National Assembly leader greets German, Pakistani ambassadors

The Vietnamese law-making body would do its utmost to facilitate the development of ties between Viet Nam and Germany.

The statement was made by NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung during his reception of German Ambassador Jutta Frasch in Ha Noi yesterday, Jan 22.

NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung (right) receives German Ambassador Jutta Frasch in Ha Noi.

Hung hailed Germany as one of Viet Nam's most important partners in Europe, adding that the strategic partnership, established in October 2011, had driven co-operation in politics, economics, trade, investment, development, education and training between the two countries.

Speaking highly of Frasch's role in promoting comprehensive links between the two nations, Hung suggested she actively work to enhance co-operation between the two legislative bodies, especially the exchange of delegations and experiences in policy making.

Frasch expressed her hope that the two legislatures would increase exchanges between policymakers, contributing to the bilateral friendship and benefits of the two peoples.

Receiving outgoing Pakistani Ambassador to Viet Nam Shahid Kiani, Hung affirmed Viet Nam's policy of attaching importance to the development of ties with South Asian countries, including Pakistan.

Kiani said Pakistan treasured ties with Viet Nam and hoped the two legislatures would establish a parliamentary friendship group to bridge their links for the benefits of the two nations.

Vietnam, UK eye US$4 billion trade in 2013

Vietnam and the UK have agreed to increase all-round cooperation, especially in trade, maritime navigation, finance-banking, and education, aiming to raise bilateral trade to US$4 billion this year.

The agreement was reached during talks in London on January 22 (local time) between British Prime Minister David Cameron and Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, who is visiting the UK.

The British government attaches great importance to strengthening relations with Vietnam, Cameron told Trong.

He said the UK will try to accelerate the implementation of its commitments with Vietnam in priority areas, primarily in the exchange of delegations, and cooperation in education-training for university and post-graduate students.

The UK wants to boost its investment in the Southeast Asian nation, lift bilateral trade to a new level, encourage its universities to increase scholarships for Vietnamese students, and speed up signed projects, said Cameron.

For his part, Party leader Trong expressed his pleasure at the comprehensive development of bilateral ties after the two countries established the strategic partnership in September 2010.

He echoed Cameron’s view, saying Vietnam wants to promote economic, trade and investment cooperation, as well as cooperation in education, and national defence and security with the UK.

In the evening, the British government held a banquet in honour of Trong and his entourage.

On this occasion, the two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on the exchange of immigration information between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the UK Border Agency, and the 2013 Vietnam-UK plan of action.

Party leader Trong told embassy staff to work harder to deepen bilateral relations.

They also signed an agreement on the establishment of a joint working group on national defence cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence and the UK Ministry of Defence.

Another memorandum of understanding on the establishment of the Vietnam-UK university in the central city of Danang was also signed during the visit.  

After the talks, the Party leader visited the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK and witnessed the debut of the leadership of the network for friends of Vietnam, founded by British individuals who love Vietnam.

He praised Vietnamese nationals for turning their hearts and minds to the homeland through practical activities they have carried out, showing the tradition of mutual assistance.  

He noted that his tour of the UK, Italy, Belgium and the European Union aims to further the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and these countries and the EU.

The Party chief asked embassy staff and the Vietnamese community in the UK to make a greater contribution to fostering the strategic partnership between Vietnam and the UK.

Trong arrived in London on January 22 for an official visit to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland at the invitation of British Prime Minister David Cameron.

The London visit, the last stopover during his European tour, is expected to deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries.

President urges end to wrongful verdicts

President Truong Tan Sang has called on the court administrators to put an end to wrong verdicts.

Reports showed the court sector handled over 330,000 cases, making up 92 per cent of last year's total number, despite hardships, including the shortage of cadres and facilities. Of that figure, many were high-profile ones.

Sang, who was attending a meeting in the city yesterday to review the court sector, praised its efforts but noted the number of court decisions which had to be cancelled had not been reduced considerably and the process remained slow in some cases, especially those related to economic wrongdoing and corruption.

Other shortcomings included the poor quality of cadre training and the sluggish progress in judicial administration reform.

Sang, who acts as head of the Central Judicial Reform Steering Board, also asked the courts to strictly obey regulations on legal procedures and enhance the capacity of judges.

He said the courts should improve the quality of proceedings at trials as it was crucial to make clear the facts and circumstances in every case in order to have persuasive verdicts.

Sang urged the court sector to work out legal precedents to improve the quality of trials.

Nation condemns terrorism in Algeria

Viet Nam strongly condemns the recent terrorist hostage crisis in Algeria, which resulted in significant civilian losses, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi yesterday in Ha Noi.

Making the statement in response to reporters' questions on Viet Nam's reaction to the incident, Nghi expressed Viet Nam's deep condolences to the families of the victims, the Government of Algeria, and the countries that lost citizens.

Viet Nam supported the international community's efforts to prevent terrorism, and held that the guilty must be punished adequately, he said.

President calls for better coordination with VFF

President Truong Tan Sang has stressed the need to work more closely with the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) to strengthen the great national unity in 2013, a core year in the 11th National Party Congress’ five-year plan.

At a conference in Hanoi on January 22 to review coordination with the Presidium of the VFF Central Committee in 2012, Sang said joint working programmes have promoted patriotic emulation campaigns across the country, mobilised people to socio-economic development, and built a strong and transparent Party and a law-governed State of the people, by the people and for the people.

Sang said the two sides need to hold regular meetings to contribute opinions to the draft amendment of the 1992 Constitution, seek measures to tackle issues of public concern, and build a social feedback supervision mechanism.

The President also called on organisations and individuals to help natural disaster victims overcome difficulties and mend their lives.

Participants stressed the need to issue policies that will help ease difficulties for education officers and lecturers.

Lao PM receives former Vietnamese education experts

Lao Prime Minister Thongsinh Thammavong received in Vientiane on January 22 a delegation of former Vietnamese educationists that worked in Laos before 1975.

Thammavong, himself once trained by Vietnamese educationalists, expressed his gratitude for the experts’ help that paved the way for his country’s education system.

He said he hopes they will continue to help younger generations from both countries understand the special friendship between Vietnam and Laos, in order to preserve and develop this invaluable fortune.

Vietnam strengthens ties with Italian party

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong said Vietnam always treasures the solidarity and precious support that Italian communists, left-wing forces and people have given to Vietnam both in the past and present.

Meeting Secretary General of the Communist Refoundation Party (PRC) of Italy Paolo Ferrero in Rome on January 22, Trong stressed that Vietnam values the friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Italy, one of the founders of the European Union (EU) and a country that plays an important role in regional and international organisations and the world.

He informed the PRC leader about the decision of high-ranking leaders of both sides to lift the bilateral ties to strategic partnership level in the interest of people from both countries.

The upgrade of relations will create favourable conditions to the two parties to strengthen their relations, so that they can support each other and share experience, Trong said.

The PRC applauded the achievements that Vietnam has gained during its renewal cause under the leadership of the CPV.

Emphasising the importance of the ties between the two parties in the current circumstances, the PRC leader said his party hopes to exchange experience in party construction and development, as well as in economic management and cooperation.

VNN/VNS/VNA