Vietnam, Sri Lanka parliaments agree to foster ties

Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Huynh Ngoc Son met with Deputy Speaker of the Sri Lankan Parliament Chandima Weerakkody in Hanoi on March 26, during which both sides agreed to foster their traditional friendship and cooperation, especially in law-making, economics and culture.

Son and Weerakkody expressed their delight at the growth of ties between the two parliaments over the past year with regular delegation exchanges and mutual support at international parliamentarian forums.

In order to strengthen the partnership, Son suggested the Sri Lankan parliament work closely with the Vietnamese NA in realising agreements, especially those in investment and financial affiliation as well as machinery making and agriculture.

It is also necessary to create a favourable legal environment for businesses and people of both nations to increase exchange, trade and investment collaboration, he said.

Weerakkody, who is in Vietnam to attend the 132 nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132), agreed with his host’s proposal and expressed his desire to further promote cooperation with Vietnam.

The Sri Lankan Parliament looks to learn from and share experience with Vietnam’s NA, he stated.

The same day, Weerakkody was also received by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who suggested Sri Lanka encourage its enterprises to explore opportunities with Vietnamese partners.

The Vietnamese Government is likewise ready to cooperate with Sri Lanka in advantageous areas, he affirmed.

The Deputy PM expressed his hope that Vietnam and Sri Lanka will coordinate at international forums and increase high-level visits.

He also proposed that Sri Lanka quickly approve the bilateral investment protection and encouragement deal signed in 2009 so as to lay a firm foundation for economic collaboration between the two nations.

For his part, Weerakkody spoke highly of Vietnam’s preparations for the IPU-132. He pledged to work to foster ties between the two parliaments and governments and lift ties to a new height.

Palestine National Council Vice President welcomed in Hanoi

Politburo member and standing member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Le Hong Anh had a meeting on March 26 with Vice President of the Palestine National Council Taysir Quba’a who is Hanoi to attend the 132nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132).

Quba’a lauded socio-economic achievements that Vietnam has gained over the past years. He briefed his host on current developments in Palestine and the region as well as the cooperation outcomes between the law-making bodies between the two countries.

He vowed to do his utmost to intensify the friendship, solidarity and partnership between the two parties, parliaments and peoples.

Anh spoke highly of Quba’a and the Palestine delegation’s participation in the IPU-132, expressing his belief that the attendance will contribute to the success of the event.

He applauded the two parliaments’ efforts in sharing information and exchanging experience in legislation, supervision as well as other issues related to parliament activities.

The partnership between the two legislative bodies will contribute to deepening the traditional friendship and solidarity between the two peoples, he said, expressing his hope for the two sides maintaining support at regional and international parliamentary forums.

Anh also reaffirmed the solidarity and support of Vietnam to Palestine’s struggle for basic national rights and said he looks forward to fostered friendship and cooperation between the two peoples in the future.

Vietnam treasures ties with Portugal

The Communist Party of Vientam (CPV) has always treasured its ties with traditional partners including the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP), said Le Hong Anh, standing secretary of Secretariat of the Party Central Committee.

At a March 26 reception for the PCP delegation led by head of its international department Pedro Guerreiro, Anh said he hoped the Portuguese party will use its prestige in the country to boost bilateral relations between Vietnam and Portugal, especially in economics, trade and investment.

Guerreiro assured that his party would contribute to the development of ties between the two countries.

Earlier on same day, the Portuguese delegation met with the head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan.

El-Salvador desirous of stronger affiliation with Vietnam

El-Salvador President Sanchez Ceren has extolled Vietnam’s renewal achievements in the national construction and development and affirmed his nation’s desire for enhanced friendship and cooperation with the Southeast Asian nation.

At a reception for Vietnam Ambassador Le Linh Lan who presented his credentials on March 25, President Ciren thanked Vietnam for its support for the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) during the hard time and recalled his fond memories of Vietnamese land and people during his visits to the country.

