US Ambassador appreciates Can Tho’s competitive edge

US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius highly valued Can Tho City’s competitive edge at a June 8 working session with the city leaders.

During the meeting, Can Tho leaders introduced the city’s potential and strength, emphasising that Can Tho is the hub of the Mekong Delta region.

The city leaders have paid due attention to fostering cooperative ties with the US, particularly setting up sister relations with Riverside City, California.

Ambassador Ted Osius in turn said with a favourable geographic position and great agricultural potential, and existing infrastructure projects like Can Tho airport and seaports, the city has attracted much foreign and domestic investment capital.

US businesses have also sought opportunities to cooperate with Vietnamese localities, including Can Tho, he said.

The US ambassador added that if negotiations on trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement are successful, the agreement will help spur Vietnam’s economy, especially the Mekong Delta region.

Education cooperation is a pillar in Vietnam-US bilateral cooperation agreement, he confirmed.

To mark the 20th anniversary of diplomatic ties, on the same day, Ted and his accompanies visited Can Tho University and talked with students there.

Hanoi, Fukuoka step up bilateral cooperation

Hanoi will organise a cultural exchange programme in Fukuoka with a view to introducing the culture and people of the capital city to residents of the Japanese prefecture.

The capital will develop opportunities for investment promotion, promoting Hanoi as a promising investment market to businesses from Fukuoka as well as Japan in general, Chairman of the Hanoi People Committee Nguyen The Thao told visiting Fukuoka Governor Ogawa Hiroshi on June 8.

He expressed his thanks for Fukuoka’s support for Hanoi across the fields of economics, environment and society.

Meanwhile, Ogawa Hiroshi highlighted the sound relations between Fukuoka and Hanoi, saying that people-to-people exchanges will help further develop the ties.

Fukuoka authorities always encourage its businesses and organisations to seek investment opportunities in foreign countries, including Vietnam, he stressed.

Towards the pilot solid waste treatment facility using the environmentally-friendly Fukuoka technology, which was inaugurated the same day, the Governor said that it will be a milestone to foster the friendship between the two sides.

He said he hopes that the project will contribute to improving environmental quality in Hanoi in particular and in Vietnam in general.

Party official holds talks with Cambodian counterpart

Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Le Hong Anh held talks with head of the Standing Board of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) Central Committee Sai Chhum in Phnom Penh on June 8.

They informed each other of their Party and country situation and debated solutions to existing obstacles to realise agreements and commitments.

In the face of the current regional and global contexts, they said both sides should further strengthen the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties and countries, by reinforcing links between ministries, agencies and localities and raising public awareness of Vietnam – Cambodia amity, especially among the youths.

The two countries will improve the quality of economic, trade and investment collaboration, step up the progress of border demarcation for a borderline of peace, friendship, cooperation and development for shared benefits, work closely together on regional and global issues while settling disputes by peaceful means in line with international law and regional commitments.

Le Hong Anh, in his statement, reiterated Vietnam’s consistent policy of fostering the friendship and all-around ties with Cambodia.

For his part, Sai Chhum, who is also Vice President of the Cambodian Senate, promised that the CPP and Cambodian people will do their best, together with Vietnam, to nurture ties between the two Parties, for the sake of peace, stability, cooperation and development in Southeast Asia.

The same day, Le Hong Anh also laid wreaths at the Cambodian Independence Monument and the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Monument in Phnom Penh.

Lawmakers consider socio-economic performance

Lawmakers deliberated on the socio-economic performance and State budget for 2014 and early months of 2015 during a live-broadcast plenary session in Hanoi on June 8.

Points of discussion cover macro-economic goals, economic restructuring, exports-imports, budget deficit, public and bad debts, corporate development, farm produce production and consumption, incentives for agriculture, rural areas and farmers, culture and tourism, education and workforce, social welfare, administrative reform, anti-corruption, among others.

They also recommended solutions to existing flaws towards meeting the 2015 goals.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh, Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh also took the stage to clarify several matters of concern.

The plenary session will continue on June 9.

VNA/VOV