VN hopes for assistance in climate change fight

Vietnam expects to receive support from the international community in the fight against climate change, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has said.

He made the statement while receiving Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Rajendra K. Pachauri in Hanoi on August 17.

Dung also said that Vietnam is willing to cooperate with the IPCC and hopes that the panel will back Vietnam’s participation in IPCC’s studies on climate change so that the country can update research outcomes of other countries, as well as share its experience in coping with climate change with the international community.

The Government leader told his guest that Vietnam will be seriously affected by climate change, rising sea levels and natural disasters. As a result, the country has set a target of sustainable development in combination with effectively coping with climate change and disasters.

Coping with climate change is not only good for Vietnam but also contributes to global efforts regarding the issue, Dung said. In that spirit, the Vietnamese government has put forth a national programme target and implementation strategy on coping with climate change along with the necessary legal framework.

The IPCC Chairman said Vietnam, highly vunerable to the affects of climate change, has taken reasonable measures and issued synchronous legal documents, affirming the country’s strong political determination in the fight against climate change.

The IPCC will work closely with Vietnam in the field, the official confirmed, recommending the country to strengthen investment in early warning systems and policy making regarding agriculture and urban planning.

HCM City prepares for Vietnam-Cambodia legislature conference

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Huynh Ngoc Son on August 19 worked with Ho Chi Minh City and Military Zone No7 on preparations for an upcoming conference between the National Assemblies of Vietnam and Cambodia.

Son noted that the conference is a key external affair to be organised by the two legislatures in 2012 to enhance communications on the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia, and to welcome the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year 2012.

The conference aims to increase the exchange between the two countries’ legislative bodies, their parliamentary groups, youths and provinces sharing the common border, as well as twin localities, said Son.

He asked relevant agencies to increase their coordinated efforts to ensure the conference will be a success.

HCM City Mayor Le Hoang Quan and Military Zone No7 leaders assigned specific tasks to relevant agencies to make thorough preparations for the event.

South Africa considers Vietnam a staunch ally

South Africa attaches considerable importance to its relationship with Vietnam and regards Vietnam as a staunch friend and ally.
South African Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ebrahim I Ebrahim, emphasized this at the second meeting of the South Africa-Vietnam Partnership Forum on August 17. He praised Vietnam’s heroic struggle for national independence and spoke highly of its achievements in national construction and development.

Vietnam's Deputy Foreign Minister Le Luong Minh, who is leading the Vietnamese delegation at the meeting, said he was delighted with the development of bilateral relations between Vietnam and South Africa and reaffirmed Vietnam’s foreign policy of respecting ties with all African nations.

He proposed that both countries continue promoting cooperation, particularly in their fields of strength.

At the meeting, the two sides reviewed the entire scope of their relations over the past years and redefined and refocused their priorities for bilateral cooperation to take advantage of existing opportunities.

They agreed to boost exchanges of high-ranking delegations, support each other in the international arena, and enhance political, diplomatic, trade, economic, national defence and security ties, as well as cooperation in environmental protection, science, technology and judicial reform.

The South African side underlined triangular cooperation between Vietnam, South Africa and other African nations, saying it is willing to work with Vietnam to expand cooperation in aquaculture, health care, and education.

The two countries also agreed to cooperate in organizing cultural events in 2013 to mark the 20th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.  

Japanese Prince Akishino visits Hoa Binh province

Japan is currently the biggest foreign investor in northern Hoa Binh province.

Vice Chairman of the Hoa Binh provincial People’s Committee Bui Van Cuu made this affirmation at a reception for Japanese Prince Akishino on August 18.

Cuu also introduced the Prince to the socio-economic situation in the province, which is home to many ethnic minority groups and contains abundant natural resources. He added that five Japanese agricultural, forestry product processing and electronics businesses are now operating effectively in the province.

He thanked the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for its assistance in building a general hospital and for sponsoring many other development projects in rural and mountainous areas.

Prince Akishino spent a lot of time learning the local people’s living conditions and issues related to education and health care.
He said he hopes that the province will create the best possible conditions for his delegation to learn more about environmental protection and the conservation of bio-diversity.

The Prince also thanked Hoa Binh province for its assistance during last year's tsunami and earthquake disasters in Japan.

Mexico, Vietnam strengthen friendship and cooperation

Vietnam and Mexico should share experiences in national construction and socio-economic development, said Felix Castellano, President of the Vietnam – Mexico Cooperation and Friendship Institute.

