Party leader welcomes Czech communist party delegation

The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) always attaches importance to the traditional friendship and cooperation with the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM).

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made this statement while receiving a delegation from KSCM led by its Chairman Vojtech Filip, who is also Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of the Czech Chamber of Deputies, in Hanoi on August 8.

Trong also said he wishes bilateral relations between the two Parties will make positive contribution to consolidating and developing the ties between the two countries and people.

For his part, Vojtech Filip said he hopes that the two Parties will further strengthen information exchange and experience sharing as well as collaboration at multilateral forums, thus fostering the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Earlier, the KSCM delegation held talks with a CPV delegation headed by Hoang Binh Quan, CPV Central Committee member and Director of its Commission for External Relations.

The delegation also worked with leaders of a number of ministries and visited several cultural and socio-economic establishments in the capital city of Hanoi and the northern province of Quang Ninh.

Baptists hold second congress

The Vietnam Baptist Church (southern) convened its second congress for the 2012-2016 tenure in Ho Chi Minh City on August 8.
At the event, Deputy Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Bui Manh Ha said the Party and State always recognise active contributions made by Protestant dignitaries and followers as well as the Vietnam Baptist Church.

The second congress of the Vietnam Baptist Church is specific evidence, affirming the Vietnamese Party and State’s consistent policy to respect and ensure people’s rights to religious freedom, he said.

Mr Ha said he hopes the Church will select outstanding dignitaries to its 21-member executive committee for the 2012-2016 period and make further positive contributions to society overall.

Established in 1989, the Vietnam Baptist Church (southern) was recognised by the Government as a religious organisation in 2008 and now has around 40,000 followers across 42 cities and provinces.

The congress is wrapped up on August 10.

War veterans from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus visit Vietnam

The Vietnamese people and Vietnam People’s Army forever respect the immense assistance and support from international friends, including Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

Deputy Minister of Defence, Senior Lieutenant-General Truong Quang Khanh, affirmed the warm welcome at a meeting in Hanoi on August 8 with a delegation of war veterans from the three former Soviet Union republics.

Khanh noted that, Vietnam received substantial support from the three countries that sent thousands of experts and military advisors to assist the South East Asian nations during the past war of resistance against US imperialists.

The visit provides a good chance for war veterans to witness Vietnam’s achievements in national construction and defence processes, Khanh said.

He expressed his hope that they will continue to share their valuable experience with the Vietnam People’s Army and strengthen their traditional ties of friendship and cooperation between the nations and their respective militaries.

The veterans recalled their time spent in Vietnam and emphasised that the country is one of only a handful which still respects and remembers the former Soviet Union’s support. They expressed confidence that Vietnam, under the leadership of the Communist Party, will reap more success in building a peaceful, independent, democratic, socialist and prosperous nation.

Lao PM praises Hai Phong’s cooperation

Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thamavong received a delegation from Hai Phong City on August 8, headed by Secretary of the Municipal Party Committee and Chairman of the Municipal People’s Council, Nguyen Van Thanh.

Thamavong spoke highly of the delegation’s visit as a practical activity to carry out guidelines of their respective Politburos and governments, with the aim of strengthening and developing the special friendship and comprehensive partnership between the two countries.

Mr Thanh said he was impressed by the socio-economic achievements Lao people have attained in recent years, while introducing Hai Phong’s potential for further cooperation with Lao localities, especially with Vientiane and Udomxay province.

Hai Phong will help northern Lao provinces develop their human resources and share agricultural and industrial production technologies, Mr Thanh said.

The Lao PM said he hopes Hai Phong, as an industrial city with rapid growth in Vietnam, will help Lao provinces develop areas for their needs, adding that cooperation between Hai Phong and northern Lao provinces is an exemplary model for effective and practical partnerships to promote the broader Vietnam-Laos relationship in the future.

The Hai Phong delegation met with Deputy PM Somsavat Lengsavat on the same day and worked with Vientiane leaders on a future cooperation plan.

ADMM expert working group meets in Hanoi

Experts and representatives from the ASEAN Secretariat and 18 nations of the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+) gathered in Hanoi on August 8 for the second conference of expert working groups on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (EWG-HADR).

Co-chaired by Vietnam and China, the conference aimed to share professional experiences and promote HADR cooperation between ADMM+ member countries.

Deputy Minister of Defence, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, said Vietnam attaches great importance to the meeting that not only focuses on HADR-related issues, but also reflects the desire for and spirit of cooperation of all member countries in maintaining peace, development and stability. He also approved the increasingly essential role of the ADMM+ structure in defence cooperation among the 18 countries.

Discussions at the meeting focused on legal aspects of the use of military power in regional and international HADR activities, the training of personnel engaging in HADR, cooperation initiatives among ADMM+, and experiences of armed forces in coping with such natural disasters as storms, floods and landslides.

Vietnam proposed organizing joint training courses, and forming a coordination agency for HADR activities among ADMM-Plus member countries.

The meeting will be wrapped up on August 10.

VNN/VOV/VNA