Ambassador committed to boosting EU-Vietnam cooperation

EU Ambassador Franz Jessen has pledged to do his utmost to promote comprehensive cooperation between the EU and Vietnam, following a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) signed on June 27.

Jessen, who is Head of the EU delegation to Vietnam, made the comment at a reception given by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in Hanoi on August 29. He reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to help Vietnam speed up its national construction and development, as well as the Renewal process and international integration, despite the impact of the global financial and monetary crises.

The diplomat spoke highly of Vietnam’s increasing role and stature amongst the EU’s foreign partnerships and expressed hope that the Southeast Asian nation, as a coordinator for ASEAN-EU dialogue relations, will facilitate the enhancement of ties between the two trading blocs.

General Secretary Trong said he is delighted at the development of Vietnam-EU relationship across various fields since establishing diplomatic ties in 1990.

Vietnam considers the EU as its leading partner, he said, adding that the signing of the PCA and the negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) are important milestones which not only offer opportunities but also pose challenges for both sides.

The Party chief said he hopes Jessen fulfills his responsibilities successfully and contribute to cementing ties between Vietnam and the EU, in the interest of the people and for the sake of peace, cooperation and development in the region and the world as a whole.

JICA’s assistance to development process highlighted

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has highly valued assistance from the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to infrastructure development process, institution building and human resource training in Vietnam.

Deputy PM Phuc met JICA Vice President Arakawa Hiroto in Hanoi on August 29.

These fields are bottle-necks that Vietnam is trying to break to promote sustainable socio-economic development, Deputy PM Phuc told JICA Vice President Arakawa Hiroto, in Hanoi on August 29.

Phuc expressed his pleasure with the deep and rapid development in the Vietnamese-Japanese ties, including official development assistance (ODA) field.

He said he hopes Japan continues to maintain and increase ODA for Vietnam in the future, especially when the two countries are jointly carrying out major infrastructure projects, such as the metro lines in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi and the Nhat Tan bridge spanning over the Red River.

The Deputy PM suggested JICA continue promoting its important role to support practical activities to mark the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Year in 2013 on the occasion of the 40 th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties.

JICA Vice President Arakawa Hiroto briefed Deputy PM Phuc on his working sessions with leaders of related Vietnamese agencies such as the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

He attended the ceremony to start construction of the first metro line in Ho Chi Minh City.

He said JICA will make more contributions to increase the two countries’ understanding and trust in the fields of mutual concern.

He pledged to do his utmost to make the two countries’ diplomatic ties celebrations successful for a new height in bilateral ties.

Hanoi, Vientiane seek further judicial cooperation

Judicial officials of the two capitals of Vietnam and Laos have met to tighten cooperation and signal commitments to deepening bilateral relations in all fields, especially when the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

The further cooperation was underscored during a visit to Hanoi by a delegation from the Vientiane Department of Justice, led by Director Boun Suang Thavisak from August 28-29.

The visit was made within the framework of a cooperation agreement on judicial affairs during the period of 2012-2015, signed in Vientiane on March 9, 2012.

At a working session with officials from the Hanoi Department of Justice, Director Boun Suang Thavisak said that the visit’s purpose is to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation between the two capitals, especially in the judicial field.

The two municipal judicial bodies exchanged views and experience on such areas as receiving and examining legal dossiers and administrative procedures, notarisation and certification of residential records, dissemination of law and education, and other judicial assistance.

August revolution, National Day marked abroad

The Vietnamese General Consulate to Sydney held a ceremony to mark the 67 th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19) and National Day (Sept. 2) in New South Wales, Australia on August 29.

Representatives from the Consulate and Vietnam’s representative offices in Australia and overseas Vietnamese participated in the ceremony.

Speaking at the event, General Consul Mai Phuoc Dung reviewed the achievements recorded by Vietnamese people over the past 67 years.

He highlighted the strong development in the bilateral political, security and economic relations since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1973. He said the high-ranking visits made by the two countries’ leaders further deepened bilateral relationship in many fields.

He also affirmed that the Vietnamese community in Australia has become an important part of the country’s multicultural society and that the community contributes actively to developing the relationship between the two countries.

New South Wales ’ Minister of Planning and Infrastructure Brad Hazzard praised Vietnam ’s achievements and spoke highly of the Vietnamese community’s contributions to socio-economic development in Australia .

On the same day, a similar ceremony was also organised in Phnom Penh , Cambodia by the Vietnamese Cambodian Association.

Association’s Chairman, Huynh Minh Phu, expressed his delight at the homeland’s strong development and said he always believes in the Vietnamese Party and Government’s leadership.

He said Vietnamese Cambodians should further strengthen solidarity to contribute to promoting the traditional friendship between the two countries.

On the occasion, the Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia received floral baskets sent by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Royal Palace Kong Sam Ol and King Father Norodom Sihanouk and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk.

VN diplomats to Kazakhstan, Bangladesh present credentials

Vietnamese Ambassador to Kazakhstan Nguyen Van Hoa on August 28 presented his credentials to Kazakhstani President N. Nazarbayev.

Nazarbayev highly valued the development of bilateral ties and said Vietnam is his country’s potentially an important partner in Southeast Asia.

He said he hopes Sang’s upcoming visit will increase cooperation between the two countries in metallurgy, mechanics, construction, agriculture and small-and medium-sized enterprises.

A day earlier, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Quang Thuc presented his credentials to Bangladeshi President Zillur Rahman in the capital city of Dhaka.

At the reception, Rahman expressed his admiration for achievements recorded by Vietnam in national liberation as well as the present national construction. He said Vietnam is a heroic nation and close friend of Bangladesh , and pledged to further promote friendship and cooperation with Vietnam.

He suggested the two countries should further enhance economic cooperation, especially in trade for each side’s prosperity.

Indonesia, Vietnam boost bilateral relations

A ceremony to celebrate the 67th anniversary of Indonesia’s Independence Day was held in Ho Chi Minh City on August 29.

Addressing the ceremony, Le Ton Thanh, Chairman of the Vietnam-Indonesia Friendship Association in HCM City, said Vietnam and Indonesia have closely cooperated in dealing with common regional concerns, including East Sea related issues.

The two countries have also assisted each other to increase their role in ASEAN as an important politic-economic entity in the region, he said.

Thanh proposed that Vietnam and Indonesia further promote cooperation in the field of agriculture, fishing, food security, education, culture and tourism, as well as infrastructure development.

Bambang Tarsanto, the Indonesian Consul General in HCM City, said that trade turnover between the two countries reached US$4.7 billion in 2011, up 53 percent on 2010. He believes that it will reach the set target of US$5 billion in 2015.

The Indonesian Government will also grant Darmasiswa scholarships for 23 outstanding Vietnamese students in the 2012-2013 period, offering the opportunity to study Bahasa Indonesia arts, music and crafts, he said.

VNN/VOV/VNA