Vietnam treasures defense partnership with Thailand

Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Minister of Defence (R) presents a souvenir to Lieutenant General Parinya Khoonnasee, chief of the directorate of joint operations of Thailand (Source: http://www.qdnd.vn) 

Vietnam attaches great importance to defence ties with Thailand and hopes to deepen collaboration in this field, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Deputy Minister of Defence, has said.

He made the statement at a reception for Lieutenant General Parinya Khoonnasee, chief of the directorate of joint operations of Thailand, in Hanoi on July 19.

Vinh highlighted the growing relations between Vietnam and Thailand, and emphasised that Vietnam supports Thailand chairing the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2019.

Lieutenant General Parinya Khoonnasee briefed the host about the outcomes of his earlier working session with agencies of Vietnam’s Ministry of Defence.

He hailed the defence cooperation between Vietnam and Thailand over recent times, especially in exchanging young officers and experience sharing.

Khoonnasee said he hoped the two countries’ armies would expand collaboration in search and rescue efforts and natural disaster mitigation.

Vietnam Confederation of Labour delegation visits Greece

The delegation of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) led by Vice President Nguyen Thi Thu Hong poses for a group photo with WFTU General Secretary George Mavrikos (Photo: laodong.vn)

A delegation of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) led by Vice President Nguyen Thi Thu Hong paid a working visit to Greece on July 15-20 at the invitation of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU).

At talks with WFTU General Secretary George Mavrikos, Hong informed the host of the socio-economic development and trade union activities in Vietnam. She also shared the VGCL’s achievements in protecting the rights of its members and labourers.

The official also took the occasion to thank the WFTU for its support to the VGCL and Vietnamese workers while detailing preparations for the 12th Congress of the VGCL in September.

During the visit, Hong also met with Vietnamese Ambassador to Greece Nguyen Manh Cuong.

According to a report by the VGCL, since the beginning of this year, trade unions at all levels have signed 337 new agreements with their partners to provide products and services for trade unionists. More than 1.2 million trade unionists have benefited from these deals.

Vietnam promotes trade, investment in Algeria

Vietnamese Ambassador to Algeria Pham Quoc Tru (R) and Chairman of Setif province Nacer Maaskri 

Vietnam and Algeria should work to remove bottlenecks for investment and trade activities as well as complete a legal framework of support measures so businesses from both sides can enter each other’s market.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Algeria Pham Quoc Tru made the statement during his working visit to Setif province on July 19, stressing that the Embassy will help enterprises bolster trade and investment.

Introducing Vietnam’s potential and strengths in agriculture, industry and tourism to local officials and enterprises, Tru expressed his hope that both parties will enhance collaboration in various sectors such as aquaculture cultivation, agricultural processing, food, garment production and tourism.

He also detailed a plan to hold a tourism business forum in Algiers in September, and invited tourism companies in Setif to attend.

Mansouri Ali, director of Setif province’s chamber of commerce and industry, talked about local economic potential as well as investment opportunities. 

He added that a business association from Setif will attend the Food Expo in Vietnam in November.

The same day, Chairman of Setif province Nacer Maaskri had a meeting with a delegation from the Vietnamese Embassy, during which the two sides recalled the traditional friendship between the two countries.

Tru and Nacer Maaskri expressed desire to elevate economic ties to a new height, and agreed to step up cooperation in trade, industry, agriculture, labour and tourism.

They also hoped to set up twin relations between Setif and a Vietnamese locality with the many similarities.

Located 300 kilometres from Algeria’s capital to the northeast, Setif is the second economic and industrial hub in the country. The province holds strengths in industrial development and tourism. It is focusing on infrastructure development to attract foreign investment and tourists.

Vietnamese victims of Phnom Penh fire receive support

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh (second, right) visits the victims 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has instructed the State Committee on Overseas Vietnamese Affairs and the Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia to continue coordinating with competent and relevant agencies to help Vietnamese-Cambodian people affected by the recent fire in Cambodia overcome the consequences of the blaze and stabilise their lives. 

The Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson, Le Thi Thu Hang, made the remarks while answering reporters’ queries regarding the victims’ situation at the ministry’s regular press conference in Hanoi on July 19. 

According to the embassy, the fire began at 3:30am on July 10 in Phnom Penh, completely destroying 56 houses and the assets of 70 Cambodian families of Vietnamese origin and another 10 Khmer families, she said. 

Following the incident, the embassy dispatched officials to the site to supervise the situation, assist victims, and mobilise the support of Vietnamese businesses for the victims, Hang said. 

The Foreign Ministry’s State Committee on Overseas Vietnamese Affairs also sent letters of sympathy and gifts to the Vietnamese families, the diplomat added. 

Vietnam applauds Russia-US summit: spokesperson

The Foreign Ministry's spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang 

Vietnam welcomes the summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart Donald Trump in Helsinki, Finland on July 16, said the Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang. 

Speaking at a regular press conference of the ministry in Hanoi July 19, Hang said Vietnam hopes that relations between Russia and the US will develop stably, actively contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the world.

Japanese firms demand Vietnam’s skilled workforce: JETRO Chairman

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Hiroyuki Ishige, Chairman and CEO of the Japan External Trade Organisation 

Japanese enterprises in Vietnam are looking to employ a large number of high-quality staff, revealed Hiroyuki Ishige, Chairman and CEO of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO).

He shared the information during a reception with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Hanoi on July 19.

At the meeting, PM Phuc lauded JETRO’s activities in Vietnam and said he believes that his guest’s current visit to Vietnam will open a new chapter for trade and investment cooperation between the two nations. 

The PM thanked the collaboration of JETRO in organising a trade promotion conference in Vietnam during his official visit to Japan in June 2017. This was the largest event of its kind to date, attracting the attendance of over 1,600 delegates, including the Vietnamese and Japanese Prime Ministers.

He affirmed that business climate improvement is a priority of the Vietnamese Government. The country is focusing on stabilising macroeconomics, improving legal institutions, developing infrastructure and human resources, and simplifying administrative procedures.

PM Phuc said recent surveys showed a significant number of Japanese firms spoke highly of Vietnam’s business climate and wanted to expand their operations in the country.

The Vietnamese leader expected Japan would obtain the top position in Vietnam’s FDI, saying Vietnam welcomes Japanese investments, particularly in infrastructure development, clean energy, processing and industry, electronics, high-tech farming, logistics, and aviation.

He stated that Vietnam will do its best to facilitate Japanese investors.

The PM took the occasion to convey his sympathies to Japanese people affected by recent floods.

For his part, JETRO Chairman and CEO Hiroyuki Ishige said Japanese PM Shinzo Abe pays attention to on boosting cooperation with Vietnam.

Ishige highlighted that the many deals secured at the June conference – including key projects in energy, trade, and industrial production – are effectively being implemented in Vietnam.

Highlighting the strong Japanese capital flow into Vietnam, he said JETRO is making efforts to support the investments.

He said skilled Vietnamese employees are in high demand for Japanese firms, adding that JETRO is working with Vietnamese universities to introduce Japanese firms.

He stressed that improvements to the business climate are key to attracting more Japanese investors to Vietnam.

Responding to PM Phuc’s comment on the proactive contribution of Vietnam and Japan to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Ishige said he expects the two countries will take the lead in the implementation of the pact.

He hoped the CPTPP’s coming into effect would happen soon, so as to bring about the mutual benefits for all sides involved. 

Congratulations to new Malaysian lower house speaker

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan 

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan on July 19 sent a message of congratulations to Mohamad Ariff bin Md Yusof on his election as Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, the lower house of the Parliament of Malaysia.

Mohamad Ariff bin Md Yusoff was elected on July 16, becoming the 9th Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat.

He began his career in 1974 as a law lecturer and subsequently became an Associate Professor of the Law Faculty of the University of Malaya before venturing into legal practice as an advocate and solicitor in 1986. 

In September 2008, he was appointed as a Judicial Commissioner of the High Court of Malaya and later a Judge of the High Court of Malaya in October 2009. In September 2012, he became a Judge of the Court of Appeal. He returned to practice as a consultant after his retirement in early 2015.

