China defence ties to be increased

Viet Nam and China have agreed to promote bilateral defence co-operation following the conclusion of the 2nd Viet Nam-China Strategic Defence and Security Dialogue in Beijing yesterday, Aug 30.

The dialogue was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Defence Minister, Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh; and Chinese Deputy Chief of General Staff, Senior Lieutenant-General Ma Xiaotian.

During the dialogue, the two sides agreed to expand co-operation to new fields, including the exchange of visits of military delegations, the establishment of a hot line between the two defence ministries and the exchange of military students, in both short- and long-term exchanges.

China agreed to share with Viet Nam its experiences in participating in UN peacekeeping operations.

In the spirit of comradeship and fraternity, Vinh and Ma held open discussions on issues which still remain controversial in Sino-Vietnamese relationships.

"Issues relating to the East Sea should be settled in accordance to international laws, particularly the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea," Vinh said.

He emphasised the importance of openness and transparency in all forums so that people of Viet Nam and China as well as the international community correctly understood the nature of the East Sea issue in the context of comprehensive friendship between the two countries.

He expressed Viet Nam's readiness to co-operate for common development with China on areas of real dispute in line with international laws and practice. He added that in the long run, Viet Nam would try to seek a solution which would be acceptable to both sides.

However, he said "pending the demarcation, the two sides must absolutely not use force or even consider using force."

At the meeting, the two sides briefed each other on the socio-economic and defence developments in their respective countries and exchanged their views on global and regional political, defence and security situations.

Following the dialogue, the Vietnamese delegation led by Vinh would pay a courtesy visit to Chinese Defence Minister, Senior Lieutenant-General Liang Guanglie.

The first Sino-Vietnamese Strategic Defence and Security Dialogue was held in Ha Noi in 2010.

State President praises teachers, students

State President Truong Tan Sang has extended greetings to all education managers, teachers, students and pupils across the country on the threshold of the 2011-2012 school year.

In his letter, the State President warmly praised the education sector for its efforts and achievements in the last academic year, especially outstanding units, individuals and teachers who have been devoted to their jobs as well as poor pupils in remote, isolate, border and island areas who have overcome all difficulties to reap good results in study.

President Sang stressed that the 2011-2012 school year is of very important significance as it is the first year of implementing the 11th National Party Congress’s Resolution.

To develop talented human resources for the country, the State leader urged the sector to conduct comprehensive reform, improve the qualifications of teachers and education managers, and renovate the contents, curriculum and teaching-learning methods at all educational levels.

Special attention must be paid to educating national history, morality, lifestyle, sense of social responsibility, creativity capacity and practice skills for students and pupils, he said.

The State leader also urged the sector to mobilise different resources for education development, particularly in remote, isolate, border, island and ethnic minority-inhabited areas.

President Sang expressed his belief that pupils and students will continue to uphold the national tradition of studiousness to gain greater achievements in study and scientific research.

PM congratulates new Japan leader                               

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday, Aug 30, sent a message of congratulations to Yoshihiko Noda on his election as Japan's Prime Minister.

President urges swifter judicial reform efforts

Judicial agencies should speed up the implementation of the Politburo's Resolution No 49 in order to push forward with judicial reforms relating to national construction and defence.

President Truong Tan Sang made this request at a working session with the Supreme People's Court in Ha Noi yesterday, as head of the Central Steering Committee for Judicial Reform.

The leader spoke highly of the progress thus far, pointing to the decrease in unjust sentences and improvements in human resources.

The quality of the staff and infrastructure of courts had improved consistently, he said.

The implementation of judicial reform had been intensified, especially increasing the competence of district-level courts and streamlining argument and interrogation procedures at hearings, in addition to improving the apparatus of courts at all levels, he added.

However, the court sector should build an all-term judicial reform programme with specific objectives and tasks, Sang noted.

He also urged improvements in the morality and professional knowledge of judges and court officials.

Speaking at the working session, Chief Judge of the Supreme People's Court Truong Hoa Binh said although the country's political security and social order and safety continued to be maintained, criminality had developed alongside law enforcement. In addition, civil disputes relating to trade, family and labour as well as administrative complaints were increasing.

Despite difficulties, the court sector had made every effort to reach its target goals, he said.

Laos to boost co-operation between news agencies

Laos will create favourable conditions for the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and the Laos News Agency (KPL) to strengthen co-operation and fulfil the missions they have been assigned by the two Parties and States.

Head of the Commission for Propaganda and Training of the Lao Party Central Committee Cheuang Sombounkhan, and Lao Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Bosengkham Vongdala made the statement at a reception for VNA General Director Tran Mai Huong on Monday, on the last day of his visit to Laos.

The Lao officials spoke highly of VNA's assistance to KPL in the past, saying that the presentation of a book entitled, "VNA and KPL – Years of mutual development" was a deed of special significance, allowing the two agencies' present and future generations of reporters to further understand the loyal and wholehearted relations of the two countries.

The book was the first publication manifesting co-operation between the media sectors of the two countries, with VNA and KPL as pioneering organisations, they said.

General Director Huong expressed his delight at witnessing great changes in Laos and the ceaseless development of its revolutionary press.

He said he hoped Lao leaders would create favourable conditions for the TV channel of VNA – Vnews – to begin broadcasting on the Lao cable television system and help the two news agencies co-operate more effectively.

Huong affirmed that VNA would enhance cooperation with KPL in personnel training and exchange of information, professional knowledge, delegations and techniques.

President Ho Chi Minh seminar held in Thailand

A seminar on President Ho Chi Minh’s operations in Thailand from 1928-1929 was held at President Ho Chi Minh’s memorial site in Uddon Thani province of Thailand on August 30.

Vietnamese and Thai participants in the seminar heard speeches on the historical value of President Ho Chi Minh’s works in Thailand during his journey for national salvation.

Participants agreed that the fine memories ò President Ho Chi Minh had been preserved as a symbol of friendship between the two countries.
They also agreed that President Ho Chi Minh had laid a foundation for friendly diplomacy between the two nations and for the development of the power of great unity of the Vietnamese community in Thailand.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA