Permanent gov’t members discuss socio-economic performance

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the event

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired a meeting of permanent government members in Hanoi on August 28 to discuss the recent socio-economic performance, State budget, and public investment. 

Participants listened to a 2018 report on socio-economic performance and State budget, as well as a socio-economic development plan and State budget estimate for 2019. 

In light of the past achievements, all 12 targets for 2018 are expected to be met. 

They gave opinions on the mid-term report on socio-economic development and State budget, a public investment plan for 2016-2020, and the national finance-budget plan for 2019-2021. 

Concluding the meeting, the PM asked the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Finance, and the Government Office to acquire suggestions and refine reports to submit to the government at the upcoming monthly meeting. He particularly stressed the need to thoroughly prepare documents before submission to the eighth conference of the Party Central Committee and the sixth National Assembly session. 

Party official holds talks with Dominican MIU leader

At the inauguration ceremony (Source: hanoimoi)

Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission on External Relations Hoang Binh Quan held talks with General Secretary of the Dominican Republic’s United Left Movement (MIU) and Minister for Regional Integration Policies Miguel Mejia in Hanoi on August 28. 

Both sides agreed to further deepen ties between the two Parties, considering it important to boost the exchange of all-level visits and theoretical experience, as well as increase mutual support in expanding cooperation with other political parties in Asia and Latin America. 

The same day at Hoa Binh Park, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man and the MIU General Secretary chaired a ceremony to inaugurate a statue of Professor Juan Bosch – a writer, thinker, and soldier that fought for the national liberation of Dominica and Latin America, as well as a close friend of Vietnam. 

On the occasion, Man thanked the MIU and the ruling Dominican Liberation Party for building a President Ho Chi Minh statue and naming a park after him in the capital city of Santo Domingo in March 2013, affirming that it is a vivid symbol of the sentiment that the Dominican people and political parties have given to President Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnamese people. 

Mejia, for his part, expressed his profound gratitude for Vietnamese leaders and people, as well as Hanoi authorities in particular, for their sentiment to Prof. Bosch and the Dominican people. He said the inauguration of the statue at Hoa Binh Park is significant to fostering friendship and cooperation between the two nations. 

PEGASE mission willing to share experience with Vietnam

Crew-members of a Mission PEGASE aircraft pose for a photo at the Noi Bai International Airport 

A visiting delegation of the French Air Force long-range operational Mission PEGASE said it wants to introduce aviation technologies and share tactics with Vietnam at a meeting with Hanoi authorities on August 27.

The French Air Force has organised and coordinated Mission PEGASE in the Indo-Pacific region, with the involvement of three Dassault Rafale fighters, one Airbus A400M strategic airlifter, one Boeing C-135FR Stratotanker, and one Airbus A310 passenger transport aircraft.

After taking part in the exercise Pitch Black during July 27-August 17 in Australia, on its return journey to France, the squadron was scheduled to visit Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore, India, and the United Arab Emirates. The trip lasts from August 19 to September 4, with its Vietnamese visit taking place from August 26-28.

At the meeting, General Patrick Charaix, Commander of the PEGASE mission, said the French Government and Air Force attach importance to cooperation with Vietnam.

He stressed that the squadron’s ongoing visit to the country reflects sound bilateral defence ties and contributes to increasing France’s presence in the Asia-Pacific.

The Commander said of the 40 spheres for cooperation among countries, cyber security is a pressing issue which requires significant budget spending.

He said France, with its experience, can support Vietnam in training cyber security engineers and ensuring information safety. He noted that the two countries can also collaborate and exchange experience regarding the UN peacekeeping mission.

Agreeing with his guest on the cyber security challenges, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung said the Vietnamese capital city is willing to invest in technology serving human resources training in the sector. 

Chung noted the visit of the French squadron takes place amid the two countries marking their 45 years of bilateral relations (1973-2018) and five years of strategic partnership (2013-2018). 

He informed the Commander on a series of joint projects between Hanoi and French partners, including a pact signed with Toulouse city on cooperation in culture, tourism, and restoration of French buildings in Hanoi. He also mentioned the city’s collaboration with the French Development Agency in the construction of the Hanoi train station-Nhon urban railway project (Route No. 3).

The Hanoi leader said he hopes the visit will help boost the exchange of experience between Vietnamese and French air forces in contribution to the Vietnam-France strategic partnership.

Court cooperation contributes to Vietnam-Laos relations

General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Bounnhang Vorachith receives Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court of Vietnam Nguyen Hoa Binh. 

The sound cooperation between the court systems of Vietnam and Laos have made significant contributions to the special relations between the two countries, Lao leaders have said.

Receiving Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court of Vietnam Nguyen Hoa Binh on August 27 and 28, General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Bounnhang Vorachith and Chairwoman of the National Assembly of Laos Pany Yathotou laid stress on court collaboration between Vietnam and Laos as the court system has an important role in building a law-governed state to protect human rights.

They urged further cooperation between the two courts while proposing Vietnam continue to provide training and share professional expertise, helping Lao judges improve their capacity. 

Besides assisting Laos in the establishment of administrative courts in its court system, the Lao leaders hoped that the Vietnamese side will share practical experience so that the courts will be put into operation soon.

They took the occasion to thank the Vietnamese Party, Government and people for timely support for the victims of the Sepien-Senamoi hydropower dam break in Attapeu province. They said that it is a vivid illustration for the Vietnam-Laos special ties.

Briefing the Lao leaders on the cooperative achievements between the two courts in the past time, Binh said that the collaboration has developed in an increasingly substantive manner.

In the coming time, both sides will further experience sharing, and increase delegation exchanges to improve court operation efficiency in both countries, he said.

Vietnam will continue training courses for Lao judges while ten scholarships will be granted to Lao students to study at the Vietnam Court Academy from 2019, he added.

Binh is on a working visit to Laos from August 26-28.

Vietnam-Israel relations now in “golden stage”: Ambassador

Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Cao Tran Quoc Hai 

The relationship between Vietnam and Israel is entering a “golden stage” as the two countries regard each other as reliable friends and partners and their economies have enjoyed good growth in recent years.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Cao Tran Quoc Hai made the comments in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Tel Aviv on bilateral cooperation on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of their diplomatic ties (1993-2018).

The diplomat said that despite geographic distance, Vietnam and Israel have recorded great achievements in various fields, including politics, economy, security, defence, trade, science-technology, training and tourism.

Political relations have been consolidated via the regular exchange of all-level delegations, especially the visits to Vietnam by Israeli President Reuven Rivlin in 2017 and President Shimon Peres in 2011.

In terms of economy, Israel is now one of Vietnam’s leading economic partners in the Middle East region, with two-way trade reaching over 1 billion USD on average in recent three years, Hai said.

At present, Vietnam's staples like telephone, coffee, raw and processed cashew nuts, footwear and garment are making up a large market share in Israel (about 10-20 percent). Notably, the Southeast Asian nation is among the top three exporters of processed tuna products to Israel, he added.

Regarding education-training, the ambassador stated that Vietnam annually sends more than 700 apprentices to study and work in Israel, the highest number among the Middle East country’s sources of apprentices.

In addition, the Israeli provides hundreds of short-term scholarships for Vietnamese officials and experts to join training courses organised by Israel on startup, innovation, hi-tech agriculture, education, leadership and gender equality, contributing to developing high-quality human resources for Vietnam.

Many Vietnamese corporations and companies have imported high technologies from Israel to develop large-scale agricultural projects in Vietnam.  Among those are the project to grow safe vegetables in greenhouses in Vinh Phuc and other provinces by VinEco Company, a subsidiary of Vingroup, and the milk cow farming project by TH True Milk in Nghe An province. Can Tho city, and An Giang, Kien Giang and Dong Thap provinces are applying Israeli technologies in producing breeding tilapia and shrimp.

Tourism cooperation between the two countries has seen encouraging growth over years. In 2017, Israeli tourists to Vietnam numbered 25,000. Vietnam is increasingly becoming a favourite destination for Israeli holidaymakers thanks to its beautiful landscapes, delicious food and people’s hospitality.

Bilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the Inter-Government Committee and the Political Consultation have been implemented regularly and effectively, playing an important role in reviewing and promoting collaboration between Vietnam and Israel.

However, Ambassador Hai noted that two-way trade in recent years has not yet matched potential and relations of the countries.

In order to raise bilateral trade to 3 billion USD in the years to come, along with speeding up the negotiation for a Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement, the two sides should increase investment and trade promotion activities as well as continue encouraging and creating favourable conditions for businesses to make investments in both Vietnam and Israel, he said.

Israel has huge demand for foreign labour, especially in the fields of agriculture, health and construction, while Vietnam boasts abundant, hardworking and well-trained human resources.

The two nations should soon kick off negotiations for a bilateral labour cooperation agreement in order to enable Vietnamese workers to work in Israel’s agricultural sector.

In addition, Vietnam and Israel may consider opening a direct air route, thus facilitating the travel of businesspeople and tourists, he added.

According to Hai, during President Reuven Rivlin’s visit to Vietnam in March 2017, the two countries’ leaders agreed to make economy and science-technology priorities in bilateral cooperation currently and in following years. 

Entering the era of Industry 4.0, scientific and technological cooperation will become more necessary, with huge potential. The two nations can cooperate in areas of Vietnam’s demand and Israel’s strengths like hi-tech agriculture, state management, education-training, telecommunications, cyber security, smart city building and startup ecology development. 

The ambassador stressed that 25 years marked important milestones in the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Israel. However, all the above-mentioned achievements are just initial steps.

He expressed his belief that the bilateral collaboration will be further consolidated and developed in all aspects, gaining more effective and practical achievements for the benefits of the two countries’ people.

Defence diplomacy helps improve Vietnamese army’s position

At the conference 

The recent strong development of international integration and defence diplomacy has contributed to improving national defence strength and potential and affirming prestige and position of Vietnam and its army in the international arena, hear a conference in Hanoi on August 28. 

The conference was held by the Defence Ministry’s Central Military Commission to review the international integration and defence diplomacy work during 2015-2018. 

Addressing the event, Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich emphasised important achievements and changes of the work in the period, affirming that the Party and State consider this one of highlights of the army. 

He applauded efforts by agencies and units in the whole army in implementing the work, while requesting them to continue to promote characteristics and advantages of international integration and defence diplomacy in building strategic trust with other countries. 

He also asked for more efforts to create a solid defence-security-foreign relations front under the leadership of the Party and the State management, thus contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, and promoting the prestige and position of Vietnam and its army.

The conference heard that officers and soldiers serving in the army have been more deeply aware of the roles and importance of the international integration and defence diplomacy, which are a crucial part of the national safeguarding strategy.

Participants focused on discussing outstanding results and lessons, as well as pointed out difficulties and limitations in the implementation of international integration and defence diplomacy in the period. 

They also recommended and proposed specific directions and solutions for implementing the international integration and defence diplomacy plan in 2018-2020. 

Delegates agreed that the work should follow the Party and State's foreign policy and attach importance to bilateral defence cooperation with key partners, towards making established relations between Vietnam and foreign countries more practical and effective. 

Vietnam needs to actively participate in multilateral defence cooperation mechanisms within ASEAN and those led by ASEAN. 

The Defence Ministry was required to actively deploy the project of joining UN peacekeeping missions and make all-round preparations to ensure the successful organisation of defence diplomatic activities in 2020 when Vietnam assumes the role as Chair of ASEAN. 

Attention should be paid to promptly completing legal documents related to international integration and defence diplomacy, participants said.

On the occasion, the Defence Ministry presented certificates of merit to units and individuals for their contributions to the international integration and defence diplomacy work in 2015-2018.

Deputy PM commends businesses’ role in national economy

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh. 

Businesses, especially startups, play a very important role in creating new momentum for the national economy, said Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh. 

Speaking at the sixth national congress of the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association (VYEA) in Hanoi on August 28, Binh emphasised the need to push ahead with the startup campaign among youths, especially young intellectuals, in order to increase forces for the fourth Industrial Revolution. 

The Deputy PM urged the VYEA to promote its role in protecting legitimate rights and interests of startups and young entrepreneurs, and proposed guidelines and policies to the Party and State in order to create favourable conditions for young entrepreneurs to devote more to the nation. 

Startups and young entrepreneurs should improve their governance capacity, take the lead in innovation and the application of new and advanced technologies, raise productivity, quality and competitiveness, support each other and join the global value chain, he suggested. 

The Government will create all possible conditions for young entrepreneurs and help them remove difficulties to move forward, the Deputy PM pledged. 

The association reported that nearly 10,000 of its members created 3 million jobs in the 2015-2018 period.

Over the past four years, it held more than 200 trade promotion activities and generated some 25 billion USD in average annual revenue. 

In the 2018-2021 tenure, the VYEA aims to improve its performance toward practical outcomes, make contributions to economic-related draft laws and develop business incubator programmes.

The congress elected the VYEA Central Committee for the 2018-2021 tenure with 113 members. Dang Hong Anh, Vice Chairman of TTC Group was elected as president of the association, who is supported by six vice presidents. 

On this occasion, the VYEA Central Committee of the 2014-2017 term received certificates of merit bestowed by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee.

Vietnam’s National Day celebrated in Kuala Lumpur

A ceremony was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on August 27 to mark the 73rd National Day of Vietnam (September 2, 1945).

