FMs discuss strengthening VN-Argentina ties

 

Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held talks with Argentinean counterpart Hector Timerman in Hanoi on March 23 to discuss measures in strengthening the two countries’ comprehensive partnership.

The signing of cooperative agreement. (Source: VNA)
Both host and guest agreed on boosting their bilateral partnership in the fields of foreign relations, trade and investment, energy and oil, health care, agriculture as well as science and technology.

Minh said the two sides should arrange more exchange visits and generate more activities for inter-Governmental committees alongside developing a political consultation mechanism between the two foreign ministries.

Timerman affirmed Argentina would promote investment cooperation with Vietnam , particularly in hydro-power and wind power projects.

He said Argentina was poised to share its experiences and provide technical assistance to Vietnam in the fields of agriculture, anthropology and international integration negotiations.

Touching upon international and regional issues of mutual concern, the two sides agreed to continue working closely at multilateral forums and with organisations such as the United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement and Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation to protect legitimate rights and heighten the position of each.

Both ministers agreed that sovereignty and territorial disputes should be settled by peaceful measures and in accordance with international laws.

Following the talks, the two ministers signed an agreement on South-south Cooperation and an action plan for 2012-13 aimed at implementing a memorandum between the two foreign ministries on the negotiation of economics and commerce.

Confidence vote for State, Gov’t leaders

The National Assembly plans to bring in a vote of confidence for its key elected and appointed personnel in the State apparatus, including the State President, the National Assembly Chairman and the Prime Minister.

Other key posts subject to the vote are the Vice State President, Vice Chairpersons of the National Assembly, members of the NA Standing Committee, Cabinet members, the Chief Judge of the Supreme People’s Court, the director of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, and the Chief Auditor of the State Audit of Vietnam.

The plan was put forward at the ongoing session of the National Assembly Standing Committee in Hanoi on March 23, aimed at improving the quality and efficiency of National Assembly operations.  

 

Those who could not earn more than half of the votes from lawmakers twice consecutively would be considered for resignation or dismissal by the legislature, said Nguyen Hanh Phuc, chairman of the NA Office.

The vote of confidence is in response to a recent Party Central Committee Resolution on urgent issues in Party building.

The vote will take place every year and the results will be made public, said Phuc.

Vietnam, Argentina boost multifaceted cooperation

Vietnam and Argentina will increase bilateral cooperation in the areas of their strength such as politics, diplomacy, trade, investment, energy, oil & gas, health care, agriculture, and science-technology.

The agreement was reached during talks in Hanoi on March 23 between Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and his visiting Argentinean counterpart Hector Timerman.

Minh proposed that both sides promote the exchange of delegations at all levels, and foster the operation of the Vietnam-Argentina inter-governmental committee as well as the political consultation mechanism between their Foreign Ministries.

Timerman congratulated Vietnam on its rising position globally, and confirmed that Argentina attaches importance to developing relations with the Southeast Asian nation.

Argentina wants to increase investment cooperation with Vietnam in other areas such as hydro- and wind power, he said.

He assured Minh that Argentina is ready to share its experience and provide technical assistance to Vietnam in agriculture, anthropology and international integration negotiations.

The two FMs agreed that their ministries will work closely to successfully organise activities to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Argentina in 2013.

Exchanging views on international issues of mutual concern, they held that both countries should increase cooperation and mutual support at multilateral forums such as the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC) to protect the legitimate rights and raise their position in the world.

They agreed that sovereignty and territorial disputes should be settled through peaceful measures and in accordance with international laws. 

After the talks, Minh and Timerman signed an agreement on South-South and Tripartite Cooperation between the two governments, a 2012-2013 action plan to implement a memorandum of understanding between the two foreign ministries on negotiations of economics and commerce, and a cooperation agreement between their academies of diplomacy.

Nation pledges co-operation, favourable conditions with Italy

Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son held bilateral talks with leaders of the EU and Italy on the sidelines of the recent ASEAN Awareness Forum in Rome.

In meetings with the vice president of the European Commission, Antonio Tajani; Italian undersecretary of state for foreign affairs Marta Dassu; and the director general for development co-operation of the Italian foreign ministry, Elisabetta Belloni, Son affirmed Viet Nam's consistent policy of independence and openness in its foreign policy and the country's active engagement in regional and international integration.

Son also pledged that the Vietnamese Government would create favourable conditions for Italian and other European businesses to invest in the country and committed to work actively to bring ties to a new level that matches the potential and aspirations of all sides.

VNN/VOV/VNA/VNS