Vietnam, Japan communist parties hold theoretical exchange workshop

The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) hold the eighth theoretical exchange workshop, themed “the Vitality of Marxism today,” in Can Tho on October 16. 

The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) held the eighth theoretical exchange workshop, themed “the Vitality of Marxism today,” in the Mekong Delta City of Can Tho on October 16.

The Vietnamese delegation was led 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. The Japanese side was headed by Tanaka Yu, member of the Standing Executive Committee and Deputy Head of the JCP Central Committee’s Secretariat.

In his opening remarks, Thang said the eighth theoretical exchange workshop between the two parties takes place at a time when the Communists and Marxists around the world are celebrating Karl Marx’s 200th birthday and the 170th anniversary of the first publication of the Communist Manifesto.

The workshop is an opportunity for the two sides to review the vitality of Marxism and share the outcomes of researches on Marxist theory and practice, thus having a better insight into the value of Marxist philosophy, he noted, adding that this would inspire the two parties to remain consistent for the ideology they pursue and the path towards socialism in the 21st century.

Thang further said that what Vietnam’s achievements over the three decades of “Doi Moi” (reform) have resulted from the CPV’s Marxism-based leadership which was also a decisive factor for all victories of the country’s revolution. The exercise of Marxism and Ho Chi Minh’s thought was a prerequisite for the success of socialism building in Vietnam, he stressed.

Yu, for his part, stressed that Marxism is the guideline for the JCP on its path to push for reform. He spoke highly of Vietnam’s victories in the past national struggle for independence as well as the country’s current reform policy and international integration.

Earlier the same day, Thang hosted a reception for Yu during which the two officials highly valued the development of relations between the two parties in recent years, particularly in theoretical exchange.

They agreed to further enhance collaboration and exchange activities between the CPV and JCP in order to promote Vietnam-Japan ties for peace, stability and cooperation in the region and the world as well.

Acting President hosts newly-appointed ambassadors from EU countries

Acting President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh (R) and Ambassador of the Netherlands Elsbeth Akkerman

Acting President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh hosted separate receptions for ambassadors of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark who came to present her with their letters of credence on October 16.

In her meeting with Elsbeth Akkerman, the new Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam, Thinh said Vietnam treasures the support Dutch people have provided for the Asian country. She specifically referred to the Dutch doctors who founded the Medical Committee Netherlands-Vietnam (MCNV) to provide aid to Vietnam during wartime and who have continued to offer medical help to disadvantaged areas to this day.

The Order of Friendship awarded by the State of Vietnam to the MCNV demonstrated Vietnam’s appreciation towards its humanitarian efforts to improve people’s health, reduce poverty, and sustainably develop the country, she said.

The Acting President also spoke highly of the remarkable progress in Vietnam-the Netherlands relations in all fields, including strengthened political trust, adding that the two countries are now important economic, trade, and investment partners of each other. 

She suggested the two sides coordinate more closely and effectively to deepen their strategic partnership and further step up cooperation in sustainable development. She also expressed hope that the Netherlands will support the early signing and ratification of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Akkerman, for her part, thanked the State of Vietnam for the Order of Friendship presented to the MCNV. The Netherlands and Vietnam share common interest in developing agriculture, water management, and sustainable development which would be ideal areas for further cooperation between the two countries in the time ahead.

Welcoming new Belgian Ambassador Paul Jansen, the Acting President affirmed that Vietnam attaches importance to bolstering its partnership with Belgium and that there is plenty of room to further advance cooperation between the two countries. She asked Jansen to closely work with Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other agencies to increase high-level visit exchanges between the two sides during his mission in the country.

Thinh also hailed the effective cooperation between Vietnam and Belgium at multilateral and international forums, for example, the United Nations, the International Organisation of La Francophonie, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and ASEAN. She congratulated Belgium on its being elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2019-2020 tenure and asked that Belgium will support Vietnam’s candidacy for the post during the 2020-2021 term.

She expressed her delight at the development of the two nations’ economic, trade, and investment relations, noting that Vietnam has been making all possible efforts to enhance the local business climate and accelerate economic restructuring towards sustainable growth and the reform of State-owned enterprises. 

She conveyed her hopes for Belgium to facilitate businesses from the two sides to meet and seek partnership in the areas of agriculture, sea port, logistics, renewable energy, mining, and others, especially given that the conclusion of the EVFTA will set up appropriate conditions for their firms to expand business.

The Belgian Ambassador lauded the bilateral collaboration in economics, education, and development in recent years and affirmed his country’s support for Vietnam’s candidacy to the UN Security Council.

Talking to newly-appointed Danish Ambassador Kim Hojlund Christensen, the Vietnamese leader said she was pleased to see the significant steps Vietnam and Denmark have made in cooperation across all fields, especially since the two countries set up a strategic partnership in climate change, energy, environmental protection, and green growth in 2011 and lifted it to the level of comprehensive partnership in 2013.

She looked forward to the continued implementation of the Danish Growth Strategy for Vietnam and new opportunities that would be created for the two sides’ business societies when the EVFTA is signed.

Christensen said the establishment of the Vietnam-Denmark Comprehensive Partnership in 2013 is significant to both sides as they have shifted to cooperation in multiple areas, such as politics, investment, energy, education, agriculture, and healthcare.

Vietnam has remained a priority partner to Denmark in development cooperation and the European country will continue providing support for Vietnam in agriculture, education, energy, healthcare, and climate change response. 

PM hails Lower Austria’s role in Vietnam-Austria ties

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc spoke highly of Lower Austria’s role in Vietnam-Austria relations during a meeting with the state’s Governor Johanna Mikl-Leitner on October 16.

He expressed his delight at visiting what is now one of the most important economic and cultural hubs of Austria, a driving force of economic growth in the east of the European country. 

The leader stressed that the Vietnamese Government has created favourable conditions for foreign enterprises, including those from Austria and the state of Lower Austria, to do long-term business in the country. 

He hailed Lower Austrian firms which have been successful in Vietnam as a foundation to extend bilateral ties and asked authorities of the Austrian locality to support linkages between its universities and enterprises, and Vietnamese partners. 

The guest suggested that Lower Austria continue supporting Danube University Krems to both expand ties with Vietnamese universities, as well as exchange academics and students to meet Vietnam’s current workforce demand. 

Mikl-Leitner, for her part, said that the joint work in science, education, and import-export has laid an important foundation for bilateral cooperation in the future. 

She said several Austrian universities have partnered with Vietnamese peers to offer bachelor and master courses on hospitality and business administration. As many as 280 Vietnamese students have earned bachelor and master degrees in Lower Austria. 

With strengths in education and science-technology, businesses from Lower Austria are interested in the Vietnamese market with its huge purchasing power and young, dynamic population, she said.

As one of the nine states of Austria, Lower Austria boasts the largest surface area and second largest population in the country. Located in the east of Upper Austria, Lower Austria shares a 414km borderline with the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Vietnam, Mongolia to strengthen cooperation in crime combat

Vietnamese Minister of Public Security To Lam (front, right) and Mongolian Minister of Justice and Home Affairs Tsend Nyamdorj exchange the signed agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons after their talks in Hanoi on October 16 

Vietnamese Minister of Public Security To Lam and Mongolian Minister of Justice and Home Affairs Tsend Nyamdorj agreed to reinforce crime fighting cooperation during talks in Hanoi on October 16.

Minister Lam noted the important mutual visits by the countries’ leaders, including an official trip by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in May 2017 and a tour by Chairman of the Mongolian parliament Miyegombyn Enkhbold in January this year.

Bilateral cooperation has been expanded in various spheres, including defence, security, culture, and education, he noted, adding that relations between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and relevant agencies of Mongolia have also recorded major outcomes.

In 2013, the two ministries signed a cooperation agreement on crime prevention and combat. Since then, they have increased the exchange of anti-crime information via diplomatic channels, Interpol, and multilateral cooperation frameworks, he elaborated.

To promote substantive cooperation, Lam asked both sides to continue considering the establishment of cooperation mechanisms in security and crime combat to share information of mutual concern; as well as step up the building of coordination mechanisms to ensure security for mutual visits and representative diplomatic agencies, diplomatic workers, and the diaspora citizens of each country.

He called for stronger ties in realising multilateral deals to which both countries are members, such as the conventions against transnational organised crime, international terrorism, corruption and torture, as well as other international treaties on crime fighting.

Additionally, the countries should enhance cooperation effectiveness on the basis of the 2013 agreement on crime prevention and combat. They also need to boost the sharing of information and experience between their law enforcement bodies, while improving delegation exchanges and joint human resources training to intensify mutual understanding, the host official added.

For his part, Minister Tsend Nyamdorj applauded the countries’ political trust, close coordination, and mutual support on the international arena.

He pledged to exert all efforts to contribute to bilateral relations, including between the two ministries, so as to help ensure their respective nations’ security, social order, and safety, along with regional and global peace and stability.

Following the talks, the two ministers signed an agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons between Vietnam and Mongolia. 

HCM City’s Party Committee wraps up 18th meeting

Speakers at the 18th HCM City Party Committee conference, which closed on October 16 in HCM City

Ho Chi Minh City has set out a plan to use the Party’s assets more effectively based on market economy principles, said Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan.

Speaking at the 18th meeting of the HCM City Party Committee which closed on October 16, Nhan said it is vital to ensure that the municipal Party Organisation’s assets are used effectively on the basis of a market economy.

In the coming time, the city’s Party Committee Office will not be in charge of doing business but will transfer responsibility to appropriate companies under the municipal Party Organisation, according to Nhan.

For example, the city’s Party Committee has been involved in business activities such as leasing out land and property to generate revenue, but it will no longer take part in such activities.

He also urged the police to work with agencies to ensure security in cyberspace, including protecting the prestige of high-ranking officials.

“The police force must also respond quickly to acts of sabotage of hostile and reactionary forces in cyberspace, and control high-tech crimes,” he added.

Nhan stressed the importance of political and ideological education for all Government officials, saying that it was essential to build a qualified staff of Government officials under Resolution No. 26.

“The new requirement is to clarify the responsibilities of Government officials at all levels,” he said.

From now to the end of the year, the city will rearrange staff in some districts and departments to ensure efficiency in the operation of the city’s Party Committee.

The municipal Party Committee will implement policies to recruit talented officials and will encourage officials to “dare to think and do” and “take responsibility”. 

The city’s Party Committee will also have policies to encourage officials with limited capacity or health to voluntarily take early retirement so that eligible employees can replace them, he noted.

Nhan also said the Party Committee would strictly punish anyone who offers a bribe to get a high-ranking position. 

HCM City maintained stable economic growth at 7.89 percent in the first nine months of 2018.

Investment accounted for 33 percent of the city’s GDP, while the state budget collected reached 269 trillion VND (11.53 billion USD), with an average collection of 1 trillion VND daily.   

Nhan also urged district authorities to speed up the progress of a programme to develop new rural areas in the city.

The programme to build new rural areas in 56 communes in the city’s five outlying districts has failed to meet targets, especially in road infrastructure (only one commune met the target) and healthcare (only four communes met the target).

As for income, the target is 63 million VND (2,700 USD) per person per year, but so far only two communes (Vinh Loc B in Binh Chanh district and Phuoc Kien in Nha Be district) have reached the target.

HCM City continues to be the economic and financial hub of Vietnam, but its export growth is currently lower than that of other localities.

In addition, industrial production has not shown sustainable growth, and the city has yet to identify key products for investment.

The city’s supporting industries are also developing too slowly, and the use of technology in agriculture remains modest, according to Nhan.

The city has not resolved problems associated with urban planning, flooding, traffic congestion and air pollution.

Speaking at the meeting, Le Thanh Liem, Vice Chairman of the city People’s Committee, said the city aimed to have 1,000 start-up enterprises and 500 medium- and large-sized enterprises in the coming time.  

The city also wants to develop a creative modern urban area in the eastern part of the city, including District 2, 9 and Thu Duc.

Nhan said the city would organise a contest this month to seek ideas to build the creative and modern urban area so that it can be implemented in 2020.

He said the city should continue to tap all financial resources and transform its growth model towards higher productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness.

Nhan said it was also important to further enhance leadership and management in enforcing the resolutions of the Party Committee’s Congress.

To contribute to the city’s development, Nhan called on agencies to review and research innovation in all fields.

ASEAN holds Joint Consultative Meeting to prepare for 33rd Summit

The Joint Consultative Meeting in Singapore on October 15 and 16 aims to prepare for the 33rd ASEAN Summit and related meetings 

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) held a Joint Consultative Meeting (JCM) in Singapore on October 15 and 16 to prepare for the 33rd ASEAN Summit and related meetings. 

The Vietnamese delegation to the meeting was led by Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung, head of SOM Vietnam.

Participants discussed and basically reached agreement on the working programme and agenda of the summit, as well as the list of documents to be submitted to the high-ranking leaders. 

About 12 meetings of ASEAN leaders and between ASEAN and partners (China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, Australia, Russia, the United Nations and invited guests such as the European Union, Canada, the International Monetary Fund and Chile) are scheduled to be held on the occasion of the 33rd summit. An estimated 60 documents will be approved or acknowledged, with their content covering many important areas in ASEAN cooperation, cooperation between ASEAN and partners, and regional and international issues of common concern. 

Chair Singapore updated participants on the pace of implementation of initiatives and priorities of ASEAN in 2018, including the ASEAN smart city network, the 2018 Southeast Asia Counter-Terrorism Symposium, and the implementation of the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on Cybersecurity Cooperation adopted at the 32nd ASEAN Summit in Singapore in April this year. 

The JCM also heard reports of the ASEAN Secretariat and related agencies on ASEAN connectivity, coordination of issues across ASEAN pillars and the integration of ASEAN Community Vision to 2025 and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. 

Countries applauded Singapore’s efforts in promoting cooperative initiatives under the year’s theme, and affirmed that they would coordinate closely with the Chair country to effectively realise the year’s priority goals. 

At the SOM Plus Three (China, Japan and the Republic of Korea) and countries participating in the East Asia Summit (EAS), participants gave opinions on the drafts of documents to be submitted to the ASEAN 3 Summit and the EAS. They discussed increasing cooperation in cyber-security, counter-terrorism, fighting marine plastic pollution and building smart cities, while proposing directions to bring the ASEAN+3 and EAS processes forward. 

The partner countries affirmed that they would actively contribute to meetings in the framework of the upcoming 33rd ASEAN Summit, with many new initiatives on cooperation with ASEAN to be announced. 

Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung said Vietnam will join other ASEAN members in supporting Chair Singapore to successfully organize the 33rd ASEAN Summit and related meetings, in order to concretise priorities in building a resilient and innovative ASEAN Community in 2018. 

He also contributed opinions to the content of high-level meetings, including the preparation for the Commemorative Summit marking the 45th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan partnership. Vietnam, which is the coordinator of ASEAN-Vietnam relations, will chair discussions at the summit.

Hanoi rolls out red carpet for Finish enterprises

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung (right) presents a souvenir to Finish Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintila. (Photo: hanoimoi) 

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung on October 15 hosted a reception for Finish Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintila and a business delegation, during which he said the capital city always welcomes enterprises from Finland to study market and seek cooperation opportunities here.

Hanoi is accelerating the implementation of a project to sustainably develop smart urban area until 2025, he said, stressing that a steering board for information technology application was set up while the city has worked to complete residential database to serve local people, enterprises, and the city’s management activities.

In addition, an information system on education and training and healthcare has been accomplished, he said.

Mika Lintila, for his part, spoke highly of the friendship between Vietnam and Finland, and underlined that both sides pose huge potential for further collaboration.

Holding strengths in infrastructure development and settlement of environmental pollution, Finish firms stand ready to share experience with Hanoi in building a smart city in the coming time, he said.

At the event, 17 Finish enterprises briefed the Hanoi leading official on their strengths in water management technology and cyber space security, expressing their hope that the visit will open new cooperation opportunities for both sides.

Deputy PM urges Shinhan Card to develop fintech in Vietnam

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue has urged the Shinhan Card Co., Ltd. of the Republic of Korea (RoK) to develop an ecosystem for financial technology (fintech) firms in Vietnam in training workforce and applying scientific-technological advances.

During a reception in Hanoi on October 15 for President and CEO of the Shinhan Card Co., Ltd. Lim Young-jin, Deputy PM Hue welcomed RoK firms, including Shinhan Card, to increase investment in Vietnam.

He lauded their successes, saying that they have contributed to Vietnam’s social welfare and economic development.

The Deputy PM hailed Shinhan Card’s purchase of Prudential Vietnam Finance Co., Ltd. affirming that the State Bank of Vietnam will offer early feedback on the deal.

Lim, for his part, said Shinhan Card has been operating in finance-banking and securities in Vietnam, considering the country its largest foreign market.

He said Shinhan Card plans to do long-term business in Vietnam, adding that all of its profits in the country will be re-invested here, instead of being transferred to its parent company in the RoK.

According to him, Shinhan Card has developed payment card services and signed a contract to buy Prudential Vietnam Finance Co., Ltd. in early 2018, thereby developing consumption finance in the country.

He vowed to focus on financial technology to make more contributions to the Vietnamese economy in the future.