Nghe An rioting termed excessive

Deputy Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, Thai Van Hang.

A recent dispute between Vietnamese Catholics and local police that escalated quickly into violence was condemned as an "excessive act" by Thai Van Hang, Deputy Chairman of the provincial People's Committee.

On August 30 and September 3 and 4 in Trai Gao parish, My Yen diocese in Nghi Loc District's Nghi Phuong Commune, 1,000 local parishioners demanded that the police release two men arrested in May for public disorder. Dozens were injured in the ensuing dispute.

"The parishioners' activities –surrounding the local government offices, illegally detaining people, assaulting public officials and vandalising property –violated the Criminal Code of Viet Nam and must be handled in accordance with the law," Hang said.

"While performing their task, the police force did not use weapons, in line with the laws of Viet Nam as well as international practices.

" We hope that domestic and foreign media will remain objective and report the case in the most precise manner, and that religious dignitaries will stop trying to incite people into violating the law."

In an effort to consolidate solidarity among religious and non-religious locals and improve their living conditions, the provincial People's Committee sent a document to the Bishop's Office of Vinh asking for collaboration in dealing with the case.

"Soon the committee will propose a dialogue with religious dignitaries about the case, so we can draw lessons together from it and improve coordination in implementing socio-economic development activities in the locality," said Hang.

He added that the authorities of Nghe An had always paid significant attention to socio-economic development and the improvement of living conditions for locals, including Catholics.

"Nghe An province will continue implementing socio-economic development projects in the commune," he said.

"All legitimate, legal and realistic demands of Catholics have been met promptly in accordance with regulations."

The incident, he said, was "caused by a lack of legal understanding" as well as "incitement by reactionary organisations and individuals inside and outside the country through several religious dignitaries."

According to Hang, the province has helped to form 23 dioceses and 43 parishes and provided land for expansion to many religious compounds. The province has also approved and granted construction licences for more than 70 churches and other religious buildings. Up to 97 per cent of the religious facilities have received land-use certificates, while 25 others have expanded their compounds. The province is currently considering the expansion of An Ton Church of Trai Gao parish in Nghi Phuong Commune, Nghi Loc District.

Hang praised the Catholic community's numerous contributions to the defence and construction of the country as well as of Nghe An. He called on religious dignitaries to act for the interest of the people, following Pope Benedict XVI's words that a good Catholic is a good citizen.

"Any citizen of any country has the duty to respect the law of that country. We are Vietnamese, so we must live and work in accordance with the Constitution and the law of Viet Nam," he said.

President Truong Tan Sang starts visit to Hungary

President Truong Tan Sang arrived in Hungary yesterday (Sept 15), starting his State visit to Hungary from September 15-17 at the invitation of Hungarian President Ader Janos.

His journey aims to strengthen friendship and multifaceted co-operation with the European country while raising Viet Nam's position and prestige in Europe and the wider world.

Since Viet Nam and Hungary established diplomatic ties in 1950, the two countries' relations have flourished. Hungary now provides Viet Nam with an official development aid (ODA) fund worth US$115 million in the environmental and healthcare fields. The two countries also signed an agreement on cultural co-operation in March.

After Hungary, the President will continue his State visit to Denmark.

Denmark was among the first Western countries to establish diplomatic ties with Viet Nam (ties officially began on November 25, 1971).

Denmark is now among Viet Nam's biggest non-refundable ODA providers. Since 1972, it has provided Viet Nam with nearly $1.2 billion, mostly used in the spheres of environment, climate change, judicial reform and education.

Vietnam moves to reinforce ties with regional countries

Vietnam has elevated bilateral relations with Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore to strategic partnership this year, reaffirming the country’s consistent foreign policy of openness, multi-lateralisation and diversification with priorities to enhancing relations with regional countries. The Vietnam Government Portal reports.

The strategic partnership reflects an absolute political trust between Vietnam and the three partners, opening up new prospects for closer ties and comprehensive cooperation for the interest of each nation, and for peace, stability and development in the region and the world while contributing to building a united, strong and prosperous ASEAN Community.

The Vietnam – Thailand Joint Statement issued in June during Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s official visit to Thailand states that the two countries will enhance mutual trust and understanding through exchanges of high-level visits and strategic political dialogues, and to maintain sound political ties as a solid foundation for the development and strengthening of co-operation in other areas.

Meanwhile, the agreements Vietnam signed with Indonesia and Singapore aim to intensify the exchange of high-level visits and enhance mutually beneficial cooperation in all fields via mechanisms in which the countries can review the implementation of the strategic partnership.

Sound political relations with these partners will not only help Vietnam take advantages of resources to catch up with other ASEAN member countries’ development, but also facilitate the ASEAN community construction.

In addition, Vietnam have agreed with the partners to enhance mutual coordination and support at regional and international forums and in coping with traditional and non-traditional security challenges.

These enhanced bilateral ties will contribute to strengthening the regional unity on the way towards an ASEAN Community now that the three ASEAN founding members have recognised Vietnam’s role in the bloc and international arena.

Economic cooperation is also considered as an important pillar in the strategic partnership between Vietnam and the three regional countries.

Thailand now ranks tenth out of Vietnam’s 96 investors with 300 projects worth a total of 6.11 billion USD. In return, Vietnam has invested in seven projects in Thailand with a total capital of 11.35 million USD. Last year, two-way trade hit 8.62 billion USD. The two countries are striving to increase the annual two-way trade volume to 15 billion USD by 2020.

The bilateral economic, trade and investment co-operation between Vietnam and Indonesia has seen positive developments with a sharp increase in two-way trade from 364 million USD in 1995 to 4.6 billion USD in 2012, and a target of 10 billion USD by 2018.

Indonesia is currently investing in 35 projects in Vietnam capitalised at over 282 million USD, making it the 27th largest foreign investor out of the 101 countries and territories investing in the country.

Meanwhile, Vietnam-Singapore two-way trade surpassed 9 billion USD last year and reached 3.5 billion USD in the first five months of this year. Singaporean direct investment in Vietnam continues to rise. By July 2013, Singapore had nearly 1,200 projects worth over 28 billion USD, ranking second among countries and territories investing in Vietnam.

Together with enhancing political and economic ties, the three partners have also agreed to boost cooperation with Vietnam in security, defense, education, training, culture, sport, tourism and people-to-people diplomacy.

The strategic partnership between Vietnam and Thailand , Indonesia and Singapore has founded the basis not only for future sound bilateral relations, but also for a united and prosperous ASEAN Community.

Deputy PM visits Russia

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan is visiting Russia from September 14-17 at the invitation of his counterpart Olga Yurievna Golodets.

He is scheduled to hold talks with Golodets, meet with leaders of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association, and attend a Vietnam-Russia science and education workshop.

He will also tour several universities in Moscow.

Nhan’s visit demonstrates Vietnam’s determination to strengthen the strategic partnership with Russia, especially in education-training and science-technology.

Vietnam ambassador explores cooperation opportunities in Venezuela

Ambassador Ngo Tien Dung recently visited Maracaibo – Venezuela’s second largest city – to introduce Vietnam’s potential and seek opportunities for cooperation.

He met with municipal leaders and made a fact-finding tour of major economic centres to discuss the possibility of increasing cooperation in agriculture, aquaculture, and eco-tourism between the two countries’ localities.

He attended the opening ceremony of a Vietnamese Film Week in Maracaibo – the capital of Zulia State which has the largest population in Venezuela.

Six Vietnamese films subtitled in Spanish were selected for screening, including Dung Dot (Don’t Burn), Trang Noi Day Gieng (Moon at the bottom of the Well), Rung Den (Black Forest), Doi Cat (Sandy Life) and Vua Bai Rac (Foul King).

Don’t Burn in particular left a fine impression on the local audience as it deepened Venezuelan people’s understanding of Vietnamese people’s brave struggle for national independence during wartime.

Angola, Vietnam cooperate in social affairs

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan received General Kundi Paihama, the Angolan Minister of Former Combatants and Veterans of War, in Hanoi on September 13.

Nhan expressed his pleasure at the fine cooperation between Vietnam’s Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and the Angolan Ministry in recent times.

He noted Angola has positively coordinated with Vietnam to receive labourers and experts to the country for work, with nearly 40,000 Vietnamese citizens currently living in the country.

He suggested Angola speed up the signing of a framework agreement on labour, vocational training and social welfare with Vietnam.

The Angolan Minister briefed the host on the outcomes of his talks with MoLISA leaders. He said the two ministries agreed to enhance future cooperation in exchanging information and sharing experience in the implementation of policies on war veterans and in the work of identifying the remains of martyrs.

The two sides also reached a consensus on the recommendation of the establishment of a working team on social affairs of the Vietnam-Angola Joint Committee, thus strengthening cooperation in labour and social affairs between corresponding agencies of both sides.

HCM City boosts judicial cooperation with Cuba

HCM City attaches importance to judicial cooperation with other countries, including Cuba, a senior municipal leader has affirmed.

While receiving President of the Cuban People’s Supreme Court Ruben Remigio Ferro on September 13, Vice Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Van Dua noted that such cooperation is of significant importance as the city is carrying out judicial reforms.

He said the Cuban chief judge’s visit will contribute to the development of the special ties between the two Communist Parties and the two judicial sectors in particular.

Ruben Remigio Ferro said the Cuban side has gained useful knowledge from Vietnam in perfecting the law and court system.

Earlier, the Cuban delegation also had a working session with the municipal Supreme People’s Court and visited a number of historical sites in the city.

Regional links key to economy

Politburo member and Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc urged the steering committees of the northwestern, southwestern and Central Highlands regions of Viet Nam to set up partnerships in order to increase regional connectivity.

Politburo member and Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc urged the steering committees of the northwestern, southwestern and Central Highlands regions of Viet Nam to set up partnerships in order to increase regional connectivity.

