Military Political Academy urged to build strong Party

The Military Political Academy should focus on building a strong, transparent and trustworthy Party, said Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

The Party leader made the request on his visit to the Military Political Academy under the Ministry of National Defence, marking its 60th anniversary (October 25).

At the working session on October 22, General Secretary Trong highlighted the Academy's achievements over the past 60 years, declaring it has utilized its strong political will to overcome all difficulties and fulfill its mission.

The Academy has trained tens of thousands of political and scientific cadres, contributing greatly to the glorious cause of the Party and building of the People’s Army in the new context, he said.
 
General Secretary Trong also underlined the Academy's scientific research, saying it has provided scientific grounds for the Party’s policies and guidelines on defence and military affairs.

He pointed out the complicated regional and global progress, as well as Vietnam's advantages and challenges as hostile forces’ “peaceful evolution” targeting the country.

Mr Trong emphasized that the 11th National Party Congress addressed the policies for building the country from its transitional period to socialism, as well as its socio-economic development strategies, and clarified eight dialectical relationships including the relationships between reform, stability, and development; economic and political reform; the forces of production and production development; economic growth and cultural development; social progress and social equality; the Party’s leadership, State management, and people’s mastery.

He asked the Academy to be aware of the machinations of hostile forces and work on building the people’s confidence in the Party, the Army, and the socialist-oriented renewal process.

The Party leader expressed his belief that based on its 60-year tradition, the Military Political Academy will gain further achievements in the future and become the country’s leading centre for training political cadres.

Vietnamese Party delegation visits DPRK

A delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) led by Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, Hoang Binh Quan paid a working visit to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) from October 19-22.

During the visit, which was made at the invitation of the DPRK’s Workers Party’s (WPK) Central Committee, the delegation met with President of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly Kim Yong Nam and held talk with the WPK delegation led by Secretary of Party Central Committee and chief of the Central Committee’s International Commission, Kim Yong In.

At the meetings, the two sides informed each other about situations in their respective parties and countries and shared views on international and regional issues of common concern.

The two delegations discussed in depth and reached a common perception on measures to promote the relations between the two parties, countries in all fields of politics, culture, economics science and technology in the time to come.

They said it is necessary to enhance visits between leaders of the two parties and countries, increase people-to-people exchange and management experience sharing to promote the mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation between the two nations.

In the framework of visit, the Vietnamese delegation also visited a number of historical and cultural sites in the country.

Vietnam hopes to boost ties with EU, Iran

It is hoped that the EU will continue boosting trade with Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries, said State President Truong Tan Sang while receiving Ambassador Doyle, Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Vietnam on October 22.

At the reception for Doyle, who is completing his term in Vietnam, President Sang expressed his satisfaction with recent developments in the Vietnam-EU relationship, which are partly attributed to his contributions.

He appreciated the EU’s support for Vietnam in the fields of culture and education and said he hopes Doyle will continue to promote the traditional relationship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and the EU.

Ambassador Doyle praised Vietnam’s high economic growth rate, as well as the country’s efforts to create a favourable mechanism for strengthening the ties in trade and education between both sides.

**On the same day, Mr Sang received outgoing Iranian ambassador Seyed Javad G.

The Iranian diplomat complimented Vietnam on its achievements and the relationship between the two countries and said Iran is willing to assist Vietnam, especially in nano-technology and aviation, and provide scholarships to Vietnamese postgraduate students to study in Iran.

He also conveyed Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's invitation to President Sang for an official visit to Iran.

President Sang affirmed Vietnam’s policy to enhance its ties with Iran and said he hopes both countries will be able to fully tap their potential for economics, trade, and tourism.

He expressed his thanks for Iran and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)’s assistance, saying that Vietnam will attend the 2012 NAM conference in Iran.

President Sang thanked his Iranian counterpart for his invitation to visit the country and said he will arrange the journey in the future.

Foreign Minister receives outgoing EU ambassador

Sean Doyle, Ambassador-Head of the European Union delegation to Vietnam, has bidden farewell to the Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh before ending his term in Vietnam.

During the meeting on October 20, Minister Minh highly appreciated Ambassador Doyle's efforts which have helped strengthen the comprehensive ties between Vietnam and the European Union.

He also said he hopes that Mr Doyle will continue contributing to the Vietnam-EU relationship in the future.

The EU ambassador expressed his good feelings towards Vietnam and highlighted the country's achievements in socio-economic development and international integration.

Earlier, Vietnam State President Truong Tan Sang presented Ambassador Doyle with the Friendship Order.

HCM City Vietnam-Hungary Friendship Association holds congress

The Vietnam-Hungary Friendship Association of Ho Chi Minh City organized its congress for the 2011-2016 tenure on October 22 and elected a new executive committee of 17 members.

Founded in 1997, the Association was initially a gathering place for those who studied or worked in Hungary and it has now grown to 500 members, most of whom have lived in Hungary.

Over the past four years, the association has joined hands with the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and the Hungarian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City to organize a variety of activities to maintain and develop the traditional ties between the two countries. Such activities included celebrations of the Hungarian National Day and 60 years of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Hungary, as well as welcoming a number of Hungarian delegations.

At the congress, Hungarian ambassador to Vietnam, Vizi Laszlo, reviewed the long-standing traditional ties between the two nations and expressed his delight at their growing bilateral trade and economic connections

Ambassador Laszlo said that three major Hungarian ODA projects worth 100 million euros will be implemented in Vietnam in the near future.

VN hopes situation in Lybia will stabilize soon

Vietnam wishes the situation in Lybia will soon stabilize and the Lybian people will be able to live in peace, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Luong Thanh Nghi.

Nghi made the statement on October 22 while answering reporters’ questions on Vietnam’s response to Lybia’s current situation.

“We are ready to cooperate with the new government to boost friendship between the two countries and take part in the process of Lybia’s rebuilding within our capacity,” he said.

Laos to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses

Laos will create favourable conditions for Vietnamese businesses to invest in the country, said Lao National Assembly Chairwoman Pani Yathotou.

Ms Yathotou affirmed this while receiving a delegation from Vietnam’s central province of Binh Dinh, led by Nguyen Van Thien, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, on October 21.

The Lao NA leader said she hopes that the two sides will enhance cooperation and improve the quality and efficiency of investment cooperation, contributing to fostering the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

She highly valued the rapid implementation of cooperative agreements between the two countries’ localities.

Mr Thien, who is on a working visit to Laos from October 16-25, said the visit aims to review the implementation of cooperative agreements signed by Binh Dinh and southern Lao provinces of Champassak, Sekong, Attapeu and Salavan, and map out orientations for cooperation in the future.

Binh Dinh has cooperated with the Lao localities in investment, growing trees, providing livestock varieties and building agricultural encouragement models, Thien said.

Between 2002-2010, Binh Dinh-based Quy Nhon University helped the Lao side train about 700 students, he added.

On the occasion, Binh Dinh and the Lao provinces signed cooperative programmes in areas of their strengths for 2011-2016.

Vietnam, Cuba Party schools increase cooperation

A delegation of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Public Administration (HCMA), led by Asso. Prof. Dr. Tran Khac Viet, had a working visit to Cuba from October 15-21.

At a talk with Rosario Penton, Rector of Cuba’s Nico Lopez High-level Party School, Mr Viet gave an overview of the HCMA and confirmed that his school wants to strengthen ties with the Cuban school, especially through cooperation programs.

He also shared his experience in training key staff for State and Party organizations in Vietnam, contributing to national development.

Meanwhile, Rector Rosario Penton lauded the HCMA’s role in teaching and research, as well as in providing consultancy on development policies and strategies for Vietnamese Party and State leaders.

Under the framework of the visit, the Vietnamese delegation met with Orlando Sardinas, Deputy Director of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee’s Commission for Personnel.

Mr Viet briefed his host on results of the working session with Nico Lopez High-level Party School and reaffirmed his commitment to continuing the shared experience in teaching and strengthening research cooperation.

Mr Sardinas talked about initial results of implementing the resolution of the 6th National Party Congress and Cuba’s preparations for the upcoming Party Congress, scheduled for January 2012.

During their stay in Cuba, the Vietnamese delegation had working sessions with the Cuban Women’s Union, the Cuban Institute for Friendship Between Peoples (ICAP), the Workers' Central Union of Cuba (CTC), a Party school in Pinar del Rio province, and a youth research centre.

State leader lauds veterans of unnumbered ships

The Party, State and people of Vietnam are grateful to heroes and soldiers who used to steer unnumbered ships on the “Ho Chi Minh Sea Trail”, said State President Truong Tan Sang.

The State leader affirmed this while receiving a delegation of veterans, in charge of unnumbered ships, and cadres and soldiers of Brigade 125 of the Vietnam People’s Navy, in Hanoi on October 20.

President Sang said each mission of unnumbered ships was a hard struggle against the enemies and the adverse weather to ensure the safe transport of weapons and goods to the frontline.

The opening of the sea trail was a great creativity of the Party, led by late President Ho Chi Minh, he said, adding that all cadres and soldiers on unnumbered ships set outstanding examples of courageousness and resilience.

Mr Sang said the Party and State always attaches great importance to caring for social policy beneficiaries and their families.

He hoped Brigade 125 will uphold its tradition to deserve the title “Hero of the people's armed forces” granted twice by the State.

50 years ago, the Vietnam People’s Navy decided to establish Mission 759, the precursor of Brigade 125 to transport weapons and goods to the southern battlefields.

During 14 years from 1961 to 1975, as many as 1,789 unnumbered ships followed the sea trail, carrying 150,000 tonnes of goods and weapons and 80,000 cadres and soldiers from the north to the frontline in the south.

Cadres and soldiers on board unnumbered ships fought back 1,200 enemy air strike, shooting down 5 warplanes and setting on fire many enemy ships and boats.

The sea trail blazed by the Vietnam People’ Navy became a legend in the anti-US resistance war for national salvation.

Cambodia sends sympathy to flood victims

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen on October 19 sent a message of sympathy to his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Tan Dung over human and property losses caused by recent floods.

The Cambodian Government also decided to provide Vietnam with US$50,000 to help overcome the consequences of the disaster.

Nation marks 50th anniversary of Ho Chi Minh Trail at Sea
 
A solemn meeting to mark the 50th anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Trail at Sea was held in the northern Hai Phong port city yesterday.

The event was jointly organised by the Party Central Committee, the Government, the National Assembly and the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee.

In his speech, President Truong Tan Sang said that the HCM Trail at Sea was the pride of both Viet Nam's armed forces and its people as well as shining example of revolutionary heroism, intelligence, courage and iron will.

"The HCM Trail at Sea served as an excellent transport route for effectively supplying war zones and reflects the strategic vision of President Ho Chi Minh," Sang said.

The President recalled that, after careful preparation on October 23, 1961, the Ministry of Defence decided to establish the HCM Trail at Sea to bring weapons and equipment to areas in the deep South which could not be reached via the HCM Trail along the Truong Son Range.

During 14 years of operation (1961-1975), officers and soldiers of Groups 759 and 125 from the Viet Nam People's Navy (the fleet without license plates) achieved an array of victories despite rough seas and the enemy's modern weapon systems.

Sang said that each voyage had been a tense confrontation entailing wisdom and determination.

"President Ho's teaching "nothing is more precious than independence and freedom" served as the soldiers' only motivation, with many willingly giving up their lives for their homeland," he noted.

The fleet without license plates carried tens of thousands of soldiers from their base in the North to the battlefront in the South.

"Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the HCM Trail at Sea is an opportunity for all of us to deepen our knowledge on the important role of the sea and its islands in socio-economic development, defence and security," Sang said.

On this occasion, the Government presented the Ho Chi Minh Order on officers and soldiers of the HCM Trail at Sea, the title of "Hero of the People's Armed Forces" on seven units affiliated to Brigade 125 as well as six individual post-humous "Hero of the People's Armed Forces" awards.

With 2011 labelled as the Year of the Youth, Nguyen Duc Hanh, secretary of the HCM Communist Youth Union at the Viet Nam Maritime University, voiced commitment to the "study of President Ho Chi Minh's virtue and morality".

Earlier in the day, wreaths were laid alongside the burning of incense in memory of the heroes and martyrs who had died on the legendary sea route.

PV