Vietnam, China increase border defence cooperation

Vietnam’s Quang Ninh province and China’s Guangxi province are jointly holding a border defence friendship exchange from March 10-12 as part of an agreement between the two countries’ defence ministries.

Both sides plan a wide range of activities, such as national defence friendship talks, visits to Tra Co and Hoanh Mo Border Posts, the signing of the minutes of the meeting, inspections of Vietnam-China bilateral patrol teams, and special art performances.

The program aims to strengthen mutual trust and understanding and promote bilateral defence relations.

It also provides a good opportunity for border localities and security forces of the two countries to foster friendship, solidarity and cooperation.

Melba Hernandez - great Cuban friend of Vietnam passes away

Cuban revolutionary heroine Melba Hernandez Rodriguez del Rey, widely known as “the heroine of Moncada”, who actively joined movements against the American war in Vietnam, passed away at the age of 92 on March 9.

Melba Hernandez, a member of the Communist Party of Cuba’s Central Committee and a National Assembly deputy, was one of the two women taking part in the 1953 attacks on Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Cespesdes barracks, which were launched by great leader Fidel Castro.

Born on July 28, 1921 in Las Villas, central Cuba, Melba Hernandez held many important positions since the victory of Cuban revolution in 1959.

In 1963, she became the first President of the Cuban Committee of Solidarity with Southern Vietnam, which is now the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association. She also held the post as Secretary-General of the Organisation of Solidarity with the People of Asia, Africa and Latin America, and a presidium member of the World Peace Council.

Melba Hernandez once served as Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam. With admiration towards Vietnam’s revolutionary history against invaders, she once confirmed that Vietnam is always an example to peace-loving nations in the world.

With her great contributions to the Cuban revolution and the solidarity between Cuba and other nations in the world, she was awarded many noble medals and orders from the Cuban Party, State and Government as well as from other friend countries around the globe.

Vietnam helps Mozambique develop food crops

Vietnam will help carry out a project on cooperation and research on the development of food crops in Mozambique for the 2013-17 period.

An agreement between the two governments on the 2.1 million USD project was signed in Hanoi on March 11.

The agreement covers personnel training and the development of food crop models to help the African country promote its agricultural production, thus raising rice productivity and reducing import of rice.

The two sides will pilot models of planting soy bean, sweet potato and vegetables to ensure food security and increase income for local farmers.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat said that the Vietnamese Government highly values cooperation with Mozambique in various fields, including exchange of gene sources, development of rice cultivation models, and rice cooperation.

The implementation of the project continues to reflect the two countries’ resolve in boosting partnership in agriculture, he added.

Mozambican Ambassador to Vietnam Gamiliel Sepulveda Joao Munguambe said he believes that the project will gradually contribute to developing Mozambique ’s agriculture while ensuring food security and improving Mozambicans’ living conditions.

Mozambique pledges to join hands with Vietnam for the project’s goals, he stressed.-

Government, trade union work to protect workers’ rights

Protecting legitimate rights and interests of workers and improving their living conditions are key tasks of the Government and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) in their 2014 cooperation agenda, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has said.

The works aim to concretise policies and stances of the Party and State on taking care of workers’ lives by practical deeds like building houses and kindergartens in industrial zones where a large number of workers earn their living, the Government leader went on to say at a working session with officials from the confederation in Hanoi on March 11.

Extolling the VGCL’s close and effective coordination with the Government in the field, PM Dung suggested both sides create all possible secure conditions for workers.

He asked the two sides to work together in examining the implementation of recently-issued policies concerning workers, publicise the State’s laws and launch emulation campaigns in production among workers across the country.

During the session, PM Dung and officials of concerned ministries and sectors touched upon the VGCL’s proposals pertaining to law enforcement in the field.

In 2013, the Government and the VGCL worked closely in crafting legal documents to safeguard workers’ legitimate rights and benefits.

Numerous activities supporting poor workers and policy beneficiaries were launched by the confederation.

Vietnam, Thailand enhance press cooperation

The Vietnam Journalists Association (VJA) and the Thai Journalists Association (TJA) will further boost bilateral cooperation through experience sharing and training programmes to raise the effectiveness of each country’s press activities.

The content was stated in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two sides’ representatives during a VJA delegation’s working visit that concluded on March 9.

Under the MoU, both sides will work closely together to step up their press agencies’ provision of constructive information, helping the two peoples understand the economic, political and cultural issues in Vietnam and Thailand in a right way.

They will enhance collaboration in press activities via the activities of regional and international organisations such as the Southeast Asian Press Alliance and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The two sides also agreed to implement an annual press exchange programme.

During the week-long visit, the VJA delegation visited and exchanged professional experience with The Nation and Thai Rath newspapers of Thailand.-