Italian PM to visit Vietnam

The Prime Minister of Italy Mario Monti will visit Vietnam from November 7-8 at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung.

The visit aims to strengthen Vietnamese-Italian relations, especially in the fields of politics, economics, culture, education, tourism, and science and technology.

The Italian PM’s visit is expected to open up a new chapter in bilateral friendship and cooperation and to prepare activities to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2013.

Despite the negative impact caused by the global financial crisis, the Vietnam-Italy trade turnover saw a sharp increase in 2011, reaching up to US$2.5 billion. In the first nine months of this year, bilateral trade was estimated at US$2.1 billion.

At present, more than 35 Italian-funded projects are operating successfully in Vietnam, with a total capitalisation of US$194 million.

Italy is one of the leading providers of official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam, mostly in the fields of environment, health care, and small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with a total funding of 35 million euro in the 2010-2012 period. The country has pledged to continue granting ODA to Vietnam in the next five years.

Russian Prime Minister to visit Vietnam

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev will pay an official visit to Vietnam from November 6-7, announced the Foreign Ministry on November 1.

The visit is made at an invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung, the announcement added.

Prime Minister to attend ASEM 9

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will attend the ninth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in Vientiane, Laos from November 4-6 at the invitation of his Lao counterpart, Thongsing Thammavong, the Foreign Ministry announced yesterday.

Yesterday was busy for the Prime Minister, who participated in a series of meetings. He held talks with Hungary's visiting State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Economic Relations, Szijjarto Peter, and asked the two sides to prioritise bilateral co-operation in economics, trade and investment, affirming that Viet Nam always supports and creates favourable conditions for Hungarian investors to do business in the country.

Peter, who is also the co-chairman of the Hungary-Viet Nam Joint Economic Committee, said that in its ‘Look East' policy, Hungary attaches special importance to its co-operation with Viet Nam in the areas specified by Dung, and emphasised that the country will do its utmost to work with Viet Nam to further develop economic ties.

Dung later attended a reception for newly appointed Israeli ambassador to Viet Nam Meirav Eilon Shahar. The Prime Minister suggested that the two sides strengthen ties in the fields of economics, trade, investment, tourism, science-technology and agriculture.

Vietnam values ties with Algeria

Vietnam will do its utmost to boost the friendship and cooperation with Algeria in various fields more effectively, which in turn will contribute to each country’s construction and development, said Minister of Construction Trinh Dinh Dung on November 1.

The Minister made the statement at a reception hosted by Algerian Ambassador to Vietnam Cherif Chikhi in Hanoi to mark the 58th anniversary of Algeria’s National Day and the 50th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties.

Vietnam highly values the achievements the Algerian Government and people have made over the past time, he said, adding that he is pleased with the fine developments of bilateral relations.

Ambassador Cherif Chikhi expressed his belief that the friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Algeria, which was initiated from their struggles for national independence, will continue to be fostered, for the benefits of the two peoples as well as peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world at large.

He emphasised great prospects for bilateral cooperation in the future as both countries boast abundant economic potentials and on-going bilateral projects.

Vietnamese, Thai provinces look to further investment ties

Ho Chi Minh City and Thailand’s Chachoengsao province will work together to facilitate investment activities of their businesses, especially in hi-tech agriculture and tourism.

The two localities reached the agreement during a meeting between Vice Chairwoman of the city’s People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Hong and the governor of Chachoengsao province Rerngsak Mahavinitchaimontri, in HCM City on October 31.

Hong suggested that both sides should organise forums and seminars for their businesses to get updated on investment opportunities in the two countries.

According to Hong, Thai businesses, including those from Chachoengsao, have invested in 99 projects worth over 140 million USD, in HCM City.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA