Prime Minister welcomes Saint Kitts & Nevis Foreign Minister

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has pledged the Vietnamese government's support of ongoing programmes with Saint Kitts and Nevis to further develop friendly ties with Latin American and Caribbean nations.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung receives Foreign Minister of Saint Kitts & Nevis Patrice Nisbett in Hanoi.

At a reception for Patrice Nisbett, Foreign Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, in Ha Noi yesterday, Dung praised his visit, which takes place following the establishment of diplomatic ties on November 1.

Nisbett noted that the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis will seek to expand both its friendship and cooperation with Viet Nam.

Nisbett is here on an official visit from November 18-21 at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

At the talks between the two FMs, both updated each other about current situations in their countries and discussed steps they might take to increase the levels of cooperation.

Further, Nisbett spotlighted his country's foreign policy of friendship, peace and cooperation, as well as his government's guidelines for expanding ties with Southeast Asian nations, including Viet Nam, especially in the fields of trade, agriculture and tourism.

FM Minh noted that he valued proposals offered by Nisbett, saying that both countries should encourage visits by various types of delegations and sign cooperation documents in order to lay a foundation for bilateral ties, particularly in economics, trade and investment.

Additionally, while discussing regional and global issues of mutual interest, the ministers agreed to work closely together during multilateral and global forums.

Mongolian President to pay official visit

Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj begins a four-day official visit to Viet Nam today at the invitation of President Truong Tan Sang.

Viet Nam and Mongolia established diplomatic ties in 1954. Elbegdorj's visit is expected to cement the friendship between the two nations and help expand bilateral co-operation in many fields.

Leader meets with women's delegation

President Truong Tan Sang greeted a delegation of overseas Vietnamese women in Ha Noi yesterday, Nov 20, who are attending a conference for Vietnamese women living abroad.

The conference, the first of its kind, co-organised by the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs and the Viet Nam Women's Union, will be based on the theme of "promoting overseas Vietnamese women's roles in developing communities abroad and in their home country".

Delegates at the meeting briefed the State leader on the situation of Vietnamese women living in foreign countries. They said the number of women overseas is increasing and are having significant influence on the development of communities.

They described the conference as a positive platform for over 200 delegates from 28 nations to share experience in working abroad and integrating into overseas host communities.

The delegates urged the Party and State to create specific policies for Vietnamese living abroad, adding that further support was needed for overseas Vietnamese communities teaching Vietnamese to young students.

President Sang affirmed the nation's solidarity with overseas Vietnamese communities, adding that overseas Vietnamese women played an important role in preserving Viet Nam's language, traditions and culture.

The State leader suggested the conference be held regularly to maintain the connection between Vietnamese people living abroad and their homeland.

On the same day, President Sang attended the sixth Congress of Vietnamese Catholics for National Construction and Defence. He again emphasised the need to respect and protect religious freedom.

Sang noted that full support was provided to all religious organisations that operate in accordance with the law, in line with the Party and State's policy of securing religious freedom for all citizens.

He said he hoped all religions would promote their traditions and cultural and spiritual values, encouraging dignitaries and followers to lead praiseworthy secular and religious lives and to positively engage in national construction and defence.

On behalf of the Party and State, the President wished Catholics nationwide a happy Christmas next month.

He also urged the Catholic Solidarity Committee to continue its efforts to encourage unity among Catholics and guide them in following all Party and State directions, policies and law, while actively involving them in patriotic movements.

Praising the committee's operational outcomes and dedication to the Vietnamese cause, the President stated that it had succeeded in acting as a bridge, linking Catholics across the nation and encouraging them to boost local socio-economic development, reduce poverty and so on.

Also yesterday, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung received a delegation from the Viet Nam Committee for Catholic Solidarity (VCCS) in Ha Noi.

Hung praised the committee for its work during the past 30 years, especially its efforts to unite Vietnamese Catholics for national socio-economic development.

VNN/VNS/VNA