PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosts head of Lao Government Office

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Minister, Chairman of the Lao Government Office Phet Phomphiphak 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc received Minister, Chairman of the Lao Government Office Phet Phomphiphak in Hanoi on October 5.

Welcoming the Lao official’s visit, PM Phuc spoke highly of the outcomes of the working session between Phomphiphak and his Vietnamese counterpart Mai Tien Dung.

He asked both sides to continue coordinating in carrying out cooperation deals between the two government offices as well as agreements between Vietnam and Laos.

Phomphiphak conveyed the profound condolences from the Lao Party, State, and people to their Vietnamese counterparts over the death of former General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Do Muoi.

Briefing the PM on Laos’ socio-economic situation, he said the Lao Government expected that the Vietnamese Government would continue to maintain cooperation and share experience in operating and managing the macro-economy, including sending prominent experts to cooperate with Lao specialists.

Agreeing with this proposal, PM Phuc assigned relevant ministries and sectors to intensify cooperation in this field, thus helping boost Laos’ economic development in the time to come.

The government leader also requested ministries and sectors of Vietnam and Laos to step up the implementation of cooperation agreements, programmes, and projects in order to contribute to fostering each country’s socio-economic development.

UK to help Vietnam with smart city building

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue and UK Prime Minister's Trade Envoy Edward Vaizey. 

The UK will provide non-refundable aid sourced from the Commonwealth Foundation for the Vietnamese Construction Ministry to help the agency build smart buildings and implement smart city projects in Vietnam, said UK Prime Minister's Trade Envoy Edward Vaizey.

Edward Vaizey told Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue in Hanoi on October 5 that the UK Government attaches importance to Vietnam’s role in cooperation and development. 

The UK wishes to help improve economic skills for Vietnamese people, assist the country in raising transparent administration capacity and participate in infrastructure development using high technologies in the country, he said. 

The UK is conducting procedures to withdraw from the European Union. However, benefits brought about by the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to Vietnam and the UK should be maintained at a free trade agreement between the two countries,  Edward Vaizey said. 

The UK is ready to push ahead with commitments between the EU and Vietnam as the country is still an EU member, the envoy said. 

He thanked the Vietnamese Government for its support to the UK in accessing the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). 

For his part, Deputy PM Hue affirmed that the strategic partnership between Vietnam and the UK is development fruitfully. 

The official also thanked the UK Government for its assistance to Vietnam in signing and ratifying the EVFTA, and promised that the Vietnamese Government always backs and stands ready to help the UK join the CPTPP. 

Hue urged the two countries to enhance their bilateral trade ties as two-way trade value stood at only over 6.1 billion UD in 2017, and called on the UK to expand its investment in Vietnam in finance-banking given its investment capital in the country reaching only 3.7 billion USD. 

Vietnamese ministries and agencies are willing to remove difficulties facing UK investors in Vietnam, Hue said, expressing his hope to receive more support from the Commonwealth Foundation to realise projects in Vietnam and that Vietnamese goods would penetrate more deeply into the Mc Spencer supermarket chain.

PM: Ninh Thuan should work to become renewable energy hub

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc addresses the working session 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on October 5 had a working session with leaders of the south central province of Ninh Thuan, during which he asked the province to exert more efforts to fulfil its target to become a hub for renewable energy and boost the development of the sea-based economy.

Ninh Thuan is a connection point between the southeast, south central and Central Highlands regions, with the largest potential for solar and wind power development, enabling it to become an economic hub, especially in green energy and aquatic and high-value agriculture sectors.

Boasting over 105km of coastline with many beautiful beaches such as Vinh Vy, Binh Tien and Ninh Chu, the province also sees bright prospects for sea-based economic and tourism development.

In the first nine months of 2018, Ninh Thuan recorded 10.2 percent growth in gross regional domestic product (GRDP), and jumped 11 positions in the provincial competitiveness index to rank 38th among 63 provinces and cities nationwide, and climbed to the 21st position in the IT application index.

Ninh Thuan welcomed 2.11 million visitors in the reviewed period, up 16.1 percent year on year, while collecting 1.9 trillion VND for the State budget, a rise of 16.4 percent over the same period last year and equivalent to 82.8 percent of its yearly estimate. The province is likely to complete all 15 socio-economic targets set for the year.

PM Phuc lauded achievements that the province has made so far this year. However, he pointed out that per capita income of the province remains low, while its advantages in renewable energy have yet to be fully tapped and natural disasters still affect local people’s lives. 

The number of enterprises in Ninh Thuan remains limited, while its provincial governance and public administration index (PAPI) ranking has seen a drop, he said.

Ninh Thuan should diversify its products and promote sustainable development of tourism, the PM stressed.

He reminded the province to pay special attention to environmental protection, while continue speeding up administrative reform and agricultural restructuring, reducing poverty ratio, tightening forest and public land management, and improving irrigation system.

The PM also requested Ninh Thuan to focus on human resource development, ensure social welfare, and accelerate the Party building work.

Thai Buddhist delegation on Vietnam visit to boost ties

Vice Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Party Committee Vo Thi Dung presents gift to Most Venerable Phra Promwachirayan 

A delegation of Buddhist An Nam sect and several Vietnamese Buddhists living in Thailand is on a visit to Vietnam from September 30 – October 6. 

It is the second time the trip has been organised by the Foreign Ministry’s State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) in order to strengthen their Buddhism work. 

Among over 60 guests, 40 are monks and nuns representing 21 Vietnamese pagodas in Thailand. 

In the south, the delegation discussed Buddhism work with the VBS Central Committee, met with leaders of Ho Chi Minh City, held a working session with the executive board of Kien Giang provincial VBS, visited Sac Tu Tam Bao and Phat Quang pagodas in Kien Giang; Vinh Nghiem, Buu Quang and Vietnam Quoc Tu pagodas, Quang Duc Buddhist Monastery, and Vietnam Buddhist Academy in Ho Chi Minh City. 

At the reception for the delegation, President of the VBS Executive Council, Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon suggested that the VBS and Buddhist An Nam sect in Thailand should soon reach a memorandum of understanding on strengthening friendship and cultural exchange, holding seminars and cooperating in Buddhist training. 

Phra Promwachirayan, member of the Sangha Supreme Council of Thailand and head of the delegation, expressed his belief that friendship between VBS and Thailand Buddhist Sangha, as well as ties between the two nations will thrive.

Mongolian delegation pays working visit to Hoa Binh province

At the working session between Chairman of the Hoa Binh People's Council Tran Dang Ninh and delegation from the Khural of People’s Deputies of Mongolia’s Töv province led by its head TS. Enkhbat on October 5 (Source: Hoa Binh newspaper)

A delegation from the Khural of People’s Deputies of Mongolia’s Töv province led by its head TS. Enkhbat paid a working visit to the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh on October 5.

At his working session with the Mongolian delegation, Chairman of the provincial People’s Council Tran Dang Ninh said the visit would contribute to consolidating relations between Vietnam and Mongolia.

The trip would also open up a big opportunity for the two provinces to explore the possibility of cooperation, he said.

Ninh introduced the guests to Hoa Binh’s potential and advantages in the fields of agriculture, mining, tourism and education where the two provinces can exchange experiences.

Enkhbat, for his part, stressed that 2018 marks 60 years of trade ties between Vietnam and Mongolia and the two nations are conducting a range of activities to boost bilateral commercial exchanges.

He briefed on Töv province’s development situation and mentioned the areas where the two sides can cooperate such as education, tourism, husbandry and cattle meat processing, and vegetable and fruit exports.

During its visit, the Mongolian delegation paid a fact-finding trip to a number of economic establishments in Hoa Binh province to seek suitable cooperation methods and share experiences.