Chinese media spotlights Vietnam Party chief visit

The Chinese press spotlighted activities of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong during his visit to China on April 7-10 at the invitation of Chinese Party General Secretary and State President Xi Jinping.

On April 7, the 7:00 pm news report of the China Central Television featured the welcome ceremony for the Vietnamese Party chief and his entourage and the two countries’ Party leaders visiting an exhibition on the outcomes of the two Parties’ theoretical workshops.

The same day, Chinese State-run Xinhua News Agency carried a 2,500-word article with photos highlighting the ceremonial welcome for and talks between the two Party General Secretaries.

Xinhua reported that during the talks, the two sides made an active assessment of their development achievements and discussed mutual concerns in-depth, adding that both host and guest emphasised the importance of maintaining the Vietnam-China traditional friendship and promoting the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

They agreed to double their efforts to effectively manage disputes at sea and sustain peace and stability in the East Sea, the article added.

The People’s Daily reserved its front page on April 8 to feature the full speeches of the two leaders while speaking before their youth representatives during the 15th friendly gathering in Beijing.

Other mainstream newspapers, such as the People’s Liberation Army Daily, Youth Daily, and Guangming Daily, also ran articles and photos about the visit of the Vietnamese Party chief on their front pages.

Notably, the China’s Global Times ran an article on April 7 authored by Radio The Voice of Vietnam (VOV)’s Beijing-based correspondents describing the ties between the two Parties as a special link in Vietnam-China relations.

The article states the two nations could find solutions to any disagreements or disputes as long as they maintain regular high-level delegation exchanges and smooth communication between the two Parties and governments.

Cambodian PM welcomes HCM City leader

HCM City and Cambodia, already established partners on multiple fronts, can deepen their cooperation in trade and industry, Municipal Party’s Committee Secretary Le Thanh Hai has suggested.

"Cambodia plays an absolutely central role in the city’s future economic development plans," said Hai on April 10 at a meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in Vientiane.

The two sides have significantly stepped up bilateral collaboration and the city is highly appreciative of the support from Cambodia Hai said, adding that the city is especially thankful for assistance with the Cho Ray-Phnom Penh hospital.

PM Hun Sen in turn said he sees a huge opportunity to strengthen Cambodia’s relationships with HCM City, and to really expand them so that both sides, and the region as a whole, can benefit from the work they do together.

On the same day, Hai held working sessions with First Vice-President of the Cambodian National Assembly Nguon Nhel and Deputy Prime Minister and Chairwoman of the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Association Men Sam An.

He also laid wreaths at a monument to Vietnamese voluntary soldiers in Cambodia and visited the Cho Ray-Phnom Penh Hospital.

US Navy Secretary visits Danang

The US Navy is currently on its sixth annual Naval Engagement Activity (NEA) with the Vietnam People's Navy as both nations celebrate the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2015.

This five-day collaboration is focusing on non-combatant events and skills exchanges in military medicine, search and rescue, and maritime security and will include a brief at-sea phase allowing for ships from both navies to practice the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES) and ship handling.

These naval activities underscore the deepening and diverse relationship between the US and Vietnam.

At an April 9 reception for visiting US Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus in Danang, City People’s Committee Chairman Huynh Duc Tho briefed the guest on the local socio-economic situation and the city’s desire to attract foreign investment into the areas of high-tech, education and health care.

To date, the US investment into the city has been modest Tho said – adding that it primarily consisted of a dioxin contamination clean-up project at the Danang International Airport and several humanitarian and social welfare projects.

In addition, the city Leader thanked his guest for the US donation of 100 pieces of equipment to the Danang Natural Disaster Prevention Centre for use in minimizing damages caused by natural disasters.

US Secretary Mabus in turn said it was great to be back in Vietnam, noting that this is the third time he has visited Vietnam and his first visit to Danang.

On the occasion, Mabus visited the guided-missile destroyer, USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) and the littoral combat ship USS Fort Worth (LCS 3), which previously docked on April 6th at the Tien Sa Port.

This is the sixth NEA Vietnam since it was established as an annual engagement in 2010. NEA Vietnam was last conducted April 7-11, 2014.

Occurring during the 20th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two nations, these activities have been designed to foster mutual understanding, build confidence in the maritime domain and develop relationships between the people and navies of both nations.

Vietnam remembers Cuba’s Giron victory.

The Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association on April 10 celebrated the 54th anniversary of Cuba’s victory, which successfully repelled a 1,500-strong mercenary invading force, attempting to overthrow the government of Fidel Castro.

The mercenaries were equipped, trained and financed by the US government and landed at the Playa Giron (Bay of Pigs) on April 17, 1961.

Prominent figures in attendance at the ceremony held at the Radio the Voice of Vietnam’s (VOV) national broadcast centre in Hanoi included Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Herminio Lopez Diaz and VOV General Director Nguyen Dang Tien.

“The glorious victory continues to symbolize the Cuban revolution and serve as a source of inspiration for the national liberation movement throughout the Latin American community” Nguyen Dang Tien said.

“Over the past 55 years, the Vietnamese and Cuban people have always stood shoulder to shoulder and united in support of each other in the national liberation movement and national defence.”

VOV will forever be indebted to Cuba for the invaluable support the Cuban people provided Vietnam during its struggles for independence and freedom Tien affirmed.

He reminded those in attendance that at that time, the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television allowed VOV to use its channel for nine years to broadcast VOV programs, which was instrumental in informing the American people and the world of the injustice of the US war.

Cuban ambassador to Vietnam Herminio Lopez Diaz, in turn, said he was proud of the fine relationship between the two parties, states and governments. He also expressed admiration for Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements, especially in the renewal (Doi Moi) process.

The ambassador also expressed his belief that the approval of Cuba’s new Law on Foreign Investment would offer promising opportunities for strengthening trade and cooperation with Vietnam. 

Lao Embassy celebrates traditional New Year festival

The Lao Embassy held a celebration to mark their traditional New Year festival Bun Pi May in Hanoi on April 10 with the participation of Vietnamese senior officials.

At the ceremony, Vietnamese Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan wished the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, State, and people happiness and success in the New Year and congratulated the country on their comprehensive accomplishments.

She said despite complicated changes in the region and globally in the past year, the Vietnam-Laos cooperation has reaped considerable achievements with strengthened political relations through a number of high-level exchanges such as the recently concluded visit to Laos by President Truong Tan Sang.

The two countries have also enhanced their relations in defence, security, diplomacy, economics, culture and education, contributing to their effective multifaceted cooperation, she added.

The official voiced her belief that Laos will continue to see socio-economic development successes this year.

At the celebration, Ambassador Somphone Sichaleune appreciated Vietnam’s continual assistance to Laos in its past liberation struggle and current development, contributing to the two nations’ special friendship, solidarity, and comprehensive collaboration.

On April 9, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung visited the Lao Embassy to congratulate the staff on their traditional Bun Pi May festival.

This year, the Lao traditional New Year holiday will extend from April 14 to April 17.-