PM hosts State reception for IPU-132 participants

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung held a state-level reception for participants of the 132nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132) at the Central Sector of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi on March 31.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, IPU President Saber Chowdhury and IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong attended the party.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung said the success of the event cemented the role of the IPU in the international arena.

It’s not only the world’s largest multilateral parliamentary cooperative forum, but also contributes greatly to the United Nations in building the agenda for global sustainable development after 2015.

He also said in the current context, the threat of terrorism, land and sea conflicts and non-traditional security issues such as climate change, epidemics and food safety, countries needed to cooperate closely.

He said in order to maintain peace, stability and sustainable development, countries needed to respect the integrity and legal rights of other partners, while contributing to address common concerns.-

Global gathering helps to forge parliamentary ties

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has called for the US to continue its support in dealing with the consequences of war, especially Agent Orange victims, bomb and mine clearance, and sharing information on Vietnamese soldiers and officers missing in action.

The Party chief said this was important for deepening trust between the two sides.

He was speaking at a reception for Minority Leader of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, and accompanying congressmen in Ha Noi yesterday.

Pelosi said she was happy to visit when the two countries were celebrating the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

She said it was good to see the impressive developments made by Viet Nam as well as the country's growing position on the regional and global stages.

Pelosi said Republicans and Democrats in the US congress all backed the US administration's policy of bolstering ties with Viet Nam and stepping up the implementation of the Comprehensive Partnership.

She said she believed the two countries had much to do to develop relations, especially when the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement takes effect.

The Party leader described Pelosi's visit as significant to elevating the two countries' relations.

He said co-operation in economic matters, education, healthcare, science and technology had generated practical benefits for Vietnamese and American people and contributed to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

State President Truong Tan Sang later also asked the visitors to provide greater support to promote the comprehensive partnership.

This should focus on exchanging high-level visits; accelerating economic, trade and investment co-operation; concluding the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations early; opening the door to Vietnamese goods; and addressing the consequences of war, he said.

The State President said he was delighted at the progress made in relations across politics and diplomacy; economy, trade and investment, science and technology, security and defence, culture and education, and humanitarian collaboration since the Comprehensive Partnership was established in July, 2013.

Pelosi said she was impressed by Viet Nam's accomplishments and confirmed her delegation's backing for strengthened ties.

According to her, the two countries have yet to fully tap their development potential and now is the time for both to further their comprehensive partnership.

Pelosi and the other congressmen exchanged views with the President on the Asia-Pacific context as well as TPP negotiations and related matters in labourers' rights, the environment, the role of women - and food security and safety.

NA Chairman meets EP leader

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung praised the role of the European Parliament (EP) in enhancing the partnership between Viet Nam and the European Community (EU) while meeting Dimitrios Papadimoulis, EP Vice President yesterday.

The EP Vice President is visiting Ha Noi for the 132nd Assembly of the Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU-132).

Chairman Hung said he was glad with positive, fast, and strong developments in relations between Viet Nam and the EU general and with individual EU members during the past 25 years.

He said Viet Nam's National Assembly was willing to share information and converse with the EP on issues of shared interest.

Papadimoulis said that the EP was ready to work with the NA across sectors and would make maximum efforts for the early implementation of the Viet Nam-EU Free Trade Agreement.

He said he hoped the NA and the EP would exchange delegations frequently to further boost parliamentary relations.

Chile ties

Viet Nam appreciated the developing friendship with Latin American countries, including those with Chile, said National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

Ngan was speaking during a reception in Ha Noi yesterday for Vice President of the Lower House of the National Congress of Chile, Denise Pascal Allende, who is in Viet Nam for the 132nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly (IPU-132).

She suggested the two legislatures promote measures to enhance the comprehensive partnership.

She said bilateral relations had expanded in recent years, adding that the links between the two countries' legislative bodies had yielded positive results.

Economic and trade co-operation developed strongly, especially after Viet Nam and Chile signed a bilateral Free Trade Agreement.

She urged the two governments to support each other at multilateral forums, such as the United Nations, IPU and Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC), adding that Viet Nam hoped Chile would support Viet Nam's candidacy to the UN Security Council (2020-2021) and the UN Economic and Social Council (2016-2018).

Allende said she hoped Viet Nam and Chile would further promote their co-operation, especially in economics, politics, culture and agriculture.

Delegate receptions

National Assembly Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu held separate receptions for Vice President of the Palestine National Council, Taysir Quba's, and Deputy Chair of the Bulgarian Parliament, Dimitar Glavachev, in Ha Noi yesterday.

Both are visiting Viet Nam for the 132nd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly.

Meeting Quba's, Luu assured him that the NA was willing to boost co-operation with the Palestinian legislature, both bilaterally and multilaterally.

