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At a recent reception for Vietnamese ambassador Le Thanh Tung in Guatemala city, Caballeros said he was impressed by Vietnam’s rapid economic growth and social advancement during the Renewal process.
He thanked Vietnam for having voted Guatemala as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2012-2013 term, and expressed his desire to strengthen the friendship and cooperation with the Southeast Asian nation.
The president conveyed his best wishes to Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang and invited him to attend a ceremony in January 2012 to hand over power to the new government.
Ambassador Cuong confirmed that Vietnam is willing to collaborate closely with Guatemala at international forums, especially the UN, and boost cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Central American Integration System (SICA).
He said both countries have great potential for increasing cooperation in economics, trade, and culture, as well as in sharing development experience.
The diplomat also met with officials of the Government and the ruling Patriotic Party to discuss preparations for upcoming negotiations to sign bilateral cooperation agreements in several areas.
VN Fatherland Front delegation visits Laos
President of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) Huynh Dam held talks with Phanduongchith Vongsa, Chairman of the Lao Front for National Construction, in Vientiane on Nov. 24 during an official visit.
The two sides pledged to encourage Front chapters in border areas to engage with local residents, maintain border security and build a common culture of peace, friendship and long-lasting stability.
They also promised to boost the exchange of information and staff between local Front organisations and to implement the MOU on Front co-operation between Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia.
After the talks, the two sides signed a co-operation agreement for the 2012-2016 period.
Nicaraguan minister welcomed in Ha Noi
President Truong Tan Sang received visiting Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Samuel Santos Lopez in Ha Noi yesterday.
The President congratulated the Nicaraguan government and people on their recent socio-economic achievements, which have raised the country's position on the international stage.
Sang thanked Nicaragua for its support to Viet Nam during the struggle for national independence.
He suggested that the two sides should strengthen the exchange of business missions seeking mutual investment opportunities. He also affirmed his willingness to help Nicaragua in areas of Vietnamese strength, such as agriculture and telecommunications.
Minister Lopez expressed his admiration at Viet Nam's historical tradition and the great achievements of the Vietnamese people during the past 25 years of modernisation.
He briefed the President on the results of his recent talks with Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, saying the two sides agreed to boost co-operation in trade, agriculture, telecoms and infrastructure construction in Nicaragua.
Lopez delivered the Nicaraguan President's letter to invite President Sang to visit Nicaragua, helping to further strengthen bilateral ties.
On the same day, the Nicaraguan minister was received by National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, who affirmed that Viet Nam has consistently created favourable conditions for Nicaraguan businesses to seek investment opportunities in Viet Nam .
The General Directorate of Energy inaugurated
The Ministry of Industry and Trade held a ceremony yesterday to announce the inauguration of the General Directorate of Energy, which would act as a national focal point for energy industries including electricity, nuclear power, oil, coal and renewables.
Experts said the directorate would monitor energy demand and savings, helping the country overcome challenges in planning, strategic investment, implementation and construction. It would also help resolve disputes and co-ordinate between the electric, coal and oil industries when they served the same function despite operating independently.
VN, France enhance economic cooperation
The second session of the France-Vietnam Supreme Council for Economic Cooperation Development was held in Paris on Thursday.
Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Cao Viet Sinh and French Minister for the Economy, Finance and Industry, Francois Baroin, co-chaired the annual meeting.
In his opening speech, Minister Francois Baroin said France is assisting Vietnam implement large-scale projects and voiced his special interest in metro project in Hanoi and Nghi Son oil refinery complex.
Deputy Minister Cao Viet Sinh highlighted the constant developments of the France-Vietnam cooperation, saying that France has invested in 336 projects with a combined registered capital of nearly US$3 billion in Vietnam .
Two-way trade value reached US$2 billion in 2010 and is estimated to hit US$2.5 billion in 2011. Besides, France has provided US$2 billion in official development assistance for Vietnam.
Deputy Minister Sinh said Vietnam has recorded high economic growth rates in recent years and spared no efforts to stabilize the macro economy to create favorable investment environment to foreign investors, including those from France .
