Deputy PM receives leader of Mainichi Newspaper

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has received a visiting delegation from the Japanese Mainichi Newspaper Company led by its Managing Director and Digital Media Division Executive Supervisor, Asahina Yutaka.  

At a reception in Hanoi on October 25, the Deputy PM praised the newspaper’s cooperation with Vietnamese agencies in co-organising the 16th World Police Music Festival in Hanoi.

He talked about Japan’s assistance to Vietnam in constructing a nuclear power plant, exploiting natural resources, attracting investment from Japanese businesses, training high quality human resources and issuing solutions to settle disputes over territorial waters.

Mr Phuc said Vietnam is a strategic partner of Japan and the effective cooperation between the two countries will serve as an important foundation for strengthening bilateral ties.

He said the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster caused by the recent tsunami and earth quakes in Japan does not change Vietnam’s policy in developing nuclear power for peaceful purposes.

Vietnam always treasures and effectively uses the official development assistance (ODA) provided by Japan which has more than 1,600 Japanese businesses operating in the country.

The Deputy PM said Vietnam always encourages foreign businesses to invest in the country but they should also carefully consider the relationship between employers and employees.

Regarding Vietnam’s negotiation efforts to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), Mr Phuc said the country is working steadily towards minimizing negative effects on its agriculture and farmers, who are most vulnerable in the process of international integration.

Vietnam always treasures peace and friendship with other countries, especially its neighbours, therefore the sea-related issues should be settled peacefully and equally in line with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the countries’ declaration in this connection, he said.

PM congratulates Jorden counterpart

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on October 26 sent a message of congratulations to Awn Al-Khasawneh on his election as Prime Minister of the Hashimite Kingdom of Jordan.

On the same day, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh sent a congratulatory message to his Jordanian counterpart Nasser Judeh.

US Defense University delegation visits Vietnam

Deputy Defence Minister Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh received a delegation of the Capstone group from the National Defense University in Hanoi on October 26.

General Vinh expressed his hope that the visit will contribute to boosting relations and mutual understanding between the armies and people of Vietnam and the US .

The delegation, headed by General Michael Williams, also worked with the National Defence Institute and the National Strategy Institute, met with teachers and students of the Diplomatic Academy and visited historical and scenic sights in Hanoi.

Venezuelan parliament leader to visit Vietnam

President of the National Assembly of Venezuela Fernando Soto Rojas will make an official visit to Vietnam in the near future.

The visit will be made at the invitation of Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam Nguyen Sinh Hung, according to the October 26 communique of the National Assembly’s External Relations Committee.

Vietnamese communists tighten ties with Russian comrades

A Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) delegation, headed by Politburo member To Huy Rua, has paid a working visit to Russia at the invitation of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF).

The delegation met with Gennady Zyuganov, head of the CPRF, and other leaders in Moscow on October 26.

The two sides informed each other of the situation in each country, and compared notes on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

In an open atmosphere, they agreed on measures to strengthen and improve bilateral cooperation, especially in the work of ideology, theory and party building.

In addition, they also agreed that both sides will step up efforts to educate young generations about the traditional ties of friendship and cooperation between the two communist parties and two countries, and encourage them to further strengthen the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia.

Zuyganov considered the visit by the CPV delegation as an encouragement to the CPRK when it is actively preparing for the Duma elections in December this year.

During their stay in Russia, the CPV delegation met with staff of the Vietnamese embassy in Moscow and representatives of overseas Vietnamese in Russia.

VN supports UN call for end of embargo against Cuba

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution on the need to end the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the US against Cuba with 186 ayes, two noes and three blank votes on Oct. 25.

At the UNGA plenary session, permanent representative of Vietnam Ambassador Le Hoang Trung said “ Vietnam shares the view of the international community that the US should end the embargo against Cuba ”.

The policies and measures in pursuit of the embargo against Cuba , including the “Helms-Burton Act”, go against international law and the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, hinder the development of friendly relations among nations, and violate the right of people to self-determination, to determine their political system and path of development, said the Vietnamese diplomat.

The restrictions in trade, finance and even travel continue to have serious illegal extraterritorial effects on the sovereignty of other states as well as efforts towards an equal and just global economic structure for the prosperity of every nation, said Trung.

Representatives of members of G77 group, the Non-Aligned Movement, the African Union, the Caribbean Community, MERCOSUR (the Common Market of the South) and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation strongly condemned the US embargo, affirming that it has violated the international law and gone against the UN Charter.

They demanded that the US implement the UNGA’s resolutions and immediately put an end to its illegal embargo against Cuba .

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla valued the international community’s support to Havana ’s legitimate struggle to demand Washington to lift its irrational embargo unconditionally.

The US policy on Cuba has seriously violated international law and human rights, said the Cuban FM.

Meanwhile, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitali Churkin affirmed that discrimination measures, including the embargo, are totally unacceptable in the current context and they are evidence of a rude intervention into Cuba ’s internal affairs.

This is the 20 th consecutive year the UNGA adopted a resolution on the issue.

Vietnam treasures traditional ties with Laos

Vietnam always attaches importance to and wishes to strengthen the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation with Laos.

Vietnamese National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong made this affirmation during talks with her Lao counterpart, Saysomphone Phomvihane, in Hanoi on October 26.

Phong expressed her belief that the Lao delegation’s visit will help to speed up the implementation of cooperative agreements previously signed between the two NA chairspersons in Vientiane .

The Lao NA Vice Chairperson affirmed that the Lao Party, State and people always remember Vietnam ’s support and effective assistance during their struggle for national independence as well as during the current national development.

He expressed his belief that the special relationship between the two countries will continue to be preserved and promoted in the future.

Earlier, Head of the Vietnamese NA Office Nguyen Hanh Phuc had a working session with his Lao counterpart, Ounkeo Vouthilath, during which the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation between the two offices in training officials in computer science and management.

UK, Vietnam boost defence and security research

A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) and the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI) in London on October 25.  

Accordingly, the two sides will boost bilateral cooperation in research, teaching, conference organization and other academic activities.

They will work closely in implementing research projects and publishing works on national defence, security and international relations.

RUSI Director General Michael Clark said the memorandum will create a corridor for the two organizations to find new and effective solutions to regional and international issues.

Hoang Anh Tuan, Head of the Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies under the DAV said the memorandum will also help strengthen the strategic partnership between the UK and Vietnam.

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