Portugal, Sudan open consulates in HCM City

The Portuguese Consulate in Ho Chi Minh City officially opened on September 7.

Prominent among guests at the event were Portuguese Ambassador to Thailand and Vietnam, (resident in Thailand), Jorge Ryder Torres-Pereira and representatives from the municipal authorities.

Afonso Carlos Neves Vieira, who was recognised as honourary Consul to HCM City, will serve as the only representative of Portugal to provide consular services to people in the city and work as a bridge to implement programmes on economic cooperation as well as cultural exchanges between the two countries, while promoting Portugal’s image to the Vietnamese people and vice versa.

Earlier, the Sudanese Consulate in HCM City was inaugurated in the present of 30-year-old Tran Uyen Phuong, Deputy General Director of Tan Hiep Phat Group, as honourary Consul.

Addressing the event, Sudanese Ambassador to Vietnam Adil Ibrahim Mustafa Ahmed said he believes that the honourary Consul will play an important role in enhancing the friendship and cooperation between the two countries, especially in economic trade and culture.

PM praises VTV achievements

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung attended the inauguration ceremony of the Vietnam Television (VTV) Centre for Programme Production (first phase) on September 7.
The event, which coincided with the 41st anniversary of VTV, was also attended by the Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yasuaki Tanizaki, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Bac Son and Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen The Thao, along with many other representatives from ministries and departments.

PM Dung praised VTV’s construction and development over the past 41 years and urged the broadcaster to continue to develop into a strong and reputable communication group, both locally and globally. To achieve this goal, VTV have devised a development strategy toward 2015 with a vision to 2020. The plan strives to maintain a professional and modern outlook and to regularly improve the quality of programming to ensure timely and accurate information. VTV have also improved infrastructure facilities and technology in line with global development and tried to fulfil the target of providing nationwide programming of the best quality.

PM Dung also urged VTV to pay more attention to training its qualified staff with strong political knowledge and to create strong motives for development.

State President works with Nghe An province

State President Truong Tan Sang has hailed Nghe An province’s results in implementing socio-economic development goals, particularly judicial reform and taking care of ethnic people in mountainous areas.

While working with the local authorities on September 7, President Sang suggested the central province pay attention to socio-economic development planning, which served in planning for its services and products.

The province should also focus on production and investment in marine economic development and expansion of efficient economic models in combination with poverty reduction in western parts of the province.

Nghe An province posted a GDP growth of 11 percent, generated 19,000 new jobs and granted licences to 61 investment projects in the first eight months of 2011. A total of 827 businesses were set up, bringing the total number of enterprises in the province to almost 9,000.

The province also placed more focus on improving education, health care, culture, science and technology.

During his visit to Nghe An province, President Sang offered incense at the grave of Hoang Thi Loan, mother of Uncle Ho, and at President Ho Chi Minh’s memorial house.
He also visited the Nghe An rubber investment and development joint stock company, the Nghe An centre for care of war invalids and the headquarters of Military Zone 4.

Cuba’s Foreign Ministry delegation visits Vietnam

A delegation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba led by its first Deputy Minister Marcelino Medina Gonzalez visited Vietnam from September 6-8 for political consultations between the two foreign ministries.

During these visit, the Cuban delegation met with Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Deputy Foreign Minister Ho Xuan Son, Chairman of the Vietnam-Cuba Inter-Governmental Committee Trinh Dinh Dung, Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee’s External Affairs Commission Nguyen Manh Hung and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Bui Ba Bong.

At the meetings, both sides briefed each other on the recent situation in their countries and discussed measures to promote bilateral ties and tackle international and regional issues of common concern.

Deputy Minister Gonzalez said he is deeply impressed by Vietnam’s achievements in internal and external affairs and the good results of the first session of the 13th NA.

The Cuba Party, State and people appreciate Vietnam’s effective support for the country over the years, considering it as a vivid manifestation of the special friendship between the two countries, said Mr Gonzalez.

The two countries agreed upon a host of measures to expand bilateral cooperation in various fields and underlined the need to closely work together and mutually support at international forums in order to protect their legitimate rights and raise their positions in the region and the world.

Party leader opens HCMA’s new school year

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong attended the opening ceremony of the 2011-2012 academic year at the Ho Chi Minh Academy of Politics and Public Administration (HCMA) on September 7.

In his speech, Party leader Trong praised the achievements made by HCMA teachers and trainees during the previous academic year and asked them to thoroughly grasp the Political Bureau’s Resolution 52 on improving the quality of training and management capacity.

Scientific and theoretical study is one of the key areas of the academy, requiring it to encourage its staff to build a democratic environment in scientific study and help provide scientific foundations for building Party guidelines and policies and State laws, said  Mr. Trong.

The Party leader also pointed out the academy’s weaknesses and limitations in training and scientific study which, he said, fail to positively contribute to the Party’s theoretical work and practical reality.

Mr.Trong expressed hope that with the tradition and experiences accumulated over the past 60 years, the HCMA will make greater contributions to the cause of national construction and protection, earning the academy the trust of the Party, the State and the people.

VNN/VOV/VNA