Communist Parties of Vietnam, Cuba hold 4th theoretical symposium

Nguyen Xuan Thang, Secretary of the CPV Central Committee, is received by Second Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Jose Ramon Machado Ventura (Photo: acn.cu)

The fourth theoretical symposium between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Communist Party of Cuba (CPC) opened in Havana, Cuba on November 14.

It was co-chaired by Nguyen Xuan Thang, Secretary of the CPV Central Committee, Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council, and Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, and José Ramón Balaguer, Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and head of the CPC Central Committee’s Department of External Relations.

Addressing the opening of the symposium, the two officials affirmed that based on experience of the three previous editions, the two sides would focus discussion on theoretical issues drawn from reality and share lessons learnt from Vietnam’s “Doi moi” (renewal) process and Cuba’s socio-economic model updating.

They agreed that the outcomes of the symposium will contribute to the socio-economic development and Party building work in each country, thus helping both gain greater achievements during the building of socialism and the protection of the socialist regime.

During the two-day event, delegates are expected to have in-depth discussions on issues of mutual concern.

Also on November 14, Thang was received by Second Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Jose Ramon Machado Ventura who affirmed that the organisation of the symposium offers a chance for both sides to share experience and demonstrates the two parties’ solidarity, thus boosting the Vietnam-Cuba friendship and cooperation.

The Cuban party official confirmed the bilateral ties have enjoyed strong development, especially in 2018 when a number of visits by senior leaders have been organised. He suggested the two parties and countries maintain close coordination to realise signed agreements, especially in economics, trade and investment.

Thang affirmed the consistent support of the Vietnamese Party, State and people for Cuba’s revolutionary cause.

He expressed his belief that under the sound leadership of the CPC, the Cuban people will overcome all difficulties and challenges to gain greater achievements during the cause of building prosperous and sustainable socialism.

During his stay in Cuba, the Vietnamese official also held talks with Balaguer, during which they exchanged views on specific measures to foster comprehensive and effective collaboration between the two parties and countries in the time to come.

Vietnam Social Security calls for WB’s help in fund investment

The Vietnam Social Security (VSS) asked for assistance from the World Bank (WB) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to its fund investment activities during a working session in Hanoi on November 13.

The two sides discussed the role of the VSS’s Fund Investment Department, challenges and opportunities for this department, and expected reforms.

Briefing about fund investment and development, VSS Deputy Director General Nguyen Dinh Khuong pointed out the advantages and difficulties facing his agency.

He noted that the VSS has been seeking ways to simultaneously increase insurance participants, improve fund accumulation efficiency, ensure fund safety in the future, and cope with insurance frauds.

As a result, the fund investment structure has been shifted towards a safe direction with an increase in the investment in Government bonds. Notably, the fund investment scale has been on the rise while profit from these activities has also been increasing year on year, he added.

Khuong asked the WB and the IFC to assist the VSS with how to analyse and select projects to invest in so as to maximise profit and minimise risks.

The VSS also called for more support to improve its specialised staff’s capacity in advising its leaders to make decisions with long-term vision.

At the session, Alwaleed Alatabani, lead financial sector specialist at the WB, pledged that the WB will help the VSS to improve fund management and investment.

ASEAN values US’s contributions to regional peace, cooperation

US Vice President Mike Pence (second, right), Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (centre) and other ASEAN leaders at the 6th ASEAN-US Summit in Singapore on November 15 

Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) highly valued the US’s role and contributions to peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity in the region at the 6th ASEAN-US Summit in Singapore on November 15.

At the event, part of the 33rd ASEAN Summit and related meetings, ASEAN leaders shared the view that over the last 41 years, the two sides have attained considerable progress in their relations when cooperation has been expanded substantively in multiple spheres on the basis of mutual respect, trust and benefits, especially in terms of trade, investment, connectivity, infrastructure development, digital economy, cyber security, marine cooperation, and fight against terrorism and extremist violence.

The US currently ranks third among trade partners and fourth among investors of ASEAN, they noted.

US Vice President Mike Pence affirmed that his country commits to promoting ties with ASEAN and views the bloc as an important partner in the region. He stressed that the US supports ASEAN’s central role and will continue actively taking part in ASEAN-led mechanisms, thus contributing to regional peace, security and stability.

He mentioned the US’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy, adding that it respects ASEAN’s principles and wants to enhance cooperation with the grouping in the fields of shared concern.

The US side also announced 60 billion USD in assistance for regional infrastructure development, and that it leaves the possibility of bilateral free trade agreements with ASEAN nations open. The country will also continue to provide the 113 million-USD support package in economy and the other worth 300 million USD in regional security cooperation.

With regard to the East Sea situation, Pence affirmed the US will maintain its presence and contributions to help ensure peace, security, stability, freedom and safety of navigation, and non-militarisation in the East Sea, while preventing confrontations and encouraging relevant parties to fully carry out the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), and soon finalise an effective and binding code of conduct (COC) in the waters.

The US also looks forwards to ASEAN’s support for efforts towards complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation in the Korean Peninsula, he added.

Addressing the summit, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc applauded the US’s role and contributions in the region, voicing his hope that ASEAN and the US will keep stepping up dialogue, building trust, highlighting international law, forming and sharing common standards of conduct, and promoting an open, transparent and rule-based regional order.

He urged both sides to bolster fair, equal and win-win economic and trade partnerships.

Regarding the US’s Free and Open Indo-Pacific Strategy, he reiterated that ASEAN welcomes all initiatives helping with regional peace, stability and cooperation on the basis of respect for the basic principles and central role of the bloc.

PM Phuc also repeated ASEAN’s consistent stance on the East Sea issue, noting that they hope for the US’s continued support for the regional countries’ efforts to increase dialogue and trust; promote self-restraint, non-militarisation, and no use of or threats to use force; peacefully resolve disputes in line with international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea; fully implement the DOC; and build an effective and substantive COC.

At the end of the summit, participating leaders adopted an ASEAN-US statement on cyber security cooperation.

Opportunities for Vietnam amid accelerating “Look East” policies

An international seminar on “Africa and the Middle East’s Policy towards Asia and Cooperation Opportunities for Vietnam” was held by the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hanoi on November 15.

As African and Middle Eastern countries are moving boldly in the direction of “Look East” policies with a greater focus on cooperation with Vietnam, it is vital for Vietnamese academics, policymakers and businesses to have a clear understanding of the policies so as to make the most of the benefits resulting from cooperation with these regions, said VASS President, Prof. PhD. Nguyen Quang Thuan.

Vietnam is a pillar for the “Look East” policies of Africa and the Middle East, said Ambassador of Angola to Vietnam Joao Manuel Bernardo. The diplomat expects Vietnam, together with Angola and more broadly Africa, will develop a new model of cooperation, in which both sides will help each other to transform from exporters of raw materials to industrial manufacturers to produce a larger quantity of goods and more employment.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Phuong Nga said Vietnam and countries in Africa and the Middle East have many advantages to supplement each other. Vietnam has seen significant socio-economic development in recent years as the country is one of the top leaders in GDP growth among ASEAN and Asian nations, averaging 6-7 percent annually, she noted, adding that last year, its GDP exceeded 220 billion USD, while the FDI injection hit over 36 billion USD.

Over the last three years, trade between Vietnam and African and Middle Eastern countries increased sharply, from 16.25 billion USD in 2016 to 18.65 billion USD in 2017, with Vietnam enjoying a trade surplus. Vietnam has remained an annual two-way trade turnover of over 1 billion USD with six countries, including Turkey, Israel, and South Africa.

As of June 2018, the total FDI from Vietnam to the region had reached more than 2.6 billion USD.

During the seminar, participants focused their discussion on the trends of the “Look East” policies in Africa and the Middle East, as well as some of the challenges facing Vietnamese enterprises to boost investment and trade in these regions. 

Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh has expressed her wish that Vietnam and Belarus will step up their relations in all potential aspects, of which defence cooperation should be made a highlight.

At a reception for Belarusian Defence Minister Ravkov Andrei Alekseevich in Hanoi on November 15, Thinh said Vietnam always attaches importance to its partnership with Belarus.

Vietnam is ready to act as a bridge for Belarus to enhance collaboration with ASEAN nations, she said, asking the European country to support Vietnam’s bid to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021.

Appreciating the fruitful defence cooperation between the two countries over the past time, especially in training, military technique, political education for soldiers and people, and information and communications, the Vice President held that the two sides see great potential for collaboration in various fields.

She said she supports orientations and measures agreed by the two defence ministers during this visit to make defence ties, particularly cooperation in military technique, a highlight in the Vietnam-Belarus relations.

Thinh urged Belarus to ensure the progress and quality of signed military commercial contracts, prioritise collaboration in technological transfer and production of weapons and technical equipment following Vietnam’s demand.

She also wished that Belarus will continue creating favourable conditions for Vietnamese citizens to live, study and work in the country, as well as supporting the two countries’ businesses in boosting trade exchanges.

For his part, Minister Ravkov Andrei Alekseevich informed his host that he discussed and agreed on a wide range of military cooperation issues with his Vietnamese counterpart Ngo Xuan Lich.

The two sides signed an agreement on cooperation in military science and a plan on delegation exchange in 2019, he said.

Affirming that Vietnam is a sincere friend and reliable partner of Belarus, the guest said Belarus always supports Vietnam at international forums. He also vowed to do his utmost to contribute to fostering the bilateral relationship.

Deputy Defence Minister receives UNDP representative

Deputy Minister of Defence Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh hosted a reception for Kamal Malhotra, Resident Coordinator and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative to Vietnam, in Hanoi on November 15.

At the event, they discussed several issues relating to an international conference on improving Vietnam’s peacekeeping capacity co-chaired by Vietnam and the UNDP on November 23.

Joining the UN peacekeeping force is a long-term strategy of Vietnam, Vinh affirmed, stressing that the conference will help Vietnam outline its rational policy in participating in the force in the coming time.

The Ministry of National Defence will continue close coordination with the UNDP in Vietnam in the fields of official training and post-war consequence recovery.

Kamal Malhotra, for his part, congratulated Vietnam for successfully implementing the first level-2 field hospital in South Sudan, while lauding the country’s meticulous preparation for the international conference.

Vietnam has previously sent many individuals to join global peacekeeping efforts who were later complimented by leaders of UN Missions in South Sudan and Central Africa for their professional and prompt response to urgent situations. 

The hospital is the first-ever independent unit of Vietnam to join the UN peacekeeping operation. On October 1, the first hospital delegation with 32 members set off for South Sudan. The second group, with 31 doctors, left Ho Chi Minh City for the mission in the African country on October 15. 

Poland’s Independence Day marked in HCM City

Le Thanh Liem, Permanent Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, speaks at the meeting. 

The Polish Embassy in Vietnam on November 15 joined hands with the Union of Friendship Organisations in Ho Chi Minh City and some partners to organise a meeting celebrating the 100th anniversary of Poland’s Independence Day (November 11). 

In his remarks, Le Thanh Liem, Permanent Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, said Poland is a genuine friend who has accompanied Vietnam since the two countries set up diplomatic ties in 1950. 

He highlighted Poland’s wholehearted support to Vietnam during its struggle for national independence and liberation, as well as in the present national construction and development. 

According to Liem, the 40,000-strong Vietnamese community in Poland at present and thousands of others who used to study in the country have served as a bridge linking the two countries, and a resource of development for each side. 

The city leader highlighted remarkable events in the relations between HCM City and Poland, such as Polish President Andrzei Duda’s visit to HCM City, the inauguration of the office of the Polish Investment and Trade Agency and the visa centre for Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia, and the Vietnam-Poland Business Forum in the city last year. Such events have helped both sides better tap potential for cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, training and other spheres, he said. 

HCM City will continue to closely coordinate with the Polish Embassy and other competent agencies to elevate the bilateral cooperative ties to a new high, matching the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Poland, he promised.  

Polish Ambassador Wojciech Gerwel said despite geographical distance, Vietnam and Poland are close to each other as they share similarities in the struggle for national independence. 

The close relationship has been nurtured by generations of Vietnamese students in Poland and the Vietnamese community, he said. 

Poland highly appreciates HCM City – a busy commercial centre which plays an increasingly important role. It is the reason why the Polish Investment and Trade Agency has selected the city as one of the first destinations to open its representative office, he noted. 

The ambassador expressed his hope that more Polish companies can seek business partners in HCM City, contributing to promoting the bilateral ties in the years to come.