Italian PM to visit

Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his wife will make an official visit to Viet Nam on June 9-10.

The visit is being made at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Viet Nam and Italy officially established diplomatic relations on March 23, 1973.

The two countries set up strategic partnership during the State visit to Italy by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong from January 20-22, 2013.

In 2013, two-way trade between the two countries reached US$3.4 billion.

Vice President attends 24th Global Summit of Women

Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan on June 5 delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the 24th Global Summit of Women (GSW) in Paris, in which she stressed that diffidence is one of the main challenges women have to overcome to reach real gender equality.

Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan (Source: VNA)

Barriers in the national laws, as well as misconceptions about the role of women in family and society also lead to the inequality, Doan said, adding that societies cannot gain sustainable development without the efforts of women.

She also highlighted the great contributions of Vietnamese women to the country’s socio-economic development, especially in economic restructuring and growth model change.

The GSW, held annually since 1990, aims to strengthen international awareness of gender equality and boost the role of women in all aspects of life, particularly in economic affairs.

This year’s largest-ever event has attracted the participation of more than 1,300 delegates from 81 nations and territories worldwide.

On this occasion, Vice President Doan led the Vietnamese delegation to pay floral tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his monument in Montreuil city, where he lived during the early years of the 20 th century.

Doan also met Montreuil Governor Patrice Bessac, who expressed his hope to further strengthen connections between the two countries, and between Montreuil and Vietnamese localities, and join efforts to surmount Agent Orange/dioxin consequences in Vietnam.

Bessac also stated that the French Communist Party hopes current issues in the East Sea, following China’s illegal placement of a giant State-owned oil rig in Vietnam’s waters, will be solved through peaceful negotiations on the basis of international law.

Vietnam proposes accelerating FTA talks with EU

Vietnam has asked the European Union to step up and conclude free trade agreement (EVFTA) negotiations ahead of the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) to be held in Belgium this October.

Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son made the proposal after meetings with representatives of a number of European bodies including the European Council, European Commission, European Parliament, and European External Action Service.

He also met with Belgian Minister of Public Enterprises and Development Cooperation Jean Pascal Labille, and Belgian Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dirk Achten during his working visit from June 1-4.

Son proposed that the EU and its member states soon ratify the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) between Vietnam and the EU, continue granting its generalised system of preferences (GSP) to Vietnam, and facilitating Vietnamese commodities in the EU market.

He took the occasion voicing the Vietnamese government’s commitment to create favourable conditions and take every necessary measure to ensure safety, security, life and property, as well as legitimate interests of foreign businesses and individuals, including those from Europe operating in the country.

He encouraged the business communities of the two sides to take advantage of opportunities from the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) as soon as they are signed in the coming time.

The diplomat also briefed his hosts on recent tensions in the East Sea after China illegally placed its floating oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 deep inside Vietnam’s exclusive and continental shelf.

China’s vessels, including military ships and frigates, even intimidated and rammed Vietnamese boats, injuring sailors and damaging their property.

China’s move is a serious violation of Vietnam’s sovereign rights and jurisdiction, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

It seriously threatens stability, safety, security and freedom of navigation in the region and the world at large, affecting the global economic recovery.

Son asked EU, Belgian officials, scholars, and businesses to raise their voice calling on China to abide by international law, withdraw the rig and escort vessels, from Vietnam’s territorial waters, and work with Vietnam to settle the case peacefully.

National Assembly holds Q&A session, starting June 10

Four Cabinet members will be grilled over hot issues at the ongoing session of the National Assembly in Hanoi, starting from June 10-12, NA Office Chairman Nguyen Hanh Phuc announced.

The Cabinet members are Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung, Minister of Education and Training Pham Vu Luan, Minister of Justice Ha Hung Cuong, and Inspector General Huynh Phong Tranh.

Minister Dung will answer questions relating to public investment management, control of market prices, especially for essentials, tax collection, transfer pricing, and business restructuring.

The Ministers of Industry and Trade, and Planning and Investment will be invited to clarify Dung’s explanation.

Education Minister Luan will elaborate on education reforms, including improving the quality of tertiary education and vocational training, high unemployment among graduates, and new textbooks.

Justice Minister Cuong will take the floor to talk about the enforcement of the amended Constitution, legal documents, and civil court cases.

Inspector chief Tranh will focus on the settlement of petitions, measures against corruption, and corruption prevention in the inspection sector.

The Q&A session will be broadcast live on the national radio and television networks.

Australian FM wants enhanced ties with Vietnam

Education and training cooperation will create opportunities for Australia and Vietnam to foster their relations, Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has said.

Meeting with new Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Luong Thanh Nghi on June 5, the minister expressed her hope for the active coordination of Vietnamese agencies in expediting the new Colombo plan, which will allow Australian students to study in Vietnamese universities from 2015.

Bishop spoke of recent progress in the two countries’ ties, laying emphasis on the maintenance of high-ranking contacts.

Showing special interest in Vietnam’s future development process and its opportunities and challenges, Bishop shared her country’s experience drawn from international trade and investment cooperation.

She pledged her country’s unceasing coordination with Vietnam in negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

Ambassador Nghi gave high estimation to Australia’s support for Vietnam’s development and international integration process.

He suggested both sides work to increase trade and investment.

Nghi took the occasion to inform Bishop of recent tense developments in the East Sea, sparked by China’s illegal deployment of its Haiyang Shiyou – 981 drilling rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

Minister Bishop said she was very concerned about the issue while reiterating the country’s consistent stance of not siding in sovereignty disputes in the East Sea.

Australia, however, has legitimate interests in maintaining peace and stability in the region, respecting international law and ensuring free trade and navigation, Bishop stated, urging both sides to settle disputes by peaceful means abiding by international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982.

Vietnam, Canada foster security cooperation

The Vietnam Defence Ministry is desirous of cooperating with its Canadian counterpart in English language training, flight safety, search and rescue experience, and defence.

Deputy Defence Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh made the statement at a reception for the Canadian Defence Ministry Department for International Security Policy, led by Rear Admiral Gilles Couturier, in Hanoi on June 5.

Vinh stressed that since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1973, bilateral relations have developed well, but have yet to match their fullest potential.

He said he hopes that the visit will contribute to promoting cooperative ties in all fields, especially in defence.

For his part, Couturier said Canada recently issued a statement in support of ASEAN’s stance on the East Sea issue, condemning China’s deployment of the Haiyang Shiyou-981 drilling rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

Canada fully supports Vietnam’s position of resolving the dispute through peaceful solutions in accordance with international law, the Rear Admiral said.

Thailand maintains strategic partnership with Vietnam

 Thailand wants to maintain and develop the traditional friendship and strategic partnership with Vietnam, acting Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow told Deputy PM-cum Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Hanoi on June 5.  

Phuangketkeow briefed his host on the current situation in Thailand and said the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) led by General Prayuth Chan-ocha is implementing a three-step roadmap for elections, including national reconciliation, establishment of a legislative council to form an interim government and draft a constitution, and preparations for the general elections.

For his part, Minh expressed hope that Thailand will stabilise the situation soon to build and develop the country, for peace, stability and cooperation in the region, contributing to the building of an ASEAN Community in 2015.

He also proposed that current Thai authorities continue to ensure security and safety for Vietnamese nationals in Thailand, creating conditions for them to live, work, study, and travel in the country.

Both sides agreed to soon implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including organising the joint Cabinet meeting, and political consultation between the two Foreign Ministries in appropriate times.

They agreed to step up the signing of an action plan to realise the strategic partnership established during the June 2013 visit to Thailand by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Deputy PM Minh appreciated ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ statement on the recent tensions in the East Sea, released at their meeting in Myanmar in May 2014.

He hoped that an ASEAN-China relations coordinator, Thailand, will work closely together with other ASEAN member states to strengthen solidarity and find common ground in regional security and development issues in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and the 2002 ASEAN-China Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), while soon reaching a consensus on the Code of Conduct (COC) in the East Sea.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA