Australia continues investment in VN human resources

Australian Charge d'Affaires Layton Pike and Vice Minister of Education and Training Bui Van Ga at the signing ceremony in Ha Noi on December 15, 2015. — Photo courtesy of Australian Embassy

The Australian and Vietnamese governments signed today a Subsidiary Arrangement for the implementation of the Viet Nam-Australia Human Resource Development Programme for the 2016–20 period.

The project, with a total investment of AU$146 million (US$105 million), aimed at strengthening the level of professional and technical knowledge, skills and competencies in Viet Nam.

"This programme will significantly broaden Australia's education engagement with Viet Nam," Layton Pike, Charge d'Affaires of the Australian Embassy, said.

The activities are designed to extend beyond traditional long-term scholarships and to diversify across other forms, such as short courses, support for technical and vocational training, women in leadership training, more focused support for alumni, and ad hoc technical assistance in Viet Nam's priority areas.

The programme, which will commence on February 2016, also provides opportunities to enhance Australian students' professional understanding of countries in the region.

Australia has been a leading provider of government scholarships to Viet Nam. There are currently over 5,300 Australia Awards alumni from Viet Nam who graduated from Australian universities under Australian Government-funded scholarship programmes since 1970.

President meets outgoing Qatar Ambassador

President Truong Tan Sang expressed his hope that outgoing Ambassador of Qatar Abdullah Sultan Al-Hamar would continue working to foster the friendship with Vietnam during a reception in Hanoi on December 15.

The leader thanked Qatar for backing Vietnam’s bid to join the UNESCO Executive Board for 2015-2019 and the United Nations Socio-Economic Council for 2016-2018.

He said both countries should nurture high-level exchanges and meetings between businesses to boost trade and investment, suggesting Qatar actively seek major projects to invest in Vietnam, particularly in transport, bridges and roads, airport, oil and gas, among others.

Al-Hamar, in reply, hailed Vietnam as an attractive investment destination in the region.

He said the Qatar Government wishes to invest in major and long-term projects in Vietnam.

He informed his host that the Qatar bank has already opened its office in Ho Chi Minh City and will inaugurate a branch in Hanoi to provide capital for needy businesses.

The guest affirmed that he continually backs Vietnam-Qatar friendship in any position.

Mexican lower house wishes to boost ties with Vietnam

The Mexican Chamber of Deputies wants to reinforce relationship with Vietnam and her National Assembly.

The message was delivered by Victor Giorgana, Head of the Chamber of Deputies’ Committee for External Affairs, when receiving Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Le Linh Lan on December 14.

According to Giorgana, a blueprint to establish a Mexico-Vietnam friendship parliamentarian group has been included in the agenda of his agency’s 63rd tenure and much awaited by many Mexican deputies.

He expected a Vietnam culture week to be held at the lower house building to boost local understanding of Vietnamese culture, history and people.

He suggested Ambassador Lan write articles for thematic publications and speak about Vietnam’s socio-economic development experience at his Chamber’s plenary session.

On her part, the Vietnamese diplomat underscored the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement as an opportunity for trade between the two economies to thrive, bringing more benefits to both people.

She pledged to do her utmost to contribute to cementing the traditional relations moving forward.

Deputy PM hails Japan as leading, long-term partner

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has reiterated that Japan is a long-term and top significant partner of Vietnam while meeting Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Fundamental National Policies Ichiro Aisawa in Hanoi on December 15.

Vietnam attaches importance to and wishes to foster political trust and further deepen the friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Japan, Dam said.

Improving healthcare quality is among Vietnam’s concerns, Dam told the guest, expressing his wish that more and more Vietnamese nurses would have chances to be trained and employed in Japan within the framework of the Vietnam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement.

The host affirmed that the Vietnamese Government will continue providing business support for Japanese companies in Vietnam while effectively realising the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative to improve the business environment.

Aisawa, for his part, informed his host of his activities in Vietnam, including witnessing the signing of an agreement to supply official development assistance to three medical projects in Vietnam.

He also worked with Vietnamese ministries and agencies concerned on several medical projects.

Symposium highlights activities of late Lao President in Vietnam

A symposium spotlighting the activities of late Lao President Kaysone Phomvihane in Vietnam was held in Hanoi on December 14 as part of a series of events to mark his 95th birthday (December 13, 1920).

Director of the Institute of Science Studies for Talents, Human Resource (ISSTH) Dam Duc Vuong said President Kaysone Phomvihane had led Laos’ resistance wars against France and America to victory, with the offensive and uprising in 1975 at the peak of their triumph, resulting in the establishment of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (LPDR) on December 2, 1975.

Vice Chairman of the Vietnam – Laos Friendship Association Ta Minh Chau said President Kaysone Phomvihane was not only an excellent leader and unyielding revolutionist of the Laos Party and people, but also a close-knit and faithful friend of Vietnam.

During his stay in Vietnam, the President visited Lao Kho village in Son La province where the Northern Lao Volunteer Team was founded in 1948; the site observing the preparatory meeting of the second congress of the Lao People’s Party (now the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party) in Hoa Binh province; the location where the first armed forces of Laos (the Latsavong unit) was set up in Phu Tho province; and the Lao revolutionary relic site in Tuyen Quang province.

These sites witnessed the close-knit friendship between Vietnam and Laos nurtured by late Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Kaysone Phomvihane.

Vice Chairman of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Association Vilayvong Bouddakham thanked the Vietnamese counterpart and localities for welcoming a delegation of over 40 Lao officials to the programme, themed: “Following the footprints of President Kaysone Phomvihane in Vietnam”.

He expressed his confidence that the symposium will help people, especially younger generations of the two countries, better understand their special bilateral and time-honoured relations.

Banquet held marking anniversary of Vietnam People’s Army

The Ministry of National Defence has hosted a banquet for foreign guests and defence attachés in Hanoi on the occasion of the 71st founding anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (December 22, 1944).

The anniversary also coincides with the 26th All People’s Defence Festival (December 22, 1989).

Opening the banquet, Deputy Defence Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh said the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) is an army of the people, by the people and for the people, which is also the outstanding feature and enormous source of strength that has helped the army weather all challenges and secure glorious victories in the struggle for national independence and defence as well as the current development.

The Deputy Minister took the occasion to give a brief account of the VPA’s 71-year history.

South African Defence Attaché Mpiwa Kgoisoabiel, who heads the corps of foreign defence attachés in Vietnam, congratulated the VPA and expressed his admiration for the bravery and brilliant triumphs that the VPA gained during the fight for national independence and reunification in the past.

He said the founding anniversary is a good opportunity for the armies of other countries to intensify cooperation with their Vietnamese counterpart.

Party Central Committee focuses on feedback on draft political report

Politburo member and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung presided over the second working day of the 11th Party Central Committee’s 13th meeting in Hanoi on December 15.

During the plenary session in the morning, committee members discussed feedback from all walks of life on a draft political report and a draft report on assessing the outcomes of the socio-economic development for 2011-2015 and orientations to the 2016-2020 socio-economic development.

Under the direction of Politburo member and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung in the afternoon, Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Le Hong Anh delivered a draft report on reviewing the leadership and directions of the 11 th Party Central Committee.

He also presented a draft report summing up the realisation of a Party building resolution adopted by the 11 th Party Central Committee’s fourth plenum.

Later, participants discussed in groups the above contents.

The meeting, scheduled to run through December 22, is expected to give much attention to all-round preparations for the 12th National Party Congress.

Issues high on the agenda include personnel planning for the 12th Party Central Committee, Political Bureau, Secretariat and Commission of Inspection.

It will also discuss draft working and election regulations of the 12 th National Congress.

NA promotes ties with Argentinian, Chilean parliaments

Vietnamese and Argentinian parliamentarians have agreed to further tighten links between the two countries’ legislative bodies in the coming time.

They reached the consensus during a working visit made by the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee’s delegation to Argentina from 12-15.

During their stay, the Vietnamese guests paid a courtesy visit to Argentine Senate Speaker Federico Pinedo, and had working sessions with officials from the Republican Proposal (PRO) and the Parliament in Buenos Aires Parliament.

The two sides’ officials expressed their joy at fine development of solidarity, friendship and cooperation between the two nations in recent times.

They spoke highly of coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums and strong growth in two-way trade, which is expected to hit about US$2.2 billion this year in comparison to US$316 million in 2007.

Vietnamese and Argentine officials underlined the need to enhance the exchange of visits of high-ranking leaders and those from their parliament’s committees, and share experience in law-making, as well as support the two countries’ measures to promote bilateral relations.

They also compared their notes on regional and global issues, towards taking ways to ensure benefit of their people, contributing to peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

The Vietnamese guests also learned about activities of Argentine parliamentarians in keeping in touch with voters and ways to handle complaints.

Previously, from December 8-12, on their Chile visit, the Vietnamese delegates had meetings with officials from Chile’s Senate, National Congress, Supreme Court, and Chile-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Group.

The Chilean hosts praised the Vietnamese NA’s initiative to set up a committee to listen to voters’ opinions, contributing to the Government’s policy planning.

VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri