Boosting trade with Myanmar focus of proposed conference

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday, May 27, affirmed that Viet Nam's relevant agencies would co-ordinate with Myanmar counterparts to hold an investment promotion conference in Yangon next month.

He made this statement while meeting with Chief Minister of Yangon Region Myint Swe, who has been on an official visit in Viet Nam.

He suggested that the two sides boost investment and trade activities to mobilise funds for development in both countries, and that Myanmar's relevant agencies should create favourable conditions for Vietnamese enterprises to do business in the region.

Myint Swe confirmed his support for Vietnamese enterprises investing in the Yangon Region.

He expressed his hope that Vietnamese localities would strengthen co-operation with the region, especially in the fields of agriculture, energy and mining.

JVPF helps boost Japan-Vietnam ties

The Japan-Vietnam Peace and Friendship Promotion Council (JVPF) has actively contributed to promoting relations between the two countries’ governments and peoples.
This remark was made by Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Doan Xuan Hung at an annual meeting to review JVPF’s activities in the 2011 fiscal year in Tokyo on May 26.

He added that the Council has built a care centre for child victims of Agent Orange in the northern province of Thai Binh, established Murayama Japanese teaching school in Ho Chi Minh City and held a wide range of cultural and sports exchange activities.

To recognize its great contributions, in September 2007, JVPF President Murayama was granted the friendship order by the Vietnamese President Nguyen Tan Dung.

Ambassador Hung also expressed his sympathy to Japanese victims of the severe earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. He praised the Japanese people for their iron will and determination to recover after the twin disasters.

He hailed JVPF’s organising a charity concert to raise funds for these victims and inviting the Vietnamese Lotus Dance Troupe to perform in Northeastern Japan in October 2011.

The diplomat asked for the Council’s cooperation in celebrating the upcoming 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Japan in 2013.

JVPF President Murayama expressed his belief that Vietnam will strongly develop to become a key ASEAN member, and that the closeness between the two nations will not only bring mutual benefits but also contribute to peace, development and prosperity in the region.

He will lead a group of 30 students from Meiji University to Hanoi this year to perform in a September concert.

Established in October 1999, JVPF aims to promote exchange and mutual understanding between the two countries.

Sri Lanka holds first political consultancy with Vietnam

The first political consultancy between the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and its Sri Lankan counterpart was held in Colombo on May 24-25.  

The two sides discussed ways to strengthen cooperation in politics, economics, trade, investment, agriculture, culture, science and technology.

They briefed each other on their current situations and exchanged ideas on international and regional issues of mutual concern.
They reached a consensus to implement the agreements reached by the two countries’ leaders during Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang’s visit to Sri Lanka in October 2011, and the preparation work for the Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister’s visit to Vietnam and the third Vietnam-Sri Lanka Joint Committee Meeting, scheduled for July 16-17.

Vietnam, Algeria sign judicial and maritime accords

Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister Le Luong Minh and Algerian Ambassador Cherif Chikhi signed an exchange of note ratifying agreements on judicial assistance and maritime transport in Hanoi on May 25.

Subsequently, the deal on judicial assistance in civil and commercial matters, which was signed in Algeria on April 14, 2010, will take effect from June 24 this year.

The agreement on maritime transport, made in Algeria on February 28, 2011, will also come into force the same day.

Both agreements will help strengthen ties between the two countries and encourage development and prosperity.

Defence Minister receives US Ambassador

Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh has highlighted the contributions made by US Ambassador to Vietnam David Shear to promoting the Vietnam-US relationship and the two countries’ defence cooperation.

At a reception given to Ambassador Shear in Hanoi on May 26, Minister Thanh said he hopes the US diplomat will make further contributions to bilateral relations by establishing regular high-ranking dialogue mechanisms, assisting search and rescue activities, sharing experiences in UN peace keeping activities and humanitarian aid.

For his part, Ambassador Shear spoke highly of the two defence ministries’ cooperation results.

He said he hopes to see new developments in the two ministries’ cooperation.

Youth urged to co-ordinate to raise activity effectiveness

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc yesterday, May 27, suggested youth in Viet Nam and Laos bolster their co-operation and raise the effectiveness of their activities contributing to the two countries' development.

He made the comments during a meeting with Vilayvong Buddakham, Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union.

He said the two countries' youth should keep making efforts to develop their traditional relations.

Vilayvong Buddakham expressed his hope that Viet Nam's youth would continue helping Laos to hold its youth's movements and other social activities.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA