PM greets S Korean news agency chief

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday (May 28) welcomed Song Hyun-Seung, president of the Yonhap News Agency in the Republic of Korea, in Ha Noi.

PM Dung (R) receives Yonhap President Song Hyun-Seung (L) (Photo: VNA)

The PM praised the agency for its impartial coverage of Viet Nam's socio-economic situation, Viet Nam-RoK relations and China's illegal placement of an oil rig in Viet Nam's waters.

He asked Yonhap to continue objective reporting on developments in the East Sea, especially Viet Nam's measures to solve disputes peacefully in line with international law.

Dung said he was pleased at flourishing ties between the two countries and the co-operation between the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and Yonhap.

Song replied that his visit aimed at stepping up the partnership between the two news agencies.

Earlier, VNA General Director Nguyen Duc Loi had talks with Yonhap president Song Hyun-Seung.

The two agreed to foster the exchange of information on the Vietnamese and Korean communities living in each other's country.

The agencies also agreed to work closer at multilateral forums to improve the role of the media in solving regional and international issues of mutual concern.

After their talks, VNA and Yonhap signed a new co-operation agreement, focusing on the exchange of news in texts, photos and video clips. They will also maintain exchanges of visits by senior officials and journalists.

The VNA and Yonhap signed an agreement on news exchanges in 2007 and an agreement on the exchange of multi-media products in 2009.

President greets new envoys

President Truong Tan Sang yesterday hosted receptions in Ha Noi for the newly appointed ambassadors of Namibia, Lesotho, Papua New Guinea and Burkina Faso.

Receiving Namibian Ambassador Ringo Abed, President Sang expressed hope for stronger bilateral cooperation through the implementation of agreements reached during the Namibian President's visit to Viet Nam.

Abed said he would work hard to develop ties between the two nations.

At his meeting with Lesotho Ambassador Bothata Tskoane, the President suggested both governments and business communities increase visits to establish direct contacts, especially in the telecommunications, education and healthcare.

The ambassador said his country was keen to share experiences with Viet Nam on agriculture and fisheries.

Sang told Papua New Guinea Ambassador Peter Llau that Viet Nam hoped to discuss a double-taxation avoidance mechanism with Papua New Guinea to facilitate the trade of goods.

Llau said he hoped Viet Nam would back Papua New Guinea's bid to host an APEC meeting by 2018.

He suggested that liquefied gas production was a potential field for bilateral economic co-operation.

At the reception for Burkina Faso Ambassador, Ouedraogo Idriss Faoua, the President supported the ambassador's proposal to collaborate on education and farming, adding that telecommunications were also worth considering because it was one of Viet Nam's strengths.

Faoua said his country was keen on two-way tertiary education with Viet Nam as both countries were Francophone members.

Deputy PM welcomes CITES leader

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has called for more technical assistance to help Viet Nam meet its obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The Deputy PM made the request during a reception for CITES Secretary-General John Scanlon in Ha Noi yesterday.

Hai welcomed the guest's visit to Viet Nam, explaining that both CITES and the Vietnamese Government had a responsibly to implement a number of relevant documents like the Convention on Biological Diversity and the London Declaration on Illegal Wildlife Trade.

The Vietnamese Government had undertaken significant efforts to crack down on transnational organised crime rings engaging in the illegal trade, transportation, import and export of wild, endangered, precious and rare fauna and flora, Hai said.

John Scanlon congratulated Viet Nam on the 20-year anniversary of its accession to the CITES, expressing his hope for further information sharing and capacity building with Viet Nam.

He also spoke highly of Viet Nam's efforts in detecting and punishing acts relating to the illegal wildlife trade and its adoption of multiple legal documents and programmes aimed at preserving biological diversity.

Australian parliament boosts cooperation with Vietnam NA

The Australian Parliament attaches great importance to strengthening ties and exchanges with its Vietnamese counterpart, said Bronwyn Bishop, Speaker of the House of Representatives.

While receiving Vietnamese Ambassador Luong Thanh Nghi in Canberra on May 28, Bishop noted with satisfaction the growing ties between the two countries, and said along with government bodies, legislative agencies should better perform their role in strengthening bilateral ties.

She also spoke highly of the Vietnamese community’s contribution to Australian development, as well as to promoting cooperation between the two nations.

Ambassador Nghi conveyed the Vietnam National Assembly Chairman’s invitation to Bishop and other leaders, to visit and attend the 132nd Inter-Parliamentary Union in Vietnam in March 2015.

He briefed the host on recent key activities of the Vietnamese NA, including Constitutional amendments and thanked Australia for granting official development assistance to Vietnam despite its limited budget. .

Nghi reported on the recent situation in the East Sea and China’s illegal placement of Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf. He said that China’s move seriously violates Vietnam’s sovereignty and threatens peace, stability, security, maritime safety and freedom, cooperation and development in the region and wider world.

Bishop expressed her concerns over the escalated tensions in the East Sea and emphasised the importance of respecting international law to ensure peace, stability, security and maritime safety in the region.

Hoa community against China’s illegal acts in East Sea

The Hoa (ethnic Chinese) community in Ho Chi Minh City has expressed very strong disapproval of China’s illegal act of placing the Haiyang Shiyou-981 oil rig in Vietnam’s waters.

Head of the municipal Department for Ethnic Groups Ngo Van Trien was speaking during a working session between the municipal Party Committee and the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Popularisation and Education on May 27.

Hoa Intellectuals, traders, enterprises and students in the city have expressed hope that China will swiftly withdraw its rig from Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf as well as restrain itself to avoid causing conflicts between the two countries, Trien said.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Hua Ngoc Thuan said citizens have vehemently opposed China as the country illegally stationed its drilling rig in Vietnam’s waters, saying that the move seriously violates Vietnam’s sovereignty and negatively affects the countries’ friendship.

They have also shown their support for the Party and State’s consistent stance in the issue.

* Buddhist monks, nuns and followers in the central city of Danang on May 28 prayed for peace in the East Sea following China’s illegal act of positioning its Haiyang Shiyou-981 drilling rig in Vietnam’s waters.

Acting head of Danang’s Vietnam Buddhist Shangha Executive Board Thich Thien Nguyen declared that China’s deed seriously violates international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, to which China is a signatory.

It also infringes Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, threatening security, peace, stability and maritime safety in the East Sea, he said, adding that using force to pursue undeserved benefit is blameworthy.

The monk asked China to immediately end provocative acts that can escalate tensions in the East Sea and withdraw the rig from Vietnam’s waters.

Party helps Laos improve IT application

A project to help central agencies of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) in applying information technology has been successfully completed and handed over to Laos as a gift from the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).

The CPV Central Committee Office handed over the project to the LPRP Central Committee Office during a ceremony in Vientiane on May 28, which was attended by Vietnamese Minister-Counsellor to Laos Luong Quoc Huy and Politburo member and Secretary of the LPRP Central Committee, Bounpon Buttanavong.

Launched in January 2012, the project was implemented by the Viettel group at a cost of 3.5 million USD.

The project helped build a sufficient IT infrastructure system linking the LPRP central agencies with localities across Laos.

Addressing the ceremony, a representative from the LPRP Central Committee Office thanked the CPV for the meaningful present, saying that the project is strategically valuable in improving the agencies’ working efficiency, bettering the policy-making process and serving the country’s development.

Vietnamese in Ukraine on side with homeland: ambassador

The Vietnamese community and embassy in Ukraine always unite with the homeland and support the government’s measures to safeguard territorial integrity against China’s illegal placement of rig Haiyang Shiyou – 981 in Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone, said Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tri.

In an interview with a Vietnam News Agency reporter on May 25 in Kiev, the diplomat said they warmly welcome the government’s policies and guidelines of safeguarding sovereignty over seas and islands that Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung mentioned at the recent 24th ASEAN Summit in Myanmar and the Philippines.

Asked about the presidential election results in the host country, Tri said Ukrainians and expatriates, including Vietnamese, highly expect that the new President will make important moves, laying a foundation for national reforms after over six months of serious political deadlock.

He made it clear that the embassy considers the protection of citizens and their security as one of its top and pressing jobs.

It has instructed Vietnamese residents how to respond to contingencies, and launched a hotline with 24-hour support. No casualty has been reported so far, he said.

Vietnam, UK diplomats talk ties over phone

Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and UK Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Hugo Swire discussed over the phone measures to promote the

two countries’ strategic partnership on May 28.

They particularly paid attention to the priority fields of politics-diplomacy, economics-trade-investment, and education and training.

The officials shared the view that the bilateral strategic partnership has come a long way over the past time, and agreed that the fourth Vietnam – UK strategic dialogue will be held in Hanoi this year.

They also touched upon regional and global issues of common interest, including the recent developments in the East Sea.

NA seeks better notary services

Most National Assembly deputies agreed yesterday (May 28) for the need to revise the Law on Notarisation to improve the quality of notary services.

They were speaking at the ongoing seventh session of the 13th NA meeting yesterday.

The deputies particularly welcomed draft amendments to the law to expand the rights of notary offices to make them more convenient and to reduce administrative work.

They agreed with draft regulations to allow notaries to validate translated documents, signatures and photo-copied documents, similar to notarisation by Government administrative offices.

Deputies Le Minh Hien from the southern province of Khanh Hoa and Ho Thi Thuy from the northern province of Vinh Phuc said it was also essential to have regulations requiring notaries to be responsible that the content of translated documents conformed with the law.

Their discussion also focused on the working age of notaries. Deputy Dieu Huynh Sang from the southern province of Binh Phuoc agreed that notaries should continue working until the age of 65 regardless of their gender. Some deputies said notaries should be allowed to work for private notary offices after retiring.

Many deputies said notary offices must have at least two notaries to ensure efficient operation, adding that they should be strictly supervised.

However, a notary officer should be able to open an office in remote and disadvantaged areas.

Earlier the same day, deputies discussed draft amendments to the law on management and use of State capital in production and business.

Most agreed with the need for revisions to handle shortcomings in investment and management of State capital by some enterprises and to improve their efficiency.

They also discussed draft amendments to the enterprise law. 

US Congressman condemns China’s escalation in East Sea

US Congressmen J. Randy Forbes, Chairman of the House Armed Services Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee and Chairman of the Congressional China Caucus, on May 28 issued a statement condemning China’s continued escalation in the East Sea.

China’s continued escalation with Vietnam in the East Sea, including actions that have led to the sinking of a Vietnamese fishing vessel in recent days, has only reinforced the perception that “Beijing is willing to resort to military coercion to achieve its political objectives”, the statement said.

The United States should never accept the resolution of territorial disputes in the Asia-Pacific by military force or other forms of coercion, it added.

At the beginning of May, China illegally dispatched the Haiyang Shiyou-981 rig, as well as a large fleet of armed vessels, military ships and aircraft, to Vietnam’s waters and positioned the rig at 15 degrees 29 minutes 58 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 12 minutes 06 seconds east longitude. The location is 80 miles deep inside Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone.

On May 27, China moved the rig to the new location 23 nautical miles from the old site. With the move, China has kept on violating Vietnam’s sovereign right and jurisdiction.

Chinese ships have repeatedly rammed and fired water cannons into Vietnamese coast guard and fisheries surveillance ships which are carrying out their law enforcement missions in the country’s waters, leaving many Vietnamese ships damaged and many fisheries surveillance officers injured.

In addition, many Vietnamese fishing boats have repeatedly been disrupted in their duties and driven away by Chinese ships, causing losses of property. Chinese forces have also been responsible for beating and injuring Vietnamese fishermen, threatening their lives.

Workshop highlights 60 years of Vietnam-Mongolia diplomatic ties

The 60-year-old diplomatic relationship between Vietnam and Mongolia was the main focus of a workshop recently held in Mongolia.

Speaking at the May 27 event, Mongolian Deputy Foreign Minister D. Gankhuyag said that Mongolian leaders and people always treasure and wish to further develop the country’s friendship and cooperation with Vietnam.

During the workshop, both sides’ scholars delivered reports on the bilateral ties over the past 60 years, highlighting achievements as well as limitations in the fields of politics, economics, trade, culture, science and education.

One of the presentations stressed the importance of the Vietnam-Mongolia ties in helping Mongolia boost its political and economic integration into the ASEAN and Asian-Pacific region.

Regarding the current East Sea issue after China illegally placed its drilling rig deep inside Vietnam’s waters, delegates agreed that such small countries like Vietnam and Mongolia should unite and cooperate to form collective strength in regional and international issues.

Ambassador Phan Dang Duong took this occasion to thank Mongolian people and the Mongolia-Vietnam Friendship Association, together with the international community, for raising their voice backing justice and Vietnam’s legitimate aspiration to safeguard its sacred sovereignty.

East Sea tension affects regional security, say scholars

The escalating tension in the East Sea, a key navigation route as well as a site believed to habour vast deposits of oil, did and will have considerable implications for regional security, foreign scholars said at a round-table workshop in Singapore on May 28.

Discussions at the workshop focused on issues related to the current situation in the East Sea, including legal foundations for parties concerned to claim sovereignty, Indonesia’s role as a voice of moderation and mediation in the troubled waters, China’s sea strategy and the United States’ strategy of pivot to Asia.

Increased interests in the East Sea by countries beyond the region, such as India, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand, and possible scenarios for the East Sea situation were also put on the table.

Most speakers expressed concern about China’s increasingly assertive acts in territorial dispute with its neighbouring countries. They stressed that ASEAN and China should quickly reach a Code of Conduct in the East Sea as soon as possible, as peace, stability and freedom of trade and navigation in the East Sea are the interest of not only ASEAN but also other countries in the world.

Talking with Vietnam News Agency correspondents, Dr. Leszek Buszynski from the Australia National University’s National Security College said there is very little legal basis for China’s nine-dash line in the East Sea, and the Chinese themselves have great difficulty trying to justify it.

Meanwhile, Prof. Dr K.S. Nathan from the National University of Malaysia held that if force is being used to intimidate any of the other claimants, it will invite counterforce. “That’s why we see that other external partners are also getting more and more interested in the East Sea dispute because they are interested in the safety of sea lines of communication, the free flow of commerce, free flow of trade on which the prosperity of Southeast Asia and Asia has depended for a long time,” he said.

Many speakers said besides other challenges such as pirate, terrorism and human trafficking, water territorial disputes are posing the greatest obstacle to efforts to create a good order in ASEAN region. Therefore, Mira Permatasari, a staff of the Office of Private Secretary to Indonesia President said a greater role of ASEAN as a key driver is needed to solve the dispute.

At the beginning of May, China illegally dispatched the Haiyang Shiyou-981 rig, as well as a large fleet of armed vessels, military ships and aircraft, to Vietnam’s waters and positioned the rig at 15 degrees 29 minutes 58 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 12 minutes 06 seconds east longitude. The location is 80 miles deep inside Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone.

On May 27, China moved the rig to 15 degrees 33 minutes 22 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 34 minutes 36 seconds east longitude. The new location is 25 nautical miles from Tri Ton Island in Vietnam’s Hoang Sa archipelago and 23 nautical miles east-northeast from the old location, still completely within Vietnam’s continental shelf. With the move, China has kept on violating Vietnam’s sovereign right and jurisdiction.

Chinese ships have repeatedly rammed and fired water cannons into Vietnamese coast guard and fisheries surveillance ships which are carrying out their law enforcement missions in the country’s waters, leaving many Vietnamese ships damaged and many fisheries surveillance officers injured.-

Vietnam attends NAM ministerial meeting in Algeria

The 17th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Ministerial Meeting opened in Algiers, Algeria, on May 28.

Foreign Deputy Minister Ha Kim Ngoc led the Vietnamese delegation to the event. Themed “Enhanced Solidarity for Security and Prosperity”, the two-day meeting, discussed on global issues, including conflicts, terrorism and transnational crimes, smuggling, backward in technology and human right, and environment. Participants also focused their discussions to seek solutions to help the movement more active and closer.

Established in 1961 in Belgrade, former Yugoslav, the movement comprises nearly 120 member states and 16 observers, accounting for a half of the world’s population.

Iran currently holds the movement’s presidency and the 17th NAM Summit will take place in Caracas, Venezuela, in 2015.

Vietnamese in Ukraine on side with homeland: ambassador

The Vietnamese community and embassy in Ukraine always unite with the homeland and support the government’s measures to safeguard territorial integrity against China’s illegal placement of rig Haiyang Shiyou – 981 in Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone, said Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tri.

In an interview with a Vietnam News Agency reporter on May 25 in Kiev, the diplomat said they warmly welcome the government’s policies and guidelines of safeguarding sovereignty over seas and islands that Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung mentioned at the recent 24th ASEAN Summit in Myanmar and the Philippines.

Asked about the presidential election results in the host country, Tri said Ukrainians and expatriates, including Vietnamese, highly expect that the new President will make important moves, laying a foundation for national reforms after over six months of serious political deadlock.

He made it clear that the embassy considers the protection of citizens and their security as one of its top and pressing jobs.

It has instructed Vietnamese residents how to respond to contingencies, and launched a hotline with 24-hour support. No casualty has been reported so far, he said.

More draft revised laws come under scrutiny

National Assembly (NA) deputies on May 28 had group debates over amendments to the Law on Enterprises and a draft law on management and use of State investment in production and business during the 13th NA’s ongoing seventh session.

In the afternoon, Chairman of the NA’s Committee for Legal Affairs Phan Trung Ly reported draft changes to the Law on Notary Public on the basis of deputies’ feedback.

At the session, lawmakers gave opinions on regulations relating to notaries, compensation, translated documents, and the State management in the field, among others.

On May 29, the deputies will continue discussions in groups in the morning and attend a plenary session in the afternoon.-

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA