth 70 million USD, will be the re-insurer for the pilot agricultural insurance programme conducted by Bao Viet, Bao Minh and VINARE under the direction of the Ministry of Finance.

Swiss Re will also work closely with the Ministry of Finance and Vietnamese insurance companies in designing risk responding plans, improving risk management capacity ties and providing natural disaster insurance solutions.

VN eager to tighten links with Brunei

Viet Nam and Brunei need to expand educational co-operation and promote ministerial exchanges to enhance bilateral ties in agriculture, energy and commercial investment.

State President Truong Tan Sang said this at his meeting with Haji Apong, Brunei's Minister of Education and chairman of the Brunei Investment Agency, in Ha Noi yesterday, March 19.

Apong and a delegation are attending the 47th Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) conference.

President Sang conveyed his best regards to His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah and members of royal family of Brunei, and affirmed Viet Nam's commitment to supporting Brunei in its current presidency of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Sang also expressed his appreciation for Brunei's supporting Viet Nam in international and regional forums.

Apong said he is looking forward to hosting the Vietnamese Minister of Education and delegations in Brunei to have further exchanges about the two countries' co-operation.

He added that the Brunei delegation would report the results of their working visit to relevant agencies and enterprises in Brunei to create further opportunities in commercial investment between the two countries.

Vietnam-France Year to start in April

The 2013-2014 Vietnam-France Year will officially kick off on April 9, 2013, in Hanoi to mark the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic ties (1973-2013).

The information was announced at a press briefing held by the French Embassy in Hanoi on March 19.

French ambassador to Vietnam Jean Noel Poirier said Vietnam-France relations are of trust and friendship, adding that Vietnam-France Year will open a new chapter in bilateral ties.

During Vietnam-France Year, Vietnam will host France Year from April 9 to the end of 2013, and France will organise Vietnam Year from the first half of 2014.

France Year in Vietnam, which is expected to see the participation of French Minister of Foreign Trade Nicole Bricq, will include up to 100 events relating to culture, economy, science and education.

There will be 40 economic activities during 2013, starting with the Vietnam-France Business Forum, scheduled to be held in Ho Chi Minh City from April 7 to 9, said the embassy’s commercial counsellor Tardieu Smith.

It will be followed by the first session of the France-Vietnam annual senior dialogue held in Hanoi on April 9, she added.

Meanwhile, outstanding cultural activities including a film festival, concert and photo exhibition will be organised in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and other localities.

France Year in Vietnam will end with a laser light show in Ho Chi Minh City.

PM highlights public feedback on revised Constitution

The collection of public feedback on the draft revised 1992 Constitution aims to forge a progressive Constitution that matches the realities and history of Vietnam, as well as the will of the Party and the hearts of the people.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the affirmation in the northern city of Hai Phong on March 19 while meeting with representatives of former soldiers who fought at the Dien Bien Phu battle in 1954.

Dung added that the revised Constitution aims to successfully realise the goal of industrialisation and modernisation, firmly safeguard independence, territorial sovereignty and integrity, bring into full play human and citizens’ rights, as well as the mastery role of the people, and build a law-governed Socialist Vietnam of the people, by the people and for the people under the Party leadership.

He stressed that the Party and State call on and create all favourable conditions for each citizen to contribute their ideas, brainpower, responsibility and passion to the draft amendments.

The Government leader also urged the Party, State and every single citizen to fight against unconstructive speeches and actions that sow division and harm solidarity in the Party and society, helping protect the legitimate interests of the country.

Sharing unity and socio-economic stablisation is a prerequisite for the whole Party, armed forces and people to successfully realise socio-economic goals, ensuring defence-security and socio-political stability set out by the 11 th National Party Congress.

In Hanoi on the same day, the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations also held a conference to gather its cadres and officials’ opinions on the draft revised Constitution.

Vietnam State Audit delegation visits Laos

A delegation from the State Audit of Vietnam led by Deputy State Auditor General Le Minh Khai is in Laos for a working visit from March 19-23.

At a reception for the delegation hosted by Laos ’ Politburo member and Deputy Prime Minister Somsavad Lengsavath and National Assembly Vice Chairman Somkhan Phengkhanmi, Khai said the visit aims to intensify the cooperation agreed by the two State Audits.

The Vietnamese side will discuss the content on implementing an audit structure, legal framework as well as standards to promote more practical bilateral cooperation with the State Audit of Laos.

The delegation will work with the Provincial Audit of Luong Prabang in order to improve the auditing capability of the two countries’ ministries and sectors in an effort to effectively and transparently use state budgets, therefore contributing to the anti-corruption fight.

Khai suggested the Lao leaders create more favourable conditions for the two State Audits to put audit programmes into a working plan for the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation Committee.

The two hosts spoke highly of cooperation between the two audit offices during the past time and expressed their wish to see closer cooperation between the two sides to fulfil their assigned tasks.

They said Laos will begin the construction of a centre for human resource training to meet its demand for national development, hoping that the support from the Vietnam State Audit will bolster greater sustainable comprehensive cooperation between the two nations.

Chief of General Staff active at ACDFIM-10

Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, senior lieutenant general Do Ba Ty, held bilateral meetings with the heads of the delegations from Brunei, Cambodia and Indonesia who attended the tenth ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Informal Meeting (ACDFIM-10) in Brunei on March 19.

While meeting with Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces Dato Paduka Seri Haji Aminuddin Ihsan, Ty said he believes the ACDFIM-10 will be successful, boosting defence links among ASEAN member nations, for peace, stability and common development in the region and the world.

Ty affirmed that the Government of Vietnam and the Vietnam People’s Army always treasure the development of friendship and cooperation with Brunei.

Vietnam and Brunei agreed to realise initiatives reached during the Commander’s official friendly visit to Vietnam in February, including the implementation of cooperation contents within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral defence cooperation signed by the two nations in 2005.

The Brunei side thanked Vietnam for its active contributions to the ACDFIM-10 and in Brunei’s multilateral defence activities under its chairmanship, which contributed to helping Brunei fulfil its ASEAN chair in 2013.

At a meeting with Defence Deputy Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, lieutenant general Eth Sarath, Ty highly valued the cooperation between the two armies and nations last year, which marked the 45 th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and the Vietnam–Cambodia Friendship Year within the framework of the Protocol on Bilateral Defence Cooperation and the annual cooperation plan between the two defence ministries.

Eth Sarath expressed his wishes that the two sides will actively and effectively implement cooperation content as set under the annual bilateral cooperation plan.

Meeting with Commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces, Admiral Agus Suhartono, Ty hailed the active preparations between the two sides to realise their leaders’ determination to bring Vietnam–Indonesia ties to a strategic partnership level.

Defence ties between Vietnam and Indonesia have developed positively in the exchange of delegations, navy links, education, intelligence sharing, and supporting each other within the framework of multilateral defence cooperation in the region.

On the basis of the bilateral defence cooperation agreement signed in August, 2010, the two sides agreed to boost links in delegation exchange, education and the defence industry.

Ty suggested the two sides soon sign an agreement on joint patrol regulations on contiguous waters and establish a communication channel between the two navies, therefore ensuring security, safety and the settlement of emerging issues.

They agreed to liaise within the ASEAN cooperation framework and the five fields agreed within the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting to maintain the central role of ASEAN in the regional security structure, ensuring the common interests of each country and the whole bloc.

Vietnam, Mongolia cooperate on agriculture

Vietnam and Mongolia should accelerate cooperation in agriculture, animal husbandry, industry, energy and processing in the coming time to meet the two countries’ potential, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has said.

Hai made the suggestion in Hanoi on March 19 at a reception held for visiting Mongolian Minister of Industry and Agriculture Kh.Battulga who had attended the 15 th annual meeting of the Vietnam-Mongolia Intergovernmental Committee.

The two countries should also intensify exchanges of high-ranking delegations, support each other at international forums and create favourable conditions for the two sides’ partners to carry out the signed agreements, the deputy PM added.

The host spoke highly of the outcomes of the committee’s meeting, saying that they will serve as an important foundation to further foster cooperation between the two countries’ agencies and partners in the fields of politics, economy, culture and education.

Kh.Battulga expressed his hope that the two Governments will create conditions to promptly bring the signed deals to fruition, adhering to mark the 60 th anniversary of their bilateral diplomatic ties next year.

The guest said that his ministry will create the most favourable conditions for Mongolian firms to intensify trade and investment cooperation in the areas of aquaculture and agriculture, which are of the two sides’ strength.

Vietnam congratulates Israel’s new leaders

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on March 19 sent his congratulations to Benjamin Netanyahu on his election as Prime Minister of the State of Israel.

On the same day, Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Sinh Hung extended his message of congratulations to the newly-elected Speaker of Israel’s parliament, Yuli Edelstein.

VNN/VNS/VNA