At a ceremony to begin his new position, Castellano said he will do his best to promote Vietnam’s image in Mexico.

He was committed to boosting exchanges of experts in the fields of economics, commerce, science and technology as well as tourism.

Vietnamese ambassador to Mexico, Le Thanh Tung, thanked the Mexican people for their warm sentiments and support for Vietnam during its struggle for national independence in the past, as well as for its current national construction and defence.

He also said he will support the Institute’s activities to strengthen mutual understanding and bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

Party leader urges for education reform

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on August 17 had a working session with the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) on the implementation of the 11th National Party Congress’ Resolution and on comprehensive education reform and raising human resource training to meet the country’s needs in the 21st century.

Speaking at the session, Minister of Education and Training Pham Vu Luan reported that policies enhancing efficiency and quality of the sector have been incorporated to meet the Party’s goals.

The sector has also focused efforts on implementing a national curriculum for pre-school education for under-five children, as well as providing support to disadvantaged children to ensure that they can go to school.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan said the Government has made considerable achievements on the establishment of permanent schools and provision of accommodation for teachers, raising the rate of permanent schools from 52 percent to 72 percent.

Overall 2.1 million poor or disadvantaged students have been provided with financial assistance during the four years of the programme to date. Despite all successes to date, shortcomings remain and many delegates underscored the necessity to thoroughly reform education management as well as teaching and learning methodology.

Also, regardless of low financial resources and many organizational difficulties, the education sector has developed and diversified, meeting the demands of 22 million learners.

The ethnic community in remote and mountainous areas has also received considerable investment to ensure social equality in education and training. In spite of the sector’s endeavours, the education and training quality and efficiency remain low. In addition, curriculums and exams are outdated with little bearing on the reality faced by students in the real world.

Party leader Trong underlined the need to have a long-term strategic vision to succeed in comprehensive education and training reform. In the short term, he asked for immediate focuses on teaching ethics, further improving management quality, decentralisation and paying attention to solving pressing issues in the field.

VN, South Africa hold partnership forum

Vietnamese and South African government officials met in Pretoria on August 16 and 17 for the second meeting of the Inter-governmental Partnership Forum. Deputy Foreign Minister Le Luong Minh led the Vietnamese delegation to the event.

At the forum, Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ebrahim I Ebrahim said “Vietnam is an important partner of South Africa” and that South Africa attaches importance to promoting ties with Vietnam.

He also stressed the importance of the two countries’ cooperation within the framework of the South-South cooperation.

For his part, Deputy Foreign Minister Minh noted that Vietnam always places great deal on the comprehensive ties with African countries, of which South Africa is seen as a top priority partner.

He called on relevant agencies to further the two countries’ partnership, especially in the fields of their strengths as well as in potential ones.

The two sides reviewed bilateral cooperation over the past time and discussed ways to boost it in the time to come, including the exchange of high-ranking delegations and collaboration at international forums.

Later, the foreign ministries of Vietnam and South Africa engaged in a political consultation.

Activities mark Vietnam-Laos diplomatic ties

A grand meeting to mark the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Laos diplomatic ties was held in Son La city in the northern province of the same name on August 19.

Addressing the event, Politburo member and National Assembly Deputy Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong affirmed the closeness and time-honoured relationship between Vietnam and Laos.

Vietnamese and Lao people have jointly nurtured their traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation, which have become a common valuable asset and an extremely important factor in ensuring the success of respective country’s revolution, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world, Phong said.

She called on Son La province to educate people living along the common border with Laos to well implement an agreement on border management regulations as well as policies of the two countries to safeguard the border of peace and friendship.

Khamhoung Heuangvongsy, Governor of Laos’ Huaphan province, which borders Son La, said Vietnam’s localities have assisted his province and other northern provinces of Laos in human resources training, building schools, hospitals, and irrigation, transport electricity and water facilities.

At present, more than 80 Vietnamese businesses are investing in Huaphan, the governor said.

On the occasion, an exhibition of photos and paintings depicting special friendship between Vietnam and Laos and that between Son La and northern Lao provinces was also held.

Earlier, an exhibition to feature cultural characteristics of the Vietnam-Laos border, friendship and solidarity, and a seminar on tourism and cultural and economic development along the two countries’ border were held on August 18 and 17, respectively, in the central province of Ha Tinh.

VNN/VOV/VNA