Vietnam- Laos Inter-governmental Committee meets

The 36th conference of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee opened in Vientiane, Laos on December 17.

The event was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Lao counterpart Somsavat Lengsavad to review cooperation results and devise tasks for next year within the framework of the five-year cooperation agreement (2011-2015) as part of the ten-year cooperation strategy (2011-2020).

Both sides are expected to sign the agreements on economic, cultural, educational, scientific and technological cooperation.

The two PMs will witness the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on credit grant worth US$80 million for a road construction project in Laos’ Huaphan province and a scholarship agreement for Lao students.

Get-together highlights Vietnam-Cambodia friendship

A friendship get-together with Cambodian students studying in Vietnam was held in Hanoi on December 15 on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the victory over the Khmer Rouge genocidal regime in Cambodia (January 7, 1979- January 7, 2014).

The event was organised by the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association and the QuandoiNhandan (People’s Army) newspaper in conjunction with the Vietnam Academy of Military Medicine.

Addressing the event, Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam HulPhani expressed deep gratitude to Vietnamese people for their support of Cambodia people’s struggle to liberate themselves from the regime as well as in the current national construction and development cause.

He underlined the historical significance of the victory on January 7, 1979 , saying that it is the day of revival for the Cambodian country and its people, opening up a new page of peace and happiness in the nation’s history.

He affirmed that Vietnamese volunteer soldiers made important contributions to this victory.

The ambassador also spoke highly of Vietnam’s help in training Cambodia students, adding that many students are playing an active role in national construction after returning from Vietnam, thus further deepening the close friendship between the two countries.

Party chief highlights role of diplomacy in nation-building

Diplomatic efforts have contributed significantly to national development by facilitating a conducive, stable environment, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said yesterday, Dec 16.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong greets delegates at the 28th Diplomatic conference that opened in Ha Noi yesterday. The conference aims to review the implementation of the country's foreign policy and international integration platforms in the first half of the tenure of the 11th Party

Addressing the 28th Diplomatic Conference that opened in Ha Noi yesterday, he highlighted the role that the support of other countries had played in the nation's struggle for independence and sovereignty.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said the conference was taking place against a backdrop of important domestic and international developments.

The conference also takes place at an important time as Viet Nam continues to implement its 2011-20 socio-economic development strategy and records significant results in politics, security and economic development, he said.

Despite peaceful and co-operative developments, there were ongoing challenges affecting the region and the world, he said.

The deputy PM also said Viet Nam's security and development had been affected, adding that the conference aimed to review the implementation of the country's foreign policy and international integration in the first half of the tenure of the 11th Party Congress. The conference will also aim to outline measures to achieve the Party's foreign policy platform in future.

Party General Secretary Trong stated that meaningful bilateral and multilateral relationships had been fostered to create favourable conditions for Viet Nam's integration with the global economy.

Viet Nam had also promoted its role as an active member of regional and global institutions and participated more in the Southeast Asian and Asia-Pacific regions, the Party leader noted.

Trong also praised Viet Nam's recent election to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors, UNESCO World Heritage Commission and the UN Human Rights Council for the 2014-16 term; saying the positions represented increasing confidence from the international community in the country's abilities.

Additionally, he noted the increased contributions of overseas Vietnamese people to national construction and development.

Photo: VOV

Addressing the opportunities and threats presented by global trends, Trong emphasised that the priority for the diplomatic sector was carrying out the Party's platform and capitalising on opportunities to promote national development and security.

He outlined an eight-point plan for the diplomatic sector with a clear focus on spearheading development opportunities and pursuing the nation's objectives to industrialise and modernise the economy by 2020.

The Party leader also stressed the need to pursue multilateral partnerships and expand the country's international relationships; with a view to addressing border and territory issues, peacefully resolving recurrent issues and differing views on the East Sea.

He emphasised the importance of resolving issues in accordance with international law, namely the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the formation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

The Party leader also emphasised the need to commit to cultural diplomacy and foreign news services in order to promote Viet Nam's role and image in the region. Trong also stressed the importance of implementing Resolution 36 of the Party Politburo on the mobilisation of Vietnamese people living abroad.

Noting the Party General Secretary's comments, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Minh urged participants to focus on the guidelines and policies of the Party, clarifying existing problems in an effort to boost diplomatic efforts.

At the opening ceremony, leaders of the Ministry of Public Security, the Party Central Committee's Commission for External Relations, the Ministry of Defence and the National Assembly's Committee for External Relations made important assessments on regional and international issues.

Their speeches highlighted achievements in the diplomatic sector since the previous conference in 2011.

Party Internal Affairs delegation pays official visit to China

Viet Nam has consistently attached importance to developing a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China, according to a Party official.

Nguyen Ba Thanh, head of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Central Committee's Commission for Internal Affairs, made the statement while meeting in Beijing yesterday with Meng Jianzhu, Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee's Commission for Political and Legal Affairs.

Viet Nam wishes to partner with China to fully implement common perceptions reached by the two countries' high-ranking leaders, while stepping up their result-oriented and comprehensive cooperation in various areas for stable and healthy bilateral ties, he added.

Thanh expressed his delight at achievements China has attained during its renewal and open-door cause over the past 35 years, expressing his belief that the CPC and the Chinese people will fulfill their targets in national construction set at the 13th National CPC Congress, especially the comprehensive construction of a moderately prosperous society by 2020.

Sharing Thanh's views, Meng Jianzhu said the Party, State and people of China have placed a lot of importance in the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with Viet Nam, pledging to do their utmost, together with the Vietnamese Party, State and people, to consolidate and push the ties forward.

He described Thanh's visit to China as a vivid manifestation of the exchange and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, in line with the spirit of common perceptions.

Vietnam, Japan Communist Parties exchange theoretical issues

Officials of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Communist Party of Japan (CPJ) convened their fifth theory talks in Tokyo, Japan on December 16.

The Vietnamese delegation to the event was led by Dinh The Huynh, Politburo member, Head of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for Education and Popularisation and Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council. The host side was led by former Chairman of the CPJ Fuwa Tetsuzo.

Fuwa Tetsuzo warmly welcomed the Vietnamese delegation, and said he believed the talks will further strengthen friendship and traditional cooperation between the two Parties and people.

In his introductory speech, Dinh The Huynh emphasised the CPV continues to refine theories on socialist construction in the country with regard to national characteristics and global development.

He also highlighted several initial and practical lessons learnt in the renovation process under the CPV’s leadership over the past nearly 30 years.

The talks are scheduled to last until December 18.

Vietnamese, Cambodian localities step up links

The Central Highlands provinces of Vietnam and northeastern localities of Cambodia will enhance their cooperation in the coming time, prioritising border security, agricultural production, poverty reduction, education and training.

This is the outcome of a meeting of officials of the Steering Committee for the Central Highlands of Vietnam and the Cambodian People’s Party Central Committee’s Foreign Relations Commission held in Buon Ma Thuot City, Dak Lak province, on December 16.

During the meeting, the two sides also reviewed the results of their cooperation over the past time with the opening of the Bu Prang (Dac Nong) – Dak Dam (Mondulkiri) and Dak Peur (Dac Nong) – Busara (Mondulkiri) border gates.

The Dak Rue (Dak Lak) – Chi Miet (Mondulkiri) border gate will also be upgraded in the future, they said.

Since 2008, Vietnam and Cambodia have cooperated with each other to build rural roads and others linking Vietnam’s Gia Lai and Kon Tum provinces with Rattanakiri province of Cambodia.

Businesses in the Central Highlands have invested in 27,000 hectares of rubber in Cambodia’s northeastern region.

In response, Cambodian local authorities and people have actively supported Military Commands of Central Highlands provinces to study, search and repatriate the remains of martyrs of Vietnamese volunteers and experts who laid down their lives in the country.

On the plane of national defence and security, the two sides have ceaselessly enhanced their coordination in ensuring border security and preventing illegal border crossing and hostile forces’ plots to separate the two countries’ solidarity.

They have planted 62 out of 84 border markers along their 420 km of common border.

Deputy PM Phuc visits Laos

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on December 16 began an official visit to Laos where he is to co-chair a meeting of the committee for Vietnam-Laos cooperation.

He will meet with Party General Secretary and President Chumaly Saynhasone, Prime Minister Thoongsing Thammavong, and National Assembly Chairwoman Pany Yathotu.

At the committee’s meeting, Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Lao counterpart Somsavad Lengsavath will review Vietnam-Laos cooperation in economics, culture, science-technology, and education-training, and work out specific tasks for 2014.

They will sign an agreement on economic, cultural, education, scientific and technological cooperation.

Vietnam and Laos will sign a memorandum of understanding on a US$80 million road construction project in Houaphanh province, and an agreement on providing scholarships to Lao students majoring in banking and finance, insurance, and securities.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA