President meets Japanese parliamentarian

President Truong Tan Sang held a reception on April 27 for visiting Chairman of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance (JVFPA) Nikai Toshihiro and representatives of a number of leading Japanese groups.

President Truong Tan Sang meeting Japanese representatives. (Source: VNA)

The president said Japan is always Vietnam’s leading important economic partner, adding that since the establishment of their strategic partnership, Vietnam and Japan have cooperated extensively and intensively in various areas such as politics, foreign affairs, trade, investment and culture.

He affirmed Vietnam wishes to further the cooperation with Japan, especially in building market economic institutions and developing human resources and synchronous infrastructure.

President Sang thanked Japan for providing official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam in the context of the global economic turmoil, and suggested the two countries create more favourable conditions for Japanese investors in his country.

He expressed his hopes that the JVFPA will continue to make active contributions to boosting the strategic partnership while supporting and encouraging the Japanese Government to step up cooperation with Vietnam.

For his part, the JVFPA Chairman spoke highly of Vietnam’s all-round development over the past time, particularly in economics and trade.

He said he believed that the two countries’ relations will continue to be consolidated and developed in all fields and pledged to do his utmost to further strengthen bilateral ties.

Friendship train to start journey

The first north-south train decorated with symbols of the friendship between Viet Nam and Japan will set off May 8 and run until September 23.

The train will run from Ha Noi to HCM City as an SE1 and return as an SE2.

"The Viet Nam-Japan Friendship train will help people understand the results of railway co-operation between Japan and Viet Nam," said Japanese Ambassador to Viet Nam Tanizaki Yasuaki at a press conference on Friday.

Japan has committed loans of more than 45 billion yen (approximately US$456 million) to help Viet Nam replace and upgrade 63 bridges along the railway line between Ha Noi and HCM City from 1993 until 2017, according to the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA).

With Japan's support, the train journey between Ha Noi and HCM City was shortened from 36 hours to 30 hours. By 2017, when all repairs are completed, the journey will take only 24 hours.

The Japanese Embassy in Viet Nam also organised a photo contest around the theme of the friendship train.

Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam discuss development

Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam (CLV)’s legislators in charge of external relations gathered in Cambodia’s northeastern province of Mondulkiri to discuss the role of national assemblies in supporting the Development Triangle Area.

The Vietnamese delegation to the 5th meeting of committees for external affairs of CLV’s national assemblies from April 23-26 was led by Tran Van Hang, Chairman of Vietnam’s National Assembly’s Committee for External Affairs.

Delegates debated various fields, exchanging opinions in order to accelerate regional development. They also applauded the joint declaration of the 7 th CLV Development Triangle Summit held in Vientiane in March.

They appreciated the efforts of the CLV Joint Coordination Committee in implementing the Master Plan on regional preferential policies which will be completed in two years.

During the opening ceremony, Nguon Nhel, First Vice-President of the Cambodian National Assembly said this meeting will improve cooperation among the three nations’ legislative bodies and support their governments in promoting the development of the Triangle Area through economic growth, poverty reduction, and socio-cultural advancement.

The delegates agreed to support the governments and their provinces to develop the rubber industry, which is a priority among the three sides.

They also reached a high degree of unanimity in promoting the establishment of vocational training schools, and strongly committed to environmental protection and the sustainable management of natural resources.

Additionally, the meeting proposed to set up a new CLV inter-parliament mechanism, including sub-committees and specialist groups.

The next meeting will be held in Laos next year.

Lower Mekong Initiative meeting wraps up

The fourth Regional Working Group Meeting of the Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI), co-hosted by the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry and the US Department of State, concluded in Ho Chi Minh City on April 26.

During the two-day event, participants agreed to strengthen links between LMI and the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) to improve the working efficiency of LMI in narrowing the development gap in the region.

They also reached a consensus on building capacity for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV), accelerating the regional integration process, establishing a regular dialogue mechanism between permanent representatives of CLMV countries and US representatives in ASEAN to determine fields of potential cooperation.

Additionally, they agreed to build draft action plans on energy security, agriculture and food security, which will be included in the 2011–2015 LMI Action Plan. The amended plan will be submitted to the sixth LMI Ministerial Meeting, scheduled for June in Brunei.

Delegates also to increase the participation of the private sector and foreign partners in LMI’s cooperation activities and projects. Its website and regional coordination centre will be upgraded to increase information sharing among member nations.

In the near future, LMI’s activities will focus on gender equality and promoting women’s engagement in socio-economic activities.

The meeting reached a consent on implementing cooperation activities like a seminar on bridge and road management this May in Laos, five regional seminars on public-private partnership in infrastructure development for 2014 and 2015, and the second phase of the English language and communication skills training for CLMV countries’ officials.

Concluding the event, a Joint Statement was adopted. The fifth meeting will convene later this year, ahead of the seventh LMI Ministerial Meeting scheduled for 2014 in Myanmar.

Foreign military attaches visit Military Zone 2

A delegation of foreign military attaches visited Military Zone 2 on April 26.

During the meeting, Lieutenant General Duong Duc Hoa, Commander of Millitary Zone 2 briefed the delegation on the zone’s traditions and activities over the past time.

The Vietnamese side and foreign military attaches agreed to strengthen exchanges of information and experience sharing in military training.

They also discussed issues of common concern.

VN, Malaysia honour diplomatic ties

A ceremony to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Viet Nam and Malaysia was held in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday.

Addressing the event, Nguyen Thanh Chin, Standing Member of the HCM City People's Council, emphasised the strong development of friendship and comprehensive co-operation between Viet Nam and Malaysia over the past 40 years.

Ties between HCM City and Malaysia in particular have seen great improvement, he said. Malaysia is one of the city's most important trade partners thanks to its close geographical distance and a direct air route between the two countries, he added.

Malaysia had by the end of 2012 been the city's largest investor with 177 projects and total registered capital of US$5.7 billion.

VN, Laos boost environmental efforts

Viet Nam and Laos signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on natural resources and environmental co-operation in Ha Noi on Friday.

At the signing ceremony, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Thai Lai said his ministry has actively supported Laos in the field.

Lai stressed that the MoU will lay the foundation for promoting co-operation between the two ministries in all specialised fields, including water resources, geology and minerals, land management and environmental protection.

For his part, Lao Deputy Minister of National Resources and Environment Sisavath Vithasay thanked the Vietnamese ministry's assistance over the past time and affirmed that the MoU will set a crucial base for their collaboration in the field of natural resources and environment.

VNN/VNS/VNA