Visit by Cuban President of Council of State to bolster special ties

President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers of Cuba Miguel Mario Diaz Canel Bermudez 

The official friendly visit to Vietnam by President of the Council of State and Council of Ministers of Cuba Miguel Mario Diaz Canel Bermudez from November 8-10 aims to promote the special relationship between the two countries. 

It is also a step to realise agreements reached during the State visit to Cuba by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong in March this year and the visit to Vietnam by Vice President of the Council of State of Cuba Salvador Valdes Mesa last September. 

The solidarity and fraternal relationship between Vietnam and Cuba, which were fostered by Presidents Fidel Castro and Ho Chi Minh, have developed across fields. 

The relationship has become a valuable asset and a source of great encouragement for the revolutionary cause of each country. 

Since the two countries established diplomatic ties in December 1960, the solidarity, mutual support and comprehensive cooperation have been continuously consolidated. 

During Vietnam’s liberation war against the US, Cuba took the lead in international movements in support of Vietnam. 

It was the first country in the world to recognise the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam and accept the permanent representative delegation of the front (July 1962).

Besides, the country provided economic and military support for Vietnam during the war. 

Over the past years, the time-honoured solidarity, mutual support and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries have been strengthened in all spheres. 

In the field of politics, Party, State and Government leaders of the two countries have regularly exchanged visits, contributing to enhancing the bilateral ties and expanding exchanges between ministries, agencies and sectors. 

Some of the most noteworthy visits by Vietnamese leaders to Cuba were made by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in April 2012 and March 2018, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in March 2014, President Truong Tan Sang in September 2015 and President Tran Dai Quang in November 2016. National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan also flew to Cuba to attend the funeral ceremony of leader Fidel Castro in November 2016. 

Meanwhile, President Raul Castro visited Vietnam in July 2012, First Vice President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers Miguel Diaz-Canel visited in June 2013, and National Assembly Chairman Esteban Lazo Hernandez visited in June 2017. 

The two sides have regularly and effectively implemented cooperation mechanisms such as the Inter-governmental Committee, the theoretical workshops between the two Parties, political consultations between foreign ministries, and national defence and security dialogues. 

In particular, the relationship between the two armies has been seen as the pillar and a model for affiliations in other realms. 

During the official visit to Vietnam by a high-ranking Cuban military delegation led by Politburo member and Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces Sen. Lieut. Gen. Leopoldo Cintra Frias last September, the two sides inked  a cooperation plan for the 2017-2019 period, focusing on all-level delegation exchange, military doctor training, and air defence-air force services. 

In multilateral diplomacy, the two sides have maintained cooperation and mutual support at international organisations and multilateral forums, especially the United Nations. 

Vietnam has committed to backing Cuba to run for a seat at the UN Human Rights Council for 2021-2023, while consistently supporting the call for an end to the US’s economic embargo on Cuba. In response, Cuba supports Vietnam’s candidacy for a non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021. 

Apart from the fruitful political ties, economic and trade cooperation between the two countries has also received attention through programmes and projects. 

Vietnam is one of the ten biggest world trade partners of Cuba and the second biggest in Asia. 

Vietnam exports rice, coal, chemicals, garment-textiles and computers to Cuba while importing pharmaceutical products from the Caribbean country. 

Two-way trade averaged 170 million USD each year between 2012 and 2014, and climbed to 218 million USD in 2015, and 230 million USD in 2016 and 2017, with Vietnam enjoying a trade surplus. 

Cuba imported about 300,000-400,000 tonnes of rice from Vietnam each year. 

In response to Cuba’s plan to expand cooperation with foreign partners, hundreds of Vietnamese businesses have come to the country to seek opportunities. 

The Vietnamese Government has created favourable conditions for businesses of the two sides to expand partnership in order to make the economic and trade ties match the political and diplomatic bonds and traditional friendship. 

The Cuban side has called on Vietnamese firms to invest in such areas as food production, industry, tourism, bio-technology and priority sectors at the Mariel Special Development Zone. 

Along with telecom cooperation between Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group of Vietnam and Cuban Telecommunications Company ETECSA, the two countries have joined hands in the production of vaccines and medicines, and exchange of experts in this field. 

In agriculture, through projects on rice, corn and soybean production, and aquaculture, Vietnam has helped Cuba improve productivity and ensure national food security.

Vietnam, Russia exchange experience in management of religious affairs

Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Vu Chien Thang 

A delegation from the Government Committee for Religious Affairs led by its head Vu Chien Thang recently visited Russia to share experience in State management over religious affairs with local agencies and organisations.

During the visit, spanning from November 6-8, the delegation worked with representatives from the Russian Presidential Domestic Policy Directorate, the Ministry of Justice and the agency on inter-racial and inter-religious relations.

At the meetings, Thang introduced religious activities in Vietnam, stating that the country is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation with most of the population being followers of a belief or religion.

Religions in Vietnam have seen no conflicts and show solidarity in national construction and development, he said, adding that Vietnam has a consistent policy in which religions are equal and free to hold activities in line with the law.

Religious organisations in Vietnam have expanded external relations and engaged in international religious forums, while contributing to stability and peace in the region and the world.

The Russian side said the religious situations in Vietnam and Russia share many similarities.

The two sides exchanged experience in state management over religious affairs as well as supporting religions to operate in conformity with their principles and objectives, thus contributing to national development.

They agreed to consider delegation exchanges and information and experience sharing between the Vietnam Government Committee on Religious Affairs and Russian agencies.

They pledged to create optimal conditions for religious organisations of both sides to promote exchanges, thus strengthening the traditional ties between the two nations.

Thang proposed that Russia create more favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Russia to practice their beliefs in line with local laws.

Vietnam will also ensure the best conditions for Russians in Vietnam to carry out religious activities under the law, he said.

During the visit, the delegation also met representatives of the Vietnamese community in Russia.

Cambodia’s Independence Day observed in HCM City

Cambodian Consul General in HCM City Im Hen speaks at the ceremony. 

The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) and the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association (VCFA) in the city on November 8 held a ceremony to mark Cambodia’s Independence Day (November 9, 1953-2018). 

Addressing the event, VCFA President Truong Minh Nhut stressed that November 9, 1953 has become an historical milestone in Cambodia’s history of national construction and defence.

Over the past 65 years, Cambodian people have reaped great achievements across fields and seen their living standards being improved, he said, adding that the country has expanded its foreign relations and heightened its position and prestige in the international arena. 

Nhut highlighted the traditional friendship, fruitful cooperation, solidarity and mutual support between Vietnam and Cambodia in the past struggles for national liberation as well as the present national construction and development. 

Leaders and peoples of the two countries are making efforts to consolidate the solidarity and friendship, cooperate in socio-economic development and closely coordinate with each other at international forums, in order to elevate the friendship to a new high, for the benefit of the two peoples, and for the sake of peace, stability and cooperation in the region, he said. 

The VCFA has organised activities to bring citizens of the two countries closer, along with social welfare programmes to support poor Cambodians and Vietnamese in Cambodia, according to Nhut. 

Im Hen, Cambodian Consul General in HCM City, described the celebration as a demonstration of the solidarity and friendship of Vietnamese leaders and people, and the city in particular towards Cuba. 

The long-standing friendship has become a valuable asset of the two countries, and been consolidated by generations of Vietnamese and Cambodian leaders and peoples, he said. 

The diplomat used the occasion to thank the Vietnamese Party, Government, army and people for their wholehearted support to Cambodia during the liberation of the country from the Pol Pot genocidal regime in 1979. 

Two-way trade between Vietnam and Cambodia exceeded 3 billion USD in 2017 and reached over 2.1 billion USD in the first eight months of this year. 

Last year, Vietnam invested a total of 582 million USD in Cambodia, becoming the biggest ASEAN investor and the second largest among the countries and territories investing in Cambodia.

Deputy PM receives Chief Minister of Australia’s Northern Territory

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh (R) and Chief Minister of the Northern Territory of Australia Michael Gunner 

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh on November 7 hosted a reception for Chief Minister of the Northern Territory of Australia Michael Gunner who is on a visit to Vietnam from November 6-9.

At the meeting, both sides expressed their delight over the achievements in the Vietnam-Australia strategic partnership in recent times, especially in the realms of politics, defence, trade, education, and agriculture.

By the end of this year’s third quarter, two-way trade had reached 5.72 billion USD, up 20 percent from the same period in 2017. In addition, the two countries had made concerned efforts to promote relations between their localities, they said, particularly ties between the Northern Territory and Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Khanh Hoa, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau as noteworthy.

Deputy PM Minh said that Vietnam and Australia’s Northern Territory hold huge potential to boost cooperation in marine and air transportation, as well as tourism.

Laying stress on Vietnam’s interest in developing high-tech agriculture, human resources training, and science-technology, Minh hoped that leaders of the Northern Territory will grant further scholarships to Vietnamese students through the Northern Territory Government’s “Study in Australia’s Northern Territory” (StudyNT) programme.

