Timor-Leste PM visit to promote relations

Timor-Leste (formerly East Timor) Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao will pay an official visit to Viet Nam for three days from tomorrow, Sept 4, to promote bilateral relations.

The visit, made at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung, will be the second one by Gusmao. He first visited Viet Nam in 2005 as President of Timor-Leste.

The two nations established diplomatic ties on July 28, 2002, but relations began in 1975 when Fretilin (Revolutionary Front for an Independent Timor Leste) unilaterally declared independence. Viet Nam was one of the first countries to recognise Timor-Leste's independence.

Prime Minister holds talks with Chinese, Cambodian counterparts

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has reiterated the Vietnamese Party and State's long-lasting and consistent policy of consolidating and strengthening neighbourliness and co-operation with China.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung meets Chinese Premier Li Keqiang yesterday (Sept 2) in Nanning City.

During his talks with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Nanning City yesterday, Sept 2, to mark the China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and the 10th China-ASEAN Business-Investment Summit, Dung spoke highly of China and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous region's careful preparations.

During the last 10 years, he said that CAEXPO has become one of the most prestigious and influential expos in the region and a good chance for ASEAN and China to strengthen their strategic partnership.

Premier Li said the delegation's participation in the expo and summit reflected Viet Nam's appreciation of strengthening the relationship with China.

He said that the Chinese Party, State and people were willing to deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries.

Viet Nam and China have agreed to increase high-ranking visits and meetings, enhance co-operation for mutual benefit in all fields in order to fulfill the target of raising bilateral trade to $60 billion by 2015 and implement joint large-scale economic projects, especially those in infrastructure while strengthening people-to-people exchanges.

Regarding sea-related issues, the two sides held that both nations needed to together maintain peace and stability in the East Sea, control the situation at sea and resolve every matter via peaceful negotiations.

PM Dung emphasised that the two sides should strictly obey the agreement on basic principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues between Viet Nam and China, settle disputes by peaceful means and on the basis of international law.

He suggested the two countries soon put into operation and promote the efficiency of hotlines between the two defence ministries and fishery agencies as agreed. He said this would help promptly deal with arising problems, especially those relating to fishing vessels and fishermen.

Dung invited Premier Li to visit Viet Nam at an early date and the latter accepted. Later, the Vietnamese Government leader received Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Chen Wu, and Yunnan province's Governor, Ly Jiheng.

The same day, also in Nanning City, Dung met with his Cambodian counterpart, Hun Sen, during which he congratulated Cambodia on its achievements in national development and the success of the fifth general election.

Prime Minister Hun Sen thanked the Vietnamese Government and people for their support and assistance in the past and said that the Cambodian Government would continue to make every effort to maintain stability in the country, thus contributing to regional and international peace.

The China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and the 10th China-ASEAN Business-Investment Summit (CABIS) have attracted the participation of more than 100 Vietnamese businesses from 17 provinces and cities.

Last year, Vietnamese businesses signed deals worth more than $90 million with foreign partners at CAEXPO.

Viet Nam, Nicaragua enhance friendship

Le Hong Anh, politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee, is leading a delegation to visit Nicaragua from August 31, at the invitation of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN).

Anh congratulated Nicaragua on the developments it has made under the leadership of the FSLN Party and President Daniel Ortega in order to build a socialist, Catholic and united country for social justice, national harmony and for the happiness of the working class.

Addressing the meetings, leaders of local authorities praised Viet Nam's achievements in national building, considering them an encouragement for Nicaraguans and people all over the world.

They expressed their wish that the traditional relations between the two Parties, Governments and peoples will grow further, especially in trade and investment.

Lao newspapers highlights Vietnam’s National Day

On the occasion of Vietnam’s 68th National Day (September 2), Lao newspapers ran the congratulations of the country’s leaders as well as articles featuring Vietnam’s multifaceted achievements and the special relations between the two nations.

The first pages of such newspapers as Pasason, Pathet Lao, KPL News, Vientiane Times and Lao Phattahana published the congratulations of General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President Chummaly Sayasone, Prime Minister Thoongsinh Thammavong and National Assembly Chairwoman Pani Dathotu.

They asserted the firm development of the Vietnam-Laos special relationship for the two peoples’ interests as well as regional and global peace, development and cooperation.

Pasason newspaper, the official organ of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, recounted the historic August Revolution and printed a photo of President Ho Chi Minh reading the Declaration of Independence on September 2 to mark the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

The newspapers reiterated that the two countries’ special friendship and solidarity, which were formed by President Ho Chi Minh and his Lao counterparts Kayson Phomvihane and Souphanuvong as well as fostered by later leaders and the two peoples, have become a shared asset of the two nations that needs to be preserved and promoted in the future.

On the occasion of the 68th National Day, the Vietnamese Embassy in Moscow offered incense and flowers at the Ho Chi Minh Monument in the square of the same name.

Earlier, the embassy also coordinated with the Association of Vietnamese People in Russia in holding a sports exchange among Vietnamese here.

Egypt plays important role in Vietnam’s foreign policy

Egypt always plays an important role in Vietnam’s foreign policy, a senior Vietnamese diplomat has said.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Egypt Dao Thanh Chung has made the affirmation in an interview with the Vietnam News Agency’s correspondents on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries (September 1, 1963 - September 1, 2013).

The ambassador reviewed the development of the Vietnam-Egypt relations over the five decades. He said that solidarity and traditional relations between the two countries have been reinforced and attained many important achievements.

Especially, since 1991, bilateral relations have entered a new period and developed in various fields, from politics, economics, socio-culture, scien-technology to education-training, tourism and investment.

The two sides have signed many cooperative agreements and established an intergovernmental committee in order to boost bilateral relations, Chung said.

He added that economic cooperation has also seen a strong development. Two-way trade between the two sides reached more than 304 million USD in 2012, making Egypt Vietnam’s second largest market in the Middle East-North Africa region.

Under the agreement on investment encouragement and protection, Egypt and Vietnam have discussed measures to foster investment between the two nations in the fields of oil and gas and telecommunications. The two sides also reached agreements to boost cooperation in aquaculture, farm processing, veterinary medicine and plant protection products production.

Chung also said he believes that potential for cooperation between the two countries remains huge and that bilateral relations will develop comprehensively and intensively.

He also expressed his hope that Egypt will soon overcome difficulties and challenges, to carry out economic reforms and improve its people’s living conditions.

Viet Nam, Angola look to enhance bilateral co-operation

Angola wants to further enhance co-operation with Viet Nam's Party and people in all areas, especially in economics, trade and investment.

Vice President of the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) Roberto Victor De Almeida made the remarks during talks on Thursday with his Vietnamese guest, Le Hong Anh.

Anh, who is Politburo member and permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee's Secretariat, has been in Luanda for a visit to Angola.

De Almeida expressed his admiration for Viet Nam's significant achievements in its renewal process and national construction and defence.

He spoke of gratitude for the valuable support given by the Vietnamese Party, State and people to Angola, particularly in education, health care and agriculture.

Anh then briefed De Almeida about his talks with Secretary of the Central Committee for External Affairs of the MPLA Afonso Van-Dunem.

He affirmed that Viet Nam will do its utmost to step up comprehensive co-operation with the Party and people of Angola, particularly in the areas that suit each side's strength, such as oil and gas, telecoms, agriculture, health care, education and construction.

He expressed his hope that the Angolan Government would continue creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community to settle down in the country.

Later in the day, the Vietnamese delegation met with Candida Teceira, member of the MPLA Central Committee, Minister of Science and Technology and Chairman of the Sub-committee of the Viet Nam-Angola Joint Committee.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Vietnamese Party official and his entourage visited Bengo province where they were received by Joao Bernardo De Miranda, Politburo member and First Secretary of the Bengo provincial Party's Committee.

During the meeting, the two sides agreed to boost co-operation in agriculture, particularly in the production of rice and coffee and the exchange of agricultural experts.

The same day, Le Hong Anh met with staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in Angola and representatives of the Vietnamese community in the country.

Late on Thursday, the Vietnamese delegation left Angola to continue with their trip, which will take them to Nicaragua and Cuba.

Authorities assess HCM City development

A Government delegation headed by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh reviewed HCM City's socio-economic performance in the last three years and discussed goals for the next two at a meeting in the city yesterday.

Ninh, who was apprised about the city's good economic performance, said however that the administration had to be more pro-active to achieve the targets set for the next two years.

According to the municipal People's Committee, averaged economic growth in the last three years had been 9.5 percent, almost twice the country's averaged rate.

Ninh described HCM City as the economic driving force for not just the region but the whole country, with revenues reaching VND624 trillion (US$29.7 billion), or 30 percent of the country's total amount.

But it needs to help businesses overcome their problems and speed up restructure of State-owned enterprises in the city, he said.

He wanted the city to work with the State Bank of Viet Nam to deal with bad debts and liquidate the property market inventory.

He told Le Hoang Quan, Chairman of the People's Committee, and his deputy Nguyen Thi Hong, that the Government approves the city's tax revenue plans including breaks for companies that contribute to public welfare.

Despite the achievement of the last three years, the city leaders admitted that the quality of growth had been modest and the economic potential had not been optimally exploited.

Ninh hailed the city government for its successful efforts to stabilise the economy and ensure social welfare in the last few years.

Despite the challenges, the city had achieved impressive results, he added.

HCM City has announced plans to achieve annual economic growth of 10-10.5 percent and per capita income of US$4,800 in 2015.

HCM City has seen good signs this year with stable socio-economic growth in the first eight months of 2013, HCM City People's Committee Chairman Le Hoang Quan said at a meeting on Thursday.

According to the municipal People's Committee, the city saw retail sales and services turnover rising 12.9 per cent year-on-year to VND50,794 billion (nearly US$2.4 billion) in August.

Total retail sales and services turnover in the first eight months of 2013 was VND389,377 billion (nearly $18.4 billion), an increase of 12.2 per cent over the same period in 2012.

Industrial production grew 5.5 per cent in the first eight months, compared to 4.2 per cent during the same period in 2012.

As of 20 August of this year, HCM City had granted licenses to 260 new foreign direct investment projects with a total capital of $587.7 million, up by 0.43 per cent compared with the same period last year.

Quan said that in the last four months of 2013, the city will step up efforts to promote investment, trade, tourism and services; and strengthen the campaign to increase production and consumption of Viet Nam-made goods in the domestic market.

The city will also enhance inspections and supervision to speed up major infrastructure development projects, he said.

Quan asked the city's departments and district authorities to take measures to help businesses overcome difficulties and expand markets for Viet Nam-made goods.

He asked relevant agencies to improve budgetary income management by combating revenue losses, collecting tax arrears and ensuring strict and effective expenditure control.

The city will put more than 1,200 new classrooms into operation in the new school year that will officially opens on September 5. As a result, all school-age children, including children of parents with temporary residence status, will be admitted into primary schools in the city.

Quan asked the Department of Education and Training to inspect schools and ensure that they are not charging excessive tuition fees.

Addressing the issue of the managerial cadre rewarding themselves with high salaries and bonuses at HCM City-based State-owned companies, Quan said these wrongdoings are "unacceptable".

Even if these companies were making profits, the money must be reserved in investment and development funds instead of being divided up by its leaders, he said.

He said the city will take disciplinary measures against these wrongdoings to restore order and discipline among State-owned companies.

VNN/VNS/VNA