Party leader welcomes new Japanese ambassador

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong hosted a reception yesterday, Jan 23, to welcome new Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Fukada to Ha Noi.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong (R)  hosted a reception yesterday to welcome new Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Fukada to Ha Noi.

He told the new ambassador that relations between the two countries are growing in many areas and that Viet Nam wants to encourage these growing ties.

The Party leader expressed his hope to continue receiving cooperation, assistance and experience from Japan to serve the country's ongoing development.

Trong also said he believes that with his knowledge of Viet Nam, the ambassador will be helpful in further deepening the two countries' strategic partnership to meet the hopes and interests of the two peoples.

Ambassador Hiroshi Fukada recalled the time when he was in Viet Nam two decades ago to take part in building the initial foundation for economic cooperation between the two countries, and said he is impressed with Viet Nam's successful development.

Fukada pledged to do his best to step up the friendship and expand bilateral cooperation to make the two nations' strategic partnership stronger for the sake of peace and prosperity in Asia and in both countries.

Deputy PM meets EU, Swiss officials

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on January 23 met EU and Swiss senior officials on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) 2014 in Davos, Switzerland.

Meeting with Swiss Economy Minister Johann Schneider-Ammann, Deputy PM Minh affirmed Vietnam’s recognition of importance to developing relations with Switzerland- an important partner of Vietnam in Europe.

He suggested Switzerland maintain its ODA funding for Vietnam and intensify investments in areas of Swiss strengths such as hi-technology, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, finance-banking and insurance.

Minister Ammann asked Vietnam to consider some proposals made by the Swiss business delegation during its trip to the country in last October.

Both sides compared notes on negotiations on a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) and agreed to accelerate the early conclusion of negotiations before the end of 2014.

Mr Minh greatly valued Vietnam-EU relations at his meeting with the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton.

They were committed to speed up the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) negotiation process.

Deputy PM Minh called on the EU to boost the approval of a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) and recognize Vietnam’s market economy status no later than the time when the EVFTA concludes.

The two sides consented to make thorough preparations for the EU-ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting.

As a coordinator for ASEAN-EU relations, Vietnam will draft a joint statement of the meeting.

The EU senior official said the Union has increasingly placed importance on its relations with ASEAN as well as with Vietnam demonstrated by FTA negotiation efforts.

VN supports Sri Lanka development

President Truong Tan Sang has affirmed Viet Nam's support for Sri Lanka's national development and reconciliation.

President Truong Tan Sang receives Special Envoy D.E.W Gunasekera of the Sri Lankan President in Ha Noi yesterday.

Receiving Special Envoy D.E.W Gunasekera of the Sri Lankan President in Ha Noi yesterday (Jan 23), the President praised Sri Lanka's economic achievements and conveyed his wishes for the country's prosperous future.

President Sang also expressed sympathy over the challenges facing Sri Lanka and labelled embargo measures as old-fashioned and counter to the aspirations of citizens.

Sang also said co-operation enabling mutual economic development was now the major trend in globalisation, adding that Viet Nam and Sri Lanka had benefited from good political and diplomatic relations.

Looking to improve economic ties between the two countries, the President acknowledged that further efforts needed to be directed to improving trade and agricultural cooperation.

Speaking at the reception, Special Envoy Gunasekera said relations between Viet Nam and Sri Lanka had been enhanced by similarities between the two countries, with both having struggled with the difficulties of prolonged wars in the past.

He also said Sri Lanka had started efforts to rebuild and hoped to receive assistance from the international community, including co-operation with Viet Nam.

Party links

The Communist Party of Sri Lanka places importance on, and wants to further mutually beneficial ties, with its Vietnamese counterpart, said the top leader of the Sri Lankan Party.

Dew Gunasekara made the statement yesterday when meeting with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong during his working visit to Viet Nam.

He also expressed his pleasure at returning to Viet Nam and at the fine development of the two parties' relationship over the decades.

Gunasekara briefed the Vietnamese Party leader on his country's successes, as well as the challenges it faces, wishing Viet Nam, as a member of the UN Human Rights Council, would provide a fair voice on Sri Lanka's human rights issues.

For his part, General Secretary Trong thanked Sri Lanka for supporting Viet Nam in its bid to become a UN Human Rights Council member for the 2014-16 period, asserting Viet Nam will do its utmost to raise concerns about Sri Lanka's human rights issues based upon the Charter of the United Nations and international law.

The Party leader also extended greetings to President Mahinda Rajapaksa, affirming Viet Nam's hope to cement ties between the two parties in terms of high-level delegation exchanges and economic relations.  

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong asked the Party Central Committee's Commission for Internal Affairs to pay attention to both preventing and combating corruption.

This follows the Commission for Internal Affairs being named the permanent agency of the Central Anti - Corruption Steering Committee.

During the working session in Ha Noi yesterday with key members of the commission, Trong said the agency needs to coordinate with other agencies in developing laws related to internal affairs and the fight to stop corruption.

He also requested the commission to prepare documents pertaining to internal affairs, security and anti-corruption for the Party's upcoming 12th Congress.

Trong reiterated that the re-establishment of the Commission for Internal Affairs shows the determination of the Party and State to push up the endeavour against corruption.

Speaking at the session, head of the commission Nguyen Ba Thanh said his agency has proactively worked with other agencies in directing the settlement of serious and complicated corruption cases that caught the public's interest.

It also worked closely with executive bodies to speed up the progress of investigations and prosecution of major corruption cases in accordance with legal regulations.

VFF leader conveys New Year wishes to Catholics

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan extended the best New Year wishes to Catholic dignitaries and followers across the country during his pre-Tet visit to the Hanoi Archbishop on January 24.

In talking with Archbishop Nguyen Van Nhon and other Catholic dignitaries, Nhan noted hope that Vietnamese people, irrespective of their religions, will enjoy a warm and happy New Year holiday.

He said he expects the Catholic community will accompany the nation along the development cause while actively involving in patriotism emulation campaigns, construction of cultural life in residential areas and new-style rural areas.

Archbishop Nhon promised to guide Catholic followers to uphold the tradition of solidarity and take a greater part in making the country prosper.

Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan has thanked foreign consulates, organisations and businesses for their significant contribution to the city’s development, asking for intensified cooperation in the time to come.

Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan meets with consulates, organisations and businesses in the city. Photo: VNA

He delivered his acknowledgement at a get-together on January 23 on the occasion of the upcoming Lunar New Year, with the attendance of more than 200 representatives from general consulates, international economic, trade and cultural agencies, non-governmental organisations, and business associations.

The mayor informed them about the city’s economic, cultural and social accomplishments in 2013 and major development directions for 2014.

He said this year, HCM City will carry out drastic measures to overcome challenges, accelerate business recovery, improve investment environment, curb inflation, stabilise macro-economy, and maintain fair growth, adding that the city aims for a gross domestic product growth at 9.5 – 10 percent in 2014.

The municipal authorities are determined to speed up streamlining administrative procedures and build quality workforce to meet the demand of development and international integration, he noted.

On behalf of diplomatic corps and international organisations, Russian Consul General A.V. Borovik sent his New Year greetings to officials and people of HCM City and praised the city’s achievements.

He said a wide range of cultural activities to celebrate the establishment of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and other countries in the city last year have helped consolidate their friendship and mutual understanding.

HCM City has proved its role as a financial and economic hub of Vietnam with the big volume of investment attraction and an average growth rate doubling the country’s figure, he added.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA