Party leader lauds community built by overseas Vietnamese

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh spoke highly of the development of the Vietnamese community abroad and their valuable contributions to national construction when meeting representatives of overseas Vietnamese who had returned for the Thang Long-Ha Noi millennial celebrations yesterday, Oct 6.

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh (first row, fourth left) receives overseas Vietnamese who returned to the country for the Thang Long-Ha Noi millennial celebrations. (Photo: VNS)

Manh said he believed overseas Vietnamese would continue their patriotism, strengthen their communities, and join forces to build a thriving Viet Nam.

He stressed that there were both opportunities and challenges facing the country at present so all Vietnamese people, both at home and abroad, must do their utmost for the common cause.

After affirming that overseas Vietnamese are integral to the nation’s growth, Manh urged them to make recommendations for the draft documents to be submitted to the 11th National Party Congress as a way to contribute to the goal of fostering a rich people, a strong nation and a democratic, fair and civilised society.

The Party leaders expressed his pleasure that many overseas Vietnamese had successfully invested and done business in Viet Nam, and that a number of artists had organised exhibitions bringing attention to the country.

Representatives said they were delighted to witness Viet Nam’s enormous achievements in the doi moi (renewal) process and national construction, citing the ongoing celebrations as evidence.

They thanked the Party and State for their support and promised to contribute more to the development of their home country.

Heritage site aims to lure investment from RoK

The Republic of Korea (RoK) Ambassador to Vietnam, Park Suk Hwan, is committed to encouraging businesses to invest in Thua Thien-Hue province.

The RoK diplomat told the provincial People’s Committee Chairman, Nguyen Van Cao, during their meeting in the central region province on October 6, that he would promote the province’s strengths and potential among RoK business circles.

Thua Thien-Hue is home to Hue Imperial City which has been recognised as a world cultural heritage site by the UN Educational, Social and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

The province has so far granted 11 licences for investors from the RoK, at a total capitalisation of US$560 million.

Most of their projects are in the hospitality industry, services, and construction and investment in technical infrastructure for industrial zones.

In addition to Foreign Direct Investment, the province has received the RoK’s aid in Official Development Assistance (ODA) for the construction of a 500-bed hospital at a cost of US$20 million.

Vietnam elected as IPU Assembly Vice Chair

Vietnam was selected as Vice Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Assembly for the 2010-2011 term at the body’s 123^rd session, which took place in Geneva from October 4-6.

Ngo Quang Xuan, a representative of the Vietnamese National Assembly at the IPU Executive Board was appointed to the post.

The Vietnamese National Assembly also assumed the rotating presidency of the ASEAN+3 Group and will chair the group’s meetings until the end of the 124^th IPU Assembly in Panama .

The Vietnamese NA delegation, led by Nguyen Van Son, Head of the National Assembly’s Committee for Foreign Affairs, participated in the 123^rd IPU Assembly, IPU executive sessions as well as ASEAN+3 and Asia-Pacific meetings.

The assembly discussed major issues such as cooperation between IPU and the United Nations, including results of the recent UN summit on Millennium Development Goals.

In addition, the session adopted a report on activities of the IPU President and General Secretary, considered the admission and dismissal of IPU members and observers, and discussed the IPU’s financial issues.

To prepare for the assembly and related meetings, the ASEAN+3 and Asia-Pacific Groups convened under the co-chairs of Thailand and India.

VNN/VOV/VNS