Deputy Defence Minister receives Cambodian official

Deputy Minister of Defence Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh received Lieutenant General Khieu Saphat, Deputy Director of the Personnel Department of the Cambodian Ministry of National Defence, in Hanoi on January 28.

Saphat is leading a Cambodian delegation of military specialists on a working visit to Vietnam.

Vinh highly valued the cooperation results between the two countries’ armies in recent years, stressing that the two sides carried out various practical activities to celebrate the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship and Solidarity Year.

Saphat briefed his host on the outcomes of the working session between the two countries’ delegations of military specialists.

He thanked the Vietnam People’s Army for its support to Cambodia’s Royal Army in the past years, especially in science and technology, and personnel training.

Vietnam attends APPF-21 in Russia

Vietnamese National Assembly Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu is attending the 21 st Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-21), which got underway in Vladivostok city, Russia on January 28.

NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu heads the VN's delegation at the 21st APPF. (Source: VNA)

At the forum, Luu delivered a speech highlighting the risks of security and political instability in the region while regional mechanisms remain inefficient to deal with traditional and non-traditional challenges.

He said that all maritime disputes need to be solved peacefully in accordance with international law, in particular the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS), and in respect for the legitimate interest and sovereignty of coastal countries.

Luu pointed to the necessity to improve the effectiveness of mechanisms and tools that ensure common security.

APPF needs to increase the effectiveness of its operations in the region to maintain peace, security and development, and maximize the power and potential of Asia-Pacific. It also needs to promote current mechanisms by boosting dialogue and trust, including in the ASEAN framework and between ASEAN and other partners, he added.

Luu affirmed that Vietnam attaches special importance to strengthening democracy to increase the role and participation of people in political activities, especially in law making.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chairperson of the Russia Federation Council Valentina Matvienko stressed that Russia values the role of Asia-Pacific and will actively participate in increasing regional connectivity, especially in experience exchange and coordination in legislative activities.

At three-day APPF-21, lawmakers from 28 member countries will discuss issues relating to politics and security, economic trade ties, and inter-regional cooperation in Asia-Pacific, as well as suggest future activities and select the venue for APPF-22, which is scheduled to take place in January, 2014.

Established in March, 1993, APPF is a forum for member-country parliamentarians to discuss measures to promote cooperation in the region to ensure peace and security, and boost cultural exchanges among nations.

President pays New Year visit to former revolutionary base

President Truong Tan Sang visited Tan Trao Commune in the northern province of Tuyen Quang on January 28 in the lead up to the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.

Meeting with local authorities, Sang hailed their achievements in building new rural areas in the last two years, saying building the new rural area model is the only way to reduce poverty.

To make it a success, it is important to bring into play the people’s mastery, he stressed.

Sang offered incense at the Tan Trao national historical relic and paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at Na Nua shack, where he once lived and worked before the 1945 August Revolution.

At Tan Trao banyan tree and Hong Thai communal house, Sang confirmed that the nation will forever remember the people who brought about the successful revolution under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam led by President Ho Chi Minh.

The leader also visited and presented gifts to the communal Party Committee, authorities and beneficiary families.

Vietnam’s agricultural development praised

The international community has highly valued the Vietnamese government’s economic development efforts, especially in the agricultural sector.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat mentioned this when talking with the Vietnam News Agency in Switzerland on January 27, following the conclusion of the 43 rd World Economic Forum Annual Meeting – Davos 2013.

He said at the forum, themed “Resilient Dynamism”, the Vietnamese delegation briefed the participants about the results of applying the Public-Private Partnership ( PPP ) model in agriculture, adding that Vietnam is one of the 11 countries in the world piloting the model.

Under the model, the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has worked with 20 world leading corporations to carry out projects in the cultivation of tea, coffee and vegetables and fish farming.

According to the minister, many countries said they want to learn from Vietnam’s experiences in this field to boost their agricultural development.

Davos 2013 wrapped up on January 26 with a call for greater efforts to restore the global economy.

Nippon Foundation president visits Vietnam

Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan on January 28 received Yohei Sasakawa, President of Japan’s Nippon Foundation, on a visit to Vietnam.

Doan welcomed Yohei’s visit as a vivid manifestation of people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, and thanked the foundation for having supported people with disability, the poor and ethnic children in Vietnam.     

Since 1992 the Japanese foundation has provided nearly US$28 million in aid, including US$11 million for people with disability.

Doan expressed hope that the foundation will provide additional assistance to the disabled through functional rehabilitation courses, vocational training, job generation, and loan granting, as well as formulating legal documents on social work in Vietnam.

Yohei briefed his host on his organisation’s operations and assured that Nippon Foundation will continue to support disadvantaged people in Vietnam.

The Vice State President presented Vietnam’s Friendship Order to the Japanese guest, recognizing his contributions to Vietnam.

Over the years, Yohei has actively participated in relief aid campaigns in Vietnam, including supplying prosthetics and wheelchairs to the handicapped, building primary schools in remote areas, running vocational training courses, and supporting students in localities across the country.

Nippon Foundation has been involved in charity in more than 100 countries around the globe, especially in Southeast Asia.

Jose Marti’s birthday celebrated in Hanoi

The Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association and the Cuban embassy In Vietnam on January 21 paid a floral tribute to Jose Marti at his park in Hanoi, commemorating the national Cuban hero’s 160th birth anniversary.

Ambassador Fredesman Turro Gonzalez and Nguyen Duy Cuong, Vice President of the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association, highlighted Jose Marti’s life and revolutionary cause, as well as his contributions to the struggle for independence and freedom of Cuba, and the special relationship between Vietnam and Cuba.

During his lifetime, Jose Marti wrote about the special relationship between Vietnam and Cuba in his literary works, and hoped the two nations would unite for solidarity and friendship.

This relationship, founded and nurtured by late President Ho Chi Minh of Vietnam and late leader Jose Marti of Cuba, and their successors, has developed well in all areas.

Prime Minister tours Ninh Binh, Ha Nam provinces

The northern province of Ninh Binh should make the most of its tourism and services potential to serve its socio-economic development and improve the lives of local people.

Prime Minster Nguyen Tan Dung made the statement at a meeting to discuss the province’s socio-economic performance with its leaders on January 27.

He highly appreciated the achievements in 2012, especially in curbing inflation, maintaining its growth rate at 11.05 percent and raising industrial and agricultural production, and assuring social welfare.

Dung suggested the province focus on creating favourable conditions for businesses to develop, and solve bad debts and inventories, especially in the cement sector.

Ninh Binh should build new rural areas to promote agricultural and breeding activities, and apply scientific technology in production to increase productivity and quality, he added.

According to Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Bui Van Thang, the province has outlined its 2013 targets for socio-economic development, which include speeding up the rate of economic growth; further developing the industrial, agricultural, tourism and services sectors, develop rural infrastructure, improving people’s living conditions; boosting administrative reform, strengthening defence security and maintaining political security and social safety.

The same day, PM Dung visited Ninh Binh’s neighbouring province of Ha Nam, where he held a working session with the provincial leaders on how to develop rural infrastructure and accelerate production to help local people enjoy a better life.

Ha Nam should further improve its investment environment to attract more funding for local projects, Dung said.

Ha Nam has succeeded in maintaining its GDP growth rate at 12.5 percent and reducing the number of poor households to 8.83 percent in 2012. It is aiming for a higher GDP growth rate in 2013.

VNN/VOV/VNA