DPRK Education Minister visits Vietnam

Vietnam wants to foster cooperation in culture and education with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and will create conditions for Korean students to study in the country.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan affirmed this at a meeting with Professor Song Ja Rip, Minister of Higher Education, and President of the Kim Il Sung University of the DPRK, in Hanoi on August 2.

The relations between Vietnam and the DPRK have developed well, he said, adding that Vietnam, as an active member of ASEAN, can act as a bridge to help the DPRK cooperate with the group’s member countries.

He also spoke highly of the achievements the DPRK has made in education sector as well as in national building.

Song Ja Rip, who is also member of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, said he hopes that the two countries’ cooperation in education will be further enhanced, creating momentum for further developing bilateral relations.

Cambodian royal army artists welcomed in Vietnam

Lieutenant-General Mai Quang Phan, Deputy Director of the Vietnam People’s Army’s General Department of Politics, welcomed a delegation of artists from the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces in Hanoi on August 2.   

The delegation, headed by Major General Mao Pholla, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army High Command, is in Vietnam on the occasion of the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Year and the 45th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties.

Lieut. Gen. Phan said Vietnam and Cambodia are two neighbouring countries with a long-established traditional friendship.

Both countries have seen positive developments in all fields in the spirit of “good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and sustainability,” he said.

He affirmed the Vietnamese Government, people and army always attach importance to developing solidarity with Cambodia.

The Vietnam People’s Army and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces have strengthened their friendship and cooperation in national defence for the benefit of each nation, thus making contributions to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region, he added.

Vietnam-Cambodia exchange programme begins

A delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An attended the third Vietnam-Cambodia people cooperation and friendship meeting programme in the southern province of Dong Nai on August 2.

The event affirms the fine neighbourliness, traditional friendship, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

As part of the programme, a number of activities, including visits to the Tran Bien Literature Temple in Dong Nai province, the Dong Nai Rubber Corporation, and Landmark 314, the final numerical marker on the Vietnam-Cambodia land border route in the southern province of Kien Giang, will be held from August 1-6.

In addition, arts performance exchanges and talks will be held.

Vietnam, Laos boost environmental protection

A seminar on the Vietnam-Laos partnership on investment and environmental protection was held in Nghe An Province on August 2.

Participants discussed Vietnam’s green economy strategy, the two countries’ joint efforts toward environmental protection and sustainable development, and integration of climate change into policy making and investment management.

They said that Vietnam and Laos have special environmental ties, such as sharing the Mekong River and Truong Son mountain range. More than half of Vietnam’s investment projects in Laos are focused on energy, agriculture, forestry and mining.

They also pointed out common environmental issues facing the two countries relating to forestry, biodiversity, mineral and water resources, and hydroelectricity.

Delegates agreed that Vietnam and Laos should make a greater effort to protect the environment for sustainable development and coordinate an annual seminar on the preservation of biodiversity along Truong Son mountain range. They will tighten the control of the transport and trade of wild animals and plants across borders, and work on environmental security in the context of excessive use of Mekong River resources.

The seminar was organised by the Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia Association for Economic Cooperation Development (VILACAED) and the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment (VAVNE).

VNN/VOV/VNA