President lauds Egyptian ambassador’s contribution to bilateral ties

President Tran Dai Quang (R) hosts Egyptian Ambassador Youssef Kamal Boutros Hana

President Tran Dai Quang hailed the contributions of Egyptian Ambassador Youssef Kamal Boutros Hana to in fostering the friendship and partnership between Vietnam and Egypt during a reception for the outgoing diplomat in Hanoi on January 24.

Vietnam values the role of Egypt in the region and international organisations such as the United Nations, the African Union and the Non-Aligned Movement, said President Quang, adding that Vietnam hopes that Egypt will successfully hold its upcoming presidential election.

This year, Vietnam and Egypt will celebrate the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations, he noted, suggesting that the two sides increase delegation exchanges and meetings between businesses, thus promoting investment and trade and tourism, while fostering people-to-people contacts.

He underlined the strong cooperation potential between the two sides, stressing that both countries should promote cooperation in all fields, thus lifting bilateral ties to a new height.

Egypt is a prioritised partner of Vietnam in the region, and an important partner in Africa with two-way trade of about 350 million USD in 2017, stated the President.

For his part, Ambassador Youssef Kamal Boutros Hana thanked the Vietnamese side for supporting him in completing his tasks during his tenure in Vietnam.

He said that the visit to Vietnam by President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi in September 2017 was an important milestone in Vietnam-Egypt relations.

Lauding the socio-economic achievements of Vietnam as well as the country’s rising position globally, the diplomat said Egypt hopes to bolster ties with Vietnam and Southeast Asian countries.

This year, the Ministry of Culture of Egypt plans to hold several cultural activities in Vietnam to mark the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, he said. Vietnam and Egypt have also set a roadmap for the implementation of outcomes of the Egyptian President’s September 2017 visit to Vietnam.

The ambassador also affirmed that Egypt hopes to welcome President Tran Dai Quang soon.

President hails Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership

President Tran Dai Quang (R) received Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Catherine Wong Siow Ping on January 24 

President Tran Dai Quang lauded the role of Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Catherine Wong Siow Ping in deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries during their meeting in Hanoi on January 24.

The maintenance of high-level delegation exchanges and visits has created a foundation for their closeness, the President said.

He particularly thanked Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong for his assistance for Vietnam to have a successful APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in 2017.

Vietnam-Singapore relations have developed well since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1973 and a strategic partnership in 2013.

To keep up with regional rapid changes and the advancement of science and technology, the President called on the two sides to tighten coordination for development and prosperity.

He affirmed that Vietnam supports Singapore to fulfill its role as Chair of ASEAN 2018 to increase intra-bloc cooperation, promote solidarity and unification and increase the central role of ASEAN.

The Vietnamese agencies will work with the Singaporean Ambassador to propel bilateral relations forward.

Ambassador Ping congratulated Vietnam on its achievements in 2017 and believed the Southeast Asian country will maintain growth in 2018.

The presence of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week 2017 in Vietnam will drive for the two countries’ cooperation development in all fields, especially economics, trade and investment, she said, noting that Singapore is the third biggest foreign investor of Vietnam.

Senior officer attends celebration of Royal Thai Armed Forces Day

Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) Pham Ngoc Minh 

Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) Pham Ngoc Minh on January 23 attended a reception celebrating the Royal Thai Armed Forces Day, which falls on January 18.

Speaking at the event, Senior Lieutenant General Minh affirmed that relations between the Vietnam People’s Army and the Royal Thai Armed Forces are thriving, especially after the signing of the Memorandum on Defence Cooperation in December 2012. The Defence Ministries of the two countries also enhanced high-ranking visits in 2017, he added.

Vietnam and Thailand have established mechanisms to step up exchanges of middle-ranking officers, creating opportunities for them to share experience in management, command skills and training.

In addition, joint patrols and training on search and rescue cooperation conducted by the two countries’ navies have helped ensure each country’s regional maritime security, said the Vietnamese official.

He also voiced his hope that the two countries’ armies will see more fruitful cooperation in the future, tightening the bilateral strategic partnership, benefitting the two countries and contributing to the ASEAN Community and global prosperity.

Italy hopes Vietnam to serve a bridge in ASEAN

Italian Deputy Minister for Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies Andrea Olivero

Italy hopes Vietnam will continue to connect the European country with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Italian Deputy Minister for Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies Andrea Olivero expressed the wish at a workshop themed “Vietnam – gateway to Asia – opportunities for Italian small-and medium-sized enterprises” held in Rome on January 23.

According to Olivero, the Italian government is very satisfied with the current development momentum in the two countries’ relations thanks to high-level delegation exchanges and stronger cooperation.

Two-way trade has increased in recent years, especially after the two nations established a strategic partnership in 2013, he said.

Vietnam has proved a reliable partner of Italy in the region, he said, adding that Italy is willing to share experience with Vietnam in the research and application of new technology.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Cao Chinh Thien described Vietnam as a promising market with a large population of more than 90 million.

Vietnam is an ideal destination to develop business in automation, footwear, garment-textile, services, fashion and agriculture.

The Southeast Asian country also serves as a gateway to access the ASEAN market, offering opportunities for Italian investors to bring technology and high-quality goods to Vietnam and other ASEAN member states, Thien added.

Both Vietnam and Italy have strengths in agriculture and their products are supplementary. Italy is famous for cheese, wine and fruit while Vietnam is strong at farm produce and aquatic products.

Vietnamese Trade Counsellor in Italy Nguyen Duc Thanh introduced cooperation opportunities in Vietnam with low production cost and numerous preferential policies.

Vietnam is an attractive destination for foreign investors, including those from Italy. Vietnam’s participation in multilateral economic cooperation agreements creates favourable conditions for Italian businesses to invest in the country.

Deputy Minister Olivero told Vietnam News Agency reporters in Italy on the sidelines of the workshop that Vietnam has a strategic position in ASEAN. The establishment of a strategic partnership between Vietnam and Italy has facilitated bilateral trade exchange, which is expected to hit 5 billion USD in the near future.

The two countries have great potential in development cooperation, especially among small-and medium-sized enterprises, in food, machinery, equipment and agriculture.

HCM City, Laos’s Savannakhet province set up partnership

Leaders of Ho Chi Minh City and the Lao province of Savannakhet have inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the formation of bilateral friendly and cooperative partnership to facilitate their ties’ growth in the future.

The MoU was signed by Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan and Secretary of the Party Committee and Governor of Savannakhet Santiphap Phomvihane on January 24 as part of the former’s visit to the Lao central province.

The MoU allows the two sides to increase delegation exchange and expand cooperation in all fields and create favourable conditions for businesses of both sides to invest in the respective countries.

Nhan said that the deal will create a firm foundation for the development of the two localities’ ties, facilitating the implementation of specific joint projects in the future.

He pledged that Ho Chi Minh City always work hard to preserve, reinforce and develop the special relations with Laos and Lao localities, including Savannakhet. He held that the Investment-Trade-Tourism Promotion Conference to three central Lao localities in July 2017 showed Vietnam’s determination to strengthen economic-trade ties with Laos and optimise the potential of their traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation.

The Ho Chi Minh City leader proposed that Savannakhet restore the historical relic site commemorating late President Ho Chi Minh, while coordinating with the city in seeking specific measures to increase investment to Savan Seno special economic zone.

Nhan expressed his hope that the two localities will further bolster economic cooperation. He also asked for Savannakhet’s support for enterprises from Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City to invest more in Savannakhet. 

The same day, Nhan and the Ho Chi Minh City delegation paid tribute to late Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Kaysone Phomvihane at their memorial sites in the province.-

NA Chairwoman pays pre-Tet visit to Ha Tinh province

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan on January 24 visited and presented gifts to poor households and policy beneficiaries in the central province of Ha Tinh ahead of the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet), the country’s biggest national holidays. 

While visiting and presenting gifts to poor households and policy beneficiaries in Thach Hai commune, Thach Ha district, Ngan wished local residents a happy new year.

Expressing her sympathy for local people over their difficulties, the top legislator said she was informed about the provincial administration’s proposal to stop operations of Thach Khe iron mine. 

Having affirmed the locality’s marine tourism potential, she hoped local residents would believe in the Party and State’s policies, and join hands with the local authority to overcome difficulties and step up production, thus improving their living conditions.

Nguyen Trung Chien, Secretary of the Thach Hai commune Party Committee, suggested the State assist the locality in enlarging a inter-hamlet road, developing a clean-water supply system and an irrigation network for agricultural production. 

Acknowledging Chien’s proposal, Ngan asked the provincial administration to pay attention to ensuring social security in Thach Hai commune.

She also asked the local authority to pay attention ensuring social security in the locality.

The same day, the NA Chairwoman and local officials laid a wreath at a monument dedicated to volunteer young people and tombs of 10 young female volunteers in the special National Dong Loc T-junction Relic Site.

Thanh Hoa targets 18% economic growth in 2018

National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan has asked Thanh Hoa province to raise its competitiveness and promote investment in its infrastructure system in order to reach its economic growth target of 18% for 2018.

The top legislator made the request at a working session with the provincial Party Committee on January 23 to review its two-year implementation of the development tasks for the 2016-2020 period.

She praised the efforts and achievements made by the local Party Committee, authorities and people over the past two years in boosting socio-economic development, enhancing Party building, and promoting tourism.

She called on the provincial Party Committee and authorities to strengthen their leadership and encourage further participation from all sectors and people in implementing its set targets for this year and realising the Party’s resolutions.

Stronger measures are needed to maintain political security and social order, build trust among the people, and fully take advantage of the locality’s maritime tourism potential, she added.

The local authorities were also requested to attach greater importance on reducing poverty, caring for national contributors and policy beneficiaries, and stepping up administrative reform.

PM asks to enhance close coordination among Party, State, Gov’t, NA agencies

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc on January 23 attended a meeting to review the coordination and orientations for 2018 between the Party Central Committee's Office, the Presidential Office, the Government Office and the National Assembly Office. 

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc witnesses the signing ceremony on coordination among the Party Central Committee's Office, the Presidential Office, the Government Office and the National Assembly Office, Ha Noi, January 23, 2018 - Photo: VGP/Quang Hieu

Referring to the country's remarkable achievements in socio-economic performances in 2017, the PM highlighted the consultancy role of these agencies for leaders of the Party, State and Government.

He stressed the stronger belief of nearly 100 million Vietnamese for the Party and State, which is attributed to the realistic and crucial contributions of these four agencies.   

He asked four agencies to enhance close coordination in the motto of conscientiousness, responsibility, bravery, proficiency and effectiveness to fulfill targets set for 2018, a meaningful year in launching the five-year plan from 2016-2020. 

Reform and renovation must be applied in these four agencies’ management and monitoring works, he said, requesting them to improve capacity and effectiveness of consultancy works in line with the Party’s guidelines, Constitution, laws and regulations to meet the demands of people and businesses. 

PM Phuc required increasing the effectiveness in information provision and communications to ensure security and safety. 

At the meeting, the PM witnessed the signing ceremony on coordination among the four agencies. 

Personnel of State Steering Committee on sustainable forestry development program

The Prime Minister recently issued a decision on personnel of the State Steering Committee on the Sustainable Forestry Development Target Program in the period of 2016-2020.

Specifically, the PM appointed Nguyen Vinh Ha, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Committee for Science, Technology and Environment, to replace Truong Minh Hoang as a member of the Steering Committee. 

Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung serves as head of the Steering Committee, according to the PM’s Decision No. 1857/QD-TTg dated November 23, 2017.

The State Steering Committee is in charge of supporting the PM to research and direct cooperation among ministries, agencies and localities in implementing the PM’s Decision No. 886/QD-TTg, dated June 16, 2017 approving the Target Program for Sustainable Forestry Development for 2016-2020 and Decision No. 419/QD-TTg, dated April 5, 2017 approving the national program on reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the mitigation of deforestation and forest degradation; conservation and enhancement of forest carbon stocks and sustainable management of forest resources until 2030.

The Steering Committee is also responsible for researching and recommending measures to the PM, concerning the implementation of the target program, the protection of forests, the mitigation of deforestation and forest degradation, and the forest fire prevention and control. In addition, it is tasked with regulating activities between ministries, sectors and localities; promoting intersectoral and inter-locality cooperation aiming to mitigate deforestation and forest degradation; and directing the mobilisation of forces and vehicles in fighting forest fires and combating deforestation.

VNA/VGP/SGT