Vietnam, Namibia to cement ties

Vietnam attaches importance to its traditional friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation with Africa, including Namibia, said State President Truong Tan Sang.

Mr Sang made the affirmation at a reception for Namibian Foreign Minister Utoni Nujoma in Hanoi on November 2.

Vietnam and Namibia share many things in common, said the President, suggesting the two peoples closely cooperate in the fight against poverty.

He said he hopes Namibia will continue supporting Vietnam’s candidacy for the UN Human Rights Council for the 2014-2016 term, non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term and the UN Economic and Social Council for the 2016-2018 term.

The Namibian FM expressed hope that his country will promote cooperation with Vietnam in seafood catching and mining.

He affirmed that Namibia will actively support Vietnam at international and regional forums.

LDP committed to contributing to Japan-Vietnam relations

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) will do its best to contribute to fostering Japan-Vietnam relations and assisting Vietnam implement projects to develop the infrastructure, support industry, and training high-quality human resources.

LDP President Sadakazu Tanigaki made the statement while working with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Tokyo on November 2. He spoke highly of the development of Japan-Vietnam friendship into a strategic partnership.

PM Dung extended his sympathy over the aftermath of the tragic tsunami and earthquakes that hit Japan in March, saying he believes the Japanese people will soon overcome the challenges and achieve sustainable development. He appreciated Japan’s continued official development assistance to Vietnam to develop the infrastructure for its support industry.

The government leader also expressed thanks for LDP’s important contributions to promoting Japan-Vietnam relations. He wished that Mr Tanigaki would make greater efforts to strengthen the relations between the two governments, as well as between the LDP and the Communist Party of Vietnam.

On the same day, Mr Dung witnessed the signing of a US$1.2 billion (¥92.65 billion) loan agreement between the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Vietnamese Ministry of Finance.

The agreement includes a US$130 million program to help Vietnam deal with climate change challenges, a US$272 million project to build Lach Huyen Port Zone in Hai Phong City, a US$522 million project to build Nghi Son Thermal Power plant, a US$181 million project to build the Ben Luc – Long Thanh Expressway, and a US$93 million project to use satellites to monitor the Earth to prevent natural disasters and deal with climate change.

FM Binh Minh holds talks with his Namibian counterpart

On October 2, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh held talks with his Namibian counterpart Utoni Nujoma on ways to increase the efficiency of cooperation in trade, agriculture, seafood and mining.

FM Binh Minh said Mr Nujoma’s visit to Vietnam gives both sides a chance to discuss specific measures to promote and expand the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries and the two foreign ministries.

Mr Minh briefed Mr Nujoma on Vietnam’s socio-economic situation and affirmed that Vietnam attaches great importance to developing the friendship and cooperation with African nations including Namibia.

Namibian FM Nujoma expressed his delight at his first visit to Vietnam and thanked the Vietnamese Government and people’s support for Namibia during its struggle for national independence.

Namibia is keen to promote cooperation with Vietnam and pledges to coordinate with Vietnam at multilateral forums, especially at the UN and Non-Aligned Movement. Namibia is ready to support Vietnam’s candidacy for the UN agencies in the future, Mr Nujoma said.

He also praised Vietnamese agricultural experts’ cooperation in helping Namibia ensure food security.

The two diplomats also agreed upon measures to accelerate the implementation of the signed agreements and exchange views on some regional and international of common concern.

Deputy FM’s Norway visit to celebrate diplomatic ties

Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son paid a working visit to Norway from October 31- November 1 at the invitation of the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The visit was part of activities to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Norway (1971-2011).

During the visit, Mr Son and Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gar Store attended a celebration of Vietnam-Norway diplomatic ties and the “Vietnamese Soul of Lotus” art performance organized by the Vietnamese Embassy in Norway in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

Mr Son also met with Norwegian Minister of Industry and Trade Giske Trond, worked with State Secretary Espen Barth Eide on the fifth annual political consultation between the two foreign ministries, and attended a seminar on promoting Vietnam’s tourism industry.

Both sides informed each other about the socio-economic statuses in their respective countries and discussed a number of measures aimed at boosting bilateral cooperation in the future.

Norway praised Vietnam’s achievements in socio-economic development and international integration, especially its efforts in maintaining high economic growth despite the doldrums of the global economy, and for continuing to raise its status in Southeast Asia and the world.

Mr Son thanked the Norwegian Government and people for their valuable support given to Vietnam over the past 40 years while affirming that Vietnam is committed to strengthening the traditional partnership with Norway, especially in crucial areas such as economics, trade, investment, cooperation and development, education, and training.

The two sides agreed to promote an exchange of visits by high-level delegations with the aim of boosting cooperation in various fields.

Norway’s Minister of Industry and Trade will lead a business delegation to Vietnam in the second quarter of next year.

Both nations will work closely to promote the Norwegian Foreign Minister and Deputy Foreign Minister’s visit to Vietnam.

They agreed to give priority to speeding up cooperation in economics, trade and investment, especially in areas of Norway’s strengths and in those Vietnam needs to bolster such as navigation, shipbuilding, energy, oil and gas, and seafood.

Norway has made a commitment to continuing to provide ODA for Vietnam in the near future by placing a greater emphasis on helping the country cope with climate change and carry out the second phase of the US$100 million UN-supported plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD).

Deputy FM Son thanked the Norwegian Government and its people for facilitating the inclusion of the Vietnamese community’s lives into Norwegian society to contribute to boosting Norway’s socio-economic development. Mr Son also thanked the Norwegian Government for promoting the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Both sides also compared notes on international and regional issues of common concern and agreed to enhance cooperation at UN and multilateral forums such as ASEM and ASEAN.

Vietnam set to train officials for Mozambique

Vietnam is ready to share experience in promoting agricultural development, health care, education and training with Mozambique as well as training political officials for the African country, said a senior Party official.

Dinh The Huynh, Politburo member and Head of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Commission for Popularization and Education, made the statement while receiving a delegation from the Liberation Front of Mozambique (Frelimo) Central Party School, led by its Director Arlindo Chilundo, in Hanoi on November 1.

Mr Huynh applauded the Mozambique delegation’s visit, saying that it will help strengthen the mutual understanding, solidarity, friendship and cooperation between the two Parties and the two peoples.

The Party official wished that Frelimo would successfully organize its 10th National Congress in 2012.

PM congratulates new Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan stressed that the micro-finance model of the German Savings Bank Group's Fund is suitable for Viet Nam at a reception for group president Heinrich Haasis yesterday.

She said that the fund's purpose was to help the poor, especially women, which coincided with Viet Nam's priorities of poverty alleviation.

Doan thanked the fund for its support to Viet Nam over the past two decades, affirming that it had helped many women rise out of poverty and improve their lives.

She expressed her wish that the fund co-operate further with the Viet Nam Women's Union in order to become an even more efficient tool. She added that the Vietnamese Government would create favourable conditions for the fund to continue operations in Viet Nam.

President Haasis expressed his pleasure with the initial results of co-operation with the union, which has already helped 70,000 women.

In Germany, the fund has aided more than 50 million people, helping them to overcome economic hardship, he said.