PM Dung welcomes Thai Defence Chief

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has received Thailand’s Defence Minister, General Sukumpol Suwanatat, who is on a working visit to Vietnam.

At a reception on September 26, PM considered the visit as a practical contribution to strengthening multifaceted cooperation between the two countries as well as promoting peace, cooperation and development in the region.

Regarding the importance of relations between Vietnam and Thailand which is its neighbouring country, Vietnam will do all it can to elevate them to a higher level, Mr Dung said.

The government leader asked the two defense ministries to go ahead with cooperation plans, especially for joint sea patrols and air force exercises.

General Sukumpol Suwanatat told Mr Dung that both sides compared notes on regional and international issues of common concern and agreed to promote the exchange of visits by army delegations from both countries.

The Thai Defence Chief affirmed that his ministry will closely coordinate with its Vietnamese counterpart to effectively implement the cooperation agreements reached by both sides with the aim of boosting bilateral cooperation in various fields.

Deputy PM praises EU

The European Union (EU) is one of the leading partners of Vietnam in various fields, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has affirmed.

While meeting with European businesses in Hanoi on September 26, Hai further said that Vietnam always attaches importance to boosting relations with the EU and its member countries.

The Vietnamese Government has built a comprehensive plan on Vietnam-EU relations, he said, adding that the two sides have launched negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement, expected to bring about many economic benefits and facilitate two-way trade and import-export activities as well as boost the EU direct investment in Vietnam.

With this agreement, Vietnam may serve as a bridge for EU businesses’ trade and investment activities in Southeast Asia, he noted, affirming that the Vietnamese Government’s policy is to provide the best support for investors’ operations in face of the current difficulties caused by the world economy.

The Deputy PM and EU businesses shared information on Vietnam’s socio-economic development policies as well as political and economic cooperation between Vietnam and EU countries.

They put forth measures to ease difficulties for EU businesses so that they can expand their operations and seek new opportunities in the Vietnamese market.

The participants also discussed new opportunities for Vietnam-EU business and investment cooperation.

Defense, security group marks 20 years

The National Assembly marked the 20th anniversary of its Committee of National Defense and Security yesterday with NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung leading the celebrations.

Established in 1992, the committee has the authority to review draft law, report, ordinance and complete other tasks as assigned by the NA Steering Committee, overseeing the implementation of laws in the areas of defense and security, among others.

Through 20 years, the committee has assisted the NA in drafting and completing 10 law projects, 18 ordinances in national defense and security and other critical tasks that help protect the nation's security and sovereignty.

The NA chairman stressed that the country currently faces significant challenges in national defense and security, such as issues of maritime security and other non-traditional security challenges.

Thus, he called on the committee to continue its good work, working with the NA and other relevant agencies on policies and the issuance of laws and other legal documents that contribute to the country's political stability and socio-economic development.

New Zealand Ambassador honoured for friendship contributions

Ambassador Heather Mhairi Riddell has been bestowed with the Friendship Order, honouring her efforts in strengthening relations between the two countries.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ho Xuan Son conferred the order on the outgoing Ambassador in Hanoi on September 26.

Son highly valued Heather’s great contributions to boosting New Zealand and Vietnam’s friendship and cooperation.

The New Zealand Ambassador expressed thanks for the honour, acknowledging the gratitude owed for the valuable support and assistance she received from ministries, agencies, organizations, friends and partners in Vietnam.

She also pledged to continue promoting the countries’ bilateral ties from her new position.

New Delhi hosts Vietnam-India strategic defence dialogue

The seventh Vietnam-India Strategic Defence Dialogue took place in India’s capital city of New Delhi on September 26.

Vietnamese Deputy Defence Minister Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh and Indian Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma co-chaired the event.

At the dialogue, the two sides exchanged views on the current situation of global and regional security, the regional security structures as well as the bilateral defence ties.

They agreed to strengthen the cooperation between the two ministries within the framework of the Vietnam-India Strategic Partnership in the time to come.

The same day, Vinh was received by Indian Defence Minister AK. Antony and National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon.

At the reception, the Vietnamese deputy minister expressed his belief that the two ministries’ cooperation in the fields of defence industry, military technology, officer training and experience sharing will be further reinforced and developed.

Both sides said they are determined to realise the agreements reached by the two ministries, contributing to fostering and strengthening the fine relation, for the common interests of the two countries, and for peace and development in the region.

Peace committee delegation visits China’s cities

A delegation of the Vietnam Peace Committee, led by its Chairman and National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu, visited China’s Shenzhen and Shanghai cities from Sept. 22-26.

The visit was made at the invitation of the Chinese People’s Association for Peace and Disarmament (CPAPD).

During the visit, Luu had a working session with leaders of the CPAPD to exchange views on the cooperation between the Chinese association and the Vietnam Peace Committee.

He emphasised the importance of maintaining a peaceful and stable environment in the region and spoke highly of the role played by each country’s peace committee.

The two sides agreed to joint hands in enhancing the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and that differences and disputes should be resolved through friendly negotiations and cooperative exchanges.

Earlier, the Vietnamese delegation attended a celebration of International Peace Day (Sept. 21) and the China-Southeast Asia Peace and Development Forum hosted by the CPAPD in Shenzhen city.

The Vietnamese NA Vice Chairman also met with leaders of the Shenzhen and Shanghai municipal Party Committees.

Shenzhen city is working with Vietnam’s northern port city of Hai Phong to build the An Duong industrial park.

The two cities’ authorities are making efforts to make the industrial park a model one as well as a cooperative symbol of Guangdong province and Hai Phong City.

The Vietnamese delegation visited some science-technology establishments and study activities relating to urban planning and development, land management and use and law execution in all fields in the two cities.

China’s National Day marked in HCM City

A meeting to mark the 63rd anniversary of China’s National Day (Oct. 1) was held in Ho Chi Minh City on Sept. 26.

The event was jointly organised by the Ho Chi Minh City Chapter of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Vietnam-China Friendship Organisation.

Addressing the ceremony, Duong Quan Ha, Chairman of the HCM City Chapter of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee and Vietnam-China Friendship Organisation, congratulated the Chinese community inthe city on the special event.

He said Vietnam, China are the two friendly neighbouring countries and the two people have long-lasting traditional relations.

The exchange of visits by the two countries’ leaders and discussions on matters of mutual concerns have helped consolidate and strengthen bilateral relations, he added.

The two countries’ economic and trade ties have increasingly developed. Two-way trade reached 40 billion USD in 2011, and 22.2 billion USD in the first half of 2012, up 23 percent over the same period last year.

Chinese Consul General in HCM City Zhuo Lei Ming said he believes that the Vietnam-China relations will overcome all difficulties for a better future.

Canada, ASEAN pledge to enhance cooperation

Canada and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have pledged to exert more efforts to deepen their bilateral ties in various fields on the occasion of the 35 th Anniversary of the ASEAN-Canada dialogue cooperation.

On September 24, Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird and ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan issued a joint statement, affirming the relations between ASEAN and Canada is developing vibrantly during the current period.

Over the past 35 years, both sides have constantly promoted this relationship which now encompasses vast political, economic, social, and cultural cooperation, said the statement.

It affirmed Canada and ASEAN’s pleasure at recent steps which have served to re-energize their bilateral relations such as Canada’s appointment of its first ambassador to ASEAN in 2009 and its accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) in Southeast Asia in 2010, and both sides’ adoption of a Joint Declaration on Trade and Investment in 2011.

“Increased high-level visits from Canada to the ASEAN region, such as by the governor general, the prime minister, and several visits each by the foreign affairs and international trade ministers, have served to deepen our connections and interaction,” the statement said.

It noted that Canada and ASEAN are confident that new initiatives such as Canada’s recently announced 10 million USD funding commitment for ASEAN-Canada cooperative activities over the next three years, and the establishment of the Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC), will further promote the growth of dialogue cooperation between Canada and the bloc.

“We look forward to the continued deepening of our relationship and welcome Canada’s increased influence and presence within ASEAN,” concluded the statement.

Vietnam attends Western Pacific Naval Symposium

Rear Admiral Pham Ngoc Minh, Deputy Commander of the Naval High Command and Chief of Staff of the Navy Service, is joining almost 100 delegates from 20 countries in the 13 th Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Addressing the opening session, Malaysian Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi underscored the significance of the symposium in promoting relationship and trust among the navies and discussing maritime issues of mutual concern, cooperation initiatives and regional maritime security.

The minister said WPNS has become an important forum for navy dialogues and maritime activities, contributing greatly to building trust and developing friendship and cooperation among its member nations.

Highlighting globalisation-stemmed challenges, he called for closer cooperation among the navies to ensure peace, security and stability in the region.

The Sept. 25-26 conference, themed “Enhancing interoperability and professional cooperation”, discussed the application of the code for unalerted encounters at sea (CUES), WPNS disaster response operations, a report of the environmental working group, updates of WPNS website and maritime security and regional cooperation forum.

The delegates also touched upon humanitarian aid, anti-terrorism, military medical and peacekeeping activities and the approval of Peru to become a WPNS member.

MoUs on legal cooperation inked between Vietnam and Ireland

Vietnam and Ireland have signed a number of Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) on legal and justice cooperation in the field of adoption.

The signing took place during Minister of Justice Ha Hung Cuong’s September 22-25 visit to Ireland where he met Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny.

The Minister expressed his hope to strengthen the two countries’ multi-faceted relations, especially in trade and investment in line with each country’s potential.

The Irish Prime Minister said that Cuong’s visit will make positive contributions to facilitating the cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the legal and justice area.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA