Vietnam-Vatican working group meets next week

The 5th meeting of the Vietnam-Vatican Joint Working Group will be held from September 10-11 in Hanoi, aiming to enhance relations between the two sides, Foreign Ministry Vice-Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said on September 5.

Hang added that the meeting will take place as part of an agreement reached during the 4th meeting of the group in June last year.

According to Hang, the Vietnamese delegation will be led by Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, while the delegation from the Vatican will be led by Under-Secretary for Relations with States Antoine Camilleri.

VFF President receives Lao Buddhist Coalition leader

Politburo member and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan met with the head of the Lao Buddhist Coalition Central Committee, Monk Phong Samauruks, in Hanoi on September 5.

Nhan briefed the guest on VFF’s operations and its ongoing partnership with the Lao Front for National Construction, focusing on creating a shared border of peace, friendship, cooperation and mutual development.

He attributed the development of the partnership to the efforts of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha - an active member of the VFF.

Nhan also thanked the Lao Buddhist Coalition for supporting Vietnam in the organisation of the UN Day of Vesak earlier this year.

Monk Phong Samauruks pledged to continue efforts to bolster the relationship between the two Buddhist organisations of Vietnam and Laos.

UNICEF vows to protect children’s rights

UNICEF will continue to assist Vietnam in perfecting policies and implementing concrete programmes to protect and take care of the nation’s children.

The statement was made by the UNICEF Representative to Vietnam Youssouf Adbel-Jelil at a meeting with Vietnam National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan in Hanoi on September 5.

During the reception, the UNICEF Representative also congratulated Vietnam on its achievements in taking care of children and implementing millennium development goals as well as resolving social issues and promoting economic development.

For her part, NA Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan expressed delight at the effective cooperation between UNICEF and the Vietnamese legislature in recent times, which has greatly contributed to child care and protection in Vietnam.

Highlighting the efficiency of UNICEF-funded projects in Vietnam, Ngan emphasised the Vietnam NA has committed to perfecting its legislation concerning child care and protection, while closely supervising the implementation of children’s rights.

She asked UNICEF to provide continued support for Vietnam in reinforcing laws on child care and protection, and strengthening the NA staff’s supervisory capacity regarding the implementation of children’s rights.

The Vietnamese legislator also expressed her wish that UNICEF will pay special attention to urgent issues such as the mortality rate among infants, malnutrition, safe water supplies, HIV/AIDS prevention, injuries, and education.

Malaysia’s National Day celebrated in Hanoi

The Malaysian Embassy in Hanoi hosted a banquet on September 4 to celebrate the 57th anniversary of the country’s National Day (1957-2014).

The event was attended by Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh and Lieut. Gen. Vo Van Tuan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army.

 Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Dato Azmil Mohd Zabidi praised the growing bilateral relationship that has constantly developed in all fields through regular exchange visits at all levels.

Deputy FM Vinh expressed his belief that with joint efforts made by the two countries’ senior leaders and people, the Vietnam-Malaysia friendship and cooperation will prosper in the future.

Vietnam and Malaysia set up their diplomatic ties on March 31, 1973. Last year's  two-way trade reached US$9.1 billion.

Japan friendship ambassador hailed

Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee Le Hong Anh has praised the contribution the Japan-Vietnam Special Friendship Ambassador Sugi Ryotaro has made to the friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between Viet Nam and Japan.

At a reception for the friendship ambassador in Ha Noi yesterday the Party official noted that in March this year, Viet Nam and Japan lifted their ties to an extensive strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia during President Truong Tan Sang's visit to Japan.

He suggested that concerned agencies of both countries, including the two foreign ministries, work hard to implement the agreements reached by their high-ranking leaders.

Sugi Ryotaro, who is also the Viet Nam -Japan Special Friendship Ambassador, said Viet Nam could be considered one of Japan's leading partners.

He said the development of cooperation between Japan and Viet Nam would benefit both countries as well as peace and stability in the region and the world.

Lao Buddhist representative visits VN

Politburo member and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, Nguyen Thien Nhan, met the head of the Lao Buddhist Coalition Central Committee, Phong Samauruks, yesterday in Ha Noi.

Nhan briefed his guest on the work of the Front and its partnership with the Lao Front for National Construction.

He attributed the development of the partnership to the efforts of Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha - an active member of the VFF.

Nhan also thanked the Lao Buddhist Coalition for supporting Viet Nam in the organisation of the UN Day of Vesak earlier this year.

Phong Samauruks pledged to continue to bolster the relationship between the two Buddhist organisations.

Kuwait-Vietnam parliamentarians group welcomed in Hanoi

Tran Van Hang, head of the National Assembly’s Committee for External Relations received in Hanoi on September 5 the Kuwait-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians Group, led by Chairman Khalil Abdulla Ali.

Hang highly valued the development of the two countries’ relations, saying that he hopes the two sides continue increasing exchanges of high-ranking delegations and boosting cooperation in economics, trade, development aid, labour and tourism.

He suggested the two countries’ legislative bodies share experience in law-making and monitoring activities.

Chairman of the Kuwait-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians Group Khalil Abdulla Ali affirmed that he will do his utmost to promote cooperation between lawmakers, governments and people of two nations.

He said he wishes the two countries further enhance friendship and cooperation in many fields with Vietnam, especially in trade, investment and oil.

More congratulations flow in on National Day

Leaders of various countries around the globe have extended congratulatory messages and letters to Vietnam on the occasion of the country’s 69 th National Day (September 2).

The well wishers included Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev, United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai Mohammad Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Polish President Bronislaw Komorowsk and Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

There are also messages from the President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambaev, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Bohuslav Sobotka, the President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka D.M Jayaratne, the President of Switzerland Didier Burkhalter the President of Sudan Omer Hassan Ahmed Al-Bashir and the First Vice President of Sudan Bakri Hassan Saleh.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also received congratulations from the Foreign Ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Serbia.

Lao newspaper hails Vietnam-Laos special ties

The New Vientiane newspaper on September 5 ran an article highlighting the traditional friendship and solidarity between Vietnam and Laos on the occasion of the 52nd anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties (September 5, 1962).

The newspaper stressed that the special relations between the two countries, founded by President Ho Chi Minh and his counterparts Caysone Phomvihaen and Souphanouvong and nurtured by many generations of leaders of both countries, have stood the test of innumerable hardship. It affirmed that the bilateral solidarity and fighting alliance constituted the decisive factors to the victory of the two nations in their two resistance wars against the French colonialists and American imperialists.

The special friendship and solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos have become a treasure for the two nations, the article said, calling on the next generations to continue to preserve and develop these ties in the interest of the two nations.

Special publication on Constitution unveiled

A special publication on the Constitution of Vietnam was introduced to scholars, researchers, legal experts and readers at home and abroad on September 5.

Entitled “The Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – A political and legal foundation for the country’s comprehensive revolution in the new era”, the book was published by the Journal of Legislative Studies under the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee’s Institute for Legislative Studies.

In addition to mentioning the major issues of the 2013 Constitution, the book affirms the fundamental values and basic objectives of the Vietnamese State while highlighting the new features of the Constitution regarding human rights, State apparatus, local authorities and the institution of the National Election Committee.

It also features articles written by the NA’s high-ranking leaders, including Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung and Vice Chairpersons Tong Thi Phong, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Uong Chu Luu.

According to NA Vice Chairman Luu, the publication is not only a useful document for NA deputies and researchers in the process of building and perfecting the legal system but also a valuable reference for the compilation of curricula for undergraduates and postgraduates.

The launch of the book formed part of activities to mark the 70th anniversary of the first NA general election (January 6, 1946).

Vietnam to boost trade union partnership with Poland

President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) Dang Ngoc Tung expressed his wish to foster cooperation with the All-Poland Alliance of Trade Unions (OPZZ) through increased meetings and information sharing.

In a meeting with OPZZ President Jan Guz on September 5 in Hanoi, Tung said the two sides should continue to support each other in international forums.

He asked the Polish side to support members of the Vietnamese community studying and working in Poland .

According to Tung, the VGCL has 8.3 million members in 117,000 trade unions all over the country. In 2018, membership is expected to reach 10 million, he said.

In 2012, the National Assembly of Vietnam passed the Labour Code and the Law on Trade Unions in an effort to better represent workers’ interests and protect their rights, he added.

However, in the context of Vietnam ’s increasing number of free trade agreements, the confederation has faced a number of difficulties in protecting workers’ rights, especially those not employed by the state.

Therefore, Vietnam would like to learn from international trade unions, including the OPZZ, Tung said.

On his part, Jan Guz lauded the VGCL’s achievements in ensuring the lawful implementation of workers’ rights.

Briefing his host on the trade union movement in Poland , Guz said OPZZ is working to have a greeter say in making social policies relating to workers and enhance working conditions.

He said he hoped the two sides boost their friendship and work together to strengthen their respective organisations.

NA’s external communications reviewed

A meeting was held by the National Assembly’s External Affairs Committee in central Nghe An province on September 4 to review its foreign communications.

Ngo Duc Manh, deputy head of the committee, affirmed that the work done by the committee formed a crucial part of the Party and State’s external information affairs, covering political institutions, and socio-economic and cultural issues.

Representatives of media agencies, ministries and various sectors of the economy pointed out opportunities to improve the performance and involvement of NA deputies, as well as enhance coordination between the NA’s agencies, diplomatic representative offices and press agencies in promoting the work.

They proposed the strict implementation of Party and State guidelines and foreign policy, whilst updating the content and form of all external information held and improving technical and financial conditions for the committee to carry out its communications efforts.

In its report, the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) acknowledged the contribution the committee’s work made to increasing the country’s position in the international arena, maintaining political stability and territorial sovereignty, and boosting economic cooperation.

Communicating the work done by the NA to the outside world is part of te VNA’s remit, the report said.

With its 12 different units, the agency produces a range of publications in a number of languages, providing information to international readers inside and outside of Vietnam, as well as Vietnamese expats.

VNA/VNS/VOV