Indonesia hails Vietnam’s initiatives

As ASEAN Chair, Vietnam has made positive contributions to a number of programmes to cement ties among regional countries and proposed policy on assisting people in distress at sea.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa told reporters on the sidelines of the 17th ASEAN Summit and related meetings on October 28.
Indonesia will take over the ASEAN Chairmanship from Vietnam next year, and the country will continue to deploy initiatives and proposals put forward at the 17th  Summit, the FM said.
As a result, the Indonesian government will create opportunities to enhance cooperation in achieving ASEAN’s vision and successfully building an ASEAN Community by 2015, Mr. Natalegawa said.
The Indonesian diplomat described the participation of the US and Russia at the East Asia Summit (EAS) as “dynamic equilibrium” with ASEAN acting as the hub.
According to FM Natalegawa, “Connectivity in ASEAN is a prerequisite, a requirement before having a wider connectivity”. 
There are more than 700 projects in ASEAN to promote internal connectivity as well as projects to boost regional connectivity within the EAS, he said.
He also emphasised that ASEAN must not lose its leadership in the face of increased participation of powerful countries in the region.

Condolences to Indonesia

President Nguyen Minh Triet yesterday, Oct 28, sent condolences to his Indonesian counterpart, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, over the losses his country suffered in three natural disasters.

The tsunami and earthquake that hit Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra on Monday and the eruption of Mount Merapi in Java on Wednesday claimed the lives of nearly 400 people.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem sent condolences to Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa on the same day.

Vietnam affirms the importance of strengthening ties with Japan

Photo: VNA
Vietnam affirms the importance of strengthening the strategic partnership with Japan for the peace and prosperity in Asia, said Truong Tan Sang, Politburo member and Standing member of the Secretariat of the Central Party Committee, at a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister, Seiji Maehara in Hanoi on October 29.

Mr Sang welcomed Mr Maehara’s visit to Vietnam to attend the 17th ASEAN Summit and related summits. He thanked the Japanese Government for its providing official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam and expressed his belief that co-operative relations between the two countries are developing well.

Minister Maehara emphasized the importance of maintaining regular exchange visits and stated that the Japanese Government always attaches much importance to boosting ties with Vietnam. He said Japan is actively implementing co-operative projects to help step up Vietnam’s industrialisation and modernisation process.

Nation backs UN on Cuba

The Foreign Ministry spokesperson yesterday, Oct 28, reaffirmed Viet Nam's unswerving stand for UN resolutions calling for an end to the US economic embargo against Cuba.

Nguyen Phuong Nga was replying to correspondents' questions about the resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on Tuesday requesting the US to lift the decades-long embargo.

The spokeswoman said: "The Vietnamese people have always stood by the fraternal Cuban people in national construction and defence."

"Viet Nam condemns any unilateral embargo imposed by one nation on another and backs the resolutions passed by the UN General Assembly urging the US to end the embargo.

"Viet Nam holds that differences between the US and Cuba should be solved through dialogue and negotiation."

Deputy PM Khiem meets Myanmar's foreign minister

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem met Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win in Ha Noi yesterday, Oct 28, on the sidelines of the 17th ASEAN Summit.

Khiem congratulated Myanmar on its national reconciliation process and preparation for the upcoming general election on November 7.

He said he hoped the election would be successful and Myanmar would complete its seven-step roadmap to democracy.

Myanmar's FM spoke highly of Viet Nam's support for Myanmar's general election, affirming that the Myanmar government would successfully organise the event.

The new government would learn from Viet Nam's experience in economic development, he said, adding that Myanmar invited Vietnamese enterprises to expand co-operation and investment to the country.

HCM City wants to bolster NZ ties

HCM City wants to increase exchanges with New Zealand in education and training and human-resource development, said Le Hoang Quan, chairman of the municipal People's Committee.

Quan was speaking during a reception for visiting New Zealand Prime Minister John Key yesterday.

He said relations between Viet Nam and New Zealand in trade, investment and education had kept growing since the two countries established diplomatic ties 35 years ago.

However, he said there was potential that remained largely untapped.

Key said Viet Nam's abundant youth was a promising factor for strong development.

He said he hoped there would be further growth in education, training, food processing and tourism.

Quan thanked the New Zealand Government for looking after overseas Vietnamese and Vietnamese students, most of whom are from HCM City.

USAID helps Vietnam enhance trade

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced a US$11.7 million-project to support national efforts to enhance trade and Vietnam’s integration into the global economy

This was announced at a press briefing by the US Embassy in Hanoi, on October 28. 

Technical assistance under the project will provide experts and training and increase Vietnam’s capacity to carry out and enforce existing legislation to meet its commitments and seize opportunities arising from the current trade agreements, as well as from other international agreements, said USAID Mission Director Francis Donovan. 

USAID’s partners will work with the Vietnamese Ministry of Justice and other state agencies to implement the project.

Paraguay hopes to learn from Vietnam’s experience

Vietnam is a good example in overcoming the consequences of war in developing country, said Paraguayan President Fernando Lugo.

Mr. Lugo said this at a reception for the Vietnamese Ambassador to Paraguay, Nguyen Van Dao on October 26.

At the reception, Ambassador Dao informed President Lugo of Vietnam’s socio-economic situation, especially Vietnam’s experience during the renewal process.

President Lugo praised Vietnam for its achievements, saying it is not only a newly-emerging economy, but also plays an important role in the international arena.

He said he will promote relations with Vietnam in the political, economic, and cultural fields and invited Vietnam to attend Paraguay’s 200th National Day in 2011.

Mr. Dao conveyed State President Nguyen Minh Triet’s best wishes to President Lugo and said that Vietnam is eager to strengthen multi-faceted cooperation with Paraguay.

VNN/VOV/VNA