VNA seeks ways to improve coverage of Party building work

At the workshop 

How to improve coverage of Party building work was the main theme of a workshop held by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and Department of Information and Communications of the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang on April 12. 

VNA Deputy General Director Le Quoc Minh said journalists and press agencies should be aware that the coverage of Party building work should direct the flow of information and public opinion on new matters as well as issues of public concern such as the fight against corruption, wastefulness and other bad deeds. 

Besides, it is necessary to promote new, creative models and examples in Party building, Minh said. 

Delegates at the workshop underlined the need to develop a contingent of journalists who are enthusiastic about Party building and have firm political will, good ethics and professional knowledge. 

They also said coordination of the information and education sector, relevant ministries and agencies, and local authorities is necessary to help journalists access accurate information sources. 

Nguyen Thien Can, deputy head of the Kien Giang provincial Party Committee’s Information and Education Board, was of the opinion that press agencies should seek new ways of reporting about Party building work.

He also proposed maintaining and launching more specialized pages and columns devoted to Party building, and increasing broadcasting durations to promote the work.

Ambassador: high political trust drives Vietnam-Russia ties forward

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Ngo Duc Manh (L) in the interview

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Ngo Duc Manh has stated that high political trust will create a driving force for promoting bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership. 

He made the statement in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of his presentation of credentials to Russian President Vladimir Putin on April 11. 

Manh said bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership has been growing in diverse areas, especially via the exchange of high-level visits, notably Chairwoman of the Federation Council of Russia Valentina Matviyenko’s visit to Vietnam in February 2017, President Tran Dai Quang’s visit to Russia in June 2017. In November last year, Presidents Tran Dai Quang and Vladimir Putin held talks on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Meeting in the central city of Da Nang. 

Two-way trade neared 4 billion USD last year, up 36 percent annually. Russia’s total investment in Vietnam hit 2 billion USD while Vietnam poured 2.9 billion USD into the European country. 

The two countries have agreed to jointly build and modernise energy works in Vietnam, and their localities have held meetings to boost ties, notably between Hanoi and Moscow, Ho Chi Minh City and Saint Petersburg, Da Nang and Yaroslavl, Khanh Hoa and Khabarovsk. 

National defence-security cooperation has developed via the regular exchange of delegations and effective operations of the Vietnam – Russia Inter-Governmental Committee on Scientific-Technological Cooperation. Ties across culture, education and science-technology have been increasingly strengthened. 

In order to fully tap potential of bilateral cooperation, Manh underscored the need to realise projects under the Vietnam – Russia priority portfolio for 2018-2019, and make periodic review to clear barriers and unlock opportunities brought about by the Vietnam – Eurasian Economic Union Free Trade Agreement that took effect in October 2016. 

He called for stepping up trade promotion and popularising images of Vietnam to attract investment. 

The Vietnam – Russia Inter-Governmental Committee on Scientific-Technological Cooperation’s meetings held every three months prove Russia’s determination to deepen ties with Vietnam, he said. 

The ambassador added that the embassy will give priority to economic diplomacy in order to realise the goal of lifting two-way trade to 10 billion USD by 2020 as agreed by leaders.

Vietnam-France enjoy growing partnership

President Putin stresses thriving Vietnam-Russia relations

The Vietnam-Russia strategic partnership is developing fruitfully, with regular political meetings, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

The Russian President made the remark at a reception in Moscow on April 11 for Vietnamese Ambassador Ngo Duc Manh and 16 other ambassadors who came to present their credentials. 

President Putin said Vietnam and Russia have closely coordinated with each other, firstly within the framework of multilateral organisations in Asia-Pacific. 

Vietnam is one of Russia’s leading trade partners, he said, noting that the two countries have also joined hands in military and military technology.

The leader also commended the effective operation of the Vietnam-Russia inter-governmental committee on economic, commercial, scientific and technological cooperation. 

At the reception, President Putin stressed that Russia stands ready to support constructive initiatives raised by the ambassadors.

Vietnam and Russia established diplomatic ties on January 30, 1950.

Two-way trade topped 5.3 billion USD in 2017, representing a year-on-year rise of 35 percent.

The two countries are working together to raise the figure to 10 billion USD by 2020.

Hanoi, New Zealand steps up cooperation

Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Doan Toan received New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Wendy Matthews on April 11 to discuss bilateral ties.

At the reception, Toan said the capital has made efforts to build highly competent human resources for the fourth industrial revolution, and to develop a smart city and e-governance system. 

These are sectors in which Hanoi wants assistance from New Zealand, the official added.

For her part, the New Zealand diplomat said her country wants to contribute to Hanoi’s development, particularly via cooperation in human resources training.      

Matthews said New Zealand is involved in several activities within Vietnam’s national foreign language education project and expects to work with the Hanoi agencies running the project. 

With universities ranked among 500 top universities in the world, New Zealand is capable of providing Vietnam with training programmes for high-quality managers, she noted.

She highlighted her country’s strength in e-governance, saying it is also a sector New Zealand wants to collaborate in with Vietnam and Hanoi. 

Toan introduced to his guest Hanoi’s trade promotion conference in mid-June and invited the diplomat to the event, an invitation she accepted.

Overview of PAPI in Vietnam

VNA Deputy General Director receives ICAP leader

At the reception

Deputy General Director of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Dinh Dang Quang hosted a reception in Hanoi on April 11 for President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with Peoples (ICAP) Fernando Gonzalez Llort, who is in Vietnam from April 9-15. 

Quang told the guest that the VNA chapter of the Vietnam – Cuba Friendship Association (VCFA) was founded in 2001 with 57 members, including VNA staff who studied and worked in Cuba or relatives of those who did and are studying in the country. 

He added that the VNA is Vietnam’s the only press agency to form the chapter, which is also considered one of the most effective ones. 

According to him, the chapter has increased coverage of Cuba and bilateral ties, held photo exhibitions on bilateral friendship, Cuba and its country and people, joined celebrations of Cuba’s major festivals and the anniversary of Vietnam – Cuba diplomatic ties, contributing to strengthening solidarity with Cuban people. 

The host said the chapter’s members are a pillar force to reinforce ties between the VNA and Cuba’s State-run news agency Prensa Latina, including compilation and publication of Vietnam Pictorial in Spanish language in Cuba. 

He hoped that the ICAP will continue working closely with Vietnam’s agencies, including the VNA and its Vietnam-Cuba friendship chapter to further expand bilateral ties in promising fields. 

Llort, for his part, said the ICAP is tasked with supporting foreign students in Cuba, including those from Vietnam. 

The guest expressed his belief that the VNA and its Vietnam – Cuba friendship chapter will make active and effective contributions to deepening ties between Vietnam and Cuba, and between Vietnam and Latin American countries in general. 

The ICAP has a network of chapters and partner groups across 160 countries worldwide and backed Vietnam’s fight for independence in the past. 

Earlier, the Cuban delegation laid a wreath at the Monument of José Marti, leader of Cuba’s independence movement.

Vietnam, Czech share huge potential for trade cooperation

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic Vladimir Bartl 

A Czech trade official has said Vietnam and the Czech Republic share huge room for trade and investment cooperation.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic Vladimir Bartl, has told the Vietnam News Agency that Vietnam and the Czech Republic have promising and long-term cooperation potential in numerous fields thanks to the traditional friendship between the two nations, the active support of the two governments, and particularly the EU – Vietnam free trade agreement (EUVFTA) which is to be effective within this year.

"Vietnam and the Czech Republic serve as the two gateways for their products to enter the EU in one way and ASEAN in another way. The two nations will actively support each other to fully tap the potentials of their own as well as within the cooperation mechanisms that they are members to,” Bartl said.

The Deputy Minister was in Hanoi for the sixth meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee on Vietnam-Czech Republic Economic Cooperation on April 11. He attended the Vietnam-Czech Business Seminar the day earlier.

“The economic and trading cooperation between the two nations over the past years has yet to reach their potentials and expectations,” he underscored, adding that the Czech Republic wants stronger cooperation and investment in environment protection, mining, construction technology, biotechnology, nanotechnology, telecommunication, industrial machines, and agriculture, with Vietnam.

Addressing at the Czech-Vietnamese Business Seminar hosted by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) on April 10, Ta Hoang Linh, Head of the European-American Markets Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade highlighted the fast growth and deep integration into the global and regional economy of both Vietnam and the Czech Republic as a favourable condition for the two countries to accelerate bilateral cooperation in economics, trade and investment.

He highlighted Vietnam’s favourable investment environment for foreign investors in general and those from the Czech Republic in particular, in terms of political stability, better legal system in line with international practices, and improved infrastructure.

He said the Vietnam Government is accelerating institutional and administrative reforms in an effort to meet the requirements of the market-oriented economy as well as the international integration, with a view to creating a more transparent and favourable condition for trading and investment of foreign and domestic businesses.

“The Ministry of Industry and Trade and other ministries and sectors are committed to supporting and facilitating trade and investment of Czech businesspeople,” Linh said.

The Czech Republic is among Vietnam’s biggest trade partners in Central and East Europe, he affirmed, calling on Czech firms to turn greater attention to the Vietnamese market.

For his part, VCCI Vice President Doan Duy Khuong highlighted the stable growth of the Vietnam – Czech trade exchange, and noted prospects for bilateral cooperation in such key sectors as agricultural products, textile and clothes, machinery, medical equipment, and energy. 

“The Vietnam – Czech cooperation has always been among priorities of the two nations’ governments and business community,” Khuong said, citing the participation of many Czech firms in the seminar. 

Sabina Tancevova, Manager of the International Relations Department under the Confederation of Industry of the Czech Republic described Vietnam as one of the most dynamic markets in Asia, adding that the two nations share huge benefits in boosting their business connection.

“Czech firms are very interested in investing in Vietnam, particularly partnering up with Vietnamese firms run by those who used to live or study in the Czech Republic,” she said, noting the mutual understanding in terms of language and culture as the reason.

Meanwhile, Petr Kulovany from the Department of Africa, Asia and Australia under the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic highlighted Vietnam as a traditional business partner of the Czech Republic, saying that the mutual trade tradition has spanned over the past 70 years.

Vietnam is among the most important partners of the country in Asia and ASEAN, and is on the list of the priority countries in the Czech Export Strategy from 2012 -2020, he said.

In 2017, Vietnam and the Czech Republic traded nearly 257.6 million USD worth of goods, up 3 percent from 2016, 151 million USD of which was Vietnamese export, up 3.5 percent year on year.

In January-February 2018, the two countries’ trade reached nearly 50 million USD, up 31.3 percent from the same period in 2017. Vietnam’s exports worth more than 28 million USD in the time were mostly footwear, apparels, aquatic products, industrial machines, spare parts and electricity devices.

As of the end of February, the Czech Republic has 36 valid investment projects in Vietnam, capitalizing at over 90 million USD, ranking 49th out of 126 nations and territories investing in Vietnam.

The sixth meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee on Vietnam-Czech Republic Economic Cooperation in Hanoi on April 11 sought to come up with more possibilities for the two countries as well as their businesses to accelerate their economics, trade and investment partnerships.

HCM City hopes for stronger multifaceted ties with Japanese prefecture

The meeting between Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong and Nagano Governor Shuichi Abe on April 10 (Photo: sggp.org.vn)

Officials of Ho Chi Minh City met with leaders of Japan’s Nagano prefecture on April 10, expressing their willingness to step up bilateral cooperation in agriculture, hi-tech industry, vocational training, education and health care.

At the meeting with Nagano Governor Shuichi Abe, Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong said he was very impressed with the precision mechanics sector as well as the training quality and curriculum of universities in Nagano when he visited two businesses in Suwa region, dubbed “Switzerland of the East”, and two universities.

This Japan trip aims to seek more cooperation opportunities in agriculture, hi-tech industry, vocational training, education and health care, he said, noting that Nagano is strong at manufacturing, supporting industries and agriculture, which are also the fields that HCM City wants to promote.

Aside from growing economic, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, the Nagano-Vietnam Exchange Association is also an important contributor to the relations between HCM City and Nagano.

Phong asked for the Governor’s support for the establishment of the friendship between District 1 of HCM City and Matsumoto city of Nagano.

Meanwhile, Governor Shuichi Abe expressed his hope that basing on the signed cooperation agreements, the two sides will increase economic cooperation and cultural exchange activities.

He noted about 2,100 Vietnamese people are working in his prefecture, calling for more support for manpower exchange between the two localities. Nagano also wants to receive more students and labourers from Vietnam.

As Nagano has potential for agriculture, it hopes to help Vietnam in agricultural development, Abe said, adding that the prefecture wants HCM City to help bring local agricultural products to the Vietnamese market.

Meeting with Chairman of the prefecture’s council Kiyoshi Suzuki, Phong said in less than two years since the first visit to HCM City by the Nagano Governor in October 2016, the city’s leaders have visited Nagano twice, which reflects HCM City’s wish to boost cooperation with the Japanese locality.

Discussing cooperation in human resources, he said the quality of manpower has yet to meet his city’s development demand. He hopes that Nagano prefecture’s council will have cooperation programmes and share experience with HCM City to ensure the best life quality for people in both localities.

Also on April 10, the Vietnamese delegation visited the Global Aqua Innovation Centre of the Shinshu University. Chairman Phong said HCM City is facing major challenges posed by environmental pollution and climate change. He asked the Shinshu University and Nagano to help his city seek solutions to protect the environment and use water resources sustainably, while implementing other cooperation programmes to benefit both sides.