Vietnam, Laos seek further cooperation in tourism

Vietnam always treasures support by the Party, State and people of Laos for the country during its cause of national defence and development, as well as Laos ’ contributions to boosting cooperative relations between the two countries.

This statement was made by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan at a reception for Lao Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Bosengkham Vongdara, in Hanoi Friday.

Nhan spoke highly of the close cooperation in culture, information and tourism between the two countries, noting that Vietnam is willing to share its experience in such fields in the spirit of special cooperation.

Vietnam ’s large agencies such as the Vietnam News Agency and Vietnam Television would continue to help Laos manage and modernise mass media agencies, the Deputy PM promised.

In reply, the Lao minister said that the Vietnamese Culture Week to take place in Laos in August would offer a chance for the two countries’ people to enhance their friendship and solidarity.

He highlighted the need for the two countries to proactively plan activities in preparation for the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Solidarity Year scheduled in 2012.

Vietnam supports nuclear non-proliferation

Vietnam persists in supporting efforts against proliferation of nuclear weapons and all other weapons of mass destruction towards full disarmament, said Ambassador Le Hoai Trung.

Ambassador Trung, Head of the Delegation of Permanent Representatives of Vietnam to the UN, spoke at the July 27-28 UN General Assembly plenary meeting on revitalising the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in New York .

As an active member of the UN, Vietnam has participated in and seriously fulfilled its obligations to significant international treaties on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, the ambassador said.

In Southeast Asia , Vietnam is closely cooperating with ASEAN countries and other partners in implementing Treaty on Nuclear Weapon Free Zone, contributing to maintaining regional peace and security.

The diplomat praised CD’s previous contributions and recognised recent progress in disarmament, naming the effectiveness of the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) between Russia and the US in February this year and the success of the conference reviewing the treaty on non-proliferation of nuclear weapon in May 2010.

Accelerating CD’s works, Ambassador Trung called on CD members to soon approve a working programme and set up a negotiating mechanism for four major pillars of the agenda: nuclear disarmament, ensuring nuclear security for nations without nuclear weapons, cutting down the production of nuclear fission substance and preventing an arm race in the universe with priority giving to nuclear disarmament.

The strengthening of peace and international security will create an essential environment for disarmament to progress, Trung said./.

Newly elected leaders get more congratulations

State President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung have received more congratulatory messages from foreign leaders on their elections at the ongoing 13 th NA.

State President Truong Tan Sang received congratulations from Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko and Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.

In a message of congratulations to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, his counterpart from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Choe Yong Rim said he firmly believed that the inherent traditional friendship and cooperation between DPRK and Vietnam would continue to be expanded and developed in the fields of politics, economics and culture.

PM Dung also received congratulations from his Singaporean and Spanish counterparts, Lee Hsien Loong and José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.

Singaporean Speaker of Parliament Abdullah Tarmugi and Chairman of the Belarusian House of Representatives Vladimir Andreichenko extended greetings to National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung.

Ly’s return to prison totally abides by Vietnam law

The continued imprisonment of Nguyen Van Ly decided by the court conforms to the regulations of Vietnamese law, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga said.

Nga made the statement while answering reporters’ questions relating to the statement by the Deputy Spokesperson of the US Department of State on Ly’s continued imprisonment, in Hanoi on July 28.

She affirmed that in Vietnam, all basic freedom rights of citizens are stipulated in the Constitution and legal documents, and guaranteed to be executed in reality.

“In Vietnam, no individual is imprisoned for expressing his/her opinion. Only those who break the law are treated under the regulations of the law,” Nga stressed.

Pursuant to the regulations of Vietnamese law and in the humanitarian spirit, Nguyen Van Ly was granted a one-year suspension of his prison term for medical treatment.

On July 25, 2011, Ly was escorted back to prison to continue serving his prison term under the March 30, 2007 verdict of the Thua Thien-Hue provincial People’s Court.

New border gates to Cambodia opened

Viet Nam and Cambodia yesterday opened another pair of border posts, Hoa Lu in Viet Nam's Binh Phuoc Province and Trapeang Sre in Cambodia's Kratie Province.

This is the fifth of seven pairs of border posts the two countries agreed to open under a road transport agreement signed in 1998 and a protocol signed in 2005.

Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Ngoc Dong said the gates would not only facilitate trade and economic development between the two border provinces, but also improve co-operation between the two countries.

The four border points currently open for road transport between the two countries are Moc Bai - Bavet (Tay Ninh and Svay Rieng provinces), Tinh Bien-Phnom Den (An Giang and Takeo provinces), Xa Xia - Prek Chak (Kien Giang, Lork, Kam Pot provinces), and Xa Mat -Trapeing (Tay Ninh and Kampong Cham provinces).

Two other pairs of border crossings are expected to open later this year, including Le Thanh - Oyadav (Gia Lai and Andong Pich - Ratanakiri provinces) and Bu Prang - O Raaing (Dak Nong and Mundulkiri provinces).

Last year, two-way trade between Viet Nam and Cambodia was US$1.83 billion. At present, Viet Nam is the fourth biggest importer of Cambodian goods and Cambodia is the 16th largest importer of goods from Viet Nam.

PV