VN, RoK hoped to become economic allies following new visa policy

RoK Ambassador to Vietnam Kim Do Hyon (Source: thanhnien.vn)

The Republic of Korea (RoK)’s new visa policy for Vietnamese citizens is expected to help the two countries become greater economic allies, said RoK Ambassador to Vietnam Kim Do Hyon. 

Permanent residents of Vietnam’s three biggest cities of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang will be eligible for C-3 visas from early December next year.

C-3 visa holders can stay in the RoK for up to 30 days, with no restriction on the number of visits for five years. 

Kim was quoted by Sai Gon Giai phong (Liberated Saigon) daily as saying that through the new policy, the RoK wishes to step up business cooperation and people-to-people exchange with Vietnam. 

The RoK also hopes to bolster economic ties with the Southeast Asian nation and attract more Vietnamese to the country for tourism and medical treatment, thus helping tightening their friendship, the diplomat said. 

RoK President Moon Jae-in said during his March visit to Vietnam that the country was the RoK’s most important partner in Southeast Asia and a key partner in its New Southern Policy, the diplomat noted. 

According to the ambassador, to deal with queues of visa applicants in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the RoK plans to open visa application centres and assign businesses to receive applications. 

The RoK is scheduled to open its Consulate General in the central city of Da Nang to make it easier for citizens in the city and the central region to get visas, he said, adding that visa procedures will be very simple, requiring only interviews and document checks in cases with suspicious signs.

Regarding labour visas, Kim said although the policy is not applied to guest workers in the RoK, it is expected to create favourable conditions for the RoK government to renew labour visa policy. 

In the future, the RoK will apply the five-year visa to Vietnamese residents in Hai Phong, Da Lat and Nha Trang cities, and, hopefully, Kim said, to all Vietnamese citizens.

Statistics show the number of Vietnamese arrivals to the RoK in the first 10 months of this year was 440,000, compared to 380,000 in 2017. Corresponding figures for RoK visitors to Vietnam were 2.6 million and 2.4 million, respectively.

Lao National Day marked in Hanoi

The Vietnam – Laos Friendship Association (VLFA) in collaboration with the Lao Embassy organised a ceremony in Hanoi on November 28 to mark the 43rd anniversary of Lao National Day (December 2, 1975 – 2018).

Speaking at the event, VLFA President Tran Van Tuy highlighted the fruitful growth of the traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Based on successful outcomes of the Vietnam – Laos friendship and solidarity year 2017, the sides have implemented joint projects at national and local levels and expanded their people-to-people exchange, he added.

Tuy noted that bilateral engagements in education and training are a priority of the relations. Despite economic difficulties, the two governments have spent significant parts of their budgets on human resources training, with a large number of Lao students sent to study in Vietnam.

Tuy said his association has worked closely with various educational establishments to support Lao students in Vietnam and have organised many activities for them, including cultural exchanges and musical and sport events.

He urged the Lao students to make contributions to their home country and to the ties between the two countries.

For his part, Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Thongsavanh Phomvihane stressed the special relations between Laos and Vietnam have been continuously expanding over time. 

He said Vietnam’s development progress and increasing role at regional and international forums that he witnessed during his three-year tenure in the country is a source of encouragement for Lao people in building their country following the socialist orientation.

On the occasion, the VLFA presented certificates of merit and gifts for 16 Lao students with outstanding academic performance while studying in Vietnam.

Laos’ National Day observed in HCM City

An art performance staged by Lao students in Ho Chi Minh City at the ceremony.

The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisation (HUFO) on November 28 held a ceremony to mark the 43rd anniversary of Laos’ National Day (December 2). 

In her remarks, Nguyen Thi My Tien, Vice President of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association’s HCM City chapter, highlighted the close-knit relations between the two countries during the past struggle for national independence as well as the present national construction and protection. 

The traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation have been an invaluable asset shared by the two nations, she said. 

Tien congratulated the Lao people on achievements they have recorded over the past time under the leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and affirmed that Vietnam and HCM City in particular will work together with Laos to cultivate the relationship. 

Echoing Tien’s views, Lao Consul General to HCM City Somxay Sanamoune said the Vietnam-Laos special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation have been deepened across fields, bringing pragmatic benefits to both sides. 

The Lao people will join hands with their Vietnamese friends to preserve and promote the relations, he pledged.

Vietnam, China seek to step up financial cooperation

Vietnamese Minister of Finance Dinh Tien Dung (L) and his Chinese counterpart Liu Kun (Photo: mof.gov.vn)

Vietnamese Minister of Finance Dinh Tien Dung held talks with his Chinese counterpart Liu Kun in Beijing on November 27 as part of his working visit to China from November 25-30.

At the talks, Dung briefed the hosts about Vietnam’s macro-economy and economic prospects. Despite a wide range of difficulties and challenges, Vietnam managed to post an economic growth rate of 6.98 percent in the first nine months of 2018, the highest level in the nine month period since 2011, he said.

The country has successfully kept inflation under control, while boosting import-export, making it an important driving force for its economic growth, Dung said.

Vietnam’s finance and securities markets have developed strongly, while its insurance market has maintained positive growth and monetary market has seen good liquidity, the minister said.

Meanwhile, the nation’s business environment has seen improvements, he said, noting that Vietnam climbed 14 places to 68th amongst 190 economies in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business 2017 rankings and jumped five positions to 74th amongst 135 economies in the Global Competitiveness Index 2017.

According to the minister, international organizations had forecast that Vietnam’s economy will record positive growth in 2018.

For his part, Liu noted with pleasure that China-Vietnam cooperative ties have been lifted a new height following mutual visits by senior leaders of the two nations.

He told the Vietnamese guests that China’s economy is switching to high-quality growth and the country is striving to accomplish the goal of comprehensive poverty eradication by 2020.

Both ministers expressed their delight at achievements in Vietnam-China relations after 68 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties.

The two sides agreed to step up cooperation and mutual support within bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation frameworks, and at the same time, strengthen coordination in the fields of financial cooperation, human resource development, macro-economic supervision, and mid-term budget plan making.

During their visit, the Vietnamese delegation also had working sessions with the General Administration of Customs, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC).

At these working sessions, the two sides agreed to increase the exchange of information and experience in restructuring state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and promoting the Party’s leadership in SOEs.

They also consented to enhance cooperation in the fight against smuggling, trade fraud, and drug trafficking as well as in supervising the enforcement of intellectual property rights in border areas.

The Vietnamese delegation also visited and talked with the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in China.

Australia celebrates 20th anniversary of defence ties with Vietnam

Vietnamese Defence Minister Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich (R) and his Australian counterpart Christopher Pyne ink the Vietnam-Australia Declaration on Joint Visions for Enhancing Defence Cooperation on November 8 

The Embassy of Australia in Vietnam celebrated the 20th anniversary of the two countries’ defence relations at a ceremony in Hanoi on November 27.

The event was attended by Deputy Director of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA)’s General Department of Politics, Lieutenant General Le Hien Van, gathering Vietnamese military personnel who used to visit or receive training in Australia under defence cooperation programmes.

In his remarks, Van said Vietnam – Australia relations have seen constant progress since the two countries set up diplomatic ties in February, 1973, adding that bilateral defence cooperation in recent years has flourished in multiple areas, particularly exchange of visits, consultancy and dialogue, training, UN peacekeeping missions, air and naval operation and counter-terrorism.

He noted that cooperation in training has laid a solid foundation for the two defence ministries to expand their ties. 

Australia is the leading native English speaking provider of language and professional development courses for Vietnamese service personnel, the officer said.

He expected the event would be an opportunity for military officers from Vietnam to pay tribute to their Australian lecturers.

Defence relations between Vietnam and Australia were formalised in February 1999, when an Australian Defence Attaché was posted to Hanoi.

The Vietnam – Australia Defence relationship has developed significantly since the Memorandum of Understanding for Defence Cooperation was signed by the two Defence Ministers in November 2010. Australia has begun to engage the VPA in practical activities, such as limited training activities between the two Navies and Special Forces personnel, according to the Australian Embassy in Vietnam.

Since 2012, an annual joint Foreign Affairs/Defence Australia-Vietnam Strategic Dialogue has been held at Deputy-Secretary and Vice-Minister levels.

Australia has also led in providing English language and specialist training to VPA peacekeepers in 2014 prior to their inaugural UN peacekeeping deployment to South Sudan. 

Vietnam hosted the sixth round of the Dialogue on 10 October 2018.  The two nations also conduct annual Australia-Vietnam Defence Cooperation Senior Officials' talks.

Earlier this month, the two sides inked the Declaration on Joint Visions for Enhancing Defence Cooperation during a visit of Vietnamese Defence Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich to Australia. 

PM urges agriculture sector to brace for agricultural economy

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the event 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has urged the agriculture sector to switch from the mindset of agricultural production to an agricultural economy and international integration in order to create a revolution in the development of agriculture, farmers and rural areas. 

Speaking at a national teleconference reviewing the ten-year implementation of Resolution 26-NQ/TW on agriculture, farmers and rural areas adopted at the seventh plenum of the 10th Party Central Committee in Hanoi on November 27, PM Phuc underlined the need to identify opportunities, challenges and limitations to roll out strategic orientations for the sector, thus spurring its development, especially in the context of the fourth Industrial Revolution. 

The settlement of issues regarding agriculture, farmers and rural areas is a common task of the entire political system, he said, asking ministries, agencies and localities to take solutions to deal with small-scale production and meet new requirements of agricultural and rural development. 

The PM pointed out a list of tasks for ministries, agencies and localities, such as natural disaster prevention and control, adaptation to climate change, clean agricultural production, improving mechanisms, policies and laws and removing difficulties facing investors and businesses. 

Agricultural production should go in tandem with market development and capital supply, he said, requesting ministries and agencies to pay more attention to the export markets, and the banking system to set forth necessary mechanisms to serve agriculture, farmers and rural areas. 

The comprehensive, sustainable building of new-style rural areas should be connected closely with urbanisation, environmental protection and preservation of traditional culture, the PM noted. 

Resolution 26-NQ/TW, the first of its kind issued by the Party, has given a facelift to the agriculture sector and rural areas, with role and living standards of farmers improved significantly, he said. 

PM Phuc asked the steering committee for the review of the implementation of the resolution to collect opinions through thematic workshops to report to the Politburo for the issuance of another resolution in the sphere. 

According to a report presented by Cao Duc Phat, deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission, aquaculture production and animal husbandry accounted for 26.2 percent and 27.2 percent of the agriculture sector’s total value in 2017. 

Export staples such as rice, rubber, coffee, cashew nuts, shrimp, fish and fruits have gained firm foothold in foreign markets, contributing to a 2.66 percent growth in the agricultural sector’s gross domestic product (GDP) last year. 

Up to 3,069 communes nationwide have been recognised as new rural areas, and 7.2 million rural labourers have received vocational training, the report said. 

The report, however, pointed out limitations in the sphere such as unstable and asynchronous development of the rural economy, poor infrastructure, high poverty rate and environmental pollution.

Delegation of Communist People’s Party of Kazakhstan visits Vietnam

Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Phan Dinh Trac (R) and Secretary of the Communist People’s Party of Kazakhstan Central Committee D. Legkyi

Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) Phan Dinh Trac hosted a reception in Hanoi on November 27 for a delegation of the Communist People’s Party of Kazakhstan (CPPK) led by Secretary of the CPPK Central Committee D. Legkyi. 

Trac, who is also head of the CPVCC’s Commission for Internal Affairs, hailed the significance of the CPPK’s visit in the context of noteworthy development in the friendship between the CPV and the CPPK as well as between the two countries. 

He affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to developing the close traditional friendship with Kazakhstan, adding that he hopes the two parties will increase the exchange of information and theoretical matters on the path to socialism as well as the sharing of experience in Party building and youth work. 

Legkyi underlined that the CPPK treasures its ties with the CPV, noting that the fine traditional relations between the two parties provide a firm foundation for them to expand cooperation in the time ahead.  

On November 26, CPVCC member and head of the CPVCC Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan had a working session with the CPPK delegation, during which the two sides discuss ideological work, Party building and youth issues. 

Quan stressed that in pursuing the policy of multilateralisation and diversification of external relations along with proactive international integration, the CPV pays great attention to strengthening relations with traditional communist parties, including the CPPK. 

He suggested that the two parties enhance cooperation and stance coordination at multilateral forums for political parties of which they are members. 

During their stay in Vietnam, the CPPK delegation also made a working trip to the northern province of Ninh Binh.

Lieutenant General Do Can, deputy head of the General Department of Politics under the Vietnam People’s Army (R), and Lieutenant General Bin Rathmoni, Deputy Chief Justice of the Cambodian Military Court

Lieutenant General Do Can, deputy head of the General Department of Politics under the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), received Lieutenant General Bin Rathmoni, Deputy Chief Justice of the Cambodian Military Court, in Hanoi on November 27.

At the meeting, Can spoke highly of the outcomes of collaboration between the court and the procuracy under his department and the Cambodian Royal Armed Forces’ court and procuracy over the past time.

The official said his guest’s current trip to Vietnam will contribute to enhancing mutual trust and understanding between the two armies, as well as friendship and cooperation between their legal protection agencies.

For his part, Bin Rathmoni recommended that the two agencies continue their delegation exchange at all levels and to share their expertise to fulfill their assigned missions. 

Overview of the meeting 

Leaders of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (the People’s PCC) have agreed on the contents of their cooperation at a meeting in Beijing on November 27. 

At their talks, President of the VFF Central Committee Tran Thanh Man and Chairman of the Chinese People’s PCC Wang Yang concurred to assign their units to coordinate in finalising the draft MoU on bilateral cooperation in 2019-2024 for signing at a suitable time in 2019. 

The two sides pledged to work together to prepare for a friendship exchange between the VFF chapters in Vietnam’s seven border provinces and the Chinese People’s PCC chapters in Guangxi and Yunnan in 2019. 

They planned to coordinate with relevant agencies to integrate their bilateral cooperative activities into the overall plan for celebration of the two countries’ diplomatic relationship in 2020.    

Earlier, the VFF leader had a meeting with Chairman of the Chinese National People’s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Li Zhanshu. 

At the meeting, Man called on the two sides to intensify guidance for the strict implementation of agreements and common perception of their senior leaders, especially those concerning sea-related issues, while continuing to undertake measures to promote bilateral cooperation in economy, trade, investment, security, national defence and people-to-people exchange. 

He conveyed invitations to visit Vietnam from Vietnamese leaders to Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping and other leaders of China. 

Li Zhanshu said the visit of the VFF President is significant to promoting the friendly and cooperative relations between the two parties and states as well as between the VFF and the Chinese People’s PCC. 

He said stronger cooperation between the VFF and the Chinese People’s PCC will contribute to taking the ties between the two countries forward, adding that the NPC wishes and is ready to enhance partnership and share experience with the Vietnamese National Assembly and the VFF.

The NPC Standing Committee Chairman also conveyed an invitation to visit China from Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping to his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Phu Trong.

Truong Thi Mai, head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation Truong Thi Mai, head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation, has expressed her hope for stronger ties with Canada at meetings with Canadian officials during her visit to the country from November 26-28. 

At a meeting with Deputy Speaker of Canada’s House of Common Bruce Stanton on November 26, Mai applauded the all-round and effective development of the Vietnam-Canada comprehensive partnership. 

She proposed several initiatives regarding investment ties between the two countries in order to optimise opportunities brought about by the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), together with ideas to boost bilateral collaboration in education-training, tourism and health care. 

Mai called on the two sides to support each other’s stance and viewpoints at multilateral forums, including Vietnam’s bid to run for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure, and Canada’s candidacy for the council’s membership during the 2021-2022 term. 

In reply, Bruce Stanton showed his approval for Mai’s proposals relating to bilateral cooperation in law making and supervision of the legislative body, economy-trade, security-foreign relations and the East Sea issue. 

He promised to work to deepen the comprehensive partnership between the two countries across fields, including cooperation through the party channel, saying priorities will be given to such potential spheres as science, education-training, tourism and people-to-people exchange. 

While in Canada, Mai and her entourage held talks with representatives of the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist-Leninist), visited McGill University and had a working session with leaders of several universities in Quebec. They also met with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Canada. 

At the meetings, the two sides noted with pleasure the development of the two countries’ relationship over the past time and discussed ways to step up affiliation in priority fields like food safety, climate change adaptation, environmental protection and smart urban area development. 

They also talked about issues of shared concern, especially the East Sea issue, and reached high consensus on the need to maintain regional peace and stability on the basis of international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, ensure freedom, security and safety of aviation and navigation, and respect and fully implement diplomatic and legal processes.

NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan meets Can Tho voters

Voters’ opinions today will become NA deputies’ opinions at discussions relating to important issues that directly impact the life of people, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan said.

“We will try to have people’s voice heard at the National Assembly’s hall,” Chairwoman Ngan said, when meeting voters at Le Binh ward, Cai Rang district, in the Mekong delta city of Can Tho on November 27 as part of the programme to brief voters on the outcomes of the sixth session of the 14th National Assembly.

Nguyen Thanh Xuan, vice head of the Can Tho Deputies Delegation, made a brief summary of the outcomes, presenting the new and major contents of the laws adopted at the session, while leaders of Cai Rang district and Can Tho city fielded questions relating to local socio-economic situation.

The voters gave high estimations to the outcomes of the session, including the election of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong as State President, and the question-answer session.

They voiced their concerns about unsettled planning, land clearance compensation, education, and others.

The NA leader briefed the voters about the current apparatus reform effort, and the fight against corruption, saying with the political determination of the Party and State and the consensus of people, the work has obtained visible and positive results.

She said the National Assembly will continue requesting competent agencies involving in the fight against corruption reporting the percentage of assets and money retrieved from the corruption cases that have been brought to light.

Poland willing to share experience in waste treatment with Hanoi

Polish cities are experienced in dealing with environmental pollution, waste and wastewater treatment and urban planning, and are willing to share their experience with Hanoi, said head of the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) of Poland Grzegorz Napieralski.

Napieralski, who is leading a group of Polish parliamentarians to Vietnam, was received by Standing Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Van Suu on November 27.

He shared that Poland has strengths in restoring and preserving cultural and historical relic sites. Therefore, he suggested the two countries intensify cooperation in this field.

Talking to his guest, Suu underlined that during its development, Hanoi has faced different challenges brought by urbanisation, particularly in the transport and environment fields.

Hence, the city wants to learn from experience in urban planning of developed countries, including Poland, to develop sustainably.

Recalling the close friendship between the two countries over the past decades, Suu showed his hope that Vietnam and Poland, as well as Hanoi and Polish localities in particular, will continue fostering their collaboration in various fields.