PM to attend summit with leaders of Laos, Cambodia

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will attend the eighth summit of the Cambodia-Laos-Viet Nam (CLV) Development Triangle in Vientiane, Laos, on November 24-25 at the invitation of his Lao counterpart Thongsing Thammavong.

The last CLV summit was held in the Lao capital in March 2013 with a joint statement issued on improving the living standards for the residents of the triangle's 13 provinces and turning the area into a role model for regional cooperation.

Involved parties called for active contributions in East Sea

All activities by parties involved in the East Sea need to actively contribute to building peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Le Hai Binh said on November 20.

Binh responded to reporters’ questions on the announcement of China’s strategic action plan on energy development for 2014-2020.

“We suppose all activities by parties concerned in the East Sea will strictly abide by international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, as well as respecting the sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction of coastal countries.”, he added.

US, Vietnam enhance strategic partnership

New US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius and new Vietnam Ambassador to the US Pham Quang Vinh are believed to make significant advances in the strategic partnership between the two nations in the time ahead.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh made the statement a at a regular press briefing in Hanoi on November 20 in the context when Mr Ted Osius has been ratified by the US Senate to become US Ambassador to Vietnam and Mr Pham Quang Vinh will leave for the US to take up the post of Vietnamese Ambassador to the US.

"Next year, Vietnam and the US will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties. I believe that both nations will take measures to accelerate the strategic partnership as a contribution to development, peace, and stability in the region, and for the benefit of both countries."  

Vietnam Ambassador presents credentials to Russian President

On November 19, Vietnam Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Son along with other 15 foreign diplomats presented their credentials to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow.

In his speech after receiving the 15 new Ambassadors, President Putin underlined the importance of the relationship with all eastern and western partners.

Ambassador Thanh Son conveyed best regards from Vietnamese Party and State leaders to President Putin.

The Russian President extolled the Vietnam-Russia time-honoured friendship and cooperation, noting that the consolidation of the comprehensive strategic partnership has met long-term interests of both sides.

The two countries have augmented extensive cooperation on energy, including peaceful nuclear energy and petroleum and worked together on finalizing a free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Customs Union of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia.

Putin told the Vietnamese diplomat that he had a constructive discussion with Vietnam President Truong Tan Sang at the recent Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Beijing. Russian leaders are looking forward to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong‘s forthcoming visit, he added.

President Putin said he hopes Russia and Vietnam will continue to reinforce confidence for stronger cooperation on a par with their comprehensive strategic partnership.

He expressed his conviction that Vietnam will make great strides and drastic changes while confirming his nation’s eagerness to stand side by side with Vietnam.

National Assembly backs cooperation with Iran

The National Assembly of Vietnam continuously supports the multi-faceted cooperation between Vietnam and Iran, NA Vice Chairman Huynh Ngoc Son said.

He made this remark during a meeting with a delegation from the Iran-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarian Group led by Hossein Sobhaninia, Chairman of the group and member of Iran’s Islamic Consultative Assembly Presiding Board, in Hanoi on November 20.

The Vietnamese law-making body hopes to work more closely with Iran’s Islamic Consultative Assembly to accelerate and monitor the implementation of agreements reached by both governments for mutual interest, he said.

Highly valuing the traditional friendship and partnership between Vietnam and Iran , the NA Vice Chairman said he believed the ties would be further consolidated and promoted, especially in the field of the economy and trade.

He also lauded the role the Friendship Parliamentarian Groups of Vietnam and Iran played in the development of the traditional cooperation between the two countries and legislative bodies.

Hossein Sobhaninia noted that Vietnam and Iran shared great similarities in their culture and love for peace. He expressed his wish that the two Friendship Parliamentarian Groups would strengthen exchanges, mutual support and coordination for the benefit of the two countries.

He said he hoped the two legislative bodies would continue their affiliation within the framework of bilateral relations and multilateral parliamentary forums.

Hossein Sobhaninia also pledged that he and his fellow parliamentarians would work harder to promote the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Vice President welcomes Francophonie leader

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan on November 20 received Asia-Pacific Regional Director of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) Anissa Barrak in Hanoi.

Doan expressed her pleasure at the flourishing ties between Vietnam and the French-speaking community and told her guest that she is to lead a Vietnamese delegation to the 15th OIF Summit in Senegal later this month.

"Vietnam is greatly interested in this event’s topics on women, youth and the framework of future cooperation." Doan stressed.

She thanked the OIF Asia-Pacific Office for choosing the University of Trade as an important partner for carrying out activities to promote the French language.

Barrak expressed her appreciation for Vietnam’s leading role in expanding OIF operations in the Asia-Pacific region and the country’s contributions to building the development strategy for the French-speaking community.

Vietnam, as a pro-active member of the OIF, could serve as a bridge linking Africa and Asia and strengthening the links within the French-speaking community, the OIF official said.

Barrak also asserted her organization's willingness to reinforce solidarity with Vietnam.

Lawmakers reflect on scheme to overhaul school curricula

Lawmakers continued their session in Hanoi on November 20, with a focus on a scheme to revise school curricula and textbooks.

They agreed there should be common curricula for all levels of school throughout the country; however, opinions differed about whether there should be one or several sets of textbooks.

Textbooks will be compiled by a team of experienced teachers, scientists and experts. The ministry’s role is to keep the process running, including allocating human resources, conducting training courses and issuing relevant legal regulations, Minister of Education and Training Pham Vu Luan told deputies.

The final materials are to be subject to an appraisal by an independent National Assessment Council, he said, adding that the ministry would consider the council’s conclusion before issuing new textbooks.

Additionally, 18 other projects on education infrastructure and teaching staff are also in the pipeline.

German Vice Chancellor tours Bosch training centre in Dong Nai

German Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Sigmar Gabriel embarked on a fact-finding tour to Bosch Vietnam’s training centre in Long Thanh Industrial Park, in the southern province of Dong Nai, on November 20.

He visited a 1 million USD Technical Industrial Apprenticeship programme which is being implemented by Bosch Vietnam in cooperation with the LILAMA2 Technical and Technology College .

According to Vo Quang Hue, Director General of Bosch Vietnam , graduates of the programme will receive two certificates, one from the German Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam and the LILAMA2 College.

So far, 46 trainees, who study theory at the college and practice their skills at Bosch, have finished their first year of the programme, which was launched in November last year and meets Germany ’s current vocational training standards, he said.

Lauding Bosch Vietnam’s training model, Gabriel said the sound relationship between Vietnam and Germany paved the way for the enhancement of vocational training standard in Vietnam .

The cooperation initiative between Bosch and LILAMA2 is a pioneering effort and sets an example for other enterprises and vocational training colleges in Vietnam to follow, he asserted.

Meanwhile, Peter Tyroller, member of the Bosch Group’s Management Board in charge of the Asian-Pacific region, said the firm planned to develop local talents in order to meet the increasing demands for skilled labour throughout its operations in Asia .

The over 100-year-old training model that Bosch applies has helped over 100,000 youngsters the world over started their career through vocational training courses in 20 countries, he noted.

Operating in Vietnam since 1994, the Bosch Group runs a supply chain to produce automobile spare parts in Dong Nai. The group expanded its portfolio to seven areas, including automobile spare parts, automotive technology, security and gasoline systems, and packaging technology.

VNA/VOV/VNN