HCM City marks Liberation Day

A meeting was held in HCM City on April 29 to celebrate the 38th annivesary of Southern Liberation and Unification Day and the 127th anniversay of May Day.

Thirty-eight years ago on April 30, Vietnamese soldiers marched into Saigon (now HCM City), liberating the city from the US-backed puppet regime and marking an end of the Ho Chi Minh campaign.

In his keynote speech at the ceremony, HCM City Mayor Le Hoang Quan recalled the glorious history of the Vietnamese nation in the protracted war of resistance against US imperialists and the historic Ho Chi Minh campaign, culminating in the total victory in 1975.

“It is the victory of the national, social and human liberation of the Vietnamese nation under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President Ho Chi Minh.

“It is also the victory of human conscience and human dignity over tyrannical power and unjust violence.”

He said soldiers and people of Saigon waged a heroic battle on the three fronts of politics, military and communications, defeating war strategies of the US and resulting in glorious exploits.

Over the years, he said, HCM City has constantly overcome difficulties and made comprehensive achievements in all areas. The city has maintained political stability, obtained high economic growth, and improved its people’s living conditions.

Despite the negative impact of the economic slowdown in 2012, the country’s largest economic hub fulfilled 25 out of its 30 set targets, contributing to controlling the country’s inflation and maintaining reasonable growth.

This year, Quan said HCM City will continue to speed up economic restructuring to sustain reasonable growth, accelerate administrative reforms, and institutionalize its apparatus, while defending national independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and maintaining political stability and social order.

Seminar affirms Viet Nam's sovereignty over Hoang Sa, Truong Sa

Over 50 domestic and foreign scholars and researchers, as well as representatives from several ministries, branches and localities nationwide took part in the event. VNA Photo

Legal and historical evidence proving Viet Nam's sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos were introduced at an international seminar in the central province of Quang Ngai on April 27 and 28.

Participants, including domestic and foreign scholars and researchers from various countries including the US, Russia, Canada, Switzerland, Australia, India, the Republic of Korea and the Philippines, shared the view that Viet Nam has established and exercised its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos in a peaceful and continuous manner in line with international law.

China's use of force to occupy Hoang Sa archipelago in 1974 and several shoals on Truong Sa archipelago in 1988 were an absolute violation of international law, they said.

They also slammed China's irrational claim over a nine-dash line in the East Sea. According to them, China's strengthened efforts to claim the line are behind the growing tensions in the East Sea.

Many opinions said China's establishment of the so-called Sansha city and its development activities in the area are attempts to control the East Sea, threatening peace, stability, maritime security and safety in the East Sea.

The participants agreed that peace, stability, maritime security, safety and freedom in the East Sea are in the common interests of countries in and outside the region.

According to them, the East Sea coastal nations need to comply with international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), fully and seriously implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and early formulate a Code of Conduct in East Sea (COC). East Sea disputes should be settled by peaceful means in line with international law and the 1982 UNCLOS, without the use of or threat to use force, they said.

Tran Cong Truc, former head of the Government's National Boundary Commission, said the fact that Vietnam is the first State in history to occupy and exercise its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa in an actual and continuous manner was highlighted by scholars at the seminar.

On April 28, delegates attended the annual Hoang Sa Soldier Feast and Commemoration Festival in Ly Son island district. The event was held to pay tribute to Hoang Sa Flotilla sailors who laid down their lives for national island sovereignty. 

Increasing cooperation with Japanese prefecture

The Japanese prefecture of Niigata wants to boost cooperation with Vietnam, Niigata’s governor Hirohiko Izumida has said.

While receiving Vietnamese ambassador to Japan Doan Xuan Hung during an April 26-28 visit, Izumida said many Japanese businesses, including those from Niigata are seeking to expand operations in Vietnam.

Both sides have great potential for stronger cooperation, he said citing the fact that the business association of Niigata has been established in Vietnam, linking the two business communities.

He recalled a recent visit to Vietnam by a delegation of businesses from Niigata to sound out opportunities for cooperation and partnerships.

Ambassador Hung noted that the Vietnam – Japan relations are developing well in all areas and that both sides consider each other reliable partners in Asia.

He said Vietnam and Niigata should take advantage of their strength for cooperation, especially in agriculture, human resource training and tourism.

He expressed his hope that the governor and local businesses will visit and explore the investment environment in Vietnam.

At another reception the same day, Niigata’s mayor Shinoda Akira and ambassador Hung agreed to create favourable conditions for strengthening bilateral relations so as to contribute to cementing ties between Vietnam and Japan.

In an interview granted to the prefecture’s TV channel, Hung reiterated the potential for agricultural cooperation between Vietnam and Niigata and expressed hope that more Niigata companies will invest in Vietnam.

Vietnam welcomes Japanese businesses including those from Niigata, said Hung.

Hung visited several economic and cultural centres in the prefecture.

British town honours President Ho Chi Minh

The council of Newhaven town in Lewes district of East Sussex has decided to honour the late President Ho Chi Minh of Vietnam by printing his name on its banner.

President Ho arrived in Newhaven working on an international ferry route linking Newhaven and Dieppe of France after World War Second.

At a working session with the local administration on April 25, Le Thi Thu Hang, Minister Counsellor of the Vietnamese embassy in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, hailed the Newhaven council’s decision, considering it a vivid manifestation of the friendly relationship between Vietnam and the UK.

The event is great significance as both countries are celebrating 40 years of diplomatic ties 1973-2013 and 100 years of President Ho’s first footstep in the UK during his search for national salvation, said Hang.

Newhaven mayor Graham Amy said President Ho’s arrival is part of the town’s history and that the town was proud to welcome one of the greatest leaders of the world.

The local council plans to hang these banners honouring President Ho and other famous personalities along its main road next to the Ouse River where major events take place.

Viet Nam stands up for East Sea

Viet Nam has reiterated that it will adopt every suitable peaceful measure to defend its sovereignty, jurisdiction and legitimate national interests in the East Sea in accordance with the UN Charter, international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS).

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi said this in Ha Noi yesterday. He was answering reporters' questions on Viet Nam's response to the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS)'s appointment of arbitrators to the ad hoc arbitration tribunal established pursuant to Annex VII of the 1982 UNCLOS.

Nghi said Viet Nam learned that on January 22, the Philippines' foreign ministry sent the Chinese embassy a diplomatic note on the Philippines' proceedings against China to the tribunal.

"As a coastal country with its legal and legitimate national rights and interests in the East Sea, Viet Nam takes an interest in and keeps a close watch on the process of the law suit", he said.

He added that Viet Nam had sufficient legal and historical evidence and management realities affirming sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its waters in accordance with the 1982 UNCLOS, and other international treaties.

"Viet Nam once again affirms its sovereignty over Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes, as well as sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over its internal and territorial waters, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the East Sea", said Nghi.

Viet Nam has suggested that concerned parties implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) signed between ASEAN member nations and China in 2002, and the Joint Declaration of the 15th ASEAN-China Summit on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the DOC, he said.

The spokesperson added that Viet Nam hoped ASEAN member states and China would "promptly conduct official negotiations to formulate a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC)".

VNS, VOV, SGPP