The even was attended by many Malaysian officials, including Minister of Communications and Multimedia Gobind Singh Deo, Deputy President of the Malaysian Senate Haji Abdul Halim Bin Abd. Samad and Deputy Defence Minister Liew Chin Tong, along with Vietnamese expatriates and foreign diplomats.

In his speech, Vietnamese Ambassador Le Quy Quynh highlighted major achievements the country has obtained recently, elaborating that Vietnam is an open and dynamic economy as well as a trustworthy friend and partner of other countries.

It has maintained a fast and stable growth rate over the past 15 years, averaging 6.4 percent annually. The World Bank predicted this figure to hit 6.8 percent this year. Meanwhile, Vietnam has friendly relations with more than 180 countries and territories and is a responsible member of more than 70 regional and international organisations, he noted.

Regarding Vietnam-Malaysia ties, Quynh said bilateral relations have recorded extensive developments, particularly since they were elevated to a strategic partnership in 2015.

Cooperation expansion has been seen in various spheres like politics – diplomacy, security – defence, economy, culture and education. Bilateral trade surpassed 10 billion USD in 2017 and reached 5.8 billion USD in the first half of 2018, up 21 percent year on year. The two sides are striving to raise the trade revenue to 15 billion USD by 2020.

In politics, many high-ranking mutual visits have been made. Notably, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad will visit Vietnam on the occasion of the World Economic Forum on ASEAN in Hanoi this September.

Ambassador Quynh voiced his belief that under the leadership of Malaysia’s new government, the friendship and cooperation between the two countries will keep thriving so as to benefit both countries and their people.

Minister of Communications and Multimedia Gobind Singh Deo offered congratulations on Vietnam’s National Day, expressing his belief that bilateral relations will continue to develop.

As part of the ceremony, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Embassy of Vietnam organised a Vietnamese Culture Day with a variety of activities, including a photo exhibition on the country and performances by Vietnamese artists.

Association contributes to fostering Vietnam-Cuba relations

The Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap has significantly contributed to tightening the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the Vietnamese and Cuban people, said a provincial official. 

Speaking at the association’s third congress in Cao Lanh city on August 27, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Doan Tan Buu urged the association to carry out more result-oriented activities to help enhance Vietnam-Cuba relations. 

Indira Lopez Arguelles, Cuban Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, said the solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Cuba, which were cultivated by Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Fidel Castro, have become invaluable cultural and spiritual values of the two countries. 

Vietnam is one of the countries Cuba is approaching while seeking new economic models, she said, noting that Cuba is ready to continue its assistance to Vietnam in education and healthcare. 

The congress elected a 14-member executive board for the 2018-2023 term with  Vo Tien Thanh re-elected as its President. 

During the new term, it plans to maintain and develop the traditional friendship, and coordinate with relevant agencies in communication work in order to promote the land and people of Cuba to Dong Thap residents, and vice versa. 

At the same time, the association will consolidate its organisation to meet the requirements of people-to-people diplomacy, and work as a bridge between the people of the two countries in a wide range of areas, from politics, economy, culture, and education to healthcare, science-technology, environmental protection, and tourism. 

Since its inception in 1998, the association has reaped several noted achievements in terms of both personnel development and operations.

Party chief greets Dominica’s MIU General Secretary

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong (right) and MIU General Secretary and Minister for Regional Integration Policies Miguel Mejia. 

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong has urged the CPV and the Dominican Republic’s United Left Movement (MIU) to step up their exchange of delegations and experience in the time ahead. 

The Party chief made the suggestion at a reception for MIU General Secretary and Minister for Regional Integration Policies Miguel Mejia in Hanoi on August 27. 

He thanked the Dominican people, the MIU, and Mejia for their sentiments towards the Vietnamese Party and people, as well as their efforts to enhance solidarity, friendship, and cooperation between the two countries. 

The leader noted his belief that the MIU will reap even greater achievements during its just struggle, for peace, national independence, democracy, social progress and equality. 

Party General Secretary Trong briefed his guest on Vietnam’s situation and outcomes of the implementation of resolutions adopted at the 12th National Party Congress.  

He said he believes that with its important role in Dominica’s political spectrum, the MIU will contribute more to reinforcing cooperation between the two countries. 

For his part, Mejia congratulated Vietnam on the socio-economic attainments the country has recorded over the past few years, saying he firmly believes that under the leadership of the CPV, the Vietnamese people will successfully fulfil their targets of developing a strong nation with wealthy people and a democratic, fair and civilised society, and successfully building socialism. 

