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At the reception, PM Dung expressed his belief that the Japanese people will overcome their recent difficulties to build a more prosperous nation.
He said that the Vietnamese State, Government and people are looking toward to welcoming the Japanese Emperor and Empress to Viet Nam when the two countries mark the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic ties in 2013.
On the same day, Prime Minister Dung met Japanese Deputy Prime Minister Okada Katsuya in Tokyo.
Dung expressed his pleasure at the fine development of the Viet Nam-Japan strategic partnership and said the two countries need to boost co-operation in many fields to match their great potentials.
He asked the two sides to accelerate visits and meetings at all levels, to expand human resource exchange programmes and to simplify entry procedures for Vietnamese to study, work and travel in Japan.
In addition, PM Dung said Viet Nam wishes to expand co-operation and learn from Japan's experience in vocational training and social insurance, as well as continue increasing official development assistance from the country.
Japanese Deputy PM Okada Katsuya gave his impressions of Viet Nam's recent development and shared Japan's experience with the implementation of policies on social insurance.
Dung also met yesterday with former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama who is now President of the Japan-Viet Nam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance (JVFPA) of the Democratic Party of Japan.
At the meeting, Dung spoke highly of the valuable contributions of the former Japanese Prime Minister and the JVFPA to developing co-operation and friendship between Viet Nam and Japan.
Dung and leaders from the Greater Mekong Sub-region coutries also attended a reception held by the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Japan Business Federation Keidanren.
Dung said the Vietnamese government continually worked to improve the business environment and to welcome Japanese enterprises to invest in Viet Nam's market.
As of now, Japan is Viet Nam's biggest foreign investor and most of the big economic groups in Japan have already opened shops in Viet Nam providing high-quality products.
The Vietnamese Prime Minister spoke highly of Keidanren's co-operation with Vietnamese partners to implement the Viet Nam-Japan joint initiative on improving the business environment to boost commerce and trade between the two countries.
PM pushes for stronger Vietnam-Japan partnership
Vietnam will work closely with Japan to bring bilateral cooperation relations to new heights, for mutual benefit and for peace, stability and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the commitment at a meeting in Tokyo on April 20 with former Japanese PM Yukio Hatoyama, who is also president of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance (JVFPA).
Dung, who arrived there on April 19 for the 4th Mekong-Japan Summit, thanked Japan for providing official development assistance (ODA) to Vietnam over the years, helping the country gradually achieve its development goals.
He noted that the economic, trade and investment ties between Vietnam and Japan have grown and flourished constantly despite the global economic and financial meltdown.
He proposed that both countries increase cooperation in infrastructure investment, energy development, exploitation of rare earth, environmental protection, culture, transfer of high technology, and development of support industries, as well as cooperation between their localities.
Dung expressed his hope that in his capacity, Hatoyama, and the alliance will make a greater contribution to developing cooperative ties between Vietnam and Japan and their legislative bodies.
For his part, Hatoyama assured Dung that the JVFPA will lobby the Japanese Diet (parliament) and government to increase ODA for Vietnam to develop its infrastructure and support human resources training, and encourage Japanese businesses to expand operations in Vietnam.
He said that supported by the fine development of bilateral political ties, Japan and Vietnam will implement key joint projects on infrastructure construction, high-tech parks, education-training, culture and health care on schedule.
He also thanked Vietnam for its material and spiritual assistance for Japanese who bore the brunt of the March 2011 earthquake and tsunamis.
The same day, Dung met with Hiroshi Watanabe, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), Tadashi Okamura, President of the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), Ken Matsuzawa, President of Japan’s International Friendship Exchange Council, and Akihiko Tanaka, President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Cuba-Vietnam relations faring well
The ties of friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Cuba are developing well, a Cuban official has said.
Yolanda Ferrer, President of the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association, made this statement in a report summarizing the organization’s activities in 2011 and the first quarter of 2012.
During its annual meeting in Havana on April 20, Ferrer reviewed her organization’s activities, focusing on the meeting with Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong during his recent official visit to Cuba.
She thanked the Vietnamese Party, Government and people for their support and solidarity with the Cuban people in their struggle for the US lifting its embargo imposed on the Latin American nation and for the release of five Cuban patriots who are currently being unjustly detained in US prisons.
Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association reviews achievements
The Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association has accomplished various tasks in the past five years such as setting up new chapters, admitting more members, and publishing many books and documents on the traditional ties between the two countries.
This information was conveyed in a report by the Association's president, Buyanov, at its 2012-2017 Congress in Moscow on April 20.
