Gov’t supports foreign investors in Vietnam

The government of Vietnam creates the best possible conditions for foreign businesses, including Lotte Group from the Republic of Korea, to expand operations efficiently in the country.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Ninh made the assurance at a reception in Hanoi on September 25 for Kag-gyu Hwang, chief executive of international and new business planning at Lotte Group.

Ninh welcomed Lotte’s decision to increase its investments in Vietnam in recent times, which he said testifies to the group’s efficient operations in the country.

He took the opportunity to asked Lotte Group and other RoK companies to take an active part in social activities, such as poverty reduction, human resource development, and health care in Vietnam.

For his part, Hwang said RoK businesses are keen to explore investment opportunities in Vietnam for its stable investment climate and high prospects for steady economic growth in the region.

Lotte has poured nearly US$1 billion into investment projects in Vietnam, creating some 10,000 jobs for local people, said Hwang, adding that the group is planning to expand its operations in many cities and provinces of Vietnam, mostly in retail, transport, hotel and tourism services.

He briefed his host on the group’s social activities and pledged to get more involved in poverty reduction and community development in Vietnam.

Bolivia wishes to boost cooperation with Vietnam

Bolivia wants to beef up cooperation with Vietnam in trade, investment and agriculture and coordinate with the country at international and regional forums.

Visiting Bolivian Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera made the statement at the talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Thi Doan in Hanoi on Sept. 25 following the official welcome ceremony the same day.

Doan described the first official visit to Vietnam by the Bolivian high-ranking State delegation as an important milestone and new impetus for promoting the two countries’ relations.

Vietnam attaches importance to and wants to develop friendship and cooperation with Bolivia for the benefit of the two peoples and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the two regions and the world at large, she said.

Doan said Vietnam and Bolivia share many similarities in history and proposed Bolivia to recognise the market economy status for Vietnam at an early date. Both sides should continue supporting each other at multilateral forums, including the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement and the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC).

For his part, the Bolivian leader, who is visiting Vietnam from Sept. 24-26, highly valued Vietnam ’s position and international prestige as well as its great achievements in renewal and national development.

He pledged to consider to push up the recognition and said he hopes that Vietnam will share experiences in renewal, hunger eradication and poverty reduction and socio-economic development.

The two leaders agreed on measures to promote their countries’ future cooperative relations, including high-ranking meetings, increasing the exchange between the ministries, sectors and businesses to implement cooperation projects, and the early establishment of inter-sectoral agencies to speed up specific cooperation programmes. In the immediate future, both sides will accelerate the preparation for the signing of an agreement on investment encouragement and protection and double taxation avoidance.

After the talks, Doan and her guest witnessed the signing of an agreement on visa exemption for diplomatic and official passport holders and a memorandum of understanding on the establishment of a political consultation mechanism between the two foreign ministries.

The same day, Bolivian Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera was received by President Truong Tan Sang and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. He also met with Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang.

In the evening, Doan hosted a banquet in honour of the Bolivian delegation, which is scheduled to meet with leaders of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group and visit a number of cultural establishments in the country.

Vietnam, Cambodia agree to further ties

Vietnam and Cambodia have agreed to bring bilateral friendship and solidarity to a new strategic height, as well as further expand ties between the two countries’ legislative, executive, judicial bodies and localities in the future.

The agreement was reached at a meeting between Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni in Hanoi on September 25.

Trong said the King’s State-level visit to Vietnam is a significant event in the Vietnam – Cambodia Friendship Year, making an important contribution to bringing the two countries’ relations to a new height, for prosperity of each country, and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in Southeast Asia and the world.

He expressed his delight at the good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive and long-term sustainable cooperation in all fields between the both nations. He also affirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of giving priority to strengthening the all-round cooperation with Cambodia.

The Party leader said he believes under the reign of the King and sound leadership of the Cambodian Senate, National Assembly and Government, the Cambodians will continue reaping greater achievements in the future and successfully make Cambodia a peaceful and prosperous country.

King Sihamoni expressed his belief that under the sound leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the Vietnamese people will continue harvesting greater achievements in the renewal and development process.

Both sides agreed that the traditional solidarity and friendship are an invaluable asset of the both nations, and an important factor in each country’s national defence and construction which needs to be fostered and handed down to later generations.

On the occasion, Trong conveyed his invitation to King Father Norodom Sihanouk and Queen Mother Norodom Monieth Sihanouk to visit Vietnam in the time to come.

Vietnam, France boost parliamentary ties

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Huynh Ngoc Son has led a Vietnamese delegation to France to boost mutual understanding with the French parliament, helping strengthen the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

During his visit from Sept. 23-25, NA Vice Chairman Son held talks with first Vice President of the French NA Laurence Dumont, had working sessions with Defence Minister Jean Ives le Drian and Head of the parliament Foreign Affairs Committee Elisabeth Guigou.

At the meetings, Son affirmed that Vietnam consistently implements a foreign policy of independence, peace, cooperation and development, multilateral and diverse relations and active international integration.

Vietnam is also a reliable friend and partner and responsible member of international community, he added.

Minister Jean Ives le Drian said the visit by NA Vice Chairman Son will make positive contributions to develop the strategic partnership and dialogues between the two sides.

He asked Vietnam to support France’s participation in the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM +) mechanism.

The two countries should draft specific measures on how to boost bilateral cooperation and present them at the upcoming France-Vietnam joint committee on defence, a discussion on lifting Vietnam-France relations to the strategic partnership level, and the celebration of the 40 th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

Elisabeth Guigou spoke highly of the role played by the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarian Group with over 100 members, headed by MP Christian Poncelet.

The Vietnamese delegation was also welcomed by President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarian Group Christian Poncelet on Sept. 24, who said the friendship parliamentarian group as well as the Vietnamese and French people should cooperate in a new front, that is economy.

Vice Chairman Son said the Vietnam-France parliamentary relations have seen fine development, acting as a bridge to make the two countries’ ties more comprehensive.

He also spoke highly of the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarian Group’s activities and expressed hope that the French parliament will continue to support the Vietnamese NA in training and strengthen capacity in law making and supervising activities.

VN, New Zealand strengthen defence cooperation

Vietnam and New Zealand have agreed to strengthen cooperation in the near future, including naval affairs, search and rescue, fire prevention and human resources training.

The agreement was reached by Deputy Chief of the General Staff of Vietnam People’s Army, Lieut. Gen. Vo Van Tuan and Paul Sinclair, Head of the International Cooperation Department under the Ministry of Defence of New Zealand, at their meeting in Hanoi on September 25.

The two sides affirmed Vietnam and New Zealand have seen comprehensive development of ties over the past time, including the exchange of delegations and personnel training in defence.

Vietnam, Turkey aims for stronger trade

Vietnam and Turkey are set to raise their two-way trade turnover to US$1 billion this year, Deputy Prime Minster Hoang Trung Hai has said.

At a reception for new Turkish ambassador Ahmed Akif Oktay in Hanoi on September 24, Deputy PM Hai expressed hope that the Turkish diplomat in his mission will positively contribute to strengthening the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Mr Hai praised Turkey’s raising status in the region and affirmed Vietnam’s wish to have long-term and effective cooperation with Turkey.

There is plenty of investment opportunity for the two countries to lift bilateral trade turnover from US$852 million in 2011 to US$1 billion in 2012, he said.

So, both sides need to closely cooperate and further support each other at regional and international forums, Mr Hai said.

He said Vietnam wants Turkey to support its candidacy as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term, the UN Human Rights Council for the 2014-2016 term and the UN Economic and Social Council for the 2016-2018 term.

For his part, ambassador Akif Oktay said he will do all he can to boost cooperation between the two countries in various fields, particularly in organizing trade fairs and exhibitions and opening a direct Vietnam-Turkey air route.

He said he hopes the Vietnamese government will create favourable conditions for the two countries’ partners to cooperate within the framework of cooperation between Turkey, ASEAN and Asia.

VNN/VOV/VNA