Vietnam seeks stronger cooperation with Interpol

As a member of the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol), Vietnam will do its utmost to strengthen cooperation with the organisation in combating crime, says Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

PM Dung made the statement while receiving Interpol President Khoo Boon Hui in Hanoi on October 29. Khoo Boon Hui has been in Hanoi for the 80th Interpol General Assembly meeting from October 31 to November 4.

Mr Dung hailed the meeting’s practical theme with discussions focused on cooperation in crime prevention, especially hi-tech crime and pirates, as well as in improving capacity of crime prevention.

He briefed his guest on Vietnam’s major socio-economic achievements and said although the country has control crime, the fight remains complicated. He expressed hope to cooperate closely with Interpol in this field.

President Khoo Boon Hui spoke highly of effective cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and Interpol in recent times, adding that cooperation among national police forces through Interpol is of significance to global crime prevention.

He said he hopes that Vietnam will continue to work closely with Interpol for the sake of global security.

As many as 1,200 delegates from 188 countries and territories will attend the Interpol General Assembly meeting themed “Connecting police for a safer world - Strong partnerships, innovation and building capacity.”

VN, Japan opens fourth theoretical exchange

The fourth theoretical exchange between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Communist Party of Japan (CPJ) opened in the central coastal city of Da Nang on Oct. 29.

At the two-day symposium entitled “Capitalism and Socialism in the 21st Century”, President of the Central Theoretical Council Dinh The Huynh, who is also Politburo member and Secretary of the CPV Central Committee, affirmed the belief in the vitality and prospect for development of socialism based on great achievements.

In a report themed modern capitalism and the development trend of socialism, CPJ Vice Chairman Ogata Yasuo, head of the Japanese delegation to the event, mentioned the current situation of capitalism in facing difficulties of the economic recession and political security disorder.

Ogata also analysed two main characters of the 20th century, including the development and strength of socialist countries like Vietnam and China despite the collapse of the system of socialism in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and the overthrow of the colonialism regime.

He touched upon the strong economic development in socialist countries such as Vietnam and China, saying that capitalist nations have not yet had effective measures to solve the world’s economic crisis since 2008.

On the relationship between the CPV and the CPJ, Ogata said despites differences in history, operation conditions and tasks, the two parties have many similarities in their cause and goals. Both parties have increased exchanges to supplement their perceptions during the revolutionary cause of each party, he added.

VN attends 36th UNESCO General Assembly meeting

A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Thanh Son, Chairman of the Vietnam National UNESCO Committee is participating in the 36 th session of the UNESCO General Assembly that takes place in Paris from October 25 to November 10.

Representatives from 193 UNESCO member countries are attending the session, which is the first since Irina Bokova was elected as the Director-General of the UNESCO General Assembly for a new four-year term.

The session focuses on discussing and deciding on the organisation’s important and comprehensive reforms.

Speaking on this event, Vietnamese Ambassador to UNESCO Duong Van Quang highlighted the significance of the session, saying that it will create a breakthrough for UNESCO in the context of the organisation’s ongoing comprehensive renovations.

During the session, a number of forums were held on October 26 and 27 to provide more opportunities for countries’ leaders to raise their voices.

Participants at the session stressed the role played by young generations through a youth forum held from October 17-20.

According to Quang , Vietnam has paid a special attention to the biennial plenary session on the 1972 World Heritage Convention, which will elect members of the Inter-governmental Committee on Heritages.

With a number of UNESCO-recognised heritages, Vietnam will make efforts to be elected to the committee, he said.

On the sidelines of the 36 th session of the UNESCO General Assembly, Deputy Foreign Minister Son met with Latifa Akharbach, Secretary of State to the Foreign Minister of Morocco cum Chairwoman of the Morocco-Vietnam Joint Cooperation Committee.

At the meeting, Latifa Akharbach spoke highly of Vietnam ’s role and position, saying that the country has an important voice in the region as well as the international arena.

Vietnam is always an active UNESCO member that respects and promotes the organisation’s common values for the development and life of people, she said.

She expressed wish that the two countries will increase mutual support not only at international multilateral forums but also in the framework of the UNESCO General Assembly.

For his part, Son highly valued the development of the Vietnam-Morocco cooperation, expressing determination to boost the relations in the coming time.

He stressed that Vietnam wants to early sign agreements on maritime transport, investment protection, and oil and gas cooperation with Morocco in an effort to raise two-way trade to 100 million USD in the 2012-2015.

The two sides are speeding up the establishment of the Vietnam-Morocco Trade Council, Son added.

The Deputy FM stated that as one of ASEAN’s key members, Vietnam will serve as a bridge for Morocco to develop cooperation with other ASEAN member countries

Vietnam attends UN forum on human rights

A Vietnamese diplomat has said promoting and protecting human rights are always Vietnam’s consistent policy.

Ambassador Le Hoai Trung, Vietnamese permanent representative to the UN, made the statement at the 66th UN General Assembly – Third Committee meeting on the promotion of human rights in New York on Oct. 27.

Trung said the policy is stipulated in Vietnam’s Constitution and other important laws. It derives from people’s desire to enjoy socio-economic and cultural rights in poor conditions during the colonial period.

The Vietnamese people have risen up for independence and experienced many challenges for fundamental political and civil rights. The people’s endeavors to promote their rights have laid foundations for Vietnam’s achievements in its comprehensive reform over the past 25 years, the diplomat added.

The diplomat went on to say that economic growth, hunger eradication and social justice have boosted socio-economic rights and facilitated the implementation of human rights in other fields. The achievements in enhancing the legislative role and improving legal, judiciary and court systems along with administrative reform have consolidated mechanisms representing people’s benefits, he said.

Overcoming shortages and furthering efforts to promote democracy and people’s legitimate rights and benefits are orientations for a new period of reform, he said.

Vietnam attaches importance to international cooperation in human rights, said Ambassador Trung, adding that the Vietnamese Government is willing to join the UN and other partners in promoting and protecting human rights.

Vietnam has actively held dialogues with international partners on human rights and considered it an effective measure to share experiences, discuss differences and enhance cooperation and mutual understanding, Trung noted.

Vietnam highly values UN’s human rights activities and highlighted the UN Human Rights Council’s role as a forum to promote dialogues and cooperation, said the Vietnamese representative.

S Korea, Mekong nations hold ministerial meeting

A couple fish in the Mekong river in Vietnam's southern province of Vinh Long. Photo: AFPNorth Korea and five nations in the Mekong region held the first-ever ministerial meeting in Seoul on Friday.

The meeting was co-chaired by S. Korean Foreign Minister (FM) Kim Sung-hwan and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and FM Hor Namhong. The meeting also saw the attendance of Vietnamese FM Pham Binh Minh, Lao Deputy PM and FM Thonglouan Sisouthlith, Thai FM Surapong Tovichakchiakul and Myanmar Deputy FM Myo Myint.

The meeting was designed to set up a new cooperation mechanism between the S. Korea and the Mekong region, focusing on economic cooperation and development, political cooperation and the working mechanism of Mekong-S. Korea cooperation.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese FM Pham Binh Minh reiterated Vietnam ’s support for the Mekong-S. Korea cooperation, expressing his belief that the new cooperation mechanism would contribute to consolidating the fine relationship between the nations.

He also affirmed that Vietnam will take an active part and work closely with the member countries in implementing activities within the Mekong-S. Korea cooperation framework.

The meeting endorsed the Han River Statement on the establishment of the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Mekong countries and S. Korea for Common Wealth,” which set out future cooperation visions and orientations for the concerned countries.

The ministers also agreed to give priority to three cooperative areas, including ASEAN connectivity, sustainable development and development for people.

They also agreed to organize the annual Mekong-S. Korea ministerial meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and in the S. Korea every three years. The second Mekong-S. Korea Ministerial Meeting will be held in Cambodia next year.

The same day, FM Pham Binh Minh and the heads of delegation paid a courtesy visit to S. Korea President Lee Myung-bak.

On the sidelines of the meeting, FM Minh also met with his S. Korea counterpart Kim Sung-hwan.

Marine agencies agree on closer security links

The seventh Heads of Asia Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM-7) themed, “Boosting practical cooperation, sharing information, security and safety at sea” closed in Hanoi on Oct. 27.

At the event, 17 leaders representing marine police forces from 17 Asian countries and territories adopted the HACGAM-7 Joint Declaration which affirmed that cooperation is a foundation for building capacity at present and in the future.

They agreed that piracy and armed robbery were key global security challenges and reasserted the importance of strong measures against piracy.

Participants agreed to build a five-year action plan based on priority fields and the goal of capacity building for each coastal country, as well as promote cooperation in building capacity among member countries.

Under the chair of Lieut. Gen. Pham Duc Linh, Head of the Vietnam Marine Police Force, the delegates shared experience in building capacity, reviewed maritime security and proposed measures against piracy as well as large-scale natural disasters on the sea, to develop cooperation among marine police forces in a practical and effective manner.

Admiral Ramon C. Liwag, Commander of the Filipino Coast Guard said that the event allowed countries to build cooperative mechanism and exchange information, ensuring maritime security, rescue and safety.

Host country, Vietnam delivered a speech about the current situation and issues of maritime security and piracy prevention as well as measures to ensure peace, stability and naval freedom in the East Sea.

