Vietnam-India ties enjoy substantive development: Ambassador

Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh 

The comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and India is enjoying dynamic and substantive development, according to Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh. 

The ambassador granted an interview to the media on the Vietnam-India ties on the occasion of the 30th Diplomatic Conference to be held from August 12-17 in Hanoi. 

Ambassador Thanh said there are four outstanding points in the two countries’ relationship during the past two years. 

First of all, the bilateral political relationship and mutual trust have been strengthened thanks to the constant exchange of high-level visits. During the visits, the two countries have signed 17 more agreements on cooperation across the fields. 

Second, defence-security cooperation has reached the highest level ever, with its scope covering all military forces and the content expanded beyond information sharing and training to the production of military equipment. The two countries also conducted their first joint naval exercise. India has become the most important defence cooperative partner of Vietnam, the ambassador said. 

Third, economic partnership has thrived with two-way trade registering an impressive growth of more than 40 percent, from 5.6 billion USD in 2016 to 7.6 billion USD in 2017. Ambassador Thanh cited statistics of Vietnam customs that showed bilateral trade turnover touched 5.44 billion USD in the first half of the year, rising 48 percent on a yearly basis. On this pace, the figure for 2018 is expected to surpass 10 billion USD.  

Fourth, cultural diplomacy is booming on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties and 10th year of the strategic partnership between the two countries. Besides such activities as the Vietnam Culture Days, photo and painting exhibitions, film festival and art performances, a Vietnam Book space was set up in India for the first time ever, and a Vietnam Study Centre was established in New Delhi. 

Ambassador Thanh underlined the role of the Vietnamese Embassy in India in bolstering bilateral relations across the fields. 

He said the embassy has organized many trade, investment and tourism promotion events to introduce Vietnam to potential Indian partners, while engaging in addressing problems hindering bilateral economic cooperation. 

Thanh noted that the embassy has played a part in the opening of a direct flight service between Ho Chi Minh City and New Delhi by Vietjet Air, which is scheduled for October this year. An Indian airline, the Indigo also has a plan to open a direct route to Vietnam next year. 

The ambassador said the Vietnam-India relationship has a firm foundation, which is the mutual trust based on shared strategic interests and great potential for cooperation. He expressed the belief that there is a bright prospect ahead for the bilateral partnership.

Can Tho, US extend multifaceted cooperation

US Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Mary Tarnowka has expressed her wishes to further promote trade with the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho in the field of agriculture, thereby enabling firms from the Mekong Delta and Can Tho in particular to boost their exports to the US. 

During a working session with the municipal authorities on August 10, Tarnowka said that US consumers are keen for Vietnamese rice and catfish – two of the key currency earners in Can Tho. 

She said the Consulate General will actively help Can Tho and regional localities connect with the US’ National Sustainable Agriculture Programme, which looks to enhance local production and boost trade with domestic and foreign partners. 

Joining the programme, participants will have the chance to cultivate and develop farm produce on US soil, so that both sides can share experiences and techniques in agricultural production for sustainable development. 

Many US tertiary and post-tertiary education establishments are ready to transfer new technological advances in the field to Vietnamese firms, she said. 

In terms of healthcare, the US Embassy in Vietnam will suggest that the US Department of Health and Human Services send more working delegations from prestigious hospitals, research centres, and medical universities to Can Tho to share their expertise, she said. 

In particular, the Consulate General is ready to share its experiences with Can Tho in smart urban development, she said, adding that Can Tho should consider developing smart urban areas as a foundation for socio-economic development, while also upgrading transport infrastructure and providing services for its people and businesses, contributing to the improvement of local livelihoods. 

According to her, the US side will send experts to Can Tho to help it build a database meeting eight common criteria on smart planning, transportation, environment management, administration and businesses, administration and citizens, citizens and services, agriculture, and social safety and order management. 

Tarnowka proposed that applications on smart urban development be piloted in several districts and communes towards building Can Tho into a model city for Southeast Asia in the near future. 

Agreeing with the guest’s proposals, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Dao Anh Dung said collaboration with the US is one of the key focuses in a strategy to attract investment in Can Tho and the Mekong Delta. 

He pledged to improve the local business climate, reform administrative procedures at all levels, restructure the economy, and shift to new growth models, as well as offer all possible support to US investors. 

The host hoped that the Consulate General would help Can Tho hold periodic meetings with US investors to introduce its strength, potential, and cooperation requirements. 

Socio-Cultural Community has special position in ASEAN Community

Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung 

The ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) has proven its special position in the building of the ASEAN Community, Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung wrote in an article on the occasion of the 51st founding anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). 

As one of the three pillars of the ASEAN Community, the ASCC aims to enhance the quality of life of its people through cooperation activities that are people-oriented, people-centred, and geared toward sustainable unity among ASEAN members and people through creating a shared identity and an inclusive sharing and caring society where people’s life and welfare are enhanced. 

According to the minister, from 2015 (the year the ASEAN Community was set up) to now, 8 percent of specific activities for building the ASCC have been completed, 47 percent of others are being implemented and the remaining 45 percent will be carry out in following years. 

This year, the ASCC, under the chair of Singapore, is continuing with efforts to realise the ASEAN Community Vision to 2025. Initiatives put forward in 2018 focus on key and emerging issues such as response to climate change, core values in digital technology, youth issues, and mitigation of negative effects of fake news. One noteworthy initiative is the ASEAN smart city network, which looks to improve the living conditions and livelihoods of residents in ASEAN urban areas. 

Minister Dung affirmed that along with the joint efforts, Vietnam is a leading member in implementing the ASCC blueprint to 2025.  

Following the issuance of a project on building and carrying out a national plan to realise ASCC targets to 2025 in January 2016, the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, as the national coordinator in the field, has been pushing hard the implementation of the national plan. 

The ministry has held many training courses and workshops on the ASCC for ministries, sectors and relevant agencies of 63 provinces and centrally-run cities. The country’s ministries, agencies and local administrations have built their own plans of action to carry out the national plan. 

Activities towards the goal of connecting and bringing benefits to the people have been combined with enhancing institutional capacity, perfecting organisation and reforming administrative procedures to better serve people and businesses. 

Attention has been paid to communications activities to enhance public awareness about the ASEAN Community and the benefits that the bloc brings about. 

Policies have been devised and enforced on expanding and improving social welfare, labour and employment, health care, education, gender equality and support for the elderly, people with disabilities and other disadvantaged groups.

The ASCC’s goal of a sustainable community in terms of environmental protection is implemented through specific measures and projects on protecting specialized forests, mitigating climate change impacts, and involving the people in preserving natural resources and the environment. 

Ministries, agencies and localities have acted towards a dynamic ASEAN community in many forms, for example the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) has supported the teaching of ASEAN languages and promoted exchanges between Vietnamese students and linguists and their ASEAN counterparts. Five universities in Vietnam have made Thai language part of their curricula, and the MoET is cooperating with its Thai counterpart on the teaching of Vietnamese in Thailand. Meanwhile, 13 general schools in Vietnam and Singapore have set up twin relations.  

According to the minister, Vietnam will steer its participation in ASEAN cooperation in the spirit of “active, proactive and responsible cooperation”. 

The country will take the initiative in proposing new and feasible ideas on promoting intra-bloc cooperation and connectivity along with expanding external relations and strengthening the bloc’s central role in the shaping regional structure. 

Vietnam will actively join ASEAN efforts to settle complicated problems inside the bloc as well as regional and global challenges that threaten regional peace, security and stability, in order to maintain the vitality, values and position of the regional grouping in the new situation. 

The country will, together with ASEAN as a whole, implement fully and effectively existing agreements and commitments, with the leading priority of successfully building a strong, united and cohesive ASEAN Community.

19th National External Affairs Conference convenes in Hanoi

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh speaks at the 19th National External Affairs Conference which convenes in Hanoi on August 12. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and heads of Vietnamese representative missions abroad are ready to work alongside domestic cities and provinces in comprehensively fostering external relations with other countries, said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on August 12.

He made the statement in his opening remarks at the 19th National External Affairs Conference, which took place in Hanoi on August 12 under the theme “Activeness and creativeness for effective integration and sustainable development.”

The biennial event was organised ahead the 30th Diplomatic Conference slated for August 12 – 17, bringing together 500 delegates from ministries, state agencies and departments of external affairs of 63 cities and provinces nationwide alongside heads of Vietnam’s diplomatic missions overseas.

The foreign ministry and Vietnamese diplomatic corps in foreign countries are willing to help localities introduce investment opportunities and promote trade abroad to expand the market. At the same time, the localities will be assisted in verifying partners and settling trade disputes against the backdrop of Vietnam being a member of a number of new-generation free trade agreements, the deputy PM noted.

He added that the ministry and diplomatic corps also aim to help the cities and provinces promote their image and signature products and work together to protect the rights of Vietnamese citizens, particularly fishermen, overseas.

Minh urged the departments of external affairs across the country to act as a point of contact to strengthen external relations and enhance efficiency of international integration. They must contribute more to this work by providing advices to local governments and timely proposing solutions to remove barriers during the implementation of international and regional integration commitments, he stressed.

According to Director of the ministry’s Department of Foreign Affairs of Localities Nguyen Hoang Long, the ministry and Vietnamese representative missions abroad have signed 420 agreements between Vietnam’s cities and provinces and foreign localities and enterprises between 2016 and 2018, an increase of 20.3 percent from the previous three-year period. The agreements have intensified friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and foreign partners and helped promote the image and potentials of the country and its localities.

Thanks to such efforts, Vietnam’s foreign trade in 2016 – 2017 hit 775 billion USD, up 23.8 percent from that of 2014 – 2016, Long said. The FDI flow into the country over the last two years also rose by 34.9 percent to 60.28 billion USD, compared to 44.67 billion USD of the 2014-2016 period. 

Since the 18th National External Affairs Conference in 2016, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has worked closely with cities and provinces to prepare applications for Vietnamese heritages to be recognised by UNESCO. Seven recognitions have been earned since then, bringing the total number of UNESCO-recognised heritages in Vietnam to 38.

The ministry has channeled many efforts into connecting Vietnamese overseas and cities and provinces nationwide to strengthen national solidarity, attract investment and raise funds for charity. The border localities have closely coordinated with the ministry in border management, contributing to the security and social order along shared border with China, Laos and Cambodia.

During the conference, delegates focused their discussion on several topics, including external affair work for local economic development, strengthening organizational structures of local foreign affair agencies, and reward system to encourage localities in fostering external relations.

External activities help boost localities’ growth

External affairs have played an important role in socio-economic development, investment attraction and international integration of localities, agreed participants at the 19th National Conference on External Affairs that took place in Hanoi on August 12.

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung said that over the past years, Hanoi has promoted external economic relations through meetings between senior leaders of the city and leaders of large multinational groups and enterprises.

The city has strengthened its relations with cities in the world, while actively implementing bilateral and multilateral economic agreements, he noted.

Chung said that the year of 2018 continues marking new achievements of the city’s external relation work to serve foreign investment promotion. The city has engaged in many important forums and municipal leaders have hosted 175 meetings with representatives of foreign firms to introduce the city’s policies to lure investment and listen to the firms’ questions. 

He said thanks to the active external relation work, Hanoi, for the first time in 30 years, rose to the first position in FDI attraction in the first haft of 2018. As of the end of July 2018, aggregated foreign direct investment (FDI) in the city reached nearly 34 billion USD with 4,300 projects, making it the second biggest FDI destination in Vietnam. The city also implemented 105 projects using official development assistance (ODA) capital with total committed capital of more than 4 billion USD.

The foreign-invested sector contributes about 15 percent of the city’s total social investment and accounts for about 16.5 percent of its regional gross domestic products.

In order to improve the efficiency of external affairs activities, in the future, the city will continue reforming its FDI attraction policies, while focusing on expanding relations with cities and capitals in the world as well as other countries, territories and international organisations, and combining political and economic diplomacies, stated Chung.

He said that the city will also broaden trade and tourism cooperation with countries around the world, make full use of assistance from them as well as international financial-monetary institutions, expand export markets and promote its image globally.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the People’s Committee of the northern province of Thai Nguyen Vu Hong Bac told the successful story of the Republic of Korea’s Samsung Group in the province as one of the province’s achievements in external affairs.

Since 2010, Thai Nguyen has drawn 123 FDI firms with total registered capital of over 7.2 billion USD and 130 valid projects, creating jobs for over 100,000 labourers.

Thai Nguyen ranks 10th among 63 localities nationwide in valid FDI, said Bac, adding that the province has concentrating on boosting the growth of industry, tourism, service, urban areas, agriculture, forestry and environmental protection.

