Defence Minister bids farewell to outgoing Indian Ambassador

Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh on Monday received Indian Ambassador Ranjit Rae, who came to say goodbye at the end of his tenure in Viet Nam.

Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh receives Indian Ambassador Ranjit Rae in Ha Noi.—Photo qdnd

Minister Thanh spoke highly of Ambassador Ranjit Rae's contributions to fostering friendly and co-operative ties between Viet Nam and India in various areas, including defence.

He expressed his hope that the diplomat would continue his contributions to the bilateral relationship in his future positions.

For his part, Ambassador Ranjit Rae laid emphasis on new developments in the friendly and co-operative relations between Viet Nam and India, especially in defence and security.

He praised Viet Nam's efforts in establishing close links with other countries in and outside the region and thanked the Defence Ministry for creating favourable conditions for him to fulfill his tasks.

South Korean leader warms strategic ties

Viet Nam treasured its strategic partnership with South Korea, which contributed to peace, stability and development of Asia, the Pacific and the world, said National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung at a meeting yesterday, July 23, with President Park Geun-hye of South Korea.

Hung said he hoped the two sides would boost co-operation in investment, trade, labour and tourism and also negotiations on a bilateral free-trade agreement.

President Park said she appreciated Hung's visit and said her country would continue to assist Vietnamese living in South Korea, especially Vietnamese women who married Korean men.

She suggested the two countries renew policies to boost co-operation and investment.

The two leaders agreed to keep conducting visits and meetings at all levels.

On the same day, Hung met with the President of Yongin City Council, Lee Woo-hyun.

Hung said he highly valued the tight co-operation between Yongin and Viet Nam and hoped the relationship would continue.

Hung ends his official visit to South Korea today.

Deputy PM calls for stronger co-operation with Japan

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc yesterday, July 23, said he hoped Viet Nam and Japan would enhance co-operation in economic mechanisms, developing human resources and creating infrastructure.

Phuc, who was speaking at a reception for Japanese Internal Affairs and Communications Vice Minister Sakamoto Tetsushi, praised the Japanese delegation for sharing experience in the settlement of administrative complaints.

He suggested the Japanese Ministry help Viet Nam's Government Inspectorate to hold training courses to improve professional capacities for officials.

Tetsushi predicted the relationship between Viet Nam and Japan would progress in all fields.

Viet Nam increases commitment to human rights

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on July 23 launched a key project to help Viet Nam improve its obligation to human rights.

Over the next three years, the US$1.2 million joint Vietnamese Government and UN project will help ministries and relevant agencies understand their human rights duties and improve their ability to report on progress.

Addressing the launching ceremony, Hoang Chi Trung, Head of MoFA's Department of International Organisations, reaffirmed Viet Nam's commitment to implement its international obligations and to ensure better enjoyment of human rights and citizen rights for all Vietnamese people.

He expressed his hope that the project will assist relevant Vietnamese agencies better implement their responsibilities in this field.

UNDP Country Director Louise Chamberlain highlighted the need to identify challenges Viet Nam still faces in certain human rights areas, and hoped that the project will find out ways and means to address them.

She reiterated that the respect and protection of human rights is the responsibility of all UN member states, and welcomed Viet Nam's upcoming ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD) and the consultative process of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) national report.

This willingness is an important step forward and reason for the UNDP to cooperate with the MoFA on human rights in Viet Nam, she noted.

In late 2013, Viet Nam will undergo its second UPR, a unique review mechanism of the Human Rights Council. The UPR places member states on an equal footing, and provides an opportunity for governments to report on the human rights situation and the progress in implementing UPR recommendations accepted at the last review in 2009.

In recent years the Vietnamese Government has visibly increased its commitment to address issues related to human rights, demonstrated in a number of legal and judicial reforms, and Constitutional amendments that have steadily improved human and citizen rights.

Viet Nam is also stepping up its participation in regional and international human rights mechanism, joining five core international human rights treaties, and signing the CRPD in October 2007.

Singapore, Vietnam strengthen military cooperation

Lieutenant General Vo Tan Tuan, Deputy Chief of the Vietnam People's Army’s (VPA) General Staff, has hosted a Hanoi reception for visiting Singapore Armed Forces Chief Guards Officer Chieng Siak Kianon July 23.

Chief Guards Officer Chieng Siak Kian updated the progress of the delegation’s work with Ministry of Defence agencies.

Both sides used the reception to summarise their cooperative defence achievements in recent years and highlight the impressive progress made in bilateral relations more generally.

Both armies have pledged to expand high-level delegation exchanges and soldier training initiatives in the future.

The Singaporean side has offered to host Vietnamese military personnel studying in Singapore, work together on submarine rescue, and share its experiences in United Nations peacekeeping force deployments.

Congratulations to ruling Japanese party on election victory

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi on July 22 congratulated the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on its sweeping victory during the July 21 Upper House election.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s ruling coalition of LDP and its smaller partner New Komeito have a total of 135 seats in the 242-seat chamber, well above the threshold of 129 necessary to control all standing committees in the chamber.

“We believe that the Japanese nation will continue to develop strongly and the Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership will be further strengthened, meeting the interests and aspirations of the two nations and contributing to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and the world at large,” said Nghi.

Capital city hosts three-day RadioAsia conference

Pressing issues facing the radio industry in Viet Nam and the Asia-Pacific will be discussed at the 2013 RadioAsia Conference, which begins in Ha Noi next Monday.

The three-day event hosted by the Voice of Viet Nam (VoV) will bring together leading radio broadcasters, communications specialists, policy makers and academics from across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

Participants will voice opinions on topics such as Radio on the Move: A New Era Dawns; A New Dimension of Radio; New Apps for Radio; and Folklore in Vietnamese Radio.

Initiated by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union in 2006, the annual conference is the only event of its kind in the region.

It has been hosted in Singapore, Malaysia, India and Indonesia.