He wished the legislatures would work supportively at IPU forums on global issues of shared concern.

Quba's expressed his hope that both countries would deepen bilateral ties, especially in business and investment.

At a reception for Glavachev, Luu told his guest that the two governments had agreed to launch a new economic co-operation model in an effort to deepen bilateral ties towards strategic partnership.

He thanked the Bulgarian government for its support of Vietnamese in his country, saying they had been a crucial factor in the strengthening of bilateral friendship and trade ties.

Glavachev recalled that a number of Vietnamese officials and engineers had trained in Bulgaria during the past 65 years, many of whom held key positions in the State and socio-economic sectors.

He pledged to do his best to foster the relationship between the two countries.

Bulgaria continually welcomed Vietnamese investors, the guest said, adding that he hoped the Vietnamese Government would offer additional support to Bulgarian investors in Viet Nam.

Party officials meet

Party officials received Russian and Japanese delegates in Viet Nam for the 132nd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132) Assembly yesterday.

Politburo member and head of the Party Central Committee's Organisation Commission, To Huy Rua, held a reception for a Japanese delegation led by member of the House of Representatives Shunichi Suzuki .

Meanwhile, Head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for External Relations, Hoang Binh Quan, met Andrey Klishas, member of the Russian Federation Council , who expressed his strong impressions of this year's IPU.

Quan praised the significant contributions of the Russian delegation to the IPU's success, adding that the engagement would enhance trans-parliamentary affiliation and strategic co-operation.

Norwegian, Italian envoys

Meeting the Vice-President of the Norwegian parliament, Kenneth Svendsen, in Ha Noi yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh thanked Norway for its official development assistance, mostly in responses to climate change and for improvements in the environment and education.

He asked the parliament to support Norwegian investors interested in Viet Nam, especially those in shipbuilding, maritime affairs, energy, and seafood.

Svendsen said the Norwegian parliament would do its best to re-inforce its friendship with the Vietnamese legislature.

He said he was impressed by Viet Nam's socio-economic progress, including the realisation of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals ahead of schedule.

Both sides committed to accelerating negotiations towards the signing of a free trade agreement (FTA) between Viet Nam and the European Free Trade Association and to work collaboratively at multilateral forums and international organisations, especially the United Nations.

In a separate reception for the Chairperson of the Italian Senate's Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Pier Ferdinando Casini, Minh asked for stronger efforts to further develop the Viet Nam-Italy strategic partnership, initially by designing an action plan to tap their trade and investment potential.

Minh asked the Italian parliament to back the expansion of ties between Viet Nam and the European Union and step up the approval of the Viet Nam-EU Partnership and Co-operation Agreement towards signing the Viet Nam-EU FTA.

Casini said the Italian parliament would work on an action plan to realise the Viet Nam-Italy strategic partnership for 2015-2016.

He told his host that the Italian business community was satisfied with the Vietnamese business climate and looked forward to expanding operations in Viet Nam.

He said the Italian parliament supported measures to lift trade and multifaceted ties between the two nations. — VNS

National Assembly Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu held separate receptions for Vice President of the Palestine National Council Taysir Quba’s and Deputy Chair of the Bulgarian Parliament Dimitar Glavachev in Hanoi on March 31, both of whom are visiting Vietnam for the 132nd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly.

Meeting Quba’s, Luu assured him that the Vietnamese NA is willing to boost cooperation with the Palestinian legislature both bilaterally and multilaterally.

He wished the legislatures would work supportively at IPU forums on global issues of shared concern.

Quba’s expressed his hope that both countries would deepen their bilateral ties, especially in business and investment.

At a reception for Dimitar Glavachev, Luu told his guest that the two governments have agreed to launch a new economic cooperation model in an effort to deepen bilateral ties towards becoming strategic partners.

He thanked the Bulgarian government for its support to the Vietnamese in its country who have been a crucial factor in the strengthening of bilateral friendship and trade ties.

Dimitar Glavachev, for his part, recalled that a number Vietnamese officials and engineers have been trained in Bulgaria over the past 65 years, many of whom currently hold key positions in the State and socio-economic sectors.

He pledged to do his best to foster the relationship between the two countries.

Bulgaria continually welcomes Vietnamese investors, the guest said, adding that he hopes the Vietnamese government will offer additional support to Bulgarian investors in Vietnam.

Vietnam builds barracks for Cambodia

Cambodia’s Ministry of Defence inaugurated a new Vietnam-funded barrack for army training units under the elite Brigade 70 of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) on March 31.

Attendants at the opening ceremony included Cambodian RCAF Commander-in-Chief General Pol Saroeun and Vietnamese Defence Attaché to Cambodia Colonel Nguyen Anh Dung.

General Pol Saroeun thanked Vietnam’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) on behalf of the RCAF for its support and significant contributions to the forces’ development in recent years.

The two nations have maintained strong defence cooperation, facilitating the growing traditional bilateral ties, he said.

According to Colonel Nguyen Anh Dung, the barrack was the sixth of its kind to be constructed in Cambodia using 100,000 USD in financial aid from Vietnam’s MOD.

The facility comprises a residential area, a catering place and tank garages.

Vietnam will provide an additional 4 million USD to the RCAF for its capital construction under the Vietnam-Cambodia protocol for defence cooperation as inked earlier this year.

NA Chairman meets European Parliament Vice President

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung emphasised the important role of the European Parliament (EP) in enhancing Vietnam-EU partnership while meeting Dimitrios Papadimoulis, EP Vice President on March 31.

The EP Vice President is currently in Hanoi for the ongoing 132nd Assembly of the Inter-parliamentary Union (IPU-132).

Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said he was glad with positive, fast, and strong developments in the relations between Vietnam and the European Union in general and with individual EU member over the past 25 years.

He confirmed the Vietnam NA’s willingness to share information and converse with the EP on issues of shared interest in a cooperative and constructive manner.

EP Vice President Dimitrios Papadimoulis spoke highly of Vietnam’s preparations for the IPU-132, saying this reflected the Vietnam NA’s growing position.

He assured that the EP stands ready to work together with the Vietnam NA across sectors and will make maximum effort for the early signing and implementation of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement.

He expressed his hope that the Vietnam NA and the EP will exchange delegations frequently to further boost parliamentary relations, which are viewed the mainstay in the comprehensive and partnership between Vietnam and the EU.

Vietnam concerned about violence in Yemen

Vietnam is deeply concerned about the escalating violence in Yemen, Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Le Hai Binh said in response to queries from reporters about Vietnam’s stance on the issue in Hanoi on March 31.

Vietnam calls on all parties concerned to exercise restraint and work to settle disputes through dialogues in line with international law and related resolutions by the United Nations Security Council to quickly restore peace and stability in Yemen and the Middle East, he said.

Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Vu Trong Kim received Dario Vivas, Politburo member and Vice President of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), in Hanoi on March 31.

The VFF Vice President said Vietnam always appreciates the assistance from Latin American countries, including Venezuela, during its struggle for national liberation and current development efforts.

He congratulated Venezuela on its socio-economic achievements under the leadership of the PSUV over the past 15 years, especially in ensuring social equality and welfare and reducing poverty.

Introducing the VFF’s role and functions, Kim suggested the PSUV and the VFF share experience and underlined Vietnam’s resolve to boost multifaceted relations with the PSUV and the other political and social organisations of Venezuela.

Dario Vivas, who is in Hanoi to attend the 132 nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, emphasised the significance of cooperation between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the PSUV as well as between the two States and peoples.

He stressed Venezuela’s history of warm relations with Vietnam, adding that the Southeast Asian nation’s accomplishments have been a source of encouragement for his country’s development.

Deputy PM Phuc receives Iranian security official

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on March 30 received Sayed Ahmad-Reza Dastgheib, D eputy Head of the Iranian parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee.

Ahmad-Reza Dastgheib is in Hanoi attending the 132th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly (IPU-132), running through April 1.

At the meeting, Deputy PM Phuc suggested the official and the Iranian legislative body use their role to offer necessary and timely support to promote effective implementation of cooperation agreements signed by the two countries in order to tap the full potential of bilateral relationship.

Speaking highly of Vietnam’s thorough preparation for the IPU-132, Ahmad-Reza Dastgheib said that in upcoming time the two countries need to strengthen cooperation, exchanges of information on business opportunities, technology transfer and people-to-people exchanges.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Monaco presents credentials

Vietnamese Ambassador to Monaco Nguyen Ngoc Son presented his credentials to Prince Albert II of Monaco in Monte Carlo on March 30.

Ambassador Son briefed his host on the socio-economic development progress in Vietnam and the bilateral relations between the two countries, thanking Monaco for its support at multilateral forums such as the United Nations (UN), the International Francophone Organisation (OIF) and particularly the International Hydrographic Organisation.

Son said Vietnam attaches importance to developing multifaceted ties with Monaco, especially in tourism, finance and oceanic research.

Ambassador Son conveyed a message from Vietnamese President Truong Tan San inviting the prince to visit Vietnam

Prince Albert II thanked President Sang for his invitation, saying that the visit will be arranged in an appropriate time.

The host lauded the significant achievements of the Vietnamese people in the national development cause.

Ambassador Son is Vietnamese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Republic of France, Republic of Portugal, Principality of Monaco, Principality of Andorra and the Central African Republic.

Vietnam and Monaco established diplomatic relations in 2007 and Prince Albert II visited Vietnam in 1997.

VNA/VNS