Vietnam, Laos look to 1 billion USD trade this year

Vietnam will aim to enhance their trade and investment link with Laos by facilitating cooperation with businesses and economic groups, said Prime Minster Nguyen Tan Dung at a meeting with the Lao State President in Vientiane on November 4.

Dung said building economic ties would help cement the bilateral friendship further, during his talks with President Choummaly Sayasone, who is also General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, soon after his arrival in Vientiane for the 9 th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 9), which begins on November 5.

He congratulated Laos for having become a member of the World Trade Organisation, which, he said, marked a vital step for the country as it looks to integrate with the international community.

The PM spoke of Laos’ efforts in preparing to host the ASEM 9, along with other Asia-Europe events this year.

The two leaders expressed their delight at the strengthening of ties between the two nations over the past 50 years.

They spoke highly of the successful organisation of events to mark the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Yea, which illustrated the importance of special bilateral ties and promoted understanding between the two people.

Choummaly said Laos would create possible favourable conditions to speed up the progress of projects agreed between Vietnam and Laos and make sure that they meet the required quality and effectiveness.

The two sides agreed to bring two-way trade turnover to a level of 1 billion USD this year and 2 billion USD in 2015.

Vietnam, Cuba share national development experience

The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Communist Party of Cuba (CPC) held the first theoretical seminar in Hanoi on November 15 to discuss their respective nation’s development.

The event was co-chaired by Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam National Assembly and member of the CPV Central Committee Secretariat, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, and Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Hoxe Ramon Balaghe.

Delegates at the event highlighted the Renewal Process in Vietnam and the socio-economic development models in Cuba.

Ngan praised the close relationship between Vietnam and Cuba, saying that they are both on the right track to boost economic growth and develop socialism.

She affirmed Vietnam’s determination to implement its renewal process, overcome all difficulties, and grasp every opportunity for development.

She stressed the need to ensure political stability and mobilize all the people to participate in national construction and defence.

It is also essential to open up the market, increase the Party’s leadership role, boost democracy and build a law-governed State, she added.

Balaghe said the CPC has given priority to improving revolutionary ethics, boosting national unity, strengthening solidarity and ensuring social equality.

He also emphasized the need to combat corruption, fight discrimination and increase trust in socialism.

The Cuban official said the Party should focus on boosting its leadership role rather than getting more involved in management tasks.

He said he hopes the CPC will cooperate with the CPV to deal with fluctuations in the world in order to achieve both countries’ goal of building an equal, humanitarian, independent and democratic society.

VN urges stronger cooperation in Gulf of Thailand

Vietnam’s Marine Police have called on countries around the Gulf of Thailand to step up cooperation to maintain peace and security at sea, which will contribute to socio-economic development in each country concerned.

Specialists and officers of Vietnam’s Marine Police are joining their counterparts from Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia at a conference in Hanoi to discuss collective security measures for maritime security and safety.

Opening the conference on Nov. 5, Colonel Ngo Ngoc Thu, the Vice Chief of Vietnam’s Marine Police Department said that the conference comes at a time when regional security undergoes new and unpredictable developments including sea security challenges.

The five-day event is a platform for experts in the field and law enforcement agencies from countries around the Gulf of Thailand to exchange their views and experiences and seek ways to increase their cooperation.

He noted that law enforcement forces of Gulf of Thailand countries have established ties through the exchange of visits and organisation of workshops to share professional skills and experiences.

Vietnam hopes that the concerned countries will agree on more specific and practical forms of cooperation that suit each country’s conditions and capacity, Thu said.

He suggested that the sides can promote information sharing, work together in capacity building and training, establish hot lines, and conduct joint patrols as well as joint exercises in search and rescue and response to natural disasters.

The conference will last until November 9.

VNN/VOV/VNA