The Association has also introduced many young Russians to Vietnam and its traditional ties with Russia. Many of its publications were translated into Vietnamese and published in Vietnam.
In the upcoming term, the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association will continue to strengthen its internal structure and coordinate with relevant Russian agencies to organize activities to promote peace, solidarity, and friendship with Vietnam. It also supports expanding the teaching of Russian in Vietnam and teaching Vietnamese in Russia.
Buyanov, who was re-elected as President of the Association, told VOV that there is great potential for further cooperation between his organization and its Vietnamese counterpart.
He added that the delegates to the Congress are eager to implement the agreed joint projects, including establishing a Russia-Vietnam Social Sciences College and completing construction of the Hanoi Cultural Centre in Moscow.
On the occasion, the Moscow Peace Fund awarded Vu Xuan Hong, leader of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, a Peace Dove medal in recognition of his contributions to the development of Russia-Vietnam friendship.
Vietnam-Hungary Friendship Association marks 15th anniversary
The Vietnam-Hungary Friendship Association held a meeting to mark its 15th anniversary in Ho Chi Minh City on April 20.
The association was established in 1997 by more than 100 scientists, teachers and businesspeople who had studied or worked in Hungary.
Since its establishment, the association has contributed to developing the traditional ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
In 2010 it organised a meeting to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Hungary diplomatic ties and encouraged its members and businesses to raise nearly VND200 million for cultural exchange activities in Hanoi, Vung Tau and Ho Chi Minh City.
Associate Professor Nguyen Dang Van, the association’s president, said around 5,000 Vietnamese people used to study or work in Hungary, of whom around 3,500 can speak Hungarian.
There are now more than 4,500 Vietnamese people in Hungary. They serve as the bridge to promote cultural, scientific, technological and trade cooperation between the two countries.
China releases Vietnamese fishermen
China has freed 21 Vietnamese fishermen and a fishing vessel, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 20.
The ministry said it will continue to work with relevant Chinese agencies to release the other vessel.
China detained the 21 fishermen aboard two vessels fishing in the area of Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago on March 3.
Military delegations honoured with People’s Armed Forces Hero title
State President Truong Tan Sang has presented the Hero of the People’s Armed Forces title to the Military Delegation of the Government of the former Democratic Republic of Vietnam and the Military Delegation of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Southern Vietnam.
The awards ceremony was held in Hanoi on April 20 to mark the 37th anniversary of the total liberation of southern Vietnam.
The two military delegations were special units which contributed to the success of the Paris Agreement to help the whole Party, soldiers and people make the Great Spring Victory of 1975 for national unification.
In his speech, President Sang praised the outstanding achievements made by the two military delegations which showed Vietnam’s spirit and brainpower.
The Hero of the People’s Armed Forces titles presented to them are State awards of distinction in recognition of their significant contributions to the military diplomatic front. In the new period, external activities related to military and national defence are of great significance and are an indispensable part of the Party and State’s external policy to create a combined strength to ensure peace for national construction and development, Mr Sang said.
President Sang said he hopes members from the two military delegations will instil valuable experiences in the art of military diplomacy and national defence into today’s generations as a contribution to building a regular, elite and modern people’s army of Vietnam.
Nation learns from Brazil poverty curb
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan visited Brazil to meet with the ministries of social development, hunger prevention and education and learn from their experiences with sustainable poverty reduction.
The Deputy Prime Minister's visit from April 16-18 is part of a programme to examine poverty reduction in Brazil organised by the World Bank and the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) in collaboration with relevant Brazilian ministries.
Deputy PM Nhan toured Rio de Janeiro, the first city to implement the national poverty reduction programme. He also visited several offices of the Bolsa Familia, the organisation providing allowances and consultancy to the poor.
At his meetings, the Deputy PM stressed that the Vietnamese Government prioritises poverty reduction and said the country has made advances in the field that have been recognised around the world.
He spoke highly of Brazil's efforts in poverty reduction, saying that he attributed the country's achievements to efficient co-ordination between relevant ministries and grassroots agencies.
Brazil also built a national database on the poor in order to implement work relating to poverty reduction, health care and education, he said.
On this occasion, MoLISA Deputy Minister Doan Mau Diep and Deputy Minister of Social Development and Hunger Prevention Romulo Paes de Sousa signed an action plan to realise the memorandum of understanding on fighting poverty signed by the two countries in Ha Noi on July 10, 2008.
About 28 million Brazilians escaped from poverty thanks to the government's policies combining economic development and poverty reduction. However, 16 million others remain under the poverty line. The country is striving to become the first developing nation in the world to meet its poverty reduction target according to the first UN millennium development goal.
