Moroccan ambassador highlights ties with Vietnam

Moroccan Ambassador to Vietnam Azzeddine Farhane 

Moroccan Ambassador to Vietnam Azzeddine Farhane has granted an interview to Vietnam News Agency about bilateral ties on the occasion of the 19th anniversary of the National Day of Morocco (July 30). 

Asked about the outcomes of the fourth meeting of the Vietnam – Morocco Joint Committee and the fifth political consultation between the two foreign ministries in April in Hanoi, Ambassador Farhane said the two sides shared the same view on regional and global issues of shared concern, and on the settlement of regional disputes via dialogues and negotiations on the basis of respect for countries’ territorial integrity. 

According to her, both sides expressed the wish to lift political consultation to dialogue level to further discuss issues of mutual concern. On the basis of historical ties, geo-political similarities and economic potential, the two countries believed that they could connect Vietnam with Africa and Morocco with Asia. 

The ambassador stressed that Vietnam and Morocco adopted a detailed roadmap to reinforce bilateral ties across politics, economy and culture and optimising signed agreements, adding that the two nations reaffirmed mutual support for each other’s candidacy for seats in committees and organisations of the United Nations (UN). 

Talking about her tenure in Vietnam, Ambassador Farhane noted a highlight in the first year, which was the organisation of two international seminars on sharing historical memories between Vietnam and Morocco and experience in administrative decentralisation. Later in the second year, an international workshop on cultural diversity in national unity took place on March 27, 2018. Such events attracted numerous UN experts, ambassadors, diplomats, researchers and professors. 

In the time ahead, the ambassador said her priority is to consolidate bilateral economic ties and raise two-way trade. 

In an effort to popularise the image of Morocco among the Vietnamese people, the ambassador revealed a plan to hold a Moroccan Cultural Week in Vietnam so that the Vietnamese people could better understand arts, cuisine as well as cultural diversity of the African country. 

On March 29, the Moroccan Embassy in Hanoi and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism held a round-table seminar on promoting tourism between the two countries in order to introduce destinations to tour agencies. 

Further information about Moroccan tourism could be found at www.moroccoembassy.vn 

Farhane said with optimism that room for bilateral cultural and tourism cooperation remains huge.

Vietnam, Netherlands hold potential for stronger cooperation

Vietnamese Ambassador to the Netherlands Ngo Thi Hoa 

The dynamic and effective partnership between Vietnam and the Netherlands is built on strong political, trade-investment ties and diverse cooperation areas, Vietnamese Ambassador to the Netherlands Ngo Thi Hoa said in an interview to the press on the occasion of the 45th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties. 

Since the establishment of diplomatic ties (April 9, 1973), Vietnam and the Netherlands have developed and cooperated together in peace and prosperity on the basis of common interests and mutual respect. In its policy towards Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Netherlands always considers Vietnam one of the prioritized partners, she said. 

With the support of the Vietnamese State, Government, localities and businesses with a policy of expanding cooperation with the Netherlands in the fields of their strengths and demand, cooperation agreements reached during the Netherlands visits by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in July 2017 and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan in March 2018 have laid an important foundation for bilateral cooperation in the future. 

As Vietnam and the Netherlands lie at strategic locations with vast plains and are hard hit by climate change and rising sea level, the two countries lifted their ties to the level of strategic partnership on climate change and water management in 2010 and strategic partnership on sustainable agriculture and food security in 2014. 

Over the past years, the Netherlands has assisted Vietnam in completing the Mekong Delta Plan with a long-term vision, Ho Chi Minh City’s moving towards the sea programme, water resources management and climate change adaptation. 

The European country has launched many projects on water supply and management in Vietnamese localities such as Ben Tre, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Ninh Thuan and Binh Duong provinces. With a wealth of experience and advanced technologies, the Netherlands has gradually helped Vietnam’s agricultural sector meet international standards and ensure food safety. 

Two-way trade increases year-on-year by over 20 percent, hitting 7.7 billion USD in 2017. In the first four months of this year, the figure rose by nearly 13 percent to 2.3 billion USD. The Netherlands has become the largest EU importer and investor of Vietnam, ranking 11th among 116 countries and territories investing in the country with 304 projects worth 8.17 billion USD. 

Bilateral ties have also been expanded into the fields of national defence, culture, and education-training.

The ambassador also highlighted the indispensable role of the Vietnamese community with over 20,000 people living in the European country, which, she said, have contributed to cultural exchanges and raising mutual understanding between the two countries’ people. 

She expressed her belief that relations between Vietnam and the Netherlands will develop stronger in the coming time, thus bringing benefits to both sides.

Ambassador lauds growing Vietnam-Switzerland relations

Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam Beatrice Maser Mallor 

Swiss Ambassador to Vietnam Beatrice Maser Mallor has expressed her delight at the two countries’ relations, stressing that Vietnam and Switzerland have cooperated in multiple spheres.

In an interview given to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of her country’s National Day (August 1), the diplomat also said the two countries have regularly had routine political consultations, high-ranking visits, and joint activities at the World Economic Forum in Davos held in January each year.

Last April, the Secretary of the Swiss Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications, Doris Leuthard, paid an official visit to Vietnam, discussing connections in those fields with local officials. The two sides signed an aviation cooperation agreement to facilitate the opening of direct flight routes, including the one linking Ho Chi Minh City and Zurich this November. This is a chance to boost bilateral tourism and trade links, she noted.

Highlighting the growing trade ties, Mallor said Vietnam has exported many commodities to Switzerland, whose consumers like Vietnamese goods, especially fruits and seafood, very much. The Southeast Asian nation has also imported a number of medical and pharmaceutical products and high technologies from Switzerland. Both nations have complimentary advantages.

She voiced her belief that more progress will be recorded in bilateral cooperation once the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association – EFTA, which groups Switzerland, Norway, Lichtenstein and Iceland, is reached.

The EFTA members have conducted many negotiation rounds with Vietnam, and they hope to soon finalise the deal, she said, noting that Switzerland currently ranks fourth among the West European countries investing in Vietnam.

Many Swiss companies like Nestlé, ABB and Schindler have opened branches in Vietnam. If Vietnam maintains the current growth trend, these firms will help demonstrate a friendly investment climate, thus making the country more attractive to businesses from not only Switzerland but also other places.

The two countries have cooperated effectively in this area, but they completely can further enhance this partnership, Ambassador Mallor added.

Switzerland is paying attention to development cooperation with Vietnam so as to assist the latter to achieve its targets, she said, elaborating that the European nation has been helping Vietnam improve the competitiveness and efficiency of its private companies, especially small- and medium-sized ones. It is also supporting a number of Vietnamese companies in treating water, managing power grid and improving infrastructure.

Switzerland is helping the Vietnamese Ministry of Finance with public finance management and the State Bank of Vietnam with creating more stable and professional financial services.

Regarding tourism partnership, the diplomat affirmed it will develop in the time ahead with the opening of the Zurich – HCM City direct flight route, which will help bring more Vietnamese tourists to Switzerland and vice versa.

About 30,000 Swiss visitors came to Vietnam in 2017. If the visa conditions are improved, for example including Switzerland in Vietnam’s e-visa system, this number will surely increase in the time to come, she added.

Vietnam congratulates Cambodia on successful election

Cambodian Prime Minister and CPP President Hun Sen casts his vote at a polling station in Ta Khmau city, Kandal province 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan have sent congratulatory messages to their Cambodian counterparts Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Samdech Heng Samrin, respectively, on the successful election of the sixth National Assembly held on July 29.

The leaders of the Vietnamese government and lawmaking body congratulated Cambodia on the high rate of turnout, saying the election took place in a safe, free and fair manner, demonstrating the trust of Cambodian voters in the country’s development future. 

They expressed their belief that Cambodia will soon have a new parliament and government to lead Cambodian people to gain more significant achievements in building a peaceful, stable and prosperous nation with rising position in the region and beyond.

PM Phuc and NA Chairwoman Ngan also affirmed that they believed the sound neighbourliness, traditional friendship and comprehensive, sustainable and long-standing cooperation between Vietnam and Cambodia will be reinforced and strongly developed in the interest of the two peoples, thus making active contributions to the ASEAN Community, and to regional and global peace, stability, cooperation and development.

On the afternoon of July 29, PM Phuc made a phone call to PM Samdech Techo Hun Sen congratulating him and his Cambodian People’s Party on the good initial outcomes of the election.

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also sent a congratulatory message to Prak Sokhonn, Senior Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia.

Previously, the National Election Committee (NEC) announced Cambodia’s general election was a success with the voter turnout estimated at 82.17 percent. 

The figure is much higher than that of the previous election held in 2013, which was over 69.60 percent. 

The election of the sixth National Assembly took place from 7am to 3pm on July 29.

National Police Chief of Cambodia Neth Savoeun said there was no violence during the election.

The ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) won some 4.2 million out of more than 6.8 million votes in the election, or 61.7 percent, according to the party.

The CPP was followed by the Grassroots Democratic Party (GDP) with over 560,000 votes, the National United Front for an Independent, Neutral, Peaceful and Cooperative Cambodia (FUNCINPEC) with 326,000 votes, the League for Democracy Party (LDP) with 268,000 votes and Khmer Will Party (KWP) with 183,000 votes.

PM visits high-tech agri production model in Lam Dong

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visits the Phong Thuy farm produce trade and production company in Lien Nghia township, Duc Trong district, the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong. 

The high-tech agricultural production model is an important direction of Vietnam’s agriculture, bringing high value of farm produce and raising income for farmers, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said.

The PM made the statement while visiting the Phong Thuy farm produce trade and production company in Lien Nghia township, Duc Trong district, the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, on July 29.

The PM asked the company’s leaders to continue expanding production and market while building its trade mark, thereby helping domestic consumers know the company’s products and use safe farm produce. 

The Phong Thuy company, where a pilot farm produce assorting system is being applied, has a 55ha farm with an annual output of 5,000 tonnes of vegetables. The farm includes production areas for hydroponic vegetables and safe vegetables under Vietgap standards, and other facilities for harvesting and assorting vegetables before distribution.

The Prime Minister’s visit was made ahead of a national conference on promoting businesses to invest in agriculture scheduled for July 30 in Lam Dong province. The event chaired by the PM is expected to see the participation of 600 delegates from ministries, sectors and international organisations as well as domestic and foreign firms.

Prime Minister extends sympathy over flooding in Cambodia

Rising flood water causes bridge collapse in Stung Treng province of Cambodia (Photo: Al Jazeera)

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on July 28 sent a message of sympathy to Prime Minister of Cambodia Samdech Techo Hun Sen over losses caused by the recent rain-triggered floods on large scale.

Cambodia, especially the two northeastern provinces of Stung Treng and Rattanikiri as well as other areas along the Mekong River, has suffered from floods, causing property losses and affecting the general election of the sixth National Assembly slated for July 29, Prime Minister Phuc said in his message.

“On behalf of the Government and people of Vietnam, I would like to extend to you, and through you to affected people, the deepest sympathies.”

Prime Minister Phuc said he believes that under the leadership of the Government led by Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Cambodian people will soon overcome current difficulties and successfully organise the election of the sixth National Assembly.

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh extended his sympathy to Senior Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn.

Law enforcement leaders must face consequences of actions

Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh (centre) and head of the National Crime Fighting Steering Committee chaired a meeting with law enforcement agencies on July 26 in Hanoi. (Photo: VGP)

The Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Ministry of National Defence have been urged to complete a system under which senior law enforcement officials will be rotated from their posts in border areas that have been classed as smuggling hotspots.

The plan aims to increase transparency in the fight against crime, said Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh, who is also head of the National Crime Fighting Steering Committee (Committee 138/CP) and head of the National Steering Committee for Combating Smuggling, Trade Fraud and Counterfeits (Committee 389), at a meeting with law enforcement agencies this week in Hanoi.

Binh pointed out that law enforcement agencies had numerous shortcomings, including a lack of planning for events such as large gatherings or what to do in volatile situations.

The agencies were told to step up their efforts to fight crime, especially organised crime, loan sharks, fraud, human trafficking and child abuse.

Other major issues include smuggling, counterfeit products and corruption which have hit the business environment and hampered the process of international integration.

The Deputy PM noted that even fake medicine, liquor, cigarettes and fertilisers, which could have disastrous consequences, were on sale in broad daylight, notably the case of Vinaca, a company based in Hai Phong, selling pills that it falsely claimed could treat cancer but were later revealed to be made of bamboo charcoal. Smuggling had shown no signs of slowing down, especially in northern and southwestern provinces.

He stressed the importance of including local communities in the fight against crime. He ordered local leaders to encourage citizens to support law enforcement agencies.

Binh made it clear that corruption among local leaders was a major obstacle in the country’s anti-crime efforts and that nobody was above the law should they be found to support criminal activities. Local leaders will also be held responsible and have disciplinary action taken against them for major criminal activities if they failed to detect and report them.

Gathering celebrates anniversary of Moncada Barracks attack

Moncada Barracks today. (Photo: telesurtv.net)

A friendship gathering was held in the northern province of Quang Ninh on July 27 to mark the 65th anniversary of the attack on the Moncada Barracks (July 26) which was viewed as the beginning of the Cuban Revolution.

The event was co-hosted by the Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Organisation and the Quang Ninh People’s Committee in Ha Long city with the attendance of Cuban Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam Nancy Coro Aguitar.

The get-together provided an opportunity for Vietnamese and Cuban delegates to recall the historic attack on the military barracks in Santiago de Cuba on July 26, 1953.

Though the attack was not a decisive victory of the Cuban Revolution at that time, it helped set out a path for national liberation and open the door to socialism for Cuba, said Aguitar. The triumph of the Cuban Revolution on January 1, 1959 might never have happened without the attack on the Moncada Barracks, she added.

The diplomat lauded the Vietnam-Cuba relationship, saying many generations of Cuban people have been brought up with the admiration and love for Vietnam.

The two countries have developed strong ties that are beyond diplomatic relations, she said, adding that they have cooperated and exchanged experience in socio-economic development and national construction.

On July 26, 1953, a group of revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro attacked the Moncada Barracks in Santiago de Cuba. Although they lost, this event paved the way for the insurrection against the regime of Dictator Fulgencio Batista and the establishment of the first agrarian-industrial country in the Western Hemisphere, taking Cuba to a new era of freedom and independence.