During a meeting in HCM City on Saturday, delegates representing the various regions agreed that regional connectivity was weak due to the lack of a clear framework for implementing the country's master plan for socio-economic development.

Nguyen Xuan Tien, chairman of the people's committee of Lam Dong Province in the Central Highlands, described Lam Dong as a "shining example" of the benefits of regional connections.

The province has set up long-standing links with HCM City in agriculture, tourism and human resource training.

Deputy PM Vu Van Ninh, who represented the southwestern region at the meeting, said an ideal regional partnership should cover fields from economics, society and enterprises to farming and environmental issues.

To make such co-operation effective, national regulations must be implemented that would be suitable for the whole country.

Public Security Minister General Tran Dai Quang, representing the Central Highlands, hoped that increased links between the three regions would boost business production, agriculture, industry, trade and services.

Ceremony honoured Japanese friends

A ceremony was held in Japan on September 14 to honour Japanese friends for their contributions to promoting Vietnam-Japan relationship, as part of activities to mark the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh awards Friendship Medal to former Senator Matsuda Iwao (Photo: VNA)

On behalf of the Vietnamese President, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh awarded a Friendship Medal and a certificate of merit to former Senator Matsuda Iwao and Representative Yochiro Aoyagi, respectively, in recognition of their active cooperation with the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan to organise the Vietnam Festival 2013.

He also praised Matsuda for furthering scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries.

Speaking at the ceremony, Matsuda affirmed that he will make every effort to nurture the friendship and close relationship between the two peoples, adding that he hopes both sides will better understand each other through exchange activities.

On this occasion, Foreign Minister Minh also presented a Prime Minister’s certificate of merit to Most Venerable Yoshimizu Daichi at Nisshinkutsu pagoda in Tokyo, thanking him for his support to Vietnamese expatriates in Japan, especially during the earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.

ASEAN, China talk on East Sea code

Officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China have begun talks in China on forging a legally binding Code of Conduct (COC) to help ease tensions in the East Sea.

During the two-day talks which started on Saturday in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, working-level officials of both sides discussed details of the proposed COC, and forwarded conclusions to their senior officials.

They also discussed the implementation of the non-binding Declaration on the Conduct (DOC) of Parties in the East Sea, adopted by the two sides in 2002.

The outcomes of the talks will be incorporated in a joint statement to be issued by leaders of the two sides after their summit in Brunei next month.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Viet Nam.

Vietnam, Venezuelan localities strengthen cooperation

Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela Ngo Tien Dung has made a working visit to the Latin American country’s second largest city in search of cooperation opportunities for Vietnam.

Ambassador Dung travelled to Maracaibo and several surrounding localities in Zulia state from September 11-12. He held a number of working sessions with local authorities and visited many economic-tourism establishments to strengthen friendship and locate opportunities for partnership in the fields of agriculture, aquaculture breeding and ecotourism.

In Maracaibo, Dung presided over several activities, including the launch of Vietnam film week. One of the films screened at the opening ceremony, “Dung Dot” (Don’t Burn) left a particularly deep impression on viewers. The film, directed by Dang Nhat Minh, is about heroic army doctor Dang Thuy Tram, who dedicated her life to serving the country during the American War in Vietnam.

Prime Minister Dung receives Japanese guest

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on Saturday hosted a reception for Special Advisor to the Japan-Viet Nam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance, Takebe Tsutomu, who was on a working visit to Viet Nam.

Dung spoke highly of Takebe's active contributions to strengthening and consolidating the relationship between the two nations, especially through his initiative to build a Viet Nam-Japan University in Viet Nam.

He said he hoped that Takebe and the alliance's members would continue to call on the Japanese Government to further enhance the multi-faceted co-operation with Viet Nam and maintain its official development aid (ODA) at a high level, while working to accelerate the implementation of key co-operative projects that were signed by the two countries' high-ranking leaders.

For his part, Takebe declared that he would make every effort to further promote and deepen the friendship between the two countries.

Parliamentary group to foster VN-Mexico ties

The Mexican House of Representatives on Friday held a ceremony to debut the Mexico-Viet Nam Friendship Parliamentary Group (VMFPG).

Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Le Thanh Tung and Deputy Director General of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Dinh Dang Quang, who is on a working visit to Mexico, attended the event.

General Secretary of the Mexican Labour Party, Senator Alberto Anaya Gutierrez, has been selected as the group's president.

In his opening remarks, Senator Gutierrez praised the Vietnamese people's traditions in fighting foreign invaders to defend the fatherland.

He highly appreciated Viet Nam's renewal cause initiated by the Communist Party of Viet Nam in 1986 as well as its great achievements in many realms, stressing the country's target to become a modern industrialised country.

The senator laid special emphasis on the need to enhance the multifaceted relationship between the two countries, saying that the group's objective is to contribute to promoting linkage for the benefit of the two countries' people.

VNN/VNS/VNA