Vietnam army to have S-400 system soon

Vietnam will soon receive the latest generation anti-aircraft weapon system S-400, or Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAM) from Russia, said a senior Russian official.

Talking to MIA Russia Today news agency on August 6, Assistant to the Chairman of the Defense Committee of the State Duma Igor Novoselov affirmed that Vietnam’s current S-300 system will be replaced with S-400, dubbed SA-21 Glowler by NATO, in the near future.

S-400 can shoot down targets at both low and high altitudes, and cover a large area, he added.

Igor Novoselov noted that Russia is maintaining military and technical cooperation effectively with Vietnam - a strategic partner in Southeast Asia.

Russia has signed contracts to build two Gepard 3.9 frigates and six Kilo-class submarines for Vietnam.

President Truong Tan Sang on August 8 sent congratulations to Singaporean President Tony Tan Keng Yam on the occasion of his country’s 49th National Day (August 9, 1965).

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also cabled greetings to their Singaporean counterparts Lee Hsien Loong and K.Shanmugam, respectively.

Vietnam and Singapore established diplomatic ties in 1973.

Last year, the two sides agreed to elevate their friendship and comprehensive relations to a strategic partnership in a wide range of fields from politics, economics, and security-defence to education, health and culture.

Vietnam highlights regional connectivity at ESCAP session

Vietnam has emphasised the importance of a peaceful and stable environment, including free and safe maritime navigation and the peaceful settlement of disputes at sea based on respect for international law and regional commitment, to regional connectivity in the Asia Pacific.

Addressing the plenary session of the phase II of the 70th session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), running from August 4-8 in Bangkok , Thailand, Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc said peace and stability are pre-requisite to development and integration of every nation and the whole region.

He hailed ESCAP’s contributions to promoting regional connectivity, and asked the commission to continue practical support to ASEAN countries to close development gap, implement the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity and promote the ASEAN connectivity with the rest of the Asia-Pacific.

The Vietnamese representative also called on ESCAP to continue supporting Vietnam in economic integration towards sustainable and inclusive growth, developing the country’s connectivity with the region through economic corridors, for example, the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC) and the Southern Economic Corridor (SEC).

For its part, Vietnam will continue its strong cooperation with ESCAP and other members towards the shared goals of the region, he added.

Speaking at the debate on sustainable development, Deputy FM Ngoc affirmed that sustainable growth is one of fundamental principles in Vietnam ’s socio-economic development strategy, adding that the country expects to receive more support from ESCAP in fulfilling the remaining millennium development goals by 2015 and carry out targets in UN’s post-2015 development agenda.

In opening the ESCAP’s 70th sesssion, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and ESCAP Executive Secretary, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar noted that with a forecast growth of under 6 percent, coupled with increasing development, environmental and social challenges, regional countries should strengthen financial resources for development, ensuring social welfare, reforming institutions, enhancing integration capacity and exploiting regional connectivity.

She said that after almost 70 years of operation, it is now time for ESCAP to reform with focus on building close ties with the ASEAN as well as other regional institutions, while continuing its contributions to the process of implementing sustainable development goals and post-2015 development roadmap.

During the sessions, representatives from member nations and scholars discussed ways to boost sustainable development, post-2015 orientations as well as measures to foster regional connectivity via four main areas of trade, transportation, information and communication technology, energy and human linkage.

They approved 12 resolutions aiming to boost regional cooperation in economics, trade, infrastructure and environment.

On the sidelines of the event, ESCAP also introduced the UN Economic and Social Survey for Asia and the Pacific 2014, forecasting an average growth of 5.8 percent for this year.

Southeast Asian economies still face many difficulties, with an average 4.6 percent growth projected for 2014, lower than the 4.9 percent rate in 2013 and 5.5 percent in 2012, it said.

The survey assessed that the Vietnamese economy is changing positively with a projected growth of 5.9 percent for 2014.

ESCAP statistics also showed that Vietnam is leading ASEAN members in investing in social security, spending 5 percent of its GDP on the work against the average investment of 1-3 percent.

Established in 1947, the Bangkok-based ESCAP is one of five regional commissions of the UN. It currently consists of 53 member states and nine associate members.

Fully developing Vietnam-Australia cooperation potential

Vietnam and Western Australia have great potential for strengthening bilateral cooperation in economics, trade and investment, Ambassador Luong Thanh Nghi told local authorities during his trip to the Australian state on August 5-6.

Nghi met with Acting Governor Wayne Martin, Deputy Premier Kim Hames, the Mayor of Perth City, and representatives of leading businesses in the state.

Vietnam is Western Australia’s 16th largest trade partner, with two-way trade last year reaching AUD906 million, of which AUD634 million came from Vietnamese exports, he said.

He appreciated Western Australia’s ongoing efforts in facilitating Vietnamese goods’ penetration there, as well as Vietnamese investment in mining and petrochemical industries in the state.

The ambassador spoke highly of the recent Vietnam visit by Deputy Premier Kim Hames accompanied by a business delegation, noting the visit made an important contribution to promoting mutual understanding between Western Australia and Vietnamese ministries, agencies, and localities.

To further bolster cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, and education, Nghi suggested that the Australian state welcome Vietnam at its agriculture fair in October 2015, support Vietnam Airlines in opening Perth-HCM City routes, and establish the State’s representative office in Vietnam.  

He also asked the Western Australian administration to create favourable conditions for Vietnamese nationals to live, work, study and integrate well into local communities.

Currently, approximately 15,000 Vietnamese nationals are living in and nearly 1,700 Vietnamese students are studying in Western Australia.

Brunei seeks closer ties with Vietnam

Brunei attaches importance to strengthening relations with Vietnam, Brunei Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade told Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Myanmar on July 8.

Meeting on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM) in Myanmar, Minister Mohamed Bolkiah said Brunei and Vietnam need to take specific measures to boost cooperation in an effective manner.

Meanwhile, Deputy PM Minh proposed that both sides increase the exchange of high-level delegations and enhance cooperation in national defence-security, culture, education, tourism, labour, and agriculture.

He also suggested that the two countries soon convene the first session of the Vietnam-Brunei Committee for Cooperation at an appropriate time in 2014 to deepen bilateral relations.

The diplomats reviewed the implementations of signed agreements between the two countries and exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern, including recent tensions in the East Sea.

Flag raising ceremony marks 47 years of ASEAN

The Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 8 hosted a flag-raising ceremony marking the 47th anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and 19 years of Vietnam’s admission to the regional grouping.

ASEAN was officially established on August 8 1967. Over the past 47 years, the regional bloc has constantly expanded cooperation and strengthened regional connectivity. The development of ASEAN is a result of the solidarity and relentless efforts in the ASEAN Community building process based on the three major pillars:  politics-security, economics and culture-society.

On August 8, ASEAN member countries will simultaneously hoist the ASEAN flag to show their determination to realise the ASEAN Community in 2015, promote the role and image of ASEAN in addressing the issues arising from the new path of development  especially challenges to peace, stability, security and development in the region.

The ASEAN flag is a symbol of solidarity and the principle and efforts of ASEAN. It also represents a stable peaceful, united and dynamic ASEAN community.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

ASEAN nations to join Australia's New Colombo Plan

Australia's Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has announced that all 10 ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have agreed to participate in the Australia's New Colombo Plan from 2015, which encourages Australian students to study at universities in Southeast Asia.

A pilot phase of the plan began earlier this year in two ASEAN member nations of Indonesia and Singapore, along with two other Asian destinations of Japan and Hong Kong (China).

Under the Plan, more than 1,300 Australian students are being supported by their government to study in the Asia Pacific region and Indian Ocean, with over half of them heading to Southeast Asia.

Bishop said in a statement that the agreement of ASEAN member nations to the programme will help youths in her country have greater opportunities to learn from Southeast Asian neighbours. The Australian Government has decided to earmark 100 million AUD (nearly 93 million USD) for the programme.

From the 1950s to the mid-1980s, the original Colombo Plan brought tens of thousands of students from Southeast Asia to study in Australia.

Quang Nam deepens ties with Laos’ Sekong province

The central province of Quang Nam and the Lao province of Sekong have agreed to further their links in trade, tourism, agricultural production, food processing and mining.

The two provinces made the plan at their annual meeting held in Tam Ky city in Quang Nam on August 8.

They will propose the two Governments to approve a project to upgrade the Nam Giang- Dak-Ta-Ooc border gate to international level so as to boost economic exchange and investment cooperation between Quang Nam and Laos' southern provinces.

Quang Nam and Se Kong will also continue cooperating in implementing the Agreement on Border Management Regulations between the two countries, as well as in holding joint patrols in border areas and education campaigns in border communes to engage local people in protecting political stability and social order.

On the occasion, the governor of Sekong handed over an investment licence to a Quang Nam-based company and presented 200 million LAK (24,874 USD) to Quang Nam’s Phu Ninh district to embellish local historical sites.

Quang Nam authorities handed over a kindergarten it built for Sekong’s provincial town.

Quang Nam and Se Kong provinces share a 142km-long border. The two sides have seen their cooperation grow in all fields over recent year.

GMS economic corridors forum meets in Hanoi

The 6th Greater Mekong Sub-region Economic Corridors Forum was held in Hanoi on August 8 to review regional countries’ achievements over the past years and cross-border traffic and trade initiatives.

The Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) groups Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and China.

The function, held by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MoPI) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), was attended by senior officials from the regional countries, and representatives of development partners and the private sector.

MoPI Deputy Minister Nguyen Chi Dung said although it takes time to develop economic corridors, this is the most effective way for the countries to enhance their connectivity, competitiveness and community spirit.

ADB Vice President Bindu Lohani said it is of importance to better infrastructure to strengthen the regional connectivity, especially traffic – the cornerstone of economic corridors.

Participants said the forum needs to focus on its core task of seeking ways to boost trade, investment and industrial development along the GMS’s economic corridors.

To that end, the countries should improve their transport infrastructure and facilitate trade and the development of special economic zones such as those at border gates, and export processing and industrial parks, they added.

The GMS countries organised the first forum in 2008 to bolster their effort to convert transport corridors into economic ones linking dynamic economic hubs.

Since 1998, the ADB has supported the formation of the East – West, North – South, and southern economic corridors in order to boost the region’s economic growth and cooperation.

Vietnam sees Cuban army as comrade, says official

The Vietnamese people and army share special friendship with the Cuban counterparts, seeing them as comrades and brothers, said a senior army official.

Welcoming chief of the Logistics Department under Cuba ’s Western Army, Maj. Gen Roberto Rodriguez Dopico in Hanoi on August 7, Lieut. Gen. Mai Quang Phan, Deputy Director of the Vietnam People’s Army’s General Department of Politics, said he believes the visit will help lift the traditional bilateral friendship and all-round cooperation, including defence ties, to a new height.

Dopico spoke highly of the achievements Vietnam has made during its national construction and development.

Both sides said they are satisfied with the growing defence partnership between the two countries over the past time, including in Party and political activities.

They stressed the need to raise public awareness of the enduring special friendship between the two nations and improve soldiers’ stuff and will, thus enhancing the strength of their armies.

VNA/VOV/VNN