NA Chairman confirms national unity policy
National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung on April 19 stressed Vietnam’s commitment to promoting unity among its 54 ethnic groups, calling cultural development a consistent national priority and the driving force behind socio-economic development.
Mr Hung was addressing a gala honouring cultural diversity as part of the on-going Vietnamese Ethnic Cultural Festival in Hanoi.
He said the Party and State have introduced policies to preserve and develop the traditional cultural identity, while strengthening international exchanges, so as to enrich the national culture.
A conference was also held to promote investment in cultural tourism, attracting 200 companies. At the conference, participants discussed various ways to promote tourism potential and called on investors to develop tourism products here.
Vietnam expands cooperation with African nations
A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Le Luong Minh visited Botswana, Namibia and Ethiopia from April 11-20 with a view to promoting bilateral cooperation.
During the visit, Deputy FM Minh worked with Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister and Ministers of Agriculture, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT); and Botswana’s and Namibia’s Ministers of Foreign Affairs, and Industry and Trade.
At the meeting with Botswana FM Skelemani, the two sides agreed to establish cooperative relations between ministries, sectors and enterprises to support each other for mutual benefit.
Botswana ministries and sectors are keen to learn more about the cooperation projects Vietnam is carrying out in African countries, hoping that Vietnamese businesses will become involved in production joint ventures in Botswana and set up cooperation in healthcare, pharmaceutics and trade, Mr Skelemani said.
Namibian leaders expressed their delight at the fine development in the fraternal friendship between the two countries and appreciated Vietnamese experts’ effective contributions to cooperation projects on aquaculture and rice growing.
They said they hope ministries and sectors from the two countries will promote the exchange of plans, expand cooperation models and consider the possibility of implementing new cooperation projects on agriculture, oil and gas exploitation, healthcare, garments and textiles, and construction.
Ethiopian Deputy PM and FM Dessalegn spoke highly of the Vietnamese delegation’s specific proposals on trade and investment cooperation. Both sides agreed that relevant agencies need to accelerate their exchanges towards the signing of agreements which will serve as a foundation for carrying out cooperation projects on agriculture, healthcare, construction and telecommunication services.
In the countries the Vietnamese delegation visited, both sides informed each other about the socio-economic situation and development policies in their respective countries. They consented to promote the exchange of visits at all levels, create favourable conditions for businesses to establish partnerships, and coordinate and support each other at international forums.
Son La hosts VN-Laos legislative conference
A conference on the cooperative relations between the Vietnamese and Lao National Assemblies will be held in the northern province of Son La from April 22-26.
At a press conference in Hanoi on April 20, Tran Van Hang, Chairman of the NA Committee for External Relations, said the event marks the 2012 Vietnam - Laos Friendship Year, 50 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries, and 35 years since they signed the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty.
The conference will be co-chaired by the Vietnamese NA Chairman, Nguyen Sinh Hung, and the Lao NA Chairwoman, Pany Yathotou.
It will provide a good opportunity for the two countries’ legislative bodies, departments and border provinces to boost comprehensive cooperation.
A photo exhibition on Vietnam-Lao relations, a groundbreaking ceremony of the historical site on Vietnam-Lao revolution, a cultural exchange programme and a business forum will all be held as part of the event.
As many as 400 delegates and 170 media workers have registered to attend the conference.
Venezuela, Vietnam boost cooperation
The second Inter-govermental Committee meeting, co-chaired by Venezuelan Vice President Rafael Ramirez and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai, opened in Caracas, Venezuela, on April 18.
Vice President Ramirez said the meeting is of great importance to bilateral cooperation.
He reviewed the implementation of agreements reached during Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s visit to Vietnam in 2007 and at the first Inter-govermental Committee meeting.
Deputy PM Hai said the two sides will exchange and submit proposals to accelerate the implementation of projects on education, culture, sports, tourism, information, communications, energy, agriculture, forestry and seafood.
He emphasized the need for closer cooperation between the two countries in the oil and gas sector to help Vietnam ensure its energy security and Venezuela expand its relations to East Asia.
The two countries will work more closely to achieve a breakthrough in oil production, he said.
Mr. Hai said the seven working groups have agreed on three joint projects on rice cultivation, fish and shrimp breeding and rubber plantation in Venezuela, organize the second Venezuelan culture week in Vietnam featuring arts performance, photo exhibition and exhibition on handicrafts.
They will cooperate in developing software and information technology industry, producing computers and electrical and electronic equipment, training human resources for information technology, information security and telecommunications sectors, Mr Hai added.
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