Vietnam presents donation to aid Japan’s flood relief

The Foreign Ministry’s representative hands over donation from the Vietnamese Government to Ambassador of Japan to Vietnam Umeda Kunio (L) on July 19 

The Vietnamese Government has presented Japan with a 100,000 USD donation to aid the reconstruction effort after the country was severely hit by torrential rains and floods earlier this month.

The Foreign Ministry’s representative handed over the donation to Ambassador of Japan to Vietnam Umeda Kunio on July 19.

The ambassador expressed gratitude towards the valuable and timely support from the Vietnamese Government and people for Japanese people.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc sent a message of condolence on July 8 to his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, over the great human and asset losses caused by the deadly floods and landslides in Japan.

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also expressed his sympathies to Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono. 

President urges Ba Ria-Vung Tau to use resources effectively

President Tran Dai Quang speaks at the working session 

President Tran Dai Quang has asked the southern coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau to mobilise and use domestic and foreign resources effectively in order to develop the local economy rapidly and sustainably. 

At a working session with key leaders of the province in Ba Ria city on July 19, the President urged the locality to turn the Cai Mep-Thi Vai port into an international entrepot, as well as develop its industrial parks and clusters.

Con Dao island ought to become a high-quality national tourist site, he said, asking Ba Ria-Vung Tau authorities to continue helping local fishermen build and upgrade offshore fishing vessels; increase fishery logistics ships; pay more attention to protecting national sovereignty over seas and islands; and promote high-tech agriculture. 

“Economic growth should go in tandem with the development of culture and society, education and training, science and technology, and healthcare,” the leader said. 

He requested the province to continue with administrative reform so as to better serve the legitimate needs of residents and businesses. 

During the meeting, President Quang lauded the achievements Ba Ria-Vung Tau recorded across many fields in 2017 and in the first six months of 2018. 

Between January and June, the province’s gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 7 percent and its State budget contribution reached 37 trillion VND (1.6 billion USD). 

The locality’s industrial production, excluding oil and gas, increased 8.17 percent against the same period last year. Significant progress was also made in agricultural production.

What is more, Ba Ria-Vung Tau was effective in paying heed to administrative reform, helping to improve the local investment environment. As a result, in the first half of this year, the locality ranked third nationwide in foreign investment attraction, with a total registered capital of 1.67 billion USD. 

The province aims to strengthen its key areas of seaport, seaport logistics, industry, and tourism during the 2016-2020 period. 

To mark the upcoming occasion of the War Invalids and Martyrs Day (July 27), President Quang visited and presented gifts to war invalids and sick soldiers at the Long Dat nursing centre for war invalids and national contributors in the Long Dien district of the province after his working session. 

State pays special attention to caring for revolution contributors: President

President Tran Dai Quang (R) meets delegates at the event 

President Tran Dai Quang has highlighted that the Party, State and society always pay special attention to the caring of war martyrs’ relatives and families of those who rendered service to the national revolution.

The President was addressing a conference in Vung Tau city, the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, on July 19 to honour outstanding people who have made great contribution to the national revolution in 2018, which drew more than 355 delegates from localities across the nation.

He stated that along with preferential policies of the State, many campaigns to take care of revolution contributors have been maintained and drawn widespread response.

Party Committees, authorities, the Vietnam Fatherland Front chapters at all levels as well as socio-political organisations should be clearly aware that caring for people with contributions to the national revolution is the duty and a regular, long-term task of the entire political system and society, in line with the nation’s fine tradition and the superiority nature of the socialist regime, the President said. 

He went on to say that the activities also help foster the national solidarity bloc, while strengthening the confidence of people in the Party and State.

The leader stressed the need to support disadvantaged families of revolution contributors, with priority given to providing vocational training and creating jobs for them to rise out of poverty.

The President affirmed that the great sacrifice and devotion of martyrs, wounded and sick soldiers and their families have always been remembered by the Party, State and people forever.

According to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, as of the end of 2017, a total of 9 million people were recognised as revolutionary contributors, including 1.2 million fallen soldiers, 127,000 heroic mothers, and 800,000 wounded and sick soldiers.