HCM City, Bangkok set up friendship relations

Vietnam’s southern hub Ho Chi Minh City and Thailand’s Bangkok capital set up friendship relations, as written in an agreement signed on April 3, with the aim of bolstering bilateral strategic partnership.

Accordingly, the two sides will work to facilitate the exchange of information and experience and focus on promoting cooperation in fields of strengths, in particular trade, investment, education-training, science and technology, culture, tourism and urban development.

On the day, Chairman of HCM City People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan received Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra and his entourage during their working visit to the city.

Quan highlighted that the cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok has formed important part of the two countries’ sound relations.

For his part, Sukhumbhand Paribatra underscored that Bangkok is willing to join hands with Ho Chi Minh City in fields of shared interests.

He revealed that more Thai businesspeople will visit Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam given their growing interests in investment potential here.

Lao NA Chairwoman concludes Vietnam visit

Chairwoman of the Lao National Assembly (NA) Pany Yathotou left Ho Chi Minh City on April 4, concluding her official friendly Vietnam visit and attendance at the 132nd Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132) Assembly.

During her stay, the Lao NA Chairwoman held talks with her Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Sinh Hung, paid courtesy calls to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Truong Tan Sang, and met with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

She spoke highly of the IPU-132 success, viewing it an important diplomatic hallmark of the Vietnamese Party and State.

Both sides expressed determination to further foster the special traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two States and legislatures while working supportively at regional and global forums.

They also spoke of the strengthening of bilateral coordination across politics, socio-economics, culture, education, particularly human resources development and realising agreements via increasing supervision over joint projects.

Vietnamese and Lao leaders firmly believed that the facilitation of visits by leaders from the two Parties, States and NAs will continue deepening the Vietnam–Laos relationship.

Visiting Ho Chi Minh City and the southern provinces of Kien Giang and Ben Tre, the Lao guest asked for continued support to Vietnamese investors in Laos, making it easier for them to reduce poverty and improve living standards.

First RoK visit by justice minister successful

Minister of Justice Ha Hung Cuong wrapped up his week-long working visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) on April 5, the first visit by a Vietnamese justice minister.

During the stay, Cuong held talks with Minister of Legislation Je Jeong-boo and witnessed the signing of the 2015-16 cooperation programme - a follow-up to realise their memorandum of understanding signed in June 2012.

The programme covers the details of bilateral cooperation activities and commitments at multilateral legal and judicial forums, including the Asian Forum of Legislative Information Affairs (AFOLIA).

Hailing Cuong’s visit, Minister Je expressed belief that RoK agencies would provide more active assistance for Vietnam in legislation and training of judicial staff.

Je also vowed utmost efforts to strengthen bilateral ties, initially by bringing the 2015-16 cooperation programme to life.

While chairing the workshop “Laws and economic development process”, Cuong said the RoK’s 60-year history of legislation makes a useful reference to Vietnam during its economic development process, citing the Korean government’s indirect support to business community in management, infrastructure and manpower.

Holding working sessions with President of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Supreme Court’s Judicial Research and Training Institute, Cuong wished for their support in judicial staff training for the ministry and the Academy of Justice.

Giving nod to his proposal, KOICA President suggested designing a joint project with the Vietnamese ministry using the official development assistance funded by the RoK.

Chinese diplomat sanguine of Party leader's visit

Former Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam and Vice President of the Vietnam -China Friendship Association Qi Jiangguo expressed his optimism about the upcoming visit to China by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong from April 7-10.

In response to Vietnamese newspapers prior to the visit, he said the Vietnamese Party leader's trip at the invitation of General Secretary and President Xi Jinping coincides with the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties, noting that both nations aim to settle remaining issues properly to propel bilateral relations forwards.

To further promote bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, both Vietnam and China need to implement the 16-letter-motto and 4 goods’ spirit and augment practical cooperation in a multitude of areas, he stressed.

Regarding the East Sea issue, Qi Jiangguo said the two countries should make the best of existing negotiation mechanisms, hot line conversations and refrain difference to settle emerging issues, while joining Southeast Asian countries to fully implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (COC) and accelerate negotiations for the building of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Vietnam Lawyers Association marks 60th anniversary

Under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam  (CPV) over the past 60 years, generations of lawyers have contributed to national development.

After 12 congresses, the association has established branches in all 63 cities and provinces. There are more than 46,000 members operating in all area of laws.

Speaking at the Vietnam Lawyers Association (VLA) 60th anniversary in Hanoi on April 4, permanent member of the CPV Secretariat, Le Hong Anh, praised the association’s contribution to national construction and defense and asked for more circulation of Party resolutions to boost Party leadership on the association so that its members are examples in justice protection and the building of a socialist state of law.