Vietnam, Venezuela to optimise economic ties

There is room for Vietnam and Venezuela to beef up their economic and trade ties for the benefit of both countries, stated Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc.

During the fifth political consultation between the two Foreign Ministries in Hanoi on March 10, Ngoc affirmed that Vietnam continually focused on furthering the multi-dimensional partnership with Venezuela .

During the consultation, the two sides agreed that the third meeting of the Vietnam-Venezuela Inter-Governmental Meeting in Hanoi from March 9-11 presents a good chance to review and complete cooperation mechanisms while seeking ways to boost the bilateral comprehensive partnership.

The meeting will also discuss measures to expand collaboration in other areas, including energy, oil & gas, agro-forestry, manufacturing and food production, they concurred.

Venezuelan Deputy Minister Xoan Pablo Noya thanked Vietnam for supporting the late President Hugo Chavez as well as the current government led by President Nicolas Maduro.

He lauded Vietnam ’s achievements during its reform process over the past three decades.

Both sides also discussed regional and international issues of mutual concern and agreed to support the principle of settling sovereignty disputes through peaceful measures in line with international law.

They pledged to continue their close coordination at the United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement and Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation as well as other multilateral and international organisation forums.

Russia, Vietnam boost parliament cooperation

Russia supports Vietnam’s organising the 132nd Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly (IPU-132) and will send a senior delegation to the event.

Vice Chairman of the Federation Council of Russia Ilias Umakhalov made the confirmation at a reception for Vietnam Ambassador to Russia Nguyen Thanh Son on March 10.

He asserted that the fine development of the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership is partly attributed to close cooperation between the two parliaments.

The Federation Council is fully prepared to attend the IPU-132 in Vietnam and receive a Vietnamese parliamentary delegation to Russia this year, he revealed.

For his part, Ambassador Son reported that preparation for the IPU-132 is finalised and Vietnam is ready to host the world’s biggest parliamentary diplomatic event.

He also briefed on exchange visits of the two countries’ leaders in coming time, including Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Vietnam in April and State President Truong Tan Sang’s visit to Russia on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War.

Son highlighted recent progress in bilateral ties and introduced Vietnam’s dynamic development as well as potential and strength of the Vietnamese community in Russia.

He urged the Federation Council to create further opportunities for the Vietnamese community to develop their legal and stable business in Russia and support the development of the Hanoi-Moscow multifunctional complex (Incentra), making it a symbol of fine cooperation between the two countries.

Deputy PM urges for stronger ties with Lao, Cambodian localities

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh worked with leaders of the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai on boosting the locality’s relations with its Cambodian neighbouring province of Ratanakiri.

He lauded Gia Lai’s promotion of socio-economic and political-security partnership with the Cambodian locality, maintaining stability and development along the shared border.

He hailed the provincial relevant agencies’ close coordination with their partners in addressing illegal crossings.

The Deputy PM inspected a number of land markers planted along the Vietnam-Cambodia border crossing Gia Lai and Ratanakiri provinces.

Gia Lai shares a 90km borderline with Ratanakiri, including 20km waterway. As many as 16 positions have been identified to be marked by 20 markers on the borderline. Gia Lai has finished planting 10 markers so far.

Deputy PM Minh asked the provincial leaders and Border Guard to work closely with the Cambodian locality to complete the remaining work promptly.

In Gia Lai, he also presented 100 million VND (4,700 USD) to the provincial Association of Agent Orange/Dioxin Victims.

On the day, he also visited the Kon Tum province, during which he spoke highly the Kon Tum’s endeavors to boost ties with their neighbouring Lao and Cambodian localities.

He asked the locality to optimise the Bo Y international border gate, while upgrading other auxiliary gates.

Kon Tum should assist Lao and Cambodian localities in personnel training, he noted.

The province collected over 2 trillion VND (94 million USD) for the State budget and assisted 5,180 local households to get rid of poverty.

In 2014, Kon Tum also signed 12 memoranda of understanding with localities of Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and the Republic of Korea, while setting up twin relations with the Thai province of Ubon Ratchathani.

Meanwhile, the locality’s ties with the Lao provinces of Atapeu, Sekong, Slavan and Champasak, and Cambodia ’s Ratanakiri have been growing.-

Deputy PM urges Vietnamese Government’s history compilation

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has urged rapid progress on the compilation and publishing of the book collection “History of the Vietnamese Government from 1945 to 2015”.

During his recent working session with the Steering Committee for compiling and publishing the book, Phuc underscored the necessity of the project, saying that this aims to reflect comprehensively, exactly and systematically the establishment and development of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Government through its various periods.

He stressed that the project is expected to draw on lessons and experience to improve the effectiveness of the Government’s State management, contributing to building the State and national political system in line with Party resolutions.

The final collection will serve as an official document to introduce Vietnam’s Government and administrative apparatus to international friends, as well as a source of reference for people from all walks of life, Phuc added.

The initiative includes a 3-volume book collection focusing on the History of the Vietnamese Government from 1945 to 2005, published and reprinted with revisions and supplements, a 1945-2005 Vietnamese Government chronicle with five revised and reprinted volumes; a newly-published collection reviewing the history of Vietnamese Government from May 2005 to 2015; a newly-published book on the history of the Vietnamese Government in the 2005-2015 period; and a total recap of the 1945-2015 history of the Vietnamese Government.

The Deputy Prime Minister also stressed that it is necessary to produce other related products, such as documentary films and photos, to increase the popularisation of the History of the Vietnamese Government. He also underscored the importance of providing electronic versions for the archives.

According to a recent decision by the Prime Minister, the Steering Committee will be principally responsible for the work, focusing on overseeing the drafts and guiding the research, compilation, appraisal and publication of the book collection.

Other relevant bodies will be responsible for the provision of necessary information and documents on the topic per request.

Ceremony marks 40 years since Buon Ma Thuot Victory

A ceremony was held in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak on March 10 to mark the 40th anniversary of the Buon Ma Thuot Victory (March 10, 1975), which heralded the General Offensive and Uprising in the Spring of 1975 that led to the complete liberation of South Vietnam and the country’s reunification.

In October 1974, the Political Bureau gathered and resolved to liberate the South between 1975 and 1976. The Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) region was chosen as the key target for the first year of offensives.

From December 18, 1974, to January 8, 1975, the Politburo convened another meeting to evaluate the enemy situation in the South. They planned to free the South within 1975 if opportunities presented themselves.

Meanwhile, the Politburo and the Party Central Committee’s Military Commission chose Buon Ma Thuot, what is now the capital city of Dak Lak province, as the key attack point for the Tay Nguyen campaign in 1975.

Buon Ma Thuot’s position as the primary battlefield was strategically important given its proximity to Roads 14 and 21, a favourable route for attacking other provinces in the Central Highlands and central coastal and southern regions. The township’s location in the southern Central Highlands was also a substantial distance from major military centres, which would limit the enemy’s support for its forces there.

To prepare for the surprise attack in Buon Ma Thuot, Vietnam’s regular soldiers in the Central Highlands created a diversion to draw the enemy’s focus to the north of the region.

At 2:03 am on March 10, 1975, Vietnamese troops attacked Buon Ma Thuot from multiple directions. By 10 am the next day, Vietnamese soldiers had captured the Governor of Dak Lak province and had complete control of the township.

The Buon Ma Thuot Victory went down in history as one of the most resounding triumphs during Vietnam’s resistance war against the US. The Tay Nguyen campaign concluded on April 3, leading to the Politburo’s determination to free the South within 1975.

In the four decades since the battle, Buon Ma Thuot has enjoyed significant progress across sectors. It saw an average economic growth rate of 14.5 percent between 2011 and 2013 and a per capita income of 45.2 million VND (2,150 USD) annually, expected to grow to 50 million VND (2,380 USD) in 2015.

It is known for its coffee production and as one of the greenest cities in Vietnam.-

President gives gifts to northern border farmers

President Truong Tan Sang presented social welfare gifts to poor households in seven border provinces during a ceremony in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang on March 9.

Among the gifts, 13,000 tonnes of cement from the military-run telecom service provider Viettel were donated to locals in the northern provinces of Quang Ninh, Lang Son, Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Dien Bien and Cao Bang, in support of building and upgrading their own farms.

The activity is under the programme “Breeding cows for the poor in border areas”, which was launched nearly 9 months ago and raised a stock of over 13,000 cows, more than 7,000 of them have reached the hands of the impoverished.

This year, up to 24,000 breeding cows worth 360 billion VND (17.1 million USD) are expected to come to the poor in 11 border provinces.

On the occasion, the President asked for upgrading transport infrastructure in order to facilitate trade with other provinces and shifting the structure of agriculture by replacing low-quality plant varieties with high-yield ones.

To attract capital inflows, the Steering Board for North-western Region was requested to fine-tune policies regarding taxation, lending and infrastructure, among others.

During a working session with local authorities the same day, the leader called the attention to ramping up infrastructure, overhauling administrative procedures, cracking down on cross-border smuggling and improving the quality of local lives.

The call was made after considering that Cao Bang remains weak in agriculture, workforce and local competitiveness, particularly when Vietnam is also under pressure of global economic integration.

He demanded adjusting investment in farming, services and industry sectors and making thorough preparations for the all-level Party Congresses.

The same day, the leader paid tribute to the late President Ho Chi Minh in Pac Bo relic site and presented gifts to welfare beneficiary families in Dam Thuy commune, Trung Khanh district.