The deputy minister said he is pleased to see that France considers Vietnam as a priority country in developing its partnership cooperation and an attractive investment destination.
He reaffirmed that the Vietnamese government is willing to create better conditions for French investors to continue their investment projects in Vietnam , including the metro project in Hanoi and several other energy projects.
A seminar highlighting opportunities for Vietnam was held within the framework of the session on the same day.
Participants, including economists and businessmen, discussed Vietnam’s socio-economic development over the past time as well as prospects for economic, trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and France.
Nguyen Thi Bich Van, Deputy Head of the Foreign Investment Agency under the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment said, some international organizations placed Vietnam third among countries achieving reforms in business establishment and licensing procedures and credit access.
The official also highlighted Vietnam’s investment incentives offered to foreign investors who begin to invest in Vietnam such as import and land tax reduction and exemption.
Favourable conditions for Norwegian firms
The Vietnamese Government has always valued Norwegian businesses and remains committed to creating favourable conditions for their growth and stability in Viet Nam.
Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai made this affirmation at a reception in Ha Noi yesterday for visiting Norwegian Minister of Agriculture and Food Lars Peder Brekk.
Hai said he was pleased by the positive relationship between the two countries over the past 40 years, in particular the developments in trade, investment, culture and education.
He spoke highly of the country's support and assistance for Viet Nam's development, saying that Norway is emerging as one of Viet Nam's major economic partners in northern Europe.
The Deputy PM thanked Norway for its ODA provision that allowed Viet Nam to develop agriculture, address climate change and reduce poverty.
In the future, the two countries should strengthen co-operation the fields of energy, telecommunications, shipbuilding, maritime transport and food processing.
Minister Brekk, who arrived to attend the 40th anniversary of Viet Nam-Norway diplomatic ties, said he appreciated Viet Nam's role in ensuring food security, not only for itself but also for the region and the world at large.
He affirmed that Norway respects Viet Nam's commitments to reduce gas emissions and expressed a wish to help Viet Nam accomplish this goal.
He agreed with Deputy PM Hai on boosting bilateral co-operation in the future.
Vietnam offers assistance to Nicaragua
Vietnam is willing to help Nicaragua develop its agriculture and telecommunications, which are considered the country’s strengths, says State President Truong Tan Sang.
Mr. Sang affirmed this while receiving the visiting Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Samuel Santos Lopez in Hanoi on November 25. He congratulated Nicaragua on its recent socio-economic achievements, which helps improve people’s living condition and to enhance the country’s diplomatic status in the world.
The State leader thanked Nicaraguan people for their assistance during the past struggle for national independence and highlighted the traditional relationship between the two countries, especially the close cooperation in international forums.
However, cooperation in economics and trade is not on a par with the two countries’ potential, he said, adding that they should promote the exchange of business delegations to seek more investment opportunities.
President Sang also asked FM Santos to convey his invitation to visit Vietnam to Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega.
FM Santos expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s historical traditions and great achievements made during its Renewal process, which he said, has increased the country’s status in the international arena. He also briefed Mr. Sang on the outcome of the talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Binh Minh, during which both sides agreed to strengthen ties in economics, trade, agriculture, telecommunications, and the construction of infrastructure in the Central American country.
He took the opportunity to convey President Ortega’s invitation to President Sang to visit the country.
Deputy PM to visit Austria soon
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan will pay an official visit to the Federal Republic of Austria from November 30 to December 3, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on November 24.
The visit aims to further strengthen the friendship and all-round cooperation between Vietnam and Austria, especially in priority areas such as education-training, science-technology, trade and investment.
Vietnam and Austria established diplomatic ties in 1972.
Hanoi to host ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Minerals
Ministers of the 10 ASEAN member countries will meet in Hanoi from December 6-9 to discuss ways of strengthening minerals cooperation.
They will also examine measures to support the industrialization programme of each member country and facilitate trade and investment in minerals within the bloc.
This is the third ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Minerals (AMMin).
The first AMMin was held in Malaysia in 2005 and the second in the Philippines in 2008.
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