Vietnam, Laos strive for stronger cooperation on religion

Vietnam and Laos have agreed to enhance their collaboration on religious issues through organising regular meetings to share information on and experience in State management of religion.

The agreement was made during talks on September 4 in Vientiane between Deputy Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Bui Thanh Ha and Vice President of the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) Chanthavong Senamatmontry.

The two sides approved the continued implementation of their cooperation agreement for the 2014-2020 period, whilst stepping up collaboration programmes on religious issues, focusing on improving links between Buddhist organisations.

Meanwhile, Vietnam and Laos will enhance communication between their peoples, especially the younger generations, and educate them on the special friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

During the talks, the two sides also briefed each other on the current situations on religion in each country. Both sides expressed their pleasure with the fruitful cooperation in previous years, particularly with regard to training.-

Hanoi meeting marks 66th DPRK National Day

A meeting was held in Hanoi on September 4 in celebration of the 66th anniversary of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s National Day, which falls on September 9.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Vietnam-DPRK Friendship Association Pham Tat Dong extended his celebratory wishes to DPRK Ambassador Kim Chang-Il, as well as the leaders and people of the country.

He congratulated the country on its achievements in national development and defence over the past 66 years.

Declaring that the Vietnamese people always value the time-honoured traditional friendship between the two countries, Dong avowed Vietnam’s support for the DPRK’s national construction and defence efforts for a peaceful, stable and nuclear-free Korean peninsula.

In recent years, Vietnam and the DPRK have enhanced their bilateral ties with a number of amicable meetings between the leaders, during which they agreed to continue boosting cooperation on economy, trade, culture and sports, whilst fostering people-to people exchanges, Dong noted.

On his part, Ambassador Kim Chang-Il expressed his hope that in future, the partnership between the two countries will be expanded to all areas, particularly politics, economy, trade, and tourism, thus benefitting their peoples.

On the occasion, an art performance was organised, featuring traditional music from both nations.

Leaders attend school ceremonies to mark beginning of academic year

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong beat a drum on the occasion of the beginning of the new academic year yesterday at Ha Noi's Nguyen Gia Thieu high school, which he attended nearly 60 years ago.

In his opening speech, Trong encouraged the school to further improve the quality of teaching and learning, both in academic and moral terms, and in ways that inspire a sense of creativity and self-directed learning amongst the students.

As the capital strived to become a modern metropolis over the next five years, the education sector needed to play its part, he urged.

This would require the efforts of all relevant authorities, organisations and industries, he added.

Later, he unveiled a plaque in acknowledgement of the high school's progress, planted a tree on campus and met with alumni and ex-teachers at the school.

To mark the start of the new school-year, President Truong Tan Sang has sent his best wishes to teaching staff, students, and parents nationwide.

The President praised the great efforts and achievements of the education sector.

He said this was the first year Viet Nam had implemented a Party Resolution on radical education and training reform to handle industrialisation and modernisation under a socialist-oriented market economy integrating into the world economy.

He told party committees, local governments, social organisations, and families to pay more attention to education and create more favourable conditions for its development.

The President also sympathised with the difficulties that teachers in remote and mountainous areas faced.

Also yesterday, senior officials of the Party and State participated in ceremonies at various schools throughout the country on the occasion of the beginning of the new academic year.

President of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front's Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan visited Nguyen Thien Thanh High School for Gifted Students in the southern province of Tra Vinh, where the graduation rate is 100 per cent and 80 per cent of students advance to university.

On this occasion, Nhan awarded 271 scholarships worth VND425 million (US$20,000) to disadvantaged local students.

He then participated in the inauguration of new dormitories at Tra Vinh University. The building can accommodate 3,500 students, with priority given to students from disadvantaged backgrounds and members of the Khmer ethnic group.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc addressed the teachers and students at Lang Sen primary school in Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district, in the central province of Nghe An – the late President Ho Chi Minh's homelands – and expressed his hope that they continued to strive towards better teaching and learning achievements in the 2014-2015 academic year.

Phuc also granted scholarships to 20 outstanding students.

That same day, Dinh The Huynh, Politburo member and Head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Education and Popularisation, attended the opening ceremony at Hoang Van Thu High School for Gifted Students in the northern province of Hoa Binh.

Meanwhile, National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong visited a number of schools in Muong Chanh commune, Mai Son district, in the mountainous northern province of Son La.

Vietnam’s National Day celebrated abroad

The Vietnamese embassies in some countries have organised a range of activities to celebrate the 69th anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day (September 2).

On September 2, the Vietnamese Embassy in Indonesia, in conjunction with the Vietnamese permanent delegation to ASEAN, held a ceremony in Jakarta to mark the day.

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Nguyen Xuan Thuy reiterated the traditional ties between Indonesia and Vietnam, expressing his gratitude to the Indonesian Government for its support for Vietnam in the past.

The diplomat confirmed that Vietnam always actively supports regional linkages through multi-lateral channels, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and considers building and consolidating strategic trust a crucial contribution to the maintenance of peace, stability and maritime security and safety in the region.

On the same day, the Vietnamese Embassies in Mozambique and Angola hosted similar events marking the 69th National Day.

On behalf of the Government of Mozambique, the General Secretary of the Foreign Ministry, Filipe Shidumo, praised the achievements gained by the Vietnamese people over the past years.

He expressed his hope to learn from Vietnam’s experiences in socio-economic development and national defence.

Ambassador to Mozambique Nguyen Van Trung highlighted the great significance of the anniversary, reviewing the progress made in terms of the friendship and bilateral cooperation between the parties, governments and peoples of the two countries.

At the same time, Ambassador to Angola Do Ba Khoa underlined the determination of the Vietnamese Government and people in nation building and national defence as well as safeguarding its sovereignty.

He expressed his hope that the relations between Vietnam and Angola will reach a new level in the future, particularly regarding agriculture, aquaculture, civil engineering, social welfare and labour, health care and education, trade, and technology.

Earlier, the Vietnamese Embassies in Belarus and Israel also hosted ceremonies in celebration of the National Day of Vietnam.

More National Day congratulations sent to Vietnam

The Vietnamese Party, State, Government and National Assembly continued receiving messages of congratulations from leaders of a number of countries on the occasion of Vietnam’s 69th National Day (September 2).

The celebratory wishes came from Sultan of Brunei Darussalam Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, and Singaporean President Tony Tan Keng Yam and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

President of the United Republic of Tanzania Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete and Uzbekistani President Islam Karimov also conveyed their congratulations to the Vietnamese leaders.

On this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh received congratulatory messages from Brunei Foreign Minister Mohamed Bolkiah and Singaporean Foreign Minister K Shanmugam.

Leaders continue receiving greetings on National Day

Leaders of the Party, State, Government and National Assembly have continued receiving greetings messages from their counterparts in various countries around the world on the 69th National Day (September 2).

Among the messages were those from Thai Prime Minister Prauyth Chan-ocha and Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia Peter Cosgrove.

Congratulations were also extended from leaders of Algeria, Bulgaria, Canada, Palestine, Pakistan, Romania, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Slovenia, and Israel.

On this occasion, Deputy Prime minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc received greetings from Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thoonglun Sisulit.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also got congratulations from his Thai counterpart Sihasak Phungketkeo and Foreign Ministers of Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Mexico, Romania and Ukraine.

National Day celebration in the US

The Vietnam Consulate General in San Francisco, California has hosted a flag hoisting ceremony honouring the 69th anniversary of National Day (September 2).

The ceremony was attended by Consulate General staff, Vietnamese community representatives in San Francisco along with officials from the US Department of State and the San Francisco - Ho Chi Minh City Sister City Committee.

Delegates toasted, wishing for the fine Vietnam-US relations and a deeper twin relationship between San Francisco and Ho Chi Minh City.

The Chief of Protocol for the State of California, Charlotte Mailliard Schultz, gave Consul General Nguyen Ba Hung a statement of the city and San Francisco county signed by Mayor Edwin Lee on September 2, 1949 which is observed as Vietnam-US Friendship Heritage Day.

Immediately after the ceremony, the Vietnam Consul General in San Francisco hosted a National Day reception with local authorities, diplomats and overseas Vietnamese in attendance.

VNA/VOV/VNN