PM welcomes Lao official

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received Bounthong Chitmany, Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Inspection and Chief Government Inspector of Laos in Hanoi on May 22.

PM Dung said Vietnam always supports cooperation between Vietnam’s relevant agencies and the Central Committee’s Commission for Inspection and the Government Inspectorate of Laos, particularly in training human resources, inspecting the implementation of laws and policies as well as sharing experience in the fight against corruption and wastefulness.

He said Bounthong Chitmany’s visit will make practical contributions to promoting the Vietnam-Laos comprehensive cooperation.
Bounthong Chitmany said the Lao Party and State are willing to cooperate with Vietnamese State and Party to solidify the fraternal friendship, adding that his country wants to further boost cooperation with the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Inspection and the Government Inspectorate of Vietnam.

Lao premier receives visit from scientific delegation

Lao Prime Minister Thongsin Thammavong received a delegation from the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology, led by its president Chau Van Minh, in Vientiane yesterday, May 22.

At the reception, Minh reported to his host on the results of talks with the Lao Academy of Science and Technology and with other Lao ministries and sectors.

He said the two sides acknowledged the important role of science and technology in the process of national construction and development and agreed on the implementation of bilateral agreements.

The academy leader affirmed he would do his utmost to boost co-operation, help Laos in applying science and technology, promote projects and develop human resources.

Thongsin Thammavong highly valued the effective co-operation between the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology and Lao scientific offices, affirming the desire to create favourable conditions for scientists to work effectively.

He also expressed hopes that Viet Nam would support Laos in training human resources and share experiences and scientific advances to help the country's socio-economic development, especially in the agricultural sector, to speed up the process of hunger elimination and poverty reduction.

The Prime Minister stressed that effective co-operation would make a great contribution to improving people's living standards in celebration of the 2012 Viet Nam-Laos Solidarity Year.

UK defence delegation visits Vietnam

Senior Lieutenant General and Deputy Minister of National Defence, Nguyen Chi Vinh, received a delegation on May 22 from the UK National Defence Academy, led by Brigadier Andrew Charles Peter Kennett.

Mr Vinh hailed the UK delegation’s visit as a contribution to strengthening friendship, mutual understanding and national defence cooperation between Vietnam and the UK.

He briefed the UK delegation on Vietnam’s national and external defence policies and praised the development of bilateral cooperation in economics, trade, national defence, security, culture and education.

Last year, the two governments agreed to upgrade their relations to a strategic partnership and their defence ministries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral cooperation in national defence.

Brigadier Kennett said he was very impressed by beautiful, hospitable Vietnam and believes that his visit will achieve good results.

Vice President hails bilateral ties with Japan

Viet Nam-Japan bilateral had made a lot of progress, especially since the two countries' leaders agreed to raise their relations to a strategic partnership status for peace and prosperity in Asia in 2009, Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan said yesterday, May 22.

Doan, who will attend the Future of Asia Conference in Japan's Nagoya City from tomorrow, made this statement during a meeting with Hideaki Ohmura, governor of Aichi Prefecture.

She expressed her hope that the province would boost co-operation projects with Viet Nam in light, processing and subsidiary industries, aviation and health.

Doan suggested the province establish relations with a Viet Nam locality to mark Viet Nam-Japan Friendship Year 2013.
Governor Ohmura said the prefecture pledged to keep providing surgery for children born with cleft palate or cleft lip defects and co-operate in health checks, treatment and equipment.

He said the prefecture's 100 enterprises doing business in Viet Nam, coupled with more flights between Nagoya and HCM City, would contribute to the further development of the two countries' comprehensive co-operation.

US embassy joins battle against wildlife trade

The US Mission to Viet Nam and 47 other government offices, businesses and organisations in the country are partnering with Education for Nature Viet Nam (ENV) in a programme called Wildlife Safety Zone.

The US Ambassador to Viet Nam, David Shear, has asked all mission staff to pledge not to consume wildlife products and report wild animal trafficking.

Ties with Nobel laureates sought

Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh yesterday, May 22, said hosting events and setting up a long-term relationship with Nobel Prize laureates would contribute to promoting the nation's image around the world and boost scientific research.

He made the statement while receiving Prince Alfred of Liechtenstein, chairman of the International Peace Foundation Advisory Board, which is launching a series of events in Asia entitled Bridges – Dialogues Towards a Culture of Peace.

The event series would contribute to boosting peace, development, co-operation and mutual understanding among countries, Minh said.

Alfred stressed that the great achievements of Viet Nam in socio-economic and cultural development since 1975 had taught the world lessons in achieving a comprehensive and sustainable development model.

Vietnam attends Bulgarian Socialist Party congress

A delegation from the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) attended the 48th Congress of Bulgaria’s Socialist Party (BSP) in the country’s capital Sofia, on May 19-20.

The event was attended by nearly 850 BSP members as well as representatives from several Bulgarian political and social organisations and international guests.

The congress approved amendments to the BSP’s Statute and two important resolutions concerning the current economic crisis and the steps the BSP needs to take in the 21st century.

Sergey Stanishev was re-elected as the Chairman of the BSP.

After the congress, the Vietnamese delegation, led by Pham Minh Chinh, member of the CPV’s Central Committee and Secretary of the Party Committee in Quang Ninh province, met with BSP Chairman Sergey Stanishev and other party leaders to discuss issues of common concern.

The BSP Chairman thanked the CPV for sending a delegation to the congress, saying it was a great source of encouragement for his party.

He spoke highly of Vietnam’s role and position in Asia and the world and praised the achievements Vietnam has made in recent years.

Stanishev expressed a wish to step up cooperation with the CPV, which will help to consolidate and develop the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Bulgaria.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA