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World Bank's Managing Director Sri Mulyani Indrawati.
At a press conference in Hanoi on Dec. 3, the visiting managing director affirmed the WB’s help to Vietnam to implement policies to narrow gap and support the Vietnamese Government’s policies in restructuring of State-owned enterprises, policy consultancy, resources, finance and technology in economic development.
She spoke highly of the country’s socio-economic development achievements amidst the global financial crisis and down-turn and acknowledged Vietnam ’s efforts in implementing efficiently Resolution 11 to maintain the macro-economic stability, curbing inflation and ensuring social security.
Vietnam has become a middle-income country, the WB official said, adding that this is an opportunity for Vietnam to access different financial resources in the world.
She valued the Vietnamese Government’s socio-economic development targets for 2012, describing it as an urgent task for the country to continue developing in a sustainable manner in the following years.
Like other regional nations, Vietnam ’s economy depends on export, making itself be easily vulnerable to changes of the world economy, Sri Mulyani Indrawati said.
She recommended the Government to take consistent policies and manage flexibly tools of financial and monetary policies, stablise fuel and energy prices as well as conduct economic restructuring and ensure the banking-financial system can avoid adverse impacts.
Azerbaijan wants to strengthen ties with Vietnam
Azerbaijan attaches much importance to strengthening ties of friendship and traditional cooperation with Vietnam.
Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliev stated this at a reception for Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia and Azerbaijan, Pham Xuan Son, who presented his credentials on December 3.
President Aliev praised Vietnam’s achievements and active role in the region and internationally, and affirmed that his country will open an embassy in Vietnam soon.
Azerbaijan wants to strengthen political links with Vietnam through high-ranking visits and establish official relations between the two leadership parties, he said, adding that the country will boost cooperation with Vietnam in many fields, especially energy, oil and gas exploitation, training of experts and high qualification engineers, and establishing oil and gas joint ventures between the two countries
He asserted that he will asked relevant authorities to create the best conditions for Vietnamese people to work and live in his country, contributing to strengthening bilateral relations.
Ambassador Son briefed the president on Vietnam’s situation and proposed some measures to boost bilateral cooperation, including coordination at regional and international forums.
On the occasion, Ambassador Son and his entourage laid wreaths for late President Gaidar Aliev, visited Azerbaijan Oil and Gas Institute, Baku National University, and met with several Azerbaijan officials and representatives of the overseas Vietnamese community in Azerbaijan.
Vietnam aims to strengthen ties with Mexico
Vietnam attaches great importance to boosting relations with its traditional friends around the world, including Latin American countries, particularly Mexico.
Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan emphasized this while working with Francisco Arroyo Vieyra, Vice President of the Mexican Senate and Emilio Chuayfet Chemor, President of the Chamber of Deputies, during her visit to the country on December 1-2.
Ms Ngan reaffirmed Vietnam’s independent foreign policy of becoming a friend and responsible partner of all countries as well as the international community.
Regarding Vietnam-Mexico relations, she highlighted the similarities in the two countries' histories, the traditional friendship, and their close cooperation in multilateral and international forums.
Two-way trade between the two countries has seen a significant increase, reaching US$915 million in 2010, up 28 percent against 2009. However, she said, it is far from tapping the two countries’ potential and utilizing their fine political relations.
The NA Vice Chairwoman proposed both sides promote in-depth comprehensive cooperation, discuss an intergovernmental cooperation mechanism, and strengthen coordination between both ministries and agencies for stable development.
The Mexican side spoke highly of the Vietnamese Government’s efforts to improve people’s living conditions as well as the country's great achievements it has gained in many fields.
They also valued the role of the Vietnamese NA in the country’s socio-economic development and the role of Vietnamese women in social activities.
They pledged to work out the best mechanisms to promote cooperation between the two legislative bodies as well as boost coordination in regional and international forums.
During her stay in Mexico, Ms Ngan and her entourage also met with Jose Morfin, President of the Senate and Senator Alberto Anaya, General Secretary of the Mexican Labour Party and attended the plenery session of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
The Vietnamese delegation also laid a wreath at the President Ho Chi Minh monument in Mexico City and visited some of the country's historical and cultural sites.
India, Vietnam strengthen defense cooperation
A high-ranking delegation from the Vietnamese Defense Ministry, led by Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army Lieutenant General Pham Xuan Hung, paid an official visit to India from November 26 to December 3.
The visit aimed to survey military education and training strategies for the 2011-2020 period, and contribute to boosting friendly relations between the two countries.
During the visit, the delegation held talks with the Chief of the Naval Staff of the Indian Navy, Admiral Nirmal Kumar Verma, and the Chief of the Indian Army, General V. K. Singh.
They also visited India’s National Defence Academy and the Officers’ Training Academy in Gaya and the Agra Air Force Station.
Vietnam, Austria boost education cooperation
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan and representatives from eight Vietnamese universities held talks with leading Austrian professors and experts during a working visit to Austria on December 2.
Deputy PM Nhan highly appreciated the close cooperation among universities in the two countries, which has contributed significantly to strengthening diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Austria.
At the talks, representatives from the Vietnamese universities, which included Hanoi and HCM City National Universities, the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi University of Technology, Hanoi Medical University, the University of Transport and Communications, and University of Commerce, had the opportunity to connect directly to their partners in Austria.
Deputy PM Nhan also paid a visit to the University of Krems and witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the University and Vietnam’s University of Commerce.
He said he hopes the Austrian side would transfer modern technology, teaching methods and educational programmes to Vietnam.
The model MBA programme that was initiated through cooperation between the two universities is a good example of the success that can be achieved, Mr Nhan added.
A representative of the University of Krems expressed the desire to coordinate with Vietnamese universities to establish an international standard tourism college in the near future.
On the same day, Deputy PM Nhan also visited Austria’s Institute of Science and Technology and observed a lesson at Mary Ward school.
Vietnam attends Francophone ministerial meeting in Paris
Vietnam praises the International Organization of the Francophone (OIF) and its Secretary General for their efforts to help some member nations deal with conflicts and crises.
Assistant to Foreign Minister Nguyen Ngoc Son made the statement at the 27th OIF Ministerial Conference in Paris on December 1-2.
Son said that the OIF should continue promoting its strength to support countries in the post-crisis period, focusing on reconstruction and eliminating risks caused by crises and conflicts. It should also coordinate with relevant regional and international organizations to improve its operational efficiency and consolidate its role and position in the international arena.
Son joined 30 other international delegates to discuss ways to make Francophone cooperation more effective and practical, and review the implementation of commitments adopted at the 13th Francophone summit in Montenegro in October 2010.
They also exchanged views on mobilizing financial resources which are estimated to reduce by 20 percent due to current global economic difficulties and fluctuations.
Participants in the meeting appreciated the results obtained and expressed their determination to continue following through with these commitments to promote the OIF’s image and position in the international arena and boost multilateral Francophone cooperation in different fields.
The conference was also focused on global and Francophone political and economical issues, especially in Madagascar, Egypt, Tunisia, Congo, Morocco and the Ivory Coast, as well as preparations for the 14th Francophone summit to be held in Kinshasa, Congo in October 2012.
On the sidelines of the conference, the Vietnamese delegation held bilateral working sessions with the IOF Director and other officials and heads of delegations from Middle African countries and Macedonia.
In an interview with a VOV correspondent in Paris, Son said that OIF Secretary General Clement Duhaime will visit Vietnam in January 2012 to discuss accelerating some cooperative projects between OIF and Vietnam.
Japan adopts nuclear cooperation accord with Vietnam
The Japanese House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Relations adopted an agreement on cooperating, developing and using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes between Japan and Vietnam on December 2.
Addressing the session, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda affirmed that Japan will, in principle, export its nuclear technology as long as it is still wanted by other countries.
Bilateral nuclear cooperation accords with Russia, the Republic of Korea and Jordan were also ratified on the same day. All of them were signed before the nuclear crisis occurred at the Fukushima No 1 nuclear power plant.
The accords, which will lay legal foundations for Japanese companies to supply nuclear equipment and technology to other countries, are due to be approved by the Japanese parliament before its session ends on December 9.
Japan has signed similar bilateral nuclear accords with the European Atomic Energy Community and the UK, France, Australia, Canada, China and Kazakhstan.
Vietnam hopes to strengthen ties with Belgium
Vietnam always attaches importance to enhancing its friendship and cooperation with Belgium and other countries worldwide, said National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung.
