President appoints new Ambassadors

President Truong Tan Sang presented State Ambassador titles to Vietnamese diplomats yesterday.

The President congratulated the new ambassadors and said the Party and State highly recognised their contribution to the country's improved diplomatic ties with the international community, national development and security.

He said the diplomats must strive to maintain peace, stability, gain the support of international community and elevate the country's status to protect the country's sovereignty and national interests.

In their new roles as Ambassadors of Viet Nam, the envoys must continue to improve their qualifications and capacities as well as cultivate and mentor the next generation of Vietnamese diplomats.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh expressed the ministry's resolution to accomplish missions given to them by the Party and State and to contribute to national security and development.

Diplomats conferred ambassador-level titles

President Truong Tan Sang has conferred ambassadorial-level titles to several senior diplomats in recognition of their contributions to Vietnam’s external activities, as well as national defense and development.

At the ceremony on Friday, President Sang said Vietnam is entering key development periods with numerous challenges.

He underscored the importance of diplomacy in national construction and defense, saying it helps protect a peaceful and stable international environment, national sovereignty and territorial integrity, while mobilizing outside resources and international support for Vietnam’s construction and defense.

He called on the diplomats to exert greater effort to fulfill their assigned tasks to better serve national interests, highlighting the importance of training activities for younger diplomats.

Foreign female diplomats gather on Int’l Women Day

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) held a cultural exchange for foreign female diplomats in the northern province of Bac Ninh on March 6 ahead of the International Women's Day (March 8).

Addressing the event, Assistant to the Minister for Foreign Affairs Duong Chi Dung thanked the diplomats for fostering their countries’ friendly cooperative ties with Vietnam, saying this laid the good foundation for the country’s sustainable development and international integration.

On behalf of the guests, Iraida de Rondon, spouse of the Venezuelan Ambassador, thanked the MOFA and the locality for the warm reception.

She also expressed hope of having more chances to take part in various friendship activities in Vietnam.

At the event, participants enjoyed the performance of Quan Ho (love duet singing), Bac Ninh’s unique folk art which was recognized as part of the world’s Intangible Cultural Heritage. They also studied the process to make Dong Ho paintings, which used to be traditional home decorations during the Lunar New Year festival.-

Vietnam-Bulgaria diplomatic ties marked

The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) and the Vietnam-Bulgaria Friendship Association-HCM City chapter held a meeting marking the 65th anniversary of Vietnam-Bulgaria diplomatic ties on March 7.

Speaking at the event, HUFO Chairman Le Hung Quoc highlighted the traditional relations between the two nations, adding that Vietnamese people always remember and appreciate valuable support from the Bulgarian Government in the past struggle for liberation and the current nation-building efforts.

Bulgaria has trained thousands of officials, experts, and skilled workers for Vietnam, he recalled.

Oleg Marinov, Head of the Bulgaria Commercial and Economic Office in HCM City, said despite geographical distance, the two nations have nurtured their traditional friendship as well as efficient cooperation over the past 65 years.

He underscored that the Vietnamese people, who studied and worked in Bulgaria, are playing a crucial role in fostering the bilateral relations.

Over the past few years, the two countries have exchanged many high-ranking delegations and signed numerous cooperation agreements, laying down a foundation for their long lasting, sustainable connections.

Two-way trade has experienced an increase of 15-20 percent a year recently.-

Deputy PM receives new Singaporean ambassador

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with new Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Ng Teck Hean in Hanoi on March 5, during which he expressed his delight at the growing strategic partnership between the two countries.

Economic and trade links between the two countries have been expanded, he noted, adding that Singapore continues to be one of the largest investors in Vietnam with over 1,300 projects.

The Deputy PM pledged that Vietnam consistently looks to create favourable conditions for foreign investors, including those from Singapore .

He suggested that the two sides should work closely across sectors to enhance mutual understanding and connections.

The ASEAN Community, expected to officially launch later this year, will also present significant cooperation opportunities for member countries and Asia-Pacific states, he held.

For his part, Ng Teck Hean vowed that he will do his utmost to further the sound relations between Vietnam and Singapore .

He also appreciated that Singapore-invested projects have proven efficient and contributed to the partnership between the two countries.

Lao delegation visits Bac Ninh province

Politburo member and head of the Lao Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Thoonglun Sisoulith led a high-ranking delegation to tour the northern province of Bac Ninh on March 6 as part of their on-going working visit to Vietnam.

During his working session with the delegation, Secretary of Bac Ninh provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Nhan Chien briefed the guests on the locality’s prominent achievements in socio-economic development, especially its industrialisation effort and policies to attract foreign investment.

He affirmed that the traditional relationship between Vietnam and Laos – and Bac Ninh and Lao localities in particular – is continuously strengthened.

As part of the cooperation framework with Laos’ Houaphan province, Bac Ninh has provided assistance worth 16 billion VND (750,000 USD) to Sam Neua district for the construction of schools, Chien said.

As many as 15 Lao students have been sent to study in Bac Ninh Pedagogy College.

For his part, Thoonglun Sisulith, who is also Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Laos, hailed Bac Ninh’s recent successes and thanked the Vietnamese locality for the support to its Lao counterparts, especially Houaphan.

He expressed his hope that Bac Ninh will continue cooperating with and offering assistance to his country in the coming time.

On the occasion, the Lao delegation visited Do Temple in Tu Son town, Phat Tich pagoda in Tien Du district and Samsung Company in Yen Phong Industrial Park.-

Vice President meets outstanding war heroines

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan met 98 heroic Vietnamese mothers, heroines of armed forces, and outstanding members of the war-time “Long-haired army” and “three responsibilities” campaign in Hanoi on March 6.

The meeting came ahead of the 105 th anniversary of International Women’s Day (March 8), the 55 th anniversary of the founding of the “Long-haired army” during the anti-US resistance war, and the 50 th anniversary of the “three responsibilities” campaign, which contributed to the southern liberation and national reunification.

The Vice President hailed the women’s heroic acts during the war, which she said, have gone down in the history of Vietnam and added to the glorious history of Vietnamese women in particular.

Vietnamese women have brought the tradition of bravery into play and proved worthy of the words that President Ho Chi Minh used to describe them “Heroic – Undaunted – Loyal – Capable”, she said.

Established in the Dong Khoi (Mass Uprising) movement in the southern province of Ben Tre in 1960, the “Long-haired army” skillfully used three types of attack, including military action, political action, and military proselytizing. With their “soft power”, the women’s army with their rudimentary weapons struck fear into the heart of fully-armed enemies.

The “three responsibilities” campaign, which called on women to take on the responsibilities at work, at home and at the battlefield when necessary while the men were away fighting, was launched on March 22, 1965 by the Central Committee of Vietnam Women’s Union, in response to President Ho Chi Minh’s appeal. Only three months later, it drew 1.7 million women nationwide, from rural to urban areas, in every working field.

Tens of thousands of them volunteered to join local militia units or transport teams to bring supplies to the battlefields.

During the campaign, 42 heroines and 9 heroic units were honoured, over 1,700 were awarded with Uncle Ho insignia, while nearly 4 million won the title of “three responsibilities” women.