Vietnamese diplomats visit Russian province

A delegation from the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs led by Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Son has paid a working visit to Russia ’s Vladimir province.

At a working session with local officials on June 29, Son, who is also Head of the Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, spoke highly of the provincial authorities’ assistance for the Vietnamese community here. He said he hopes that the province will continue supporting and creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese.

The Governor of Vladimir province, Nikolai Vinogradov, acknowledged the Vietnamese community’s contributions to the province’s development.

He invited Vietnamese businesses to the province to establish cooperation with Russian counterparts in areas of their strength.

During the visit, the Deputy Minister visited the Vietnamese community in Vladimir province, which now numbers about 2,000.

Earlier, Son, who is Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, attended the 36 th session of the World Heritage Committee in Saint Petersburg.

UK Minister Browne visits Vietnam

UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister Jeremy Browne will visit Vietnam from July 3-5 to promote the strategic partnership between the two countries, especially bilateral cooperation in trade, investment and education.

Prior to the visit, Browne said he was impressed by Vietnam’s increasingly international role and that the Southeast Asian economy is a potential market for UK businesses.

“I have been struck by the dynamism and drive of the Vietnamese people and as it becomes an increasingly attractive destination for British business, we look forward in turn to welcoming more Vietnamese companies to the UK,” he said in a press release by the British embassy in Hanoi.

During his stay in Vietnam, Browne will meet Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh and join Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Thanh Son to co-chair the second strategic dialogue, which covers global and regional security issues as well as cooperation on organised crime and defence.  

He is scheduled to meet with Vietnamese Party and Government leaders.

He will visit several UK companies, meet with Vietnamese paralympians currently enrolled in British Council funded English language lesson, hold a reception for UK alumni in Vietnam, and award the latest round of Chevening scholarships for study in the UK.

Vietnam is one of Browne’s stopovers during his Southeast Asia tour, including Thailand, Cambodia and Hong Kong.

Vietnam and the UK held their first strategic dialogue in London in October 2010. Both sides discussed a wide range of bilateral issues, including national defence, organised crime and counter terrorism, as well as regional security.

Vietnamese, Mexican parties strengthen ties

A delegation from the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) visited Mexico from June 26-30 at the invitation of the Mexican Labour Party (PT) to strengthen comprehensive cooperation between the two parties.

The delegation, led by Nguyen The Ky, Deputy Head of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for Communications and Education, met with Pedro Vazquez, Politburo member of PT and Head of the Mexico-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group, and PT General Secretary Alberto Anaya Gutierrez.

At the meetings, the two sides discussed effective measures to foster bilateral cooperation as well as regional and international issues of common concern.

PT leaders expressed their admiration for Vietnam’s recent socio-economic development and said that PT always attaches importance to developing ties with the CPV.

For his part, Ky thanked the Mexican people and PT for their warm sentiments towards and support for Vietnam during its past struggle for national independence and current national construction and defence.

He said the fine development of the relations between the two parties is a firm foundation for consolidating the two countries’ traditional friendship in the interests both nations.

He expressed his belief that PT will reap greater achievements, especially in the presidential elections in July 1.

During their stay, the CPV delegation laid a wreath at the Statue of President Ho Chi Minh in Mexico City and visited some pre-school education and medical centres in Monterrey city.

Voters' opinions count, says Party leader

Voters' opinions are very important and listening to them improves democracy, said Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at a meeting with voters from Hanoi 's Ba Dinh and Hoan Kiem districts on June 29.

The voters expressed their pleasure at having their concerns heard by the 13th National Assembly's third meeting which ended earlier this month.

The cabinet members have been straight forward in their answers at the meeting, said the voters, who added they want the ministers to keep their promises.

However, the voters expressed concerns over worsening drug crimes, increasing complaints, corruption, food safety, environment, land management and the efficiency of State-owned enterprises and education.

In response to corruption concerns, Trong said the Resolution of the fourth session of the Communist Party of Vietnam's Central Committee plays a vital role.

The resolution must be implemented with determination and in the long run bring into full play the good nature of the Party and fix negative practices, he said.

Talking about challenges in international integration, Trong said it is crucial to protect the country's independence and sovereignty and maintain peace and stability for national development.

In dealing with external relations, the highest benefits of the country and the people must be ensured, he said.

Fisheries promote Thailand co-operation

Viet Nam and Thailand are looking to sign a quality and hygiene agreement on aquatic products.

The announcement was made during a visit to Thailand by Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and head of the General Department of Fisheries Vu Van Tam from Tuesday to Saturday last week.

Under the agreement, both sides will co-operate on preventing fishing vessels from encroaching on each other's territorial waters, increasing the exchange of information on aquaculture and the prevention and control of diseases, while promoting seafood trade between the two countries.

They also agreed to boost co-operation in research and training of workers in the fisheries sector.

Following the agreement, they will set up a working group on fisheries co-operation based on a memorandum of understanding signed by the two countries' ministries of agriculture.

President promotes public hygiene in Hai Duong

President Truong Tan Sang yesterday launched a campaign to promote better public hygiene at a ceremony in the northern province of Hai Duong.

In 1945, when the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam was founded, President Ho Chi Minh considered hygiene as one of the most important tasks in disease prevention.

Following the late President's guidelines, the Party and Sate have paid special attention to preventive medicine as well as sanitation.

On June 19, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung signed a declaration making July 2 every year a Patriotic Hygiene Day for Public Health.

"The administration at all levels, Fatherland Fronts, political-social organisations and the community as well as each person must actively take part in the movement to make the environment safer and cleaner, so that the health of the people will be improved," President Sang said.

The State leader thanked international organisations and friends for their support in environmental sanitation activities.

To mark the occasion, Sang and other Party and State leaders visited a local family and checked out their water well. They also presented gifts to the health clinic centre in Nam Chinh Commune.

VNN/VOV/VNA/VNS