He also hoped that the Northern Territory would expand its favourable conditions for overseas Vietnamese living and working in the locality.

Michael Gunner, for his part, affirmed that the Northern Territory always attaches importance to strengthening bonds with Vietnam and that it stands ready to bolster cooperation in trade, investment, and education, while also considering collaboration in transport and tourism with the Southeast Asian country.

The Northern Territory will facilitate conditions for low-cost carrier Vietjet Air to open an air route to the city of Darwin next year, he said, adding that Vietnamese corporations, including Vingroup and TH True Milk, are welcome to land investments in the territory, particularly in the fields of its strength like husbandry, plantation, and tourism.

On the occasion, Deputy PM Minh and his Chief Minister Gunner witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Northern Territory’s Chamber of Commerce.

During his stay, Michael Gunner working sessions with Minister of Education Phung Xuan Nha, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong, as well as Vietnamese businesses operating in trade, agriculture, education, and transport. 

CPV’s Economic Commission boosts bond with Chinese partner

At the working session 

Permanent deputy head the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s Economic Commission Cao Duc Phat had a working session in Hanoi on November 7 with a delegation from the Development Research Centre of the State Council of China, led by its Deputy Director Ma Jiantang. 

During the meeting, the Vietnamese official stressed that the delegation’s visit will contribute towards implementing the memorandum of understanding signed by the two agencies in 2017. 

Phat affirmed that the CPV’s Economic Commission attaches great importance to further enhancing cooperation and exchange with the Chinese Development Research Centre, with the aim of promoting the friendship and cooperation between the two Parties and States in general. 

For his part, Ma Jiantang highlighted the increased cooperation between the two agencies, expressing his hope that the collaboration between his agency and the CPV’s Economic Commission will be fostered in the time to come. 

The two sides informed each other about the socio-economic development in both countries in 2018, as well as a number of development policies and orientations for Vietnam and China to consider for the future. 

They also agreed on cooperation content between the two agencies for the time ahead, aiming to concretise guidelines agreed upon by leaders of the two Parties.

Friendship organisations crucial to Vietnam-Russian ties

At the get-together of the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Parliamentarian Group 

The Vietnam-Russia Friendship Parliamentarian Group and the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association have played an important role in fortifying the friendship and the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Uong Chu Luu has said.

Attending a get-together of the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Parliamentarian Group on November 7 on the occasion of the 101st anniversary of the Russian Revolution, Luu also suggested both sides enhance parliamentary and people-to-people diplomacy, especially promoting the close coordination between the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Parliamentarian Group and the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarian Group.

According to President of the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Parliamentarian Group Phan Xuan Dung, cooperative ties between the NA and the Russian Federal Assembly have enjoyed due attention, with high-level exchanges regularly held.

The exchanges are crucial for both sides to share experience in performing functions of the legislative bodies, supervise the implementation of the bilateral agreements inked between the two Governments, and create legal environment for partnership between localities and businesses of the two countries, Dung stressed.

At the meeting, participants highlighted the special relations with Russia as well as Russia’s support for Vietnamese people and country.

Hanoi wishes for Israel’s cooperation in hi-tech farming

Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Doan Toan (Photo: kinhtedothi.vn)

Hanoi wants Israeli firms who always pioneer in applying science and technology in agricultural production to cooperate with and support the city in hi-tech farming.

The statement was made by Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Doan Toan at a November 7 conference co-held by the committee and the Israeli Embassy in Vietnam as part of activities to celebrate the 25th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

Israel is a country that possesses a modern and creative agriculture sector that has made significant achievements, given the country’s harsh natural conditions such as lack of fresh water and high desertification. 

“Therefore, Hanoi wishes to receive Israel support in the field so that it can soon fulfill its goal of becoming an agricultural production and consumption centre in the region as well as a leading farm produce exporter,” he said.

According to the municipal official, in recent years, the city has enhanced the application of technologies in producing, storing and processing agricultural products, but the work has remained modest.

There are still few hi-tech agriculture projects in the city while post-harvest products haven’t been stored and processed in the way that meets local authorities’ requirements, he noted.

The capital city’s authorities have planned to develop a local hi-tech agriculture industry with selection of appropriate technologies for production and processing so that the products are safe and high-quality.

At the same time, the city will develop its supply chains, markets and commercial centres to become one of the leading distribution and export units in both domestic and international markets, he added.

At the event, representatives from Israeli businesses shared their experience in hi-tech application in farming.

“We want to bring our vast know-how to Vietnam and help local producers achieve more quality products and find farther destination for exports,” said Ilan London, Israel-based Decco’s international sales manager.

“We are thinking of mutual partnerships. Our know-how and technologies are very unique and we have solutions and technologies for all kinds of fruit and vegetables,” Ilan said, adding that his firm is able to increase the added values in Vietnam to make the market better.

Golan Argaman, CEO of Sheffa from Israel, said he is happy to make new partnerships during the conference and he expects to find someone who understands the concept of his business and help local farmers cut costs and raise revenues.

“We look for cooperation between farmers, cooperatives and big farming companies that can help each other build factories and manufacturers here in Vietnam,” he said.

The potential of Vietnam is much larger than what has been achieved, according to Dov Avital, business innovation manager of dripping tech Metzer Group.

The Southeast Asian nation has many highland terrains that make it harder for farmers to water the fields and preserve water from flowing elsewhere, Dov said.

“We bring the dripping technology to Vietnam to change the situation. We can keep the environment clean, re-use the water and keep it for a long-time production,” he said.

NA deputies deliver mixed opinions on amended laws

The National Assembly continued its agenda on November 7 with Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan in the chair.

In the morning, Chairwoman of the NA’s Judicial Committee Le Thi Nga presented a report verifying the revised Law on Amnesty. Many of the deputies agreed with the amendments; however, the others requested more detailed contents like amnesty for foreigners, amnesty timeline, measures to ensure that people receiving amnesty get jobs and better integrate into the society, and responsibility of the Central Advisory Council on Amnesty.

Concluding the session, NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu said that the NA Standing Committee will order competent authorities to complete the revised law before submitting it to the NA for approval on November 20.

In the afternoon, the NA deputies discussed the Law on Enforcement of Civil Judgments and the Law on Animal Husbandry.

Regarding the later bill, they suggested the draft revised law should include regulations on animal husbandry development planning while rational mechanisms should be drawn for farmers who operate their own businesses.

They asked for specific stipulations on processed products, market development, import of low-quality animal feed as well as settlement of livestock waste.

On November 8 morning, the NA will vote on the adoption of the resolution on socio-economic development plan in 2019. The deputies will be reported on the amendments to the Law on Tax Management and discuss the Law on Architecture in group. In the afternoon, they will continue with the amendments to the Law on Education.

Officials, Party members make political commitments to people

Being loyal to the nation and people, making all-out efforts to serve the people and doing nothing that harms the nation have long been a system of reference for officials and Party members to follow. 

This system is also the guideline of the 12th Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC)’s Regulation No. 08-QDi/TW on the responsibility for setting examples of officials and Party members, firstly members of the Politburo, the Secretariat and the CPVCC. 

It is also seen as a political commitment of senior Party leaders before the nation and people.

The regulations again demonstrate the viewpoint and thoughts of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh on the close-knit relations between the Party and people, as well as the goal and motivation of the Party and each Party member, which is the people. 

The lesson that people are the roots of everything is true for any revolutionary period. Therefore, officials and Party members must rely on the people, stay close to the people in order to understand their thinking and aspirations.

They also need to set examples and work as pioneers in all aspects, and spare no efforts to complete their tasks, for the sake of people. 

The viewpoint has always been put at the top of all Party directives, resolutions and regulations.

The regulations also require all officials and Party members to resolutely fight wrong acts and negative phenomena. 

For these reasons, the CPV has taken drastic actions in inspection work and tightened discipline within the Party and the State apparatus. 

Since the 12th National Party Congress in 2016, all-level Party Committees and inspection committees have disciplined more than 490 Party organisations and 35,000 Party members, of whom nearly 1,300 were punished due to corruption and deliberate violations of regulations. 

The CPVCC’s Inspection Commission has uncovered many serious violations and issued disciplinary measures, and asked the CPVCC, the Politburo and the Secretariat to take measures against not a few high-ranking officials and Party organisations, including CPVCC and Politburo members and incumbent and retired officials, in both executive bodies and armed forces. 

Apart from inspections, disciplinary work and corruption fight, the Party has paid attention to improving the leadership capacity of Party organisations, especially promoting the pioneer role of officials and Party members to motivate people to unite. 

President Ho Chi Minh said “Forces of the working class and labourers are huge and limitless. However, the forces need the Party leadership to firmly win victories. Also, the Party needs to be close to the masses and skillfully organise and lead the masses in order to make the revolution a success.”

It has been proven that people serve as a great source of internal strength. When they are gathered and led by the Party, they become an endless source of strength to take the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation to victory. Being close to the people, relying on the people and serving their interest are the core of the Party’s leading methods.