Vietnam, Russia cement legislative ties

In Russia’s foreign policy, especially for Vietnam, the entire State Duma held to the common stance of beefing up comprehensive cooperation and partnership between the two countries and their parliaments.

This was stated by First Vice Chairman of the Russian State Duma and First Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Russia Ivan Melnikov during his meeting with Vietnamese National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

Ngan, who is also Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, is visiting Russia, starting on September 26.

She also met with Vice Chairman of the Russian Federation Council Ilyas Umakhalnov and President of the Russian parliamentarians group with Vietnam and Vice Chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee for Energy Sergey Levchenko.

Ivan Melnikov informed Ngan that Chairman of the Russian Federation Council Valentina Matvienko will pay an official visit to Vietnam in November to promote the traditional friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two parliaments and peoples.

He stated that at the 21 st session of the Asian-Pacific Parliamentarians Union in January 2013, Russia will voice its support for Vietnam’s hosting the union’s next session in 2015.

For her part, Ngan affirmed the two parliaments’ great role in accelerating the sharing of experiences drawn from their activities to increase mutual understanding and reinforce comprehensive cooperation between the two countries and peoples.

Vietnam is implementing the foreign policy of multilateralisation and diversification and wants to befriend with all countries, of which Russia is a top priority partner, the Vietnamese legislative leader said.

She spoke highly of Russia’s successful organisation of the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting 2012 in Vladivostock, saying that this is an important event for Russia to penetrate in the Asia-Pacific, including Vietnam.

The two sides affirmed their determination to enhance coordination in international and regional forums, particularly within the framework of the UN and APEC.

They noted both countries should soon complete procedures for the signing of a labour cooperation agreement at an early date.

The Vietnamese NA leader’s visit will last through September 29.

China’s National Day marked in Hanoi

A meeting was held in Hanoi on September 27 to mark the 63 rd anniversary of China’s National Day, which falls on October 1.

The event was jointly organised by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Vietnam-China Friendship Association.

Addressing the event, President of the Vietnam-China Friendship Association Nguyen Xuan Thang spoke highly of what Chinese people have achieved during the past 63 years under the leadership of the Communist Party of China.

He highlighted the importance of strengthening exchanges to deepen mutual understanding and trust between people of the two countries to serve each nation’s development.

Speaking at the meeting, Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Kong Xuanyou said two-way trade between Vietnam and China reached 26.4 billion USD in the first 8 month of this year, and among Southeast Asian counties, Vietnam is now the fifth largest trade partner of China.

He thanked the VUFO for their various activities to effectively contribute to consolidating the friendship between people of the two countries as well as strengthening the neighbourliness and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and China.

Cambodia's minister for posts gets warm welcome

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received visiting Cambodian Minister of Post and Telecommunications So Khun in Ha Noi yesterday, Sept 27.

At the reception, the PM spoke highly of the close and effective cooperation between Viet Nam's Ministry of Information and Communications and the Cambodian ministry over the past several years.

He expressed his wish for the sides to continue stepping up cooperation activities in various fields, especially personnel training, and sharing experience in lawmaking in the area of post and telecom management and development. He thanked Cambodia for creating favourable conditions for Viettel group to develop its telecommunications network in the country.

For his part, So Khun said that Cambodia wants to further strengthen cooperation with Viet Nam in the information and communication sector and learn from the other country's experiences.

He affirmed that Cambodia would always welcome and create favourable conditions for Viet Nam's telecommunications businesses to implement their projects in the country.

Vietnam seeks closer ties with Sweden, Denmark

A Party delegation led by Hoang Binh Quan, Director of the Commission for External Relations of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, paid working visits to Sweden and Denmark from September 22-27.

During the visits, the delegation held talks with leaders of the Left Party, Social Democratic Party and Moderate Party of Sweden, and the Socialist People’s Party and the Social Democratic Party of Denmark.

The Vietnamese officials also held working sessions with the State Secretary for Foreign Affairs and the State Secretary to Minister for Trade of Sweden, and the Chairmen of the Foreign Policy Committee and the Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, and the Secretary for Trade and Strategy of Denmark.

At the meetings, the delegation head thanked Sweden and Denmark for the whole-hearted support they had given to Vietnam during its past struggle for independence as well as for the country’s efforts to overcome war aftermaths and carry out national reconstruction and current renewal cause.

He affirmed that Vietnam always values the relations with Sweden and Denmark and hopes to develop the relations in all fields and at all levels.

Quan also discuss with the leaders he met the ways to boost the bilateral relations between Vietnam and the two countries and between their parties in the coming time.

The party and government leaders of Sweden and Denmark expressed their pleasure at the sound relationship with Vietnam, emphasising that they always attach importance to the relations.

They agreed with the guest on measures to strengthen bilateral relations in the future, affirming their policies of stepping up comprehensive cooperation with Asian-Pacific countries, especially ASEAN member countries.

They shared the same view that potential for cooperation between the two countries and Vietnam remains high and needs to be further promoted, suggesting joint cooperation with other developing countries in tri-partite projects to make full use of each other’s strengths.

The leaders said, as members of the European Unions, Sweden and Denmark committed to supporting Vietnam in negotiations on a free trade agreement negotiations with the EU, while asking for mutual support in the strengthening cooperation between the two countries and ASEAN member countries.

Sweden and Denmark support Vietnam’s viewpoints of settling regional disputes through peaceful methods, basing on the respect of international law for peace, stability, cooperation and development, they said.

Leaders of the political parties of the two host countries expressed their special interest in seeking ways to enhance the relations with the Vietnamese Party, particularly through sharing information and experience, exchanging delegations and coordinating in multilateral political forums.

FM bids farewell to NZ Consul General

Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on September 27 bid farewell to New Zealand Consul General to Vietnam Heather Mhairi Riddell, who accomplished her office tenure.

FM Minh spoke highly of the contributions Riddell had made to effectively strengthening cooperation between Vietnam and New Zealand during her working term.

He said these contributions helped promote the relationship between the two countries to comprehensive partnership in September 2009, and lift bilateral friendship and all-faceted cooperation to a new height.

The FM congratulated Riddell on receiving the Friendship Order from President Truong Tan Sang.

Riddell thanked Vietnamese ministries, sectors, branches, political and social organisations and partners for their support and cooperation.

She affirmed that in a new position, she will continue to positively contribute to further strengthening friendship and cooperation between New Zealand and Vietnam.

VNN/VNS/VNA