He pledged to make every effort to promote the solidarity and traditional friendship between the parties and people of the two countries, especially in economy, trade, and investment. 

During his stay in Vietnam, Miguel Mejia met with Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Hoang Trung Hai, and attended the ceremony to unveil the statute of Professor Juan Bosch, who struggled for liberation in Dominica and Latin America at Hoa Binh Park in Hanoi. 

He also held talks with Hoang Binh Quan, head of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations; and paid visits to the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group, Viglacera Cooperation, and a number of economic and social establishments in Hanoi and the northern province of Quang Ninh.

Vietnamese, Philippine ruling parties foster cooperation

At the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the CPV and PDP-Laban 

Politburo member and standing member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Quoc Vuong had a meeting in Hanoi on August 27 with a visiting delegation of the Philippine Democratic Party-Power of the Nation (PDP-Laban), led by its Vice President Alfonso Gaba Cusi.

At the meeting, Vuong lauded the PDP-Laban delegation’s visit, describing it as an important milestone in cooperative relations between the ruling parties of Vietnam and the Philippines.

He spoke highly of the outcomes of talks and meetings between the delegation and relevant agencies of Vietnam, suggesting that in the future, the CPV and PDP-Laban will effectively realise signed agreements, thus helping to strengthen political trust and create stronger motivation for the development of the Vietnam-Philippines strategic partnership.

Vuong and Cusi stressed that Vietnam and the Philippines, two neighbouring ASEAN countries that share many similarities, have great potential for stronger cooperation.

Both Vietnam and the Philippines are peace- and justice-loving nations and have persisted with peaceful measures in the settlement of disputes in the East Sea, which is called the West Philippine Sea by the Philippines, on the basis of international law, especially the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, they said.

Earlier, member of the CPV Central Committee and head of its Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan held talks with Alfonso Gaba Cusi.

Quan briefed the delegation on Vietnam’s socio-economic development recently as well as its external policies and international integration, while sharing the country’s experiences in Party building and personnel training.

He hailed the first visit by a PDP-Laban delegation, considering it a historical trip that will promote the practical cooperation between the two parties and contribute to strengthening the traditional friendship and strategic partnership between Vietnam and the Philippines.

Cusi, who is also Secretary of Energy of the Philippines, hailed Vietnam’s socio-economic and foreign affairs achievements in recent years.

He said that leaders of the Philippine Government and DPD-Laban always treasure the position of the CPV, and consider Vietnam as a good friend and friendly neighbour. The Philippines is also keen on developing ties with Vietnam across all fields, Cusi said.

As the ruling party of the Philippines, the PDP-Laban hopes to enhance collaboration and exchange experiences with the CPV, he said.

On the occasion, Quan and Cusi signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the CPV and PDP-Laban.

Later the same day, the Philippine delegation also had meetings with Deputy Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung and General Director of the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group Nguyen Vu Truong Son.

Deputy PM: Vietnam wants to develop ties with Sri Lanka

Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) and Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe 

Vietnam always treasures and wants to further develop its traditional friendship with Sri Lanka, Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said on August 27.

At a meeting with Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe, who came to Vietnam to co-chair the Indian Ocean Conference (IOC), Minh thanked Sri Lanka for supporting Vietnam’s candidacy for a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 term.

He proposed Sri Lanka express a more active voice in the East Sea issue by backing the stance of Vietnam and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), especially in the principled matters such as freedom of navigation and aviation, respect for international law and settlement of disputes through peaceful measures.

Wickremesinghe commended Vietnam’s great achievements in socio-economic development in recent years and affirmed that Sri Lanka would continue closely coordinating with Vietnam in regional and international forums, particularly the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Both leaders held that the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation have been developing fruitfully in recent years. They agreed to increase the exchange of visits at all levels and through Party, State, Government and National Assembly channels.

Minh and Wickremesinghe said economic and trade ties between the two nations have seen progress but failed to catch up with their huge potential. They consented to soon organise the second meeting of the joint trade subcommittee in Vietnam to set out specific measures in an effort to lift bilateral trade to 1 billion USD in 2020.

The two sides agreed to hold the fourth meeting of the Vietnam-Sri Lanka joint committee in 2019 and early sign a memorandum of understanding on fishery cooperation over the next three years.

They also concurred that Vietnam and Sri Lanka need to give priority and expand cooperation in other potential fields such as education-training, telecommunications, information and digital technology, oil and gas, aviation, maritime transportation, agricultural and aquatic product processing and distribution, cultural and youth exchanges, arts, Buddhism and sports.