Vietnam, Lao give further priority to economic links

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung receives Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thoonglun Sisulith 

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung suggested that Vietnam and Laos continue giving priority to promoting economic, trade and investment ties - one of the significant pillars in the two countries’ relationship.

At a meeting in Hanoi on November 4 with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thoonglun Sisulith, the PM spoke highly of the outcomes of the second consultation at the foreign ministerial level in Hanoi on November 3, saying that both countries should work closely together to prepare for a meeting between the two Politburos, followed by another one between the two governments to execute action plans reached by the two Politburos.

The Vietnamese government always encourages domestic firms to expand operations in Laos, he affirmed, adding that Vietnam also welcomes Lao businesses.

PM Dung also proposed close coordination for the success of the 27th ASEAN Summit and related meetings to be held in Malaysia, as well as for the building of a united and prosperous ASEAN community together with other member states.

Vietnam is willing to assist Laos in its role as ASEAN Chair by 2016, the host vowed.

The Lao Deputy PM committed utmost efforts to further deepening the special ties with Vietnam, including clearing hindrances arising in the economic collaboration process.

He also hoped that Vietnam would continue assisting Laos by sharing its development experience.

Hungarian NA Speaker to pay official visit to Vietnam

Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly László Kövér will pay an official visit to Vietnam from November 8 to 13. 

The visit will be made at an invitation of National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung. 

Vietnam and Hungary set up their diplomatic ties on February 3, 1950. Two-way trade reached 176 million USD in 2014, a year-on-year rise of 19 percent.-VNA

Ambassador pushes ties between localities of Vietnam, Russia

Vietnam Ambassador to Russia Nguyen Thanh Son held a working session with Sergei Levchenko, Governor of the Irkutsk region, in Moscow, Russia on November 3 to discuss the future of Vietnam-Irkutsk ties.

At the meeting, Ambassador Son congratulated Levchenko on his election as Irkutsk governor in September. He hoped that in this position, the Governor, who is a member of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, will work to further strengthen the relations between Irkutsk and Vietnamese localities as well as between Vietnam and Russia.

The ambassador updated the Governor on underway joint projects between Vietnam and Moscow region and opportunities for collaboration between Vietnam’s northern Thanh Hoa and Quang Ninh provinces and Russia.

The two sides discussed options and measures to promote regional-level partnerships in education, tourism, investment and trade between the two countries.

They agreed to maintain regular information exchange to foster the bilateral cooperation.

Located in southeastern Siberia, Irkutsk region covers an area of approximately 780,000 square kilometres and has a population of nearly 2.5 million people.

Its main industries include wood processing, mining, metallurgy, energy and machine-building.

Party official encourages ties with China’s Yunnan

Politburo member Pham Quang Nghi has said he hopes the visit by Secretary of China’s Yunnan provincial Party Committee Li Jiheng will help boost cooperative ties between Hanoi and Yunnan.

At a reception for the Chinese Party official in Hanoi on November 4, Pham Quang Nghi, who is assigned to steer the Hanoi Party Committee pending the 12th National Party Congress in early 2016, noted the Yunnan delegation’s visit to the capital city coincides with numerous activities held by Vietnam and China to mark the 65th founding anniversary of their diplomatic relations.

He said he hopes the visit will help strengthen links between the two Parties, States and localities, thus bolstering economic, investment, trade and tourism activities between Hanoi and Yunnan as well as between Vietnam and China.

As both Parties and countries are facing new opportunities and challenges, the solidification of their amity and comprehensive cooperation will serve as a driving force for each country’s development, the official stressed.

Sharing the same view, Secretary Li also said he believes that the enhancement of friendship and collaboration between Hanoi and Yunnan will contribute to the healthy and stable growth of the two countries’ comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership for the sake of their own interests and regional peace, stability and affluence.

At the meeting, the two sides explores possible options for expanding cooperation and concurred to boost affiliation in a practical and effective manner, especially through delegation and cultural exchanges, tourism promotion, and facilitation of economic and trade activities.

Party leader greets Lao foreign ministry’s delegation

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong hosted a reception for Lao Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith in Hanoi on November 4. 

The Lao official, who is on a working visit to Vietnam, rejoiced at the thriving all-round cooperation between the two countries and thanked the Vietnamese Party, State and people for providing enormous assistance to his nation so far. 

He briefed the host on the outcomes of the second consultation meeting between the countries’ foreign ministers as well as the two ministries’ collaboration. 

He also informed about the recent situation in Laos, including all-level congresses on the threshold of the 10th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, and preparations for the formation of the ASEAN Community in late 2015 and Laos’s ASEAN Chairmanship next year. 

Thongloun Sisoulith emphasised that Laos will closely coordinate with Vietnam to implement agreements reached by the countries’ leaders as well as possible, practically benefiting the two peoples. 

At the reception, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong congratulated Laos on its massive internal and external achievements and voiced his belief that the Lao people will reap greater accomplishments in the national development and protection. 

He expressed his delight at the growing bilateral relations in all spheres while acknowledging Laos’s support to Vietnam throughout history. 

Vietnam will join its neighbour in intensifying their special solidarity in all aspects, ultimately contributing to regional and global peace, stability, cooperation and development, he affirmed. 

The leader also spoke highly of the steering coordination between the two Governments and efforts by the two sides’ ministries, sectors and localities, including the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, in effectively carrying out reached agreements. 

He added that he hopes the Foreign Ministries will continue close coordination, information and experience sharing, and mutual assistance.

Deputy PM receives visiting President of Belgian Senate

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh had a meeting in Hanoi on November 4 with President of the Belgian Senate Christine Defraigne, who is on an official visit to Vietnam. 

The Vietnamese official voiced pleasure at the flourishing bilateral relations since the two countries set up diplomatic ties in 1973 and highly valued their parliamentary cooperation expansion at the federal, regional and community levels. 

The countries need to maximise the effectiveness of their economic, trade and investment cooperation to meet their respective demand while increasing collaboration in education-training, culture and science-technology, he added. 

Senate President Christine Defraigne said she is impressed by Vietnam’s socio-economic development along with the growth of their relationship while speaking highly of the Southeast Asian nations’ diplomatic achievements and standing in regional and global arenas. 

She underlined the Belgium Senate’s advocacy of cooperation between the countries in all fields and at all levels. 

At the meeting, the two sides hailed the pending signing of the Vietnam – European Union Free Trade Agreement, which will open up new opportunities for collaboration between Vietnam and the EU, including Belgium. They shared the view that the pact will help deepen their nations’ connections. 

They also discussed bilateral coordination at international forums and organisations and joint efforts to support regional and global peace, stability, cooperation and development.

Deputy PM calls for closer cooperation with Guangxi Zhuang autonomous

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to continue working closely with Vietnamese agencies and localities to reinforce links across economics, trade, investment, transport, agriculture and tourism.

Meeting Secretary of the Party Committee of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Peng Qinghua in Hanoi on November 4, Deputy PM Phuc said both sides should actively implement the common perception reached by the two countries’ leaders, increase delegation and people-to-people exchanges and make full use of existing cooperative mechanisms in the time ahead in order to make substantial progress in bilateral ties.

He urged the well implementation of the three documents on land border signed between Vietnam and China, and proposed that the two sides work together to research and carry out measures to facilitate cross-border economic exchange such as opening new or upgrading border gates, creating favourable conditions for people, goods and vehicles to travel to each side, and joining hands in fighting smuggling and counterfeits.

The Deputy PM stressed that cooperation between the two countries’ ministries, sectors and localities, particularly border localities, is very important to the healthy development of the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

The Chinese guest, for his part, affirmed that the Government and people of Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region attach importance to strengthening the traditional friendship and cooperation with Vietnam.

He expressed wish for more discussions about infrastructure connectivity projects between Vietnamese localities and Guangxi.

Angola looks for closer relations with Vietnam

Angola always welcomes Vietnamese firms to invest and do business in the country, said Angolan Ambassador to Vietnam Joao Manuel Bernardo at a press conference in Hanoi on November 4 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Vietnam-Angola diplomatic ties.

During the event, he highlighted great potential and opportunities for Vietnam and Angola to expand their affiliation in the time ahead, saying that the bilateral ties has developed fruitfully in recent time, with the regular exchange of all-level delegations.

According to the diplomat, around 110 teachers and 220 doctors from Vietnam are working in Angola. There are about 40,000 Vietnamese guest workers in the African country and the number is on the rise.

Angola completed the building of its new investment law, Bernardo said, adding that the legal document will be translated into Vietnamese and introduced to Vietnamese individuals and enterprises, who are interested in investing in the country.

The Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) has cooperated with its Angolan counterpart in exploring and exploiting oil and gas in Angola, he said.

The two countries are looking for stronger links in other fields such as iron and bronze ore exploitation, telecommunications and agriculture, he said, affirming that his country is willing to support and cooperate with Vietnamese investors in the fields.

On the occasion, the embassy hosted a wide range of cultural and sport activities, and a banquet to mark 40 years of Angola’s Independence Day.

Party Organisation congresses a success

All 68 Party Organisations under the Party Central Committee’s management nationwide have decided on socio-economic development orientations and strategies for 2015-2020, and prepared personnel for the Party’s upcoming 12th National Congress. 

The Organisations were aware that building the Party was a key task so they decided to continue working hard toward enhanced leadership, combat capacity in the political system, and strengthened and unified administrations. 

As Hanoi is the national political, economic and cultural centre, its Party Organisation said it would rally all available resources for comprehensive, uniform reforms, industrialisation and modernisation with a view to making the capital more beautiful, cultured and modern. 

The Party Organisation of Ho Chi Minh City, which holds an extremely important role in the southern key economic zone, will maintain the City’s role as a socio-economic locomotive and become one of the biggest economic, financial, commercial, scientific and technological metropolises in Southeast Asia. 

Ha Giang is located in the northernmost point of the S-shaped country, neighbouring China. The province’s Party Organisation decided to maximise the power of national unity, and utilise its strengths and potential to help it become a developed province. 

From 2015 to 2020, the Party Organisation of the central city of Da Nang aimed to turn the city into an economic, social, cultural hub and a driving force for the Central and Central Highlands regions. It will work on improving tourism and trade, drawing investments in technology, developing well-built infrastructure and building a high-quality workforce. 

The Party Organisation of Dak Lak province has determined it will swiftly improve its investment environment, accelerate administrative reforms, protect the environment, pay heed to creating better living conditions for local people, and firmly maintain defence-security and social order, to make the locality a socio-economic, cultural centre in the Central Highlands. 

In the Mekong Delta, the Party Organisation of Can Tho city has resolved to press ahead with its economic growth model reform and economic restructuring. It aims to achieve harmonious development for urban and rural areas and improve living conditions. 

The Party Organisation of the southern coastal province of Kien Giang is determined to firmly defend the country’s border, island and sea sovereignty. It will also develop Phu Quoc Island district as a development driver for the entire province. 

In the southernmost province of Ca Mau, the Party Organisation has set to prioritise the development of fisheries, agriculture and forestry, along with the construction of new rural areas. 

Personnel preparations for the next working tenure from 2015-2020 have been achieved. 

The congresses elected 3,502 personnel for the Party Organisations’ Central Committees.

More than 15 percent of Central Committee members in 21 Party Organisations are women. These include northern Tuyen Quang province (27.65 percent), southern Kien Giang province (25 percent), southern Binh Phuoc province (21.82 percent) and Ho Chi Minh City (21.74 percent). 

Meanwhile, more than 20 percent of Central Committee members in 11 Party Organisations were from ethnic minority groups – mainly in northern mountainous regions, including Bac Kan (72 percent), Hoa Binh (70.4 percent), Lang Son (53.7 percent), Son La (43.6 percent) and Tuyen Quang (43.14 percent). 

Among the 61 new Secretaries of the Party Organisation Central Committees, 39 were re-elected, two were under 40 (in Da Nang and Kien Giang province) and three were female (in Vinh Phuc, Ninh Binh and An Giang provinces).

The Political Bureau appointed the Secretaries for the Party Central Committees of Soc Trang and Lang Son provinces for the 2015-2020 working term.

It will also appoint the secretaries of the Party Central Committees of Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as the Central Military Commission and the Central Public Security Party for the 2015-2020 working tenure.

The Party’s Secretariat will appoint a Central Committee for the Overseas Party Organisation.

CPV, Mozambique’s Frelimo party enhance cooperation

A delegation of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics led by Director Ta Ngoc Tan paid a working visit to Mozambique from November 1-3, aiming at fostering cooperation in personnel training and research between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Liberation Front of Mozambique (Frelimo). 

During the visit, Director Tan and his entourage had a working session with acting Director of the Central Frelimo Party School Ana Nhampule to review the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) inked between the two academies. 

Tan delivered a lecture on the role of his academy in the national development cause before the school’s staff, lecturers and students. 

Tan, who is also member of the Party Central Committee, had meetings with Speaker of the Assembly of Republic Veronica Macamo, head of the Frelimo Party Central Committee for Organisation Sergio Pantie and Secretary of the Frelimo Party’s Foreign Relation Aida Libombo. 

During the meetings, the two sides were delighted at the development of the relations between the two states, governments and parties and agreed to together ramp up lecturer and student exchange activities. 

Vietnam will offer training for about 20 key Ferlimo party officials in March 2016 while later in July, several Mozambican specialists will be sent to the Southeast Asian country for a programme on revolutionary struggle and revolutionary thoughts of the Communist Party’s leaders.

In addition, the Vietnamese academy declared a PhD scholarship on for a Mozambican official.

Chinese top leader’s State visit significant to bilateral ties

Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping will pay a State visit to Vietnam from November 5 to 6 at the invitation of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Truong Tan Sang. 

This is the highest-ranking Chinese Party and State leader’s first visit to Vietnam in nine years. It takes place as the two countries’ relations develop positively. This is reflected through regular meetings among senior leaders. During the meetings, the sides reached agreements on measures to improve bilateral ties in a stable, healthy and sustainable manner. 

Co-operation between the two Parties has continued. In June, Dinh The Huynh – Politburo member, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and Chairman of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for Communications and Education – and Liu Qibao – Politburo member, Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee’s Secretariat and Chairman of the CPC Central Committee’s Publicity Department – chaired the 11th theoretical workshop. 

The visit made by Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping is significant to Vietnam-China relations and Vietnam’s external relations. Through the visit, Vietnam aims to continue to confirm its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralism and diversification, as well as its determination to develop its ties with China on the basis of mutual respect, mutual benefits and equality. It will also protect its legitimate interests in the East Sea on the basis of international law and work with China to control disputes, and maintain peace and stability in the sea. 

This year the countries have organised activities to celebrate the 65 th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Connections between their ministries, sectors and localities have been strengthened, while people-to-people exchanges have been held regularly. For example, they held the seventh conference of the joint working committee between China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Vietnam’s northern border provinces of Lang Son, Cao Bang, Ha Giang, and Quang Ninh in April. A tourism programme called “In the Footprints of Uncle Ho” was also held in Guangxi province in May. 

The two countries’ economic, trade and investment relations have also grown significantly. Trade reached 49 billion USD in the first nine months of 2015, a year-on-year rise of 16 percent. Of this, 12.4 billion USD came from Vietnam’s exports. 

Total investment of over 8.4 billion USD in 1,180 projects made China the ninth largest foreign investor in Vietnam at the end of last year. 

China remained the country to send the most tourists to Vietnam, with 12.6 million visiting between January and September.

NA committee holds talks with European Parliament’s delegation

The National Assembly (NA)’s Committee for External Relations had talks with a group of members of the European Parliament (EP)’s Delegation for relations with Southeast Asia and ASEAN countries (DASE) in Hanoi on November 4. 

The EP delegation, led by DASE Chairman Werner Langen, is on a working visit to Vietnam from November 4 – 6. 

At the talks, Chairman of the NA Committee for External Relations Tran Van Hang said Vietnam and the EU have gone a long way in their relations and are now entering a new stage of development as they are accelerating the ratification of the Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation (PCA) and have basically concluded negotiations on a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA). 

The two sides agreed on the need to reinforce multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and the EU in general, and between Vietnam and the DASE in particular. 

They also touched upon activities of the Vietnamese parliament, the country’s foreign policies, and its efforts towards the establishment of the ASEAN Community later this year. 

Also on November 4, officials of the NA’s Committee for Economic Affairs held a working session with the DASE representatives. 

Chairman of the committee Nguyen Van Giau noted that the EU is the second biggest trading partner and export market of Vietnam. Bilateral trade rises by 15 – 20 percent annually, reaching 36.8 billion USD in 2014 and 27.3 billion USD in the first eight months of this year. 

He voiced his hope for enhanced cooperation between the two sides while asking Werner Langen and the DASE to support the expeditious ratification of the PCA, the signing of the Vietnam-EU FTA, and the recognition of Vietnam’s market economy status. 

Participants at the session also discussed the Vietnam-EU FTA’s possible impacts on EU businesses in Vietnam and the Southeast Asian nation’s endeavours towards the ASEAN Economic Community.

National Assembly vows to cement ties with European Parliament

The National Assembly of Vietnam will do its best to solidify cooperation between the country and the European Union (EU) and between the NA and the European Parliament (EP), Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said on November 4. 

At his reception for a group of members of the EP’s Delegation for relations with Southeast Asia and ASEAN countries (DASE) in Hanoi, he said their working visit will fuel the EP – NA relations in a substantive and effective fashion, noting that Vietnam is willing to act as a bridge enhancing the EU and EP’s cooperation with ASEAN nations. 

He thanked the EP for supporting the ratification of the EU – Vietnam Framework Agreement on Comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation and the EU – Vietnam free trade agreement, which will take bilateral ties to a new stage of development. 

He also acknowledged the EP’s assistance to Vietnam in building the 2013 Constitution while highlighting activities at the NA’s ongoing 10th sitting to overhaul the domestic law system to realise the Constitution’s spirit of upholding human rights, citizen rights and the socialist-oriented market economy. 

The leader asked DASE Chairman Werner Langen and the EP to continue promoting the collaboration between the Vietnamese NA and the EP in fields of shared concern. 

For his part, Werner Langen briefed Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung on the outcomes of the DASE’s talks with the NA’s Committee for External Relations and voiced optimism about the Vietnam – EU cooperation. 

The EU highly values the nation’s recent socio-economic attainments and the successful completion of the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals, he noted, adding that the EP always considers Vietnam as a good friend in ASEAN.

VNA