Ho Chi Minh City has also shown strong performance in international integration through local cooperation. Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem said that the city has set up friendly and cooperative relations with 50 localities in various countries around the world with different targets basing on the city’s demands.

Sharing her experience in connecting Vietnamese and Japanese localities, Nguyen Thi Phuong Hong, Vietnamese Consul General in Japan’s Fukuoka said that Vietnamese localities should take advantage of the strong momentum in the Vietnam-Japan relations, which is in its best ever period, while making full use of the globalization and integration trends of Japanese localities.

She advised that along with exchanging information and fostering coordination with representative offices abroad, domestic provinces and cities should engage in conferences, events and activities to promote themselves and attract attention from Japanese partners.

Hong said Vietnam’s representative offices abroad often lack information about domestic localities, stressing the need for each locality to provide information for and keep close coordination with overseas Vietnamese representative missions to facilitate the missions’ work.

Congratulations to Cambodia on successful NA election

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong on August 11 cabled a message of congratulations to the Central Committee of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and its President Samdech Techo Hun Sen on the successful election of the sixth National Assembly and the victory of the CPP in the election. 

In the message, he wrote that the CPV Central Committee is delighted at the successful organisation of the sixth NA election that took place on July 29 in Cambodia, ensuring democracy, freedom, fairness, security and safety.

Trong expressed belief that with the support of the Cambodian people, the new Cambodian legislature and government will be set up soon to continue leading the Cambodian people overcome difficulties and challenges, successfully building Cambodia of peace, independence, neutralism, democracy, social progress and friendship with countries worldwide, especially neighbouring and regional countries.

HCM City’s leader welcomes Japanese state minister

Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong (third, right), Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kazuyuki Nakane (third, left) and other officials pose for a photo 

Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong held a meeting on August 10 with visiting Japanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kazuyuki Nakane, who said his country wants to further promote concrete cooperation projects with the city.

Phong welcomed Nakane’s working visit, describing it as a contribution towards the mutual understanding and trust between the two countries. In the context of the thriving extensive bilateral cooperation, the partnership between HCM City and Japan has also achieved positive outcomes, he said.

Japan is currently a leading partner of HCM City in terms of economy, trade, investment, culture, education, and tourism, Phong said, adding that the city has also implemented many initiatives, mechanisms, and policies to enhance ties with Japan, especially in the field of economy.

The chairman highly evaluated Japan’s assistance in key infrastructure projects, such as the water environment rehabilitation project and metro line no. 1. He asked Nakane to continue supporting the provision of ODA loans and technical assistance for metro line no. 3A and the expansion of metro line no. 1 to Binh Duong and Dong Nai provinces, and called for more help in training personnel to operate the urban railway systems.

HCM City will continue to work closely with Japan to fulfil its assigned jobs in the implementation of cooperation projects, the official added.

At the meeting, Nakane said he has visited Vietnam three times since the beginning of 2018, with the hope of helping to foster the fruitful bilateral cooperation, including that with HCM City.

Japan has been coordinating closely with Vietnam in issues relating to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) so as to make full use of these deals to step up ties between the two countries, he said.

Speaking highly of HCM City’s role in the southern region of Vietnam and the ASEAN, he affirmed that Japanese businesses with rich experience and high technology are always ready to cooperate with the city and contribute to its development.

Nakane also thanked HCM City for creating optimal conditions for Japanese investors and asked municipal leaders to further help Japanese firms address obstacles to their projects, including those using Japanese ODA.

More than 1,100 Japanese companies are investing and doing business in HCM City with total capital of approximately 4 billion USD. Japan is the third biggest trade partner and the fifth largest source of foreign tourists of the city.

Vietnam active at United Nations’ forums

Vietnamese Ambassador to the United Nations Dang Dinh Quy (L) and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres 

The Vietnamese Ambassador to the United Nations Dang Dinh Quy has written about Vietnam’s contributions to the United Nations’ forums on the occasion of the 30th Diplomatic Conference scheduled to be held in Hanoi from August 12-17. 

The Ambassador stressed that in implementing the Resolution of the 12th Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the country has been actively participating in the UN’s cooperation and activities across the fields, winning the approval of international friends. 

As a result, the country has been elected to many UN agencies with high votes, such as the Security Council (2008-2009 tenure), the Economic and Social Council (1998-2000 and 2016-2018 tenures), the Human Rights Council (2014-2016 tenure), the UNESCO Executive Board (2015-2019 tenure) and the International Law Commission (2017-2021 tenure). 

The ambassador stressed that Vietnam has been consistent in upholding basic principles of international law and the UN Charter in addressing international conflicts and disputes by peaceful means on the basis of respect for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries without interference into countries’ internal affairs. Vietnam has made many contributions to efforts for disarmament and non-proliferation of weapons, especially nuclear weapon and other mass destructive weapons. 

Those achievements are in line with the external policy of enhancing quality and effectiveness of multilateral external work and proactively contributing to the building and formation of multilateral institutions as set in the Resolution of the 12th Party Congress, he said. 

Also in implementing the 12th Party Congress’s guideline on proactively joining multilateral defence and security mechanisms, the country has pushed forward with sending personnel to participate in the UN’s peacekeeping activities. The Vietnam Peacekeeping Department was set up in January this year based on the Vietnam Peacekeeping Centre which was established in 2013, with the task of expanding the scale of the country’s participation in UN peacekeeping activities. 

In development cooperation in the UN framework, Vietnam has actively advocated South-South cooperation through taking the initiative in building models and joining tripartite projects. The country has worked with the UN to successfully pilot the Delivery as One initiative and build the Green One UN House in Hanoi, helping enhance the operation efficiency and connections of UN agencies in Vietnam.  

On July 5 this year, Vietnam and the UN signed a Joint One Strategic Plan (OSP) for the 2017-2021 period between the Vietnamese Government and 18 UN agencies, which Ambassador Quy described as an important milestone marking the strong commitment of both the UN and Vietnam to realising the agenda on sustainable development to 2030. The plan also serves as an important foundation for Vietnam and the UN to carry out specific cooperative activities in the years ahead. 

As a member of the Human Rights Council during 2014-2016, Vietnam actively participated in efforts to promote human rights in the world. The country initiated a resolution on the impact of climate change on children’s rights, which was approved by the council. It also proposed and joined in many ideas on protecting the right to work of people with disabilities, ensuring safe working environment for workers at sea, and fighting the trafficking of women and girls. 

At the same time, as coordinator of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) at the Human Rights Council, Vietnam was also active in coordinating the positions of ASEAN member countries at the council and spoke on behalf of the bloc during discussions. 

Ambassador Quy affirmed that Vietnam seriously performed the country’s obligations in human rights protection, as demonstrated in its successful delivery of two Universal Periodic Reviews. 

The ambassador said Vietnam will continue to work for peace, stability and sustainable development in the region and in the world, while deepening its cooperation with the UN. The country will join other UN member countries in upholding basic principles of the UN Charter and international law, promoting equal, fair, friendly and cooperative international relations and ensuring the legitimate interests of all countries, especially developing countries. 

Vietnam will participate deeper in UN peacekeeping activities and strive for the successful implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris agreement on climate change. 

The country will keep up with its support of efforts to reform the UN in the direction of enhancing the efficiency, transparency and democracy of its activities.

Diplomats discuss ways to support firms in int’l integration

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh at the event 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a workshop in Hanoi on August 10 between heads of Vietnamese representative agencies in nearly 100 countries and territories and businesspeople, within the framework of the 30th Diplomatic Conference. 

The event aimed to grasp the demands coming from businesses, thereby enabling overseas representative Vietnamese agencies to support them via effective models. 

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Quoc Cuong said that Japan is concerned about food safety, especially imported farm produce. In order to bring agricultural products to the Japanese market, it takes the two sides at least five years to negotiate. 

At present, Vietnam’s dragon fruits are popular in Japan with an annual output of over 1,000 tonnes, he said, adding that once the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) takes effect, almost all farm produce exported to Japan will be subject to zero percent tariff. 

Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Doan Xuan Hung said that the representative agency in Germany should visit each state to introduce Vietnam to the local business communities. 

Hung said Germany is keen on the Vietnamese market and that there is huge potential for bilateral cooperation. Apart from diplomatic activities, tourism and trade exchanges should be further promoted, he said. 

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Ha Kim Ngoc said the representative agency in the US has spared no efforts to further amplify bilateral ties so that the US administration takes note of Vietnam’s important role and position in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as the country’s individual significance to the US. 

Meanwhile, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh said leading Vietnamese enterprises have gained a firm foothold in Cambodia. 

According to him, the Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia has launched a round-the-clock hotline to provide firms with the latest information and settle disputes in line with the law, as well as built an online portal to facilitate exports to Cambodia and connect firms. 

Ngo Minh Hai, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of TH True Milk Group, said since its establishment, TH True Milk has received support from the diplomatic sector in accessing Israel’s advanced technology and looking for trustworthy partners. 

He said that with the support of the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia, the group met and sought investment opportunities with partners, adding that in the near future, the firm will also bring its trademark to Cambodia, the Philippines, China, and Myanmar. 

Concluding the event, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said that the recommendations at the event not only reflect the aspirations of businesses, but also help the foreign ministry improve its economic diplomacy affairs. 

He expressed his hope that overseas Vietnamese representative agencies are looking to offer support of the highest added value to domestic businesses. 

Son reiterated the ministry’s priority of assisting Vietnamese companies across multilateral, bilateral, and local levels. 

He urged diplomats at home and abroad to offer prompt consultations, and take effective and synchronous actions to stand side-by-side with firms. At the same time, the diplomatic sector in general, and heads of overseas representative agencies in particular, must become “ambassadors of Vietnamese goods, services, and people”, he said.

President stresses need to care for children

President Tran Dai Quang and outstanding leaders of Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer Organisation (HYPO)’s chapters 

President Tran Dai Quang has emphasised the importance of the care for, education and protection of children in preparing for and improving the quality of human resources serving the nation’s industrialisation, modernisation and international integration.

Investing in children is investing for the future of the nation, Quang said on August 10 at the third national festival of outstanding leaders of Ho Chi Minh Young Pioneer Organisation (HYPO)’s chapters.

At the meeting, children who are outstanding HYPO leaders informed the State leader of their learning achievements and organisation work results. 

President Quang expressed his hope that they should continue improving their learning performance, actively participating in organisation and social activities, helping their friends.

He asked Party organitions and authorities at all levels to intensify leadership and steering over the care for, education and protection of children, and expand disseminations on child-related policies and laws as well as investment in infrastructure serving children.

Attention should be paid to those who are children of invalids, martyrs and revolution contributors, and to detecting and preventing law violations against children, he suggested.

Gathering celebrates Cuba’s National Rebellion Day

Late Cuban leader Fidel Castro 

The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) held a get-together to on August 8 to mark the 65th anniversary of Cuba’s National Rebellion Day (July 26, 1953 – 2018).

Speaking at the event, HUFO Chairwoman Truong Thi Hien spoke highly of the significance of the Moncada Barracks attack, saying it marks a turning point in the Cuban revolution and contributes to its final victory.

She also mentioned Cuban leader Fidel Castro’s visit to the central province of Quang Tri in 1973, making him the first foreign leader to set foot in the liberated area in the south of Vietnam.

As part of the gathering, a poster painting contest on the Cuban leader’s life and career was launched for pupils and students within the framework of a series of activities marking 45 years of Fidel Castro’s Quang Tri visit and the 55th founding anniversary of the Cuba’s committee for solidarity with South Vietnam (1953 – 2018), now called the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association.

Cuban Consul General to Ho Chi Minh City Indira Lopez Arguelles said contests like this are a good opportunity for the young generation to learn about the history of the Vietnam – Cuba friendship, adding that they help honour leaders of the two nations.

The diplomat said Fidel Castro’s establishment of the solidarity committee at home and his visit to Quang Tri reflected Cuba’s support and introduction of Vietnam’s revolutionary victory to the world.

Cuba is committed to spare no efforts to enhance cooperation and friendship shared between Vietnamese and Cuban peoples, she affirmed.

Theoretical Council convenes seventh meeting

Nguyen Xuan Thang, Secretary of the CPV Central Committee and Chairman of the Theoretical Council, speaks at the meeting on August 10 

The Theoretical Council of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee, the 2016-2021 tenure, convened its seventh meeting in Hanoi on August 10.

The session focused its discussion on a draft advisory report on the theoretical and practical issues of the Vietnam sea strategy.

Participants also gave feedback on a draft report on the council’s performance in the first six months of 2018 and working plans for the remainder of the year.

Nguyen Xuan Thang, Secretary of the CPV Central Committee and Chairman of the council, said the report highlighted the council’s achievements and shortcomings in January-June.

It also defines nine tasks and four solutions to improve the council’s performance in the second half of the year, he added.

The official suggested collecting opinions raised at the event to complete and improve the quality of the reports for submission to the upcoming eighth meeting of the 12th CPV Central Committee.

Vietnam actively contributes to ASEAN connectivity

Vietnam has made significant contributions to promoting collaboration in the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. (Photo: Freepik)

Vietnam has made significant contributions to promoting collaboration in the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, one of the three pillars in the ASEAN Community.

This was concluded at the preliminary conference on Project 161 which looks to implement and achieve the goals laid out by the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community until 2025 held in Ho Chi Minh City on August 10. 

The event, held by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs (MoLISA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to highlight ASEAN’s activities and Vietnam’s efforts after joining the bloc while sharing experience in implementing the project to take advantage of regional priority.

According to Nguyen Manh Cuong, Director of the MoLISA’s Department of International Cooperation, the establishment of ASEAN Community, with three pillars of Political-Security Community, Economic Community, and Socio-Cultural Community, is a hallmark to elevate cooperation within the ASEAN to a new height. Also, the ASEAN Community requires tireless efforts from member states to ensure a peaceful environment for a combined population of 630 million people.

He noticed that after joining in the bloc, Vietnam has recommended a line-up of initiatives, which are all practical to bolster cooperation and connection within the ASEAN. As a responsible member, the country has accompanied the ASEAN to settle regional complex issues and global challenges which threaten regional and global peace, security and sustainability.

The country has fully and effectively carried out commitments and agreements to build an ASEAN Community of strength, unity and connectivity, he stressed.

According to MoLISA, the national master plan on ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community has brought benefits to local people as it has been made in companion with improvement in institutional capacity, and reform in administrative procedures.

Therefore, relevant authorities need to pay heed to communication work to raise public awareness of the ASEAN and the benefits it has brought, and expand policies on social security, healthcare and education.

Phan Thao Nguyen, Director of the MIC’s Department of International Cooperation, said that the conference gave an insight into ASEAN communication plan in regional and national levels, as well as highlight the bloc’s challenges and opportunities.

Participants at the event evaluated the implementation of the master plan and Project 161 in Vietnam, updated ASEAN’s media plan and communication works for 2020 when Vietnam holds the ASEAN Chairmanship.

Overseas representative offices to remain by businesses

Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son speaks at the event 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a seminar between more than 90 Vietnamese ambassadors and consul generals, and representatives of businesses in Hanoi on August 10 within the framework of the 30th Diplomatic Conference. 

Addressing the event, Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said the ministry’s action plan and directive have highlighted the important role by overseas Vietnamese representative offices in promoting trade, investment and labour cooperation as well as international integration efforts by localities and businesses. 

The agencies should regularly provide updates on the market, trade protection policies and technical barriers of foreign countries against Vietnamese goods, he said. 

Over the past time, the diplomatic sector has maintained and consolidated a favourable international environment for domestic enterprises to cooperate with foreign partners, the official added. 

According to the deputy minister, the sector has joined hands with ministries and agencies to establish strategic and comprehensive partnerships with 27 partners, and sign 16 free trade agreements (FTAs), creating political, economic and legal premises for Vietnamese businesses to operate equally and beneficially in the international market. 

Many representative offices have assisted businesses to participate in and organise trade, investment and tourism promotion activities abroad, and select foreign partners, Son said. 

He pointed out a range of challenges facing Vietnamese firms, especially private and small- and medium-sized ones, in the face of increasing protectionism and risks caused by the trade war and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. 

Besides, Vietnam is expected to join a total of 16 FTAs with 59 partners in the next few years, and will implement its commitments to open markets, thus offering a “matrix” of rules and incentives to businesses. 

Given this, the ministry and representative offices are trying to deal difficulties in operational network and personnel to meet diverse and complex demands of businesses, Son noted. 

He suggested the agencies and enterprises set up an information exchange mechanism and a coordination model to become trustworthy strategic partners of each other.

Japan supports Vietnamese military hospital

Japanese doctors perform a cardiac surgery for a patient of the Military Hospital 175 (Source: www.qdnd.vn)

A delegation of Japanese medical doctors led by Director of Juntendo Hospital Atsushi Amano on August 9 worked with leading officials of the Military Hospital 175 under Vietnam’s Ministry of Defence to transfer surgical techniques.

The two sides shared experience in medical cooperation, along with training and advanced technology transfer to treat communicable diseases, orthopaedics, cardiology, cancer and more. 

The Japanese delegation lauded the efforts of the Military Hospital 175 in medical check and treatment. It also praised the hospital’s investment in scientific research and new medical technology, pledging to strengthen cooperation activities in the future. 

After the meeting, the Japanese doctors performed a cardiac surgery on a patient of the hospital.

French group assists Hanoi in building int’l agricultural wholesale market

At the signing ceremony (Source: hanoimoi.com.vn)

The Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade and Semmaris Group of France will cooperate in the study and research on building an international wholesale market of farm produce in Hanoi. 

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed in Hanoi on August 9. The signing is part of results of the France visit by Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung in June 2018. 

Accordingly, the two sides will set up a team tasked with implementing activities regarding the survey and pre-feasibility study on the building of the market, and then move to next cooperation steps.

Semmaris is responsible for operating and managing the Rungis International Market in Paris, to market real-estate properties, ensure the acceptance and security of the tenants and users, and improve the dynamism of the market’s image.

During the France visit in June, Chung attended the Vietnam farm produce week at the Rungis International Market.

The official said the model of the Rungis market, which spans over 230 hectares, records 9 billion EUR in annual revenue and offers top quality farm produce, can be applied in Vietnam, particularly Hanoi.

Stéphane Layani, President and Director General of the market said Rungis is willing to cooperate with Hanoi to build a wholesale market meeting European standards.

The Hanoi People’s Committee has approved a project to build five more wholesale markets in the city, 20 – 30 hectares each, from now until 2030, according to the city’s trade department.

These markets will be located in the three outlying districts of Gia Lam, Quoc Oai and Me Linh, as well as in the satellite urban area of Phu Xuyen and Son Tay town.

Hanoi pledges to help German Embassy organise cultural festival

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung (right) and  Charge d'Affaires of the German Embassy Wolfgang Maning. 

Hanoi will create all possible conditions to help the German Embassy successfully organise a cultural festival in the pedestrian zone around Hoan Kiem Lake in early November, said a municipal official. 

At a reception for Charge d'Affaires of the German Embassy Wolfgang Maning on August 9, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung said the Hanoi authority is ready to welcome the mayor of Leipzig city during his upcoming visit to Vietnam. 

Maning spoke highly of Hanoi’s cooperation in activities organised by the embassy. 

He conveyed the invitation of the Leipzig mayor to Chung to attend a fair in the city in 2019.

Japan’s ODA contributes to Vietnam’s socio-economic growth: Deputy PM

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (R) and visiting State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Kazuyuki Nakane 

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on August 9 praised the role of Japan’s official development assistance (ODA) in Vietnam’s socio-economic development.

At a reception for visiting State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Kazuyuki Nakane in Hanoi, Minh also said he expects the sides to continue their effective implementation of projects funded with the ODA.

He expressed his delight at the strong growth of the Vietnam – Japan extensive strategic partnership, particularly in exchanges of high-ranking leaders. 

Minh mentioned official trips of Japanese Emperor Akihitio and Empress Michiko to Vietnam and of Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang to Japan, saying these visits would bring the bilateral ties to a new stage of development.

He recommended the sides continue to jointly organize visits by high-ranking officials in 2018, which marks the 45th anniversary of the bilateral diplomatic relations. Minh also called for boosting economics-trade-investment cooperation, realizing high-level agreements, and supporting each other at international and regional forums.

For his part, Minister Nakane stated Japan is supportive of Vietnam’s sustainable development and hopes to raise its relationship with Vietnam toward practical outcomes.

He thanked Vietnam’s engagement in and contributions to ASEAN’s cooperation mechanisms involving Japan and in the Mekong – Japan cooperation.

The minister expected Vietnam to increase its role once it becomes the coordinator of ASEAN - Japan ties for 2018 – 2021, as well as cooperate with Japan for the success of the Mekong – Japan Summit slated for October this year.

He emphasized that Japan supports the stance of Vietnam and ASEAN on the East Sea issue.