On the occasion, Ambassador Lan extended an invitation to visit Vietnam from President Truong Tan Sang to President Ceren and his invitation was accepted with pleasure.

During his stay in San Salvador, the Vietnamese diplomat worked with Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Merlin Alejandrina Barreal and some other officials, who showed their wish to advance economic links with Vietnam, particularly in telecommunications and promised to soon consider recognising Vietnam’s market economy.

Vietnamese Ambassador to El Salvador presents credentials

Vietnamese Ambassador to El Salvador Le Linh Lan on March 25 presented her credentials to President Salvador Sanchez Ciren who expressed his wish to promote friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

The host lauded the significant achievements of Vietnamese people in developing their country, particularly in the economic sphere.

The President thanked Vietnam for its past support for the Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN).

Ambassador Lan passed on a message from Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang inviting President Salvador Sanchez Ciren to visit Vietnam.

On the occasion, the Vietnamese diplomat had a meeting with Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Merlin Alejandrina Barreal and other officials to discuss ways to foster economic relations between the two nations, including in the telecommunications sector.

The Republic of El Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America , covering an area of 20,742 square kilometers and containing over 6.2 million people.

Vietnam and El Salvador established diplomat relations in 2010.-

Public Security minister wraps up Cuba visit

Vietnam’s Minister of Public Security General Tran Dai Quang concluded his official visit to Cuba on March 25.

Before leaving the host country, Minister Quang met with Cuban Prosecutor General Dario Delgado Cura and informed him of the outcomes of talks between the two countries’ public security ministries.

Delgado Cura said he believes General Quang’s visit will contribute to cementing the Vietnam-Cuba friendship and cooperation, particularly to further effective performance of the sides’ law enforcement agencies.

Minister Quang also called for a centre to monitor high-tech crime under the Cuban Interior Ministry and laid wreath at the memorial for the late President Ho Chi Minh in Havana.

Party official greets Lao Women’s Union Chair

Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation Ha Thi Khiet has asked for continued solidarity and cooperation between the Vietnamese and Lao Women’s Unions.

Receiving Chairwoman of the Lao Women’s Union Sisay Ludetmounsone in Hanoi on March 26, Khiet said she hoped that the two unions would effectively realise signed agreements.

She assured her guest that the Party, State and people of Vietnam always treasure the traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation with Laos.

Ludetmounsone briefed her host of the outcomes of talks between the two unions, and vowed to work closely with the Vietnamese side to deliver on their commitments.

She expressed belief that under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Vietnamese people would successfully achieve goals set by the 11 th National Party Congress.

Remove barriers to SOE reform: PM

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday called for intensified efforts to restructure State-owned enterprises (SOEs), focusing on equitisation and withdrawal of State capital from non-core businesses.

In a working session with the Steering Board for SOE Renovation and Development in Ha Noi, he said the currenet pace of restructuring was too slow and barriers needed to be removed to speed it up.

Restructuring SOEs was a focal political task of the Government requiring unanimous consent and concerted efforts by the entire political system, agencies, localities and business community, he said.

He asked SOEs to constantly improve their production and business management, and take open and transparent measures to be listed on the stock market.

He also ordered stepped up supervision of the restructuring process by all agencies concerned, including ministries and local administrations as well as SOE managements.

The meeting heard that as of March 24, 289 SOEs on the waiting list for equitisation had already established Steering Boards to oversee the process. 207 were evaluating their assets and 81 others were preparing to announce their worth.

Nationwide, nearly VND7 trillion (US$333 million) invested in non-core businesses had been withdrawn, mostly by the military-run telecom corporation, Viettel, the Viet Nam National Oil and Gas Group, the Viet Nam Posts and Telecommunications, Electricity of Viet Nam and the State Capital and Investment Corporation.

In the first quarter of this year, January-March, 18 SOEs auctioned 100 million shares for VND805 billion ($38.3 million).