Vietnam seminar looks at APEC 2011 opportunities

Policymakers, business representatives and scholars exchanged views on opportunities Vietnam is expected to grasp at the 2011 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting, at a seminar in Hanoi on October 4.

The seminar, themed “APEC 2011 – Vietnam’s new opportunities”, was organized by Hanoi Foreign Trade University (FTU), the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and Hawaii University of the US. 

FTU rector, Prof. Hoang Van Chau said the seminar aimed to provide information regarding major issues at APEC 2011 to businesses, relevant agencies and research and training centres, highlighting opportunities for economic development in regional countries and territories and particularly in Vietnam, Vinh said. 

The seminar also helped APEC 2011 coordinating agencies to identify directions for Vietnam, Chau said. 

He stressed that participation in APEC – recognized as the most dynamic global economic organization – has brought many benefits for members, including Vietnam. 

The rector used the occasion to underline FTU’s efforts to contribute to the country’s socio-economic development, especially in research and support for policymakers.

Hawaii University’s President Mary Rita Cooke Greenwood, who is also a member of APEC 2011’s organization board, said young people are trusted at APEC 2011’s activities, adding that Hawaii University has launched many programmes that involve the participation of students. 

Greenwood praised FTU’s initiative in organizing the seminar, considering this a practical move to prepare for Vietnam’s presence in APEC 2011. 

Other issues such as fighting crisis and inflation, sustainable development, trade promotion and opportunities and challenges to Vietnamese businesses when joining APEC were also discussed at the seminar. 

The 2011 APEC Leaders’ Meeting is scheduled for November in Hawaii.

Vietnam, Mozambique beef up cooperation

The second session of the Vietnam-Mozambique Intergovernmental Committee took place in the Mozambican capital city of Maputo on Sept. 28-30.

The two sides reviewed the implementation of cooperative agreements in a wide range of areas. They noted with pleasure that cooperation in politics and foreign affairs has been consolidated and agreements reached in the first session brought encouraging achievements, especially in telecommunications, agriculture, national defence and security.

They agreed to continue the implementation of projects on rice cultivation in Gaza province and the building of a research centre for rice varieties in Nicoadala district in Zamberia province of Mozambique, along with other projects jointly launched by Vietnam , Japan and Mozambique in the Mozambican province.

Mozambique highly valued the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training’s support in human resource development while the Vietnamese side appreciated the Mozambican Government’s decision to open a permanent diplomatic agency in Hanoi, contributing to further boosting the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

At the session, Mozambique’s ENH national oil and gas company and Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) agreed to speed up the implementation of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) they inked in January last year.

On the occasion, leaders of Movitel, a joint venture between Vietnam’s military-run telecommunication group Viettel and SPI Invespar Company of Mozambique, informed the session of the implementation of the third mobile network in Mozambique.

Closing the session, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Diep Kinh Tan, who led the Vietnamese delegation, and Head of the Mozambican delegation, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Eduardo Kolama, signed the second session’s MoU and agreed to hold the next meeting in Hanoi in 2013.

During its stay in Mozambique, the Vietnamese delegation met with Mozambican Prime Minister Aires Ali and had a working session with the Mozambican Deputy Minister of Agriculture.

RoK national foundation day observed in Hanoi

The Republic of Korea (RoK) Embassy in Vietnam hosted a banquet on October 4 to celebrate the 4,344th anniversary of the RoK’s national foundation (October 3, 2,333 BC).

RoK Ambassador Ha Chan-ho reviewed the RoK’s history and expressed his delight at the fruitful development of friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and the RoK. 

The ambassador expressed hope that the strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries would further develop in all areas in the interests of their people, and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world, especially on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Vietnam-RoK diplomatic ties in 2012. 

Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh congratulated the RoK Government and people on their achievements, referring to the country’s successful bid to host the Winter Olympics in 2018, which, he said, will make the RoK the sixth country to host four major sporting events – Summer Olympics, Winter Olympics, World Cup and World Championships in Athletics. 

Judicial reform board meets in Hanoi

The Central Steering Board for Judicial Reform held its first session in Hanoi on October 5.

The steering board for the 2011-2016 term was established under a recent decision by the Party’s Political Bureau.

Delegates discussed the board’s working agenda from now until the end of this year, under which the board will examine the implementation of Party and Politburo resolutions on the judicial reform strategy until 2020. It will also make recommendations to the Party, the Politburo and the Party Secretariat regarding issues that arise from the implementation of the strategy.

State President Truong Tan Sang, who is also head of the steering board, pointed out heavy tasks for the board to build a strong and healthy judicial system. He proposed that the board work out solutions to overcome weaknesses from the previous term while prioritizing burning issues, including amendments to the 1992 constitution.

In the following sessions, the board is expected to adopt its working program on judicial reform for the whole term, and discuss projects on finalising judicial agencies in the army and increasing training for judicial officials. It will also give opinions on a plan to develop a criminal proceedings model in Vietnam.

Friendship association backs release of five Cubans

The Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association (VCFA) has affirmed solidarity with five Cuban youths who have been detained in the US for their efforts to prevent terrorist acts against their homeland.

The association hosted a talk in Hanoi on October 4 in response to the world movement demanding the release for the five youths. 

The movement in solidarity with the Cuban people calling for the five Cubans’ freedom is gaining momentum in the world, with strong emphasis that they are allowed to meet their families and have their basic human rights ensured, said VCFA Vice President Nguyen Duy Cuong. 

According to Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Fredesman Turro Gonzale, 13 years after they were arrested and detained in the US, the wives of Gerado Hernandez and Rene Gonzalez still have not been granted visas to visit their husbands.

CPV Mass Mobilization delegation visits Canada

A delegation from the Vietnamese Communist Party’s Central Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilization is on a working visit to Canada from October 3-6.

The delegation, headed by Vice Head of the Commission Tran Thi Bich Thuy, held working sessions with the Canadian Parliament’s Committee for Justice and Human Rights, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, and the Canadian Human Rights Commission.

During their stay in Canada, the delegation met with members of Vietnamese missions to Canada and overseas Vietnamese in the country.

Ms. Thuy stressed that the Party and State always consider the overseas Vietnamese community an inseparable part of the Vietnamese nation and the Party has introduced many policies and measures to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese expatriates to return home to visit their relatives and make investments.

She acknowledged the great contributions overseas Vietnamese in Canada have made to Vietnam.

On the occasion, Vietnamese ambassador to Canada Le Si Vuong Ha suggested that the Vietnamese State pay more attention to Vietnamese students studying abroad.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA