Trade increases between Lancang-Mekong countries and China’s Yunnan

At the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Leaders' Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. 

Trade volume between five countries along the Lancang - Mekong river and China’s Yunnan province surge 13.4 percent year-on-year to 81 billion yuan (12 billion USD) in 2017, according to customs of Kunming, capital of Yunnan.

Notably, trade between Yunnan and Myanmar was about 42 billion yuan, accounting for 52 percent of the total figure.

Cooperative works have been carried out between the regional customs authorities including information exchanges, prevention of cross-border crimes and customs procedures.

The Lancang - Mekong River runs through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, and serves as a natural bond linking the six countries.

In 2016, a regional cooperation mechanism called “Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) Leaders’ Meeting” was established among those nations. 

At the second MLC meeting held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on January 10, leaders adopted the Phnom Penh Declaration and the five-year MLC action plan for 2018-2022, which feature major orientations and measures for implementing cooperation in the three pillars of security-politics, economic and sustainable development, and society, culture and people-to-people exchange.

They applauded the 214 MLC projects proposed by the member countries and agreed to gradually expand cooperation to big projects of the subregion on the basis of maximising the MLC Special Fund and financial sources mobilised from governments, the private sector, and international financial organisations.

Delegation of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party welcomed in Hanoi

National Assembly Vice Chairman Phung Quoc Hien (R) receives Director of the Youth Division of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party Suzuki Keisuke (Photo: daibieunhandan.vn)

National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairman Phung Quoc Hien hosted a reception on January 18 for a delegation of the Youth Division of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) who were in Hanoi to attend the 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26).

Welcoming the delegation, Vice Chairman Hien described the guests’ participation in APPF-26 as a contribution to the friendship and cooperation between the two countries and the two parliaments.

Highlighting the vigorous development of bilateral ties over the past years, he said in 2017, Japan was one of the top investors and also a leading provider of official development assistance and non-refundable aid for Vietnam.

While bilateral trade has risen strongly and helped enhance the countries’ economic ties, cultural, educational and healthcare cooperation has also grown rapidly and effectively, he noted.

He emphasised that Vietnam and Japan boast traditional cooperation and friendship which have helped foster the prosperity of the two nations, the region and the world as well.

Hien expressed his hope that Japanese parliamentarians, especially young ones, will continue supporting relations between the two countries and the two parliaments, step up sharing experience in lawmaking and supervision, and promote economic partnership and cultural exchange.

Meanwhile, the parliaments of Vietnam and Japan should keep discussing to seek ways to remove unreasonable barriers to facilitate their businesses’ investment in each other’s markets, he added.

Director of the LDP’s Youth Division Suzuki Keisuke, who is also a member of Japan’s House of Representatives, said 2017 was an important year in bilateral connections with high-level trips, including a State visit to Vietnam by the Japanese Emperor and Empress and a tour to the country by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The Youth Division of LDP also set up close-knit cooperative relationship with the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

He also asked Vietnam to continue improving its investment climate so that foreign businesses, including Japanese ones, can increase investment here, thus helping to reinforce the countries’ cooperation.

Vietnam-China diplomatic ties celebrated in Beijing

Vietnamese Ambassador to China Dang Minh Khoi speaks at the ceremony to mark the 68th anniversary of Vietnam-China diplomatic ties

The Embassy of Vietnam in China held a ceremony in Beijing on January 18 to celebrate the 68th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China (January 18, 1950).

Vietnamese Ambassador to China Dang Minh Khoi highlighted the bilateral traditional friendship which was founded by late Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Mao Zedong and nurtured by the two countries’ generations of leaders.

As close neighbouring countries, both Vietnam and China want to maintain a stable and peaceful environment to promote innovation and the nation-building cause, he said.

Vietnam always considers the development of friendship and cooperation with China one of the top priorities in her foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of international relations, he added.

He cited China’s statistics that two-way trade increased 23.4 percent to 121.3 billion USD in 2017.

Vietnam and China are good partners within the framework of regional and global multilateral cooperation such as ASEAN-China, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum, and the United Nations (UN).

In 2018, ASEAN and China will mark the 15th anniversary of their strategic partnership, he noted.

He hoped the Vietnam-China relations will enter a new development period with increasing political trust and pragmatic cooperation in all fields, contributing to the maintenance of peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

China’s Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Xiaodong affirmed that the Chinese Party and Government always treasure the enhancement of relations with Vietnam.

He added that China is ready to implement the common perceptions reached by Vietnamese and Chinese leaders in addition to increasing exchanges and collaboration across the board and promoting the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

Leaders congratulate on Vietnam-China diplomatic ties

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong (R) and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President Xi Jinping wave at Hanoi children at the welcoming ceremony for Xi on November 12, 2017 

Top leaders of Vietnam and China have exchanged congratulatory messages on the occasion of the 68th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties (January 18).

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong, President Tran Dai Quang, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan exchanged the messages of congratulations with General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President Xi Jinping, Premier of the State Council Li Keqiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China Zhang Dejiang.

On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh, who doubles as Chairman of the Vietnam-China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, also exchanged congratulatory messages with State Councillor Yang Jiechi, who is also Chairman of the China-Vietnam Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation, and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi.

NA Vice Chairman meets with Moroccan delegates

National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairman Phung Quoc Hien (R) meets with a delegation from Morocco led by Vice President of the House of Representatives Mohammed Ouzzine 

National Assembly (NA) Vice Chairman Phung Quoc Hien on January 18 met with a delegation from Morocco led by Vice President of the House of Representatives Mohammed Ouzzine.

Vice President of the Moroccan House of Representatives Hayat Bouffarrachen also attended the meeting.

At the meeting on the sidelines of the 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26) in Hanoi, Hien lauded the significance and results of the Vietnam visit by the President of the Moroccan House of Representatives in December 2017, affirming that the trip has not only strengthened relations between the two legislatures, but also enhanced multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Morocco.

Vietnam and Morocco still hold tremendous potential to foster economic and trade ties, Hien said, adding that the links between their business communities and trade associations should be strengthened in the fields of economy, trade, tourism, finance and renewable energy.

The Vice Chairman noted that Vietnam and Morrocco also need to step up bilateral trade promotion activities and cooperation in areas where both nations have huge potential such as agriculture, mining, building materials, textiles and garments and food processing.

For his part, Ouzzine voiced his hope that Vietnam will work as a bridge to connect relations between Morocco and ASEAN member countries for democracy, peace and development.

He also said the two countries should promote cooperation in various fields, especially economy and trade, as well as student exchanges and education.

NA Vice Chairman greets Canadian parliamentarians

Vice Chairman of the Vietnam National Assembly Do Ba Ty (R) and Canadian Senator Joseph A.Day.

Vice Chairman of the Vietnam National Assembly Do Ba Ty on January 18 hosted a reception for a delegation of the Canadian Parliament led by Senator Joseph A.Day, who are in Vietnam for the 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26). 

Ty reiterated Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, cooperation, development; diversification and multilateralisation of relations; active and proactive international integration; and being a friend, a trustworthy partner and a responsible member of the international community. 

In the foreign policy, Vietnam treasures the friendship and cooperation with Canada, which is one of the world’s most developed countries and plays an important role in the international arena, he said. 

The legislator stressed that Vietnam wants to develop the comprehensive partnership with Canada in the principle of respecting independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political institutions of each other, for mutual benefits. 

He expressed his hope that the two legislative bodies will contribute to developing Vietnam-Canada relationship more comprehensively and intensively, especially in such potential spheres as economy, trade, national defence, sustainable development, environmental protection and climate change response. 

In reply, Senator Joseph A.Day emphasised the need for the two countries’ legislative bodies to increase the exchange of all-level delegations, especially high-level ones, and between parliamentary agencies, in order to share experience in law-making, law enforcement and decision-making, thus facilitating the affiliation between the Governments and businesses of the two countries. 

The Canadian Government and Parliament have attached importance to developing relations with Vietnam, he stressed.

The Senator said that over the past time, Vietnam has proven itself as an ideal destination in Asia-Pacific, a country with political stability and a trustworthy friend of Canada.

Canadian parliamentarians will continue to promote cooperation with Vietnam as well as its National Assembly, while closely coordinating with the country at multilateral forums and mechanisms such as the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum, he pledged.

ARF workshop seeks to enhance maritime law enforcement

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung speaks at the ARF workshop on enhancing maritime law enforcement which was opened in Nha Trang city on January 18 

The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) workshop on enhancing maritime law enforcement was opened in Nha Trang city, the central province of Khanh Hoa, on January 18 with a view to boosting dialogue to ensure maritime security in the region.

The two-day event is the first activity to implement the ARF Ministerial Statement on Enhancing Cooperation among Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies. It is organised by Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Australia and the EU, attracting nearly 80 delegates from 22 countries and international organisations.

Addressing the event, Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung mentioned the settlement of challenges to maritime law and order, including the surge of piracy, drug and human trafficking, and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. 

He also underscored the role of maritime law enforcement forces and the necessity for these agencies to cooperate to control, prevent and respond to those challenges.

Participants in the workshop talked about maritime security challenges in the region and the need for stronger cooperation among maritime law enforcement agencies. They also reviewed maritime law enforcement cooperation in Asia-Pacific and the cooperation principles, scope and measures for the agencies.

They stressed that seas are the artery of international trade, the natural resource for economic development of coastal countries, and the livelihood of coastal residents. Therefore, ensuring maritime security, safety and stability is crucial, especially for the countries and people in the Asian-Pacific region.

Aside from traditional security issues like territorial and maritime disputes, more and more non-traditional security challenges have appeared in seas and oceans, including illegal fishing, destroyed marine environment and ecosystem, and maritime crimes.

Participants shared the view that law enforcement cooperation in the region is part of efforts to ensure maritime security and safety, especially under ASEAN-led mechanisms. However, there remain obstacles to cooperation in this field such as countries’ different mechanisms on maritime law enforcement forces, and maritime and territorial disputes.

They said mutual trust is the prerequisite for good cooperation among maritime law enforcement forces, and this trust is built basing on measures devised at the ARF and other regional mechanisms.

Founded in 1994, the ARF aims to build trust and foster dialogue in the region with ASEAN at the centre. Twenty-seven countries and international organisations have taken part in this forum.

HCM City, France cooperate in anti-corruption

Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Huynh Cach Mang (R) ​and Director of the  French Anti-corruption Agency Charles Duchaine. 

Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Huynh Cach Mang has expressed his hope that the French Anti-corruption Agency (FAA) and the HCM City Inspectorate will cooperate with each other and exchange experience in the fight against corruption. 

At a reception for FAA Director Charles Duchaine in HCM City on January 18, the official said the partnership between the two sides is expected to contribute to socio-economic development in each country. 

Mang expressed his delight at the fruitful development of the Vietnam-France relations, especially after the two countries agreed to lift their ties to a strategic partnership in 2013.

The relationship between HCM City and France is also developing strongly, particularly cooperation between southern metropolis and French localities in economy, culture, arts and people-to-people exchange, he said. 

For his part, Charles Duchaine said that France and Vietnam need to support each other in order to improve their anti-corruption capacity. 

Lauding the local authority’s political determination in the combat, the FAA Director noted his hope that the FAA and the municipal Inspectorate will implement their cooperation programmes and materialise the memorandum of understanding on cooperation in this field signed by the French agency and the Vietnam Government Inspectorate recently.

HCM City boosts development cooperation with Cuba

Permanent Vice Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Tat Thanh Cang  (R) welcomes Deputy Head of the Department for External Relations of the Cuban Communist Party Central Committee Juan Carlos Marsan 

Ho Chi Minh City hopes to implement cooperation programmes with Cuba in such potential fields as health care, hi-tech agriculture, and food processing.

Permanent Vice Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Tat Thanh Cang expressed the wish at a reception for Deputy Head of the Department for External Relations of the Cuban Communist Party Central Committee Juan Carlos Marsan on January 18.

He noted two-way trade has increased through years and reached 60 million USD in the first 10 months of 2017.

HCM City will do its utmost to nurture the special friendship between Vietnam and Cuban for the sake of their people as well as common peace and prosperity.

For his part, Marsan said Vietnam plays a central role in Cuba’s external relations. 

The Southeast Asian country is also an important partner in Cuba’s economic development strategy, he added.

In 2018, the two countries will coordinate to organise high-level exchanges to promote bilateral friendship and cooperation between their Parties, States and peoples, he noted.

He suggested Cuba and HCM City share more experience in socio-economic development policies and step up collaboration in the fields of mutual concerns such as health care, education, tourism, and pharmaceutical chemistry.

Home affairs ministry to boost personnel management

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh attends a national conference held by the Ministry of Home Affairs in Hanoi on January 18 

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh has asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to build a transparent mechanism for personnel recruitment to draw more talented people to work for State administrative bodies and ensure the supply of high quality public servants.

Speaking at a national conference held by the ministry in Hanoi on January 18 to review its 2017 tasks and set goals for 2018, Binh said the ministry should review and downsize staff structures and improve the professional skills and quality of staff to improve operational efficiency.

He pointed out the sector’s shortcomings last year, including slow building and issuance of related legal documents. Further, inspection and supervision over personnel recruitment and appointment within sectors and localities were not comprehensive. The home affairs sector remained passive in proposing models of apparatus organisation at Government agencies. It slowly considered and handled issues raised by National Assembly deputies and the public, including issues relating to officials who had failed to fulfill their tasks or violated regulations.  

The sector was also not active enough in reviewing personnel tasks and fully developing its management role, leading to some shortcomings in personnel management at some agencies and localities, the Deputy PM said.

Binh said in 2018, the sector should aim to fulfill assigned tasks, and research and propose amendments and supplements to the Law on Cadres and Civil Servants, in line with Party regulations.

The sector should also increase inspection and set up a task force, led by the Minister of Home Affairs, to regularly carry out inspection over personnel tasks to prevent shortcomings such as the “super fast” appointments of some officials as reported by the local media recently.

Minister of Home Affairs Le Vinh Tan said the ministry would continue speeding up inspection and supervision in personnel recruitment, appointment and management at sectors and localities. 

The ministry also asked authorities of localities to increase scrutiny of the recruitment and appointment of public servants.

HCM City, Ehime prefecture seek cooperation opportunities

Officials of HCM city and Japan’s Ehime prefecture take a photo together 

Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong on January 18 hosted a reception for Governor of Japan’s Ehime prefecture Tokihiro Nakamura who is on a working visit to the city. 

During the meeting, Phong suggested the two localities promote economic cooperation, especially in the fields where Ehime has potential and HCM City is interested in.

 He also called for closer collaboration between Ehime and HCM City in education and sharing management experience.

Phong expressed his belief that the Japanese delegation’s trip to HCM City to explore cooperation and investment opportunities will further develop relations between the city and Ehime.

Nakamura highly valued HCM City’s strong development as well as promising economic cooperation prospects between the city and Ehime. 

While briefing the host on the Japanese prefecture’s economic development potential, Nakamura said HCM City in particular and Vietnam in general will be an investment destination for businesses from Ehime in the coming time. 

Ehime has strengths in manufacturing industry, shipbuilding, mechanical engineering, paper processing, chemicals, and agriculture, he noted.

Vice President receives Russian delegation

Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh on January 19 received Russian Ambassador Konstantin Vnukov and a Russian delegation who introduced Yekaterinburg city, a locality nominated as the venue of the World Expo 2025.

The Vice President expressed her delight at the growing ties between Vietnam and Russia over the past years, with regular delegation exchanges, mutual support at regional and international forums, and fruitful partnership in the economy, trade, defence-security, education-training, culture, tourism, and agriculture.

The two sides have enhanced cooperation among localities through the exchange of visits, thus opening up new opportunities for businesses of both sides to foster collaboration, she noted.

She stressed that Vietnam always welcomes new investment projects from Russia and will create optimal conditions for Russian investors to run long-term and stable business in Vietnam.

The Vice President also asked the Russian Government for supporting the Vietnamese community in Russia to settle their life, as well as Russia’s creating of favourable conditions for Vietnamese firms to export aquatic products to Russia, contributing to promoting bilateral agriculture cooperation.

For his part, Ambassador Vnukov said that he hopes Vietnam will support Yekaterinburg city to become the host of the World Expo 2025. Yekaterinburg is a city connecting Asia and Europe. It is one of the major industrial and scientific hubs of Russia.

The locality has strong experience in hosting international events, he said, adding that many new infrastructure works have been built in the city to serve the World Expo 2025.

Vice President Thinh expressed her impression on the achievements that Yekaterinburg city has obtained as one of the most important administrative, industrial, scientific-technological centres of Russia.

She declared that Vietnam will consider the suggestion of Russia in supporting Yekaterinburg city to run for the position as the host of the World Expo 2025.

British Minister of State praises Vietnam’s economic development

British Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Mark Field. (Photo: British Embassy in Vietnam)

Vietnam has seen strong economic growth in the past three decades, second only to China, and this has opened up great opportunities for foreign firms, including those from the UK, to boost investment in the country.

British Minister of State for Asia and the Pacific at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Mark Field made the comment in an article entitled “As Thailand and Vietnam lead the Asian century, it’s time for British businesses to look east” posted on City A.M financial newspaper on January 18.

Bilateral trade and investment is growing smartly, in deed, it has more than doubled since both sides inked a strategic partnership agreement in 2010, he stated, noting that “there is much more potential to be exploited”.

As the two countries are celebrating 45 years of diplomatic relations in 2018, it will provide “heavenly timing, earthly benefitting and humanly sustaining” conditions for British enterprises to display in Vietnam the best of what they have to offer in education, creativity and innovation.

Field visited Hanoi from January 4-6 and co-chaired the 6th Vietnam-UK Strategic Dialogue with Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son.

During his stay, he visited UK-aided works to support Vietnam’s economic development via promoting renewable energy, green finance and smart cities. 

He said that the relationship with Vietnam will be broader and deeper than many would expect and the UK stands ready to provide expertise to assist Vietnam to reach its full potential.

Transport Ministry to speed up projects in 2018

The Tan Vu - Lach Huyen Highway in the port city of Hai Phong 

The Ministry of Transport’s main task this year is to speed up transport projects, Deputy Minister Nguyen Ngoc Dong said at a meeting to review 2017 and set goals for 2018 in January 18. 

Dong said that last year, 22 new transport projects were completed and became operational. The ministry also started another 12 projects.

Its agencies also studied key projects, including pre-feasibility investment reports for parts of the eastern North-South Expressway over the next two years. It also did feasibility reports on land clearance, compensation and resettlement for the Long Thanh International Airport Project.

The ministry has also reviewed planning and options for the expansion of Tan Son Nhat International Airport and completed a scheme to select consultants for the North-South express railway, which has received assistance from Japan.

“This year, the ministry will continue urging investors to speed up transport projects, particularly key projects and those that receive proper funding,” Dong said.

He said that the ministry also wanted to speed up urban railway projects, especially the Cat Linh- Ha Dong Urban Railway in Hanoi which is scheduled to open this year.

Work on the eastern North-South Expressway, Long Thanh airport project or express railway would be closely supervised, Dong said, adding that any problems arising during the project implementation would be reported to the Government and National Assembly for timely address.

Road projects under Build-Operation-Transfer (BOT) contracts were the subject of much public concern last year because of drivers’ protests about high toll fees.

Deputy Minister Dong said that last year, the ministry examined and approved financial reports of 55 road projects under BOT and Build-Transfer (BT) contracts. The examination provided the cost of the projects, based on which toll fees and toll collecting terms were set.

Last year, toll fees at 35 toll stations on BOT roads were reduced after the Government passed resolution No 35/NQ-CP on assisting and developing business.

During the year, about 20,080 traffic accidents were reported, killing 8,280 people and injuring more than 17,000 people. Compared to 2016, the number of traffic accidents fell about 7 per cent, the number of deaths fell 4.67 percent and the number of those injured fell 11.62 percent.

This year, the transport ministry will continue to boost information on traffic laws to raise public awareness. It will also take stronger actions to curb speeding, drunk driving, and overloaded vehicles.

Addressing the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung praised the contributions of the transport sector to national socio-economic development last year.

However, there remained problems to solve, such as traffic jams, traffic accidents, toll fees at BOT projects, high transport costs and the imbalance among means of transport, especially the sluggish uses of railways, which put high pressure on roads, Dung said.

Vietnam, Japan bolster parliamentary cooperation

Politburo member Pham Minh Chinh, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and Head of the CPVCC’s Organisation Commission received a delegation from the Japanese Lower House of Parliament on January 18 

Politburo member Pham Minh Chinh, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) and Head of the CPVCC’s Organisation Commission on January 18 received a delegation from the Japanese Lower House of Parliament, who are attending the 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26) in Hanoi.

Chinh, also the President of the Vietnam – Japan Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group, stressed that cooperation between the two parliaments has been unceasingly consolidated along with the exchange of mutual visits between their committees.

He lauded the close cooperation of the Vietnam – Japan Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group and the Japan – Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance.

Annual meetings between young parliamentarians of Vietnam and Japan have contributed to the implementation of bilateral agreements reached by leaders of the two nations. The two sides should maintain high-level visits as well as exchanges of young parliamentarians, raising the bilateral relations to a new height, Chinh added.

He also voiced his hope that Japanese parliamentarians will support the building and enforcement of suitable regulations for the two countries to bolster cooperation in human resources training, high technology and agriculture in the future.

In reply, Takuji Yanagimoto, head of the delegation of the Japanese Lower House of Parliament lauded that since Vietnam joined the APPF in 1995, the country has made various contributions to regional peace, stability and prosperity, and showed his belief that the APPF-26 held in Hanoi will be a success.

Agreeing with Chinh’s suggestions, Yanagimoto expressed his belief that Vietnam – Japan relations will continue to thrive in a more efficient and comprehensive manner, with close bilateral cooperation in regional and international forums.

VNA