NA Chairman Hung made the statement while meeting with newly accredited Belgian Ambassador Bruno Angelete in Hanoi on December 2, during which the legislative chief affirmed Vietnam’s support for Belgium in promoting relations with ASEAN countries and expressed hope that Belgium will actively support Vietnam ’s expansion of ties with the European Community.
The legislator said he believes the ambassador will successfully fulfil his assigned tasks in Vietnam, significantly contributing to the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
The Vietnamese National Assembly is ready to create favourable conditions for the ambassador during his tenure in the country, he said.
The NA Chairman spoke highly of achievements Belgium has recorded in the context of world economic turmoil and voiced his thanks to Belgium for its support to Vietnam through sponsorships and socio-economic development programmes.
He underlined the need for the two countries to boost cooperation in all areas, especially in economics and trade, to match their potential.
The legislative leader expressed hope that through upcoming visits by the two countries’ leaders, legislative ties will be elevated, creating conditions for the implementation of cooperative projects.
Ambassador Bruno Angelete highly valued Hung’s selection of Belgium as the first European nation for his upcoming visit.
While appraising Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements, the Belgian diplomat said he believes that Vietnam will successfully accomplish set targets to further develop.
Vietnam, Japan meet for Japan Strategic Partnership Dialogue
The second Vietnam-Japan Strategic Partnership Dialogue took place in Tokyo on December 2.
At the dialogue, the Vietnamese delegation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Ho Xuan Son and the Japanese delegation, led by Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Bessho Koro, exchanged views of respective country’s foreign, security and defence policy as well as regional and international issues.
The two sides discussed measures to enhance bilateral relations, especially in politics, diplomacy, security and defence.
Both sides agreed that the two countries should promote cooperation in international and regional forums in the new context.
The two sides affirmed that the dialogue achieved good results and agreed that the next dialogue will be held in Vietnam at a convenient time in 2012.
The same day, Deputy FM Son met with Japanese Parliamentary Senior Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs Yamaguchi Tsuyoshi who affirmed that Japan attaches importance and wants to further its strategic partnership with Vietnam.
Yamaguchi welcomed the results of the dialogue, considering it a vivid manifestation of trust between the two countries, contributing to accelerating cooperation between Vietnam and Japan in various fields.
The Japanese Government will actively support Vietnam in its national industrialisation and modernisation process, said Yamaguchi.
Both host and guest reached consensus on further expanding the two foreign ministries’ close cooperation and coordination in preparing for the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Year 2013 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties.
They also agreed to speed up the implementation of agreements reached by the two sides during Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s recent visit to Japan.
Promoting dissemination of foreign information on sea, islands
The Party Central Committee (PCC)’s Commission for Communication and Education held a conference in HCM City on December 2-3 to intensify the dissemination of foreign affairs information on sea, islands, border demarcation, and marker planting.
Present at the conference were representatives from the National Border Committee under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Information and Communication, the High Command of Border Guard, the High Command of Navy, and media agencies from southern provinces.
Over the past year, the dissemination of foreign affairs information on sea, islands, border demarcation and marker planting has obtained encouraging results in line with Party and State guidelines, helping foreign countries get a better understanding of Vietnam’s political institutions, viewpoints, and development strategies, resulting in the raising of its status in relations with foreign partners.
Vietnam’s activities concerning the East Sea and land border have created a consensus of international public opinions and have garnered their support. However, the dissemination work in this field reveals weaknesses and limitations due to ineffective coordination between organizations and localities, poor management, and slow processing of information.
At the conference, delegates also reviewed what Vietnam has achieved in this regard, discussed policies related to the distribution of foreign affairs information in the new situation, and shared experiences in this field.
Nguyen Van Xuan, Acting Head of the Department for Foreign Affairs Information and International Cooperation, said that imparting information on sea and islands aims to boost the friendship between Vietnam and countries interested in the East Sea, ensure the security and stability of the region, and to protect the interests of all concerned countries that include respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
VN, Thailand foster cooperation and exchanges
The relationship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand have been blossoming, benefiting the people of the two countries.
Thai Ambassador to Vietnam Annson Chivanno made this affirmation at a get-together marking Thailand ’s 84 th National Day (Dec. 5, 1927-2011) in Hanoi on Dec. 2.
Addressing the meeting, President of the Vietnam-Thailand Friendship Association (VTFA) Ta Quang Ngoc emphasised that the people of the two countries have a long tradition of deep understanding, friendship and exchanges, thanks to the similarity in history and culture.
He expressed sympathy toward Thailand ’s losses caused by recent floods and showed his admiration for the Thai people for their bravery during the disaster. He hoped Thailand will soon overcome post-flood difficulties and restore production.
On the occasion, VTFA called for donations to assist flood victims and collected VND500 million.
Vietnam general staff delegation visits India
A delegation of the Vietnam People’s Army led by the Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Lieut. Gen. Pham Xuan Hung, paid a working visit to India from Nov. 26-Dec. 3 at the invitation of the Indian Ministry of Defence.
The visit aimed to survey the possibility of education and training development in the military field in the 2011-2020 period. It was also expected to promote and develop the traditional friendship between the two armies.
In the framework of the visit, the Vietnamese delegation paid a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee of India, Admiral Nirmal Verma, and met with Chief of the Indian Army Staff, General V.K. Singh.
The delegation also visited a number of defence training establishments in New Delhi.
VN calls for higher efficiency of Francophone
Vietnam praises the International Organisation of the Francophone (OIF) and its Secretary General for their efforts to help some member nations deal with conflicts and crises.
Vietnamese Assistant to Foreign Minister Nguyen Ngoc Son made the statement at the 27th OIF Ministerial Conference that was held in Paris from December 1-2.
Chaired by President and Foreign Minister of Switzerland Micheline Calmy-Rey, the conference attracted the participation of representatives from 56 member countries of OIF and 19 observing countries.
Speaking at the conference, Son said that the OIF should continue promoting its strength to support countries in the post-crisis period, focusing on reconstruction and eliminating risks caused by crises and conflicts. It should also coordinate with relevant regional and international organisations to improve efficiency of its activities as well as consolidate its role and position in the international arena.
Participants at the meeting reviewed the implementation of the commitments made at the 13 th Francophone Summit in Montenegro in October 2010 and affirmed their determination to realise these commitments in the time to come, aiming to further promote multilateral Francophone cooperation in different fields.
The conference discussed preparations for the 13 th Francophone Summit, slated for Kinshasa of Congo from October 12-14, 2012.
On the sidelines of the conference, the Vietnamese delegation had bilateral working sessions with the IOF Director and leaders of some OIF’s member countries and heads of delegations for discussing measures to foster bilateral cooperation ties between Vietnam and the countries.
At the sessions, the countries’ leaders and friends highly valued Vietnam’s role and contribution to OIF, expressing their hope to further strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in the fields of economics, agriculture, mining, wood trade, telecom infrastructure and training.
Son told the Vietnam News Agency’s correspondent in Paris that OIF Secretary General Clement Duhaime will visit Vietnam in January 2012 to accelerate some cooperative projects between OIF and Vietnam.
Vietnam seeks further assistance from WB
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has called on the World Bank to continue cooperating with and assisting Vietnam by sharing experience and funding projects to fulfill development targets.
PM Dung made the request at a reception in Hanoi on December 2 for World Bank Managing Director Sri Mulyani Indrawati, who is on a working visit to Vietnam.
In the context of global crisis and recession, and with the effective assistance of the international community, including the WB, Vietnam has achieved positive results in socio-economic development, controlling inflation and stabilising the macro-economy, while ensuring social welfare and health care for the people, he said.
The PM said Vietnam will continue to give priority to curbing inflation, stabilising the macro-economy, ensuring social welfare, maintaining a rational growth rate, and combining economic growth with social equality and progress.
Sri Mulyani Indrawati said Vietnam is among a few developing nations that have recorded important achievements in controlling inflation, stabilising the macro-economy and ensuring social welfare.
She said the Vietnamese Government’s socio-economic targets set for 2012 including a single-digit inflation rate and GDP growth equalling that of 2011 are important factors that will help the country develop in a sustainable way.
However, the WB official said, Vietnam, like other ASEAN countries, depends largely on exports, so the nation will be more vulnerable to global economic changes.
She said flexible financial and monetary policies and economic restructuring are important factors for Vietnam to maintain stability of the economy in 2012.
WB will assist Vietnam in policy consultation and funding to accomplish its development targets, she said.
The same day, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong received WB Managing Director Sri Mulyani Indrawati, saying Vietnam wants to receive WB’s effective assistance in financial resources, policy consultation and management experience.
Sri Mulyani Indrawati pledged that WB will continue providing information and sharing experience of other countries worldwide in order to help Vietnam avoid difficulties these countries are facing.
WB is willing to provide financial and technical assistance to help Vietnam stabilise its macro-economy and successfully implement its economic reform programmes.
Ho Chi Minh City targets 10% GDP growth
Ho Chi Minh City leaders Thursday agreed on a GDP (gross domestic product) growth rate target of at least 10% for 2012 during the 8th meeting of the city Party cell executive board, 9th session.
Politburo member and secretary of the city Party Committee Le Thanh Hai told delegates that the city’s GDP growth rate this year reached 10.3% (1.7 times higher than the nation’s average) despite the current economic difficulties throughout the whole nation.
Mr. Hai stressed the city had implemented drastic solutions to rein in inflation, limiting the CPI (consumer price index) to 16%, which is lower than the country’s estimated average of 18%.
The city has also cut public expenditures and suspended 92 projects with total capital of VND441 billion (US$21 million).
In 2011, the proportion of poor households whose annual incomes are lower than VND12 million ($571) per person has been cut to 5.3%.
But Mr. Hai warned about the volatile world economic situation in 2012 and pointed out problems in Vietnam concerning inflation and high interest rates.
He also called for more measures to cope with traffic congestion, flooding and infrastructure regarding education and health that need more investments.
The delegates agreed on helping enterprises access loans to boost production and measures to revive the stock and real estate markets while paying attention to housing needs from manual workers and low incomers.
Focus on helping the poor is also another priority, the city Party Committee commented.
On a national scale, last month, the National Assembly deputies voted to pass the 2011-2015 social and economic development plan under which GDP growth in the period is expected to reach 6.5 percent – 7 percent while the CPI is set at 5 percent – 7 percent, and budget deficit is limited to 4.5 percent of GDP.
The government also aims to keep the national debt at below 65 percent of GDP, cut down the trade deficit to less than 10 percent of export turnover, and increase the actual income of Vietnamese by 2-2.5 times compared to 2010.
Prices of electricity and coal will also be set according to the market by 2013.
Meanwhile, the World Bank has predicted that Vietnam’s GDP would increase 6.1 per cent next year in its East Asia and Pacific Economic Update released in November.
It said the real GDP growth rate in the first half of 2011 was 5.6 per cent, and is expected to be around 5.8 per cent for the whole year.
Monthly inflation slowed to around 1 per cent since June 2011 as stabilization measures began to take effect, the WB document showed.
Ministry like to approve lake’s tourism project
The agriculture ministry will likely approve tourism development in Dau Tieng Lake as proposed by Tay Ninh Province, deputy minister Dao Xuan Hoc has said.
Specialists of the ministry have started to map out a planning scheme for Dau Tieng Lake in a bid to add tourism to the site, which is expected for completion by 2013, Hoc said.
Basically, tourism can be developed in Dau Tieng Lake, Hoc said. But he said the ministry should still be cautious since Dau Tieng Lake is the main reservoir supplying clean water for neighboring provinces and cities such as HCMC and Binh Duong.
“Sooner or later the agriculture ministry will give the nod to this planning since it makes sense to develop tourism in the area,” he said. “But the ministry will do thorough research on kinds of tourism, land planning, and scale of construction projects to make sure things will work.”
The Saigon Times Daily quoted Hoc as saying that a reservoir could also be a tourist attraction because it brings national benefits. It will be a waste if it is used for agriculture only.
Tourism and waterborne transport are not included in the functions of Dau Tieng Lake, according to an economic report approved by the Government in 1993.
However, the southern province of Tay Ninh has asked the agriculture ministry for permission to tap its tourism and waterway transport potentials in this lake in February 2009.
At that time, Vietnam Construction and Import-Export Joint Stock Corporation, known as Vinacontex, intended to deploy a high-class eco-tourism project there.
While pending approval from the ministry, Vinacotex relinquished the project.
The provincial authority continued to propose developing a tourist attraction in the lake last September after An Vien Group showed keen interest to set up a film studio and an eco-tourism project on Nhim Island in the lake.
According to the proposed documents as well as the project by An Vien Group, Dau Tieng Lake is expected to become a world-class tourism destination as it is the biggest artificial lake in the country covering 27,000 hectares and is only 100km from HCMC.
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