Vietnam works with ASEAN on disaster response

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has affirmed Vietnam’s willingness to cooperate with ASEAN members in coping with natural disasters.

In his speech at the 2013 ASEAN Disaster Emergency Response Simulation Exercise (ARDEX-13) in Hanoi on October 21, Hai said natural disasters pose a threat slowing down the development process of many countries, including Vietnam, which is among hardest-hit countries.

He called for the regional grouping to work hand in hand in natural disaster prevention and control.

The Vietnamese Deputy PM highlighted the ARDEX-13 as an important rehearsal, which has shown strong ASEAN cooperation in natural disaster management- a prioritized area the ASEAN community given to stepping up cooperation with its partners.

The exercise gave regional countries a good chance to practice, share experience and evaluate their capacity in information sharing, search and rescue work, disaster emergency response.

Despite numerous economic difficulties, the Vietnamese government has always paid due attention to natural disaster response and helped other regional countries respond to major natural catastrophe

ASEAN Secretary General Le Luong Minh hailed Vietnam’s hosting the regional rehearsal, affirming that natural disaster prevention and control is top priority of the ASEAN bloc which suffered an estimated loss of more than US$4 billion annually.

The ARDEX-13’s aim is to promote the implementation of the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response (AADMER) and increase regional cooperation in responding to natural disasters, Minh said.

The exercise equipped with modern facilities will take place in Hanoi’s Son Tay township on October 23, with the participation of more than 2,000 people from many countries.

The ARDEX-13 is regarded as the biggest ever natural disaster response rehearsal in Vietnam.

Lao, Vietnamese inspectorates cement ties

Lao Deputy Prime Minister Asang Laoly on October 21 received a delegation from the Vietnamese Government Inspectorate led by Deputy Inspector General Nguyen Chien Binh.

The Lao Deputy PM said he hopes Vietnamese and Lao inspectorates will boost closer cooperation and experience exchange in the settlement of complaints and denunciations, and anti-corruption.

Binh briefed his host of the socio-economic situation in Vietnam and the outcomes of his talks with the Lao Government Inspectorate, saying he is satisfied with bilateral cooperation over the past time.

Deputy PM Laoly said the cooperation between the two Inspectorates has helped the two Governments combat corruption and deal with people’s petitions while expressing the hope that the two sides will work closely together to foster the special relations between the two nations.

The Vietnamese delegation is on a working visit to Laos from October 20-24.

President welcomes ITAR-TASS head

President Truong Tan Sang received visiting General Director of the Russian news agency ITAR-TASS Sergei Mikhailov in Ha Noi yesterday, Oct 21, suggesting he do more to foster the friendship between the two countries.

President Truong Tan Sang (left) meets with General Director of the Russian news agency ITAR-TASS Sergei Mikhailov.

Sang highlighted Russia's assistance to Viet Nam during its past struggle for national liberation and current national construction, affirming that the help would always be remembered.

He suggested ITAR-TASS and the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) increase the sharing of information in various areas, ranging from politics, investment and trade to society and culture, to reflect development co-operation and integration between the two nations.

Mikhailov expressed pleasure at being the first general director of ITAR-TASS to visit Viet Nam.

He took the occasion to extend condolences to the Vietnamese Party and State over the passing of General Vo Nguyen Giap, noting that the Russian people admired and respected the General, who made great contributions to the friendship between the two countries.

Recalling the operations of Soviet reporters in Viet Nam during the wartime, the ITAR-TASS official emphasised that mutual trust and understanding served as a good foundation for the two nations' news agencies to strengthen their co-operation.

Mikhailov informed the host that ITAR-TASS and VNA would hold a photo exhibition featuring the two countries' lands and people on the occasion of the upcoming visit to Viet Nam by President Vladimir Putin.

He affirmed that his agency would spare no effort to promote the traditional friendship between the two countries and boost co-operation between the two news agencies.

News agencies expand co-operation

Also yesterday (Oct 21), General Director of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Nguyen Duc Loi and his counterpart from the Russian news agency ITAR-TASS Mikhailov sought ways to expand co-operation.

During their talks, the VNA leader said that over the past decades, ITAR-TASS had provided VNA with timely, accurate and diverse text and photos, especially those related to the former Soviet Union as well as Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (SNG) today.

Visits by senior officials and the regular exchange of reporters had helped strengthen mutual understanding between Viet Nam and Russia in general and between the two news agencies in particular, Loi said.

The co-operation agreement inked between VNA and ITAR-TASS had been expanded to a broader level, contributing to tightening the Viet Nam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership, he added.

Regarding information exchange co-operation, Loi said that the two sides had supplied one another with information in compliance with the agreement.

ITAR-TASS has paid attention to providing information related to Vietnamese people living in Russia, while VNA has actively used economic and sports news and news covering SNG countries provided by ITAR-TASS.

Mikhailov said that over the past 60 years, VNA had become a reliable information source for his agency, not only in Viet Nam but also in the Southeast Asian and Asia-Pacific regions.

ITAR-TASS was willing to provide news needed by VNA and would discuss measures to expand information cooperation of mutual concern, he said.

VNA's online Vietnam Pictorial is the only Russian language newspaper published in Viet Nam, but it effectively contributes to fostering the traditional friendship between the two nations.

Over the past time, VNA and ITAR-TASS have actively exchanged delegations of senior officials and reporters to study each other's experience, thus further strengthening bilateral co-operation.

Additionally, ITAR-TASS has provided the VNA representative office in Russia with political, socio-economic, sports and cultural news, especially news about the Vietnamese community in Russia and SNG countries.

Meanwhile, VNA has actively assisted ITAR-TASS correspondents in Viet Nam in covering news and promoting their agency's relations with local agencies and organisations.

Vietnam-UK network helps promote bilateral strategic partnership

Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son praised the Vietnam-UK Network’s efforts in boosting mutual understanding between the two peoples at a working session with the organisation’s Chairman Ben Chapman in London on October 21.

Chairman Ben Chapman said while Vietnam and UK set up diplomatic ties 40 years ago, the image of Vietnam in the mind of many British people was only associated with war and rice fields.

This has prompted his network to do more to help his people have better understanding about Vietnam and contribute to deepening the two countries’ strategic partnership, he said.

Established early this year on the occasion of Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to the UK, the network has acted as a bridge to connect the two countries in trade, investment, education, culture and people-to-people exchange, through its links with the UK Foreign Ministry, the Investment-Trade Agency and the British Council.

Deputy FM Son said as a developing country, Vietnam wants to learn from UK’s experience in infrastructure improvement, human resource development, cultural and people-to-people exchange.

At the same time, Vietnam needs help in dealing with war consequences, mine clearance, English language training and tourism promotion, he added.

On this occasion, Deputy FM Son presented the Friendship Order to former UK Ambassador to Vietnam Warrick Morris (2000-2003 term) in recognition of his contributions to the friendship between the two countries.

He also delivered the Vietnamese Foreign Minister’s certificate of merit to Peter Lacy, Chairman of the Medical Scientific Aid for Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia organisation.

Deputy FM Son is on a visit to the UK and chair the third Vietnam-UK strategic partnership dialogue.

Institutional reform below expectation

Institutional reform in Vietnam has not achieved desired outcomes even though the Government has made efforts in this realm, said experts at a seminar in Hanoi on October 21.

According to Deputy Director of the Central Institute of Economic Management (CIEM) Vu Xuan Nguyet Hong said one of the reasons for this was economic difficulties, which have forced the Government to stretch thin its resources and time to deal with short-term issues.

The seminar was held by CIEM and the Swedish Embassy to announce a report on Vietnam’s socio-economic situation, which would serve as reference for the drafting of a Government vision and a roadmap for the vision implementation.

Acting Director of the CIEM Nguyen Dinh Cung said the Vietnam has risen from a poor country to the rank of lower-middle income countries over the past 20 years. However, many shortcomings and weaknesses in State management have shown during the process, he said, underlining the ineffective operation of State-owned enterprises (SOEs), the slow law making process and inequality in access to business opportunities.

In addition, the contingent of public workers and the operation of the public administration apparatus have not been able to catch up with reality’s requirements, which is a reason hindering sustainable development.

Participants were also told that there are many gaps in State management, particularly the management of SOEs, thus causing wastefulness of resources and inefficient capital use, negatively affecting the business and investment climate.

The report recommended developing a professional and proficient human resource to serve administrative reform.

Swedish Deputy Ambassador to Vietnam Maria Selin stressed that it is important to select the right mid- and long-term targets, and increase cooperation and experience sharing with international partners.

The draft Government vision covers issues related to the economic restructuring process, macroeconomic management and governmental modernisation with a focus on improving administrative procedures and giving people better access to information and services.

Security minister suggests stronger links with India

The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and the Indian Embassy in Vietnam should work more closely in combating cyber and drug crimes and join efforts to strengthen the growing links between the two nations.

Minister of Public Security Tran Dai Quang made the suggestion while receiving newly-accredited Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Preeti Saran in Hanoi on October 21.

In his opinion, both sides should further intensify links across security and home affairs by facilitating a number of high-ranking visits.

He noted with delight the close collaboration between his ministry and relevant Indian agencies over the past time, saying that it has strengthened mutual understanding and trust.

Both sides have proactively stepped up cooperation in information technology training, the sharing of information, especially those related to cyber and trans-national crimes, and the management of transport safety as well.

Saran vowed to do her best for the result-oriented cooperation between the two nations.

Vietnam shows desire for stronger ties with India

The Vietnamese leaders and people are eager to further strengthen the friendship and solidarity with India in the interests of both peoples.

Le Hong Anh, a Politburo member and standing member of the Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee told Indian guests at their meeting in Hanoi on October 21.

Anh described the people’s friendship festival which opened the same day as a contribution to enhancing the traditional friendship nurtured by late President Ho Chi Minh and late Prime Minister G. Nehru.

He thanked the Indian Government and people for their solidarity and assistance to Vietnam’s past struggles for national independence and current national development.

On behalf of the Indian delegation, Vice President Devi Prasad Tripathi and General Secretary Pallab Sengupta of the All-India Peace and Solidarity Organisation (AIPSO) said they expressed their admiration of Vietnam’s tremendous achievements in its Doi Moi (Renewal) process under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).

They also voiced the Indian people’s strong support for the development of the two countries’ strategic partnership and pledged tireless efforts to promote cooperation and exchanges between the two peoples.

Vietnamese, Lao inspectorates strive for closer ties

Vietnam and Laos have shared a desire for their Government Inspectorates to cement cooperation and experience exchange in the reception of citizens, settlement of complaints and denunciations, and anti-corruption in the time ahead.

It was stated by Lao Deputy Prime Minister Asang Laoly and Deputy Inspector General Nguyen Chien Binh at their meeting in Vientiane on October 21.

Binh briefed his host of Vietnam’s socio-economic situation and the outcomes of his talks with the Lao Government Inspectorate, saying he is satisfied with bilateral cooperation over the past time.

Deputy PM Laoly said the cooperation between the two Inspectorates has helped the two Governments prevent and fight corruption and handle petitions lodged by citizens.

He said he hopes both sides will work closely together to nurture the special Vietnam – Laos ties.

The Vietnamese delegation is on a working visit to Laos from October 20-24.

VNN/VNS/VNA