Tuyen Quang urged to boost economic development

The northern mountain province of Tuyen Quang should speed up economic restructuring by developing agro-forestry-fisheries comprehensively and raising industrial and service ratios in GDP, says National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung.

The province should mobilise and make the most of all resources to develop its socio-economic infrastructure system, said Mr Hung at a meeting in Tuyen Quang City on October 29 to mark the province’s 180th anniversary.

Top priority will be given to improving the quality of human resources in State agencies and businesses to meet new development requirements, said the legislative leader.

He reminded the province to ensure social security, reduce poverty, care for people’s health, develop education-training, protect the environment, and preserve cultural heritage.      

An important task is to consolidate national defence and security, maintain political stability and social order, and accelerate the fight against corruption, bureaucracy and waste, said Mr Hung.

He maintained that strengthening the united bloc of various ethnic groups and creating public consensus is the decisive factor in fulfilling targets set for the province.   

It was reported that in the 2005-2010 period, Tuyen Quang maintained an annual economic growth rate of 13 percent, with GDP per capita of US$702, up 2.3 times against 2005.

The province speeded up economic restructuring, with a particular focus on industrial production. Industrial establishments were built, including Tuyen Quang and Chiem Hoa hydro-electric power plants, Tan Quang cement plant, An Hoa brick factory, iron metallurgy mills, and especially An Hoa pulp and paper plant – one of the largest in Southeast Asia.

In addition, it developed large farming areas of tea, sugarcane, peanuts and oranges closely linked to the processing industry. In the review period, its annual food output per capita was 440kg.

Asphalted roads were built in almost all villages and hamlets, connecting them to commune centres. Provincial and national highways are being upgraded to facilitate trade exchanges between neighbouring provinces.

Tuyen Quang was considered the capital of the liberated area during the August 1945 Revolution. It was the place where the National Congress – the precursor to the current Vietnam National Assembly - was held on August 16-17, 1945 to make important decisions regarding the August Revolution.

Vice President lauds Australian assistance to Vietnam

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan thanked the Australian government for its support to Vietnam, especially provision of official development assistance (ODA), while receiving New South Wales Governor Marie Bashir, in Hanoi on October 28.

She said the Australian-funded project to build Cao Lanh bridge in Dong Thap province has helped improve traffic infrastructure in the Mekong Delta region.

The Vice President noted that the two countries are lifting economic and trade ties to a level on a par with their political ties and they should work harder to become one of the ten largest trade partners of each other.

She expressed hope that Vietnam will continue to receive Australia’s assistance in education, culture, agriculture and finance.

Governor Marie Bashir expressed her admiration for Vietnam’s impressive achievements in national development in recent times and confirmed that Australia attaches great importance to promoting cooperation with Vietnam. She said she believes that bilateral relations will further develop in the coming years.

Laos supports flood-affected Vietnamese people

The Lao Government has donated US$100,000 to assist people in Vietnam’s flood-hit regions.

Laos’ Deputy Foreign Minister, Alounkeo Kittikhoun, handed over the sum to the Vietnamese embassy in Vientiane on October 28.

Kittikhoun said although small, this donation reflects the strong ties between Laos’ government and people and the Vietnamese people.

He expressed the wish that the flood victims will recover quickly and get back to their daily routine.

The Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos, Ta Minh Chau, extended his thanks to the Laos government for their gift, which he said once again demonstrated the close solidarity and mutual support between the fraternal people of Vietnam and Laos.

Vietnam, UK boost all-round cooperation

Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son, and his UK partners have agreed to promote the exchange of delegations in order to strengthen the all-round cooperation between the two countries.

On the sidelines of the Vietnam-UK Strategic Dialogue, Deputy FM Son worked with John Vincent Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, and Skills; Alan Duncan, Secretary of State for International Development; the UK-Vietnam Parliamentarian Group, Prince Andrew’s office; the Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies (RUSI); and the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).

Both sides agreed that John Vincent Cable’s upcoming visit to Vietnam, scheduled for November 2011, and Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung’s visit to the UK, slated for December 2011, will boost the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership in all fields, especially in economics, trade, and investment.

The UK committed to providing Vietnam with official development assistance in the 2012-2016 period, with a focus on helping the country deal with the effects of climate change and rising sea levels.

Prince Andrew’s office and the UK-Vietnam Parliamentarian Group said they will cooperate more closely with Vietnam.

On the occasion, the RUSI and the Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies signed a memorandum of understanding on promoting cooperation.

Representatives from the Ministries of National Defence and Public Security also worked with their UK counterparts to discuss ways to enhance ties in national defence, and combating organised crimes.

PV