Party leader welcomes visiting defence ministers

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh said yesterday, Oct 10, that the Vietnamese Party, State and people’s consistent policy was to attach much importance to further developing neighbourly relations with China, Laos and Cambodia for the benefit of the people of each country; and for peace, stability, co-operation and development of the region and the world.

Manh made the affirmation while receiving at separate meetings China’s Minister of National Defence Liang Guanglie, Laos’s Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Defence Douangchay Phichit and Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Defence Tea Banh who were in Viet Nam to attend the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+).

Manh warmly welcomed the high-level delegations from the three countries, which he said showed their active support of the country in its position as ASEAN Chair.

He appreciated the outcome of dialogue between the delegations and the Vietnamese Ministry of Defence; expressing his pleasure at the developments of the Viet Nam-China comprehensive strategic co-operation partnership, the Viet Nam-Laos traditional friendship and comprehensive co-operative relation, and the Viet Nam-Cambodia long-lasting neighbourly relationship, as well as the efficient co-operation between the Vietnamese military and its Chinese, Lao and Cambodian counterparts.

Defence ministers Liang Guanglie, Douangchay Phichit and Tea Banh spoke highly of preparations for the first ADMM+ meeting hosted by Viet Nam’s Minister of Defence, saying the meeting was an important forum for defence ministers and militaries of ASEAN countries and ASEAN’s partners to exchange opinions, enhance mutual understanding and boost co-operation for the peace, stability and development of the region.

Minister Liang Guanglie expressed his delight at visiting Viet Nam on the occasion of the Thang Long-Ha Noi 1,000th anniversary celebration, affirming that the two defence ministries and militaries always complied with high-level leaders’ common perception that the two countries should join hands closely and efficiently to develop and deepen the Viet Nam-China comprehensive strategic co-operative partnership on the basis of the motto "Friendly neighbourliness, comprehensive co-operation, durable stability and future-oriented vision", and the spirit of "Good neighbours, good friends, good comrades and good partners".

Minister Douangchay Phichit congratulated Vietnamese people for their great achievements in their renewal progress, saying he believed that under the leadership of the Communist Party, Vietnamese people would successfully implement the 10th National Party Congress’s Resolution and organise the 11th National Party Congress next year.

He thanked the Vietnamese Party, State, people and military for their assistance to their Lao counterparts, affirming that the Lao Party, State, people and military would continuously strive for the Viet Nam-Laos special solidarity and comprehensive co-operation.

Minister Tea Banh said he was deeply impressed by the strong development of Viet Nam and the great celebration of the Thang Long-Ha Noi 1,000th anniversary, affirming that Cambodia’s Ministry of Defence and Royal Cambodian Armed Forces would closely co-operate with their Vietnamese counterparts to contribute to developing the traditional friendship between the two countries.

Manh asked the ministers to send his regards to General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and President Hu Jintao, General Secretary of the Lao Peaople’s Revolutionary Party cum President Choummaly Sayasone, and Cambodian King Sihamoni.

State President receives UK prince

“Vietnam wants to expand co-operation with the UK in the fields of economics, culture, science, education and defence and hopes that more English businesses will invest in mechanic manufacturing, transport infrastructure, seaport, aviation, finance and banking in Vietnam.”

The statement was made by State President Nguyen Minh Triet at a meeting with UK Prince Andrew, Duke of York, in Hanoi on October 11. Mr Triet expressed his delight at fine relationship between Vietnam and the UK in recent years, especially since the two countries signed a joint declaration to develop relations into strategic partnership.

He praised the UK Royal Family’s role in strengthening friendship and co-operative relations between the two countries and thanked the UK Royal Family, Government and people for their assistance in Vietnam’s national construction and development.

The UK can also open technical universities in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, said Mr Triet.

Prince Andrew congratulated Vietnam on successful organising the grand ceremony for the 1,000^th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and affirmed the UK attaches much importance to strengthening ties with Vietnam.

Prince Andrew said many UK businesses applauded Vietnam’s investment environment and wanted to expand their investment in Vietnam. He added that the two sides should further exchange high-ranking visits.

Vietnam wants to boost ties with France

Vietnam wants to promote its cooperation with France not only in trade and investment but also in culture, education, energy, aviation, water treatment and agriculture, said President Nguyen Minh Triet.

President Triet made the statement at a reception given to a visiting delegation of the France-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group of the French Senate led by its President Christian Poncelet in Hanoi on October 10.

The Vietnam-France relations are the ties of friendship, solidarity, cooperation and development, said Triet.

To further bilateral ties requires both sides’ efforts, he said, emphasizing the necessity for the two countries to have forums to discuss ways for the target.

President Triet welcomed the attendance by the French delegation at the grand celebration of the capital city’s millennium and asked them to convey his invitation to French President Nicolas Sarkozy to visit Vietnam soon.

Poncelet conveyed President Sarkozy’s congratulations to President Triet and other Vietnamese leaders on the occasion of the 1,000 th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

Vietnam and France share many cultural similarities, he said, adding that the two countries’ relations see fine development in various fields.

He highlighted Vietnam’s development and its role as ASEAN Chair.

Like other European countries, France praises Vietnam’s position and its role and wants to bring the two countries’ relationship to a new height, confirmed Poncelet.

Vietnamese, Chinese defence ministers hold talks

The Defence Ministers of Vietnam and China discussed measures to promote cooperation in training and joint sea patrol for peace, stability and prosperous development in the region and the world during their talks in Hanoi on October 10.

Vietnamese Defence Minister Phung Quang Thanh welcomed the current visit to Vietnam by Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie, saying that it reaffirms the traditional friendship between the two armies and people.

Liang Guanglie expressed his pleasure at the Vietnamese people’s recent achievements in national construction and defence-security consolidation.

He said he believed that his current visit will obtain fruitful results, contributing to strengthening bilateral cooperation in military and defence between the two armies.

During the talks, both sides informed each other of their respective socio-economic development.

Catholic bishops convene 11th assembly

The Vietnam Episcopal Council (VEC) convened the 11th assembly at the Pastoral Centre in Ho Chi Minh City from October 4-8.

Thirty three archbishops and bishops, representing for 26 dioceses nationwide, attended the assembly, which also saw the presence of representatives from the Religious Committees of the Government and HCM City. 

Addressing the meeting, Archbishop Nguyen Van Nhon, VEC President, highlighted the significance of the assembly, which coincided with the 350th anniversary of the establishment of the two first vicariates – Dang Ngoai (Tonkin) and Dang Trong (Cochinchine), the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam Catholic Hierarchy, and the 30th anniversary of the Common Letter issued by the VEC in 1980. 

The assembly elected an executive council, head by the Hanoi Archbishop, VEC President Nguyen Van Nhon.

VNN/VNS/VOV