State President Truong Tan Sang will travel to China to attend the 70th anniversary of the global anti-fascist war victory on September 3, according to a Foreign Ministry press release.

The visit will be made at the invitation of Chinese Party General Secretary and State President Xi Jinping.

More activities mark diplomatic sector’s 70th birthday

Various activities continued to be held by Vietnamese embassies around the world to celebrate the 70th founding anniversary of the country’s diplomatic sector.

At a flag hoisting ceremony in New Delhi on August 28, Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh reviewed the establishment and development of the diplomatic sector since it was founded in August 28, 1945, highlighting its enormous attainments and contributions to the country’s growth.

He delineated that the sector has helped with the struggle for national independence and reunification and the defeat of the French and US imperialists. The sector also played an important role in breaking the economic embargo, taking the country on the road of international integration and creating a peaceful environment for socio-economic development.

Vietnam’s Embassy in India, set up in 1956, was one of the first overseas representative agencies of the nation.

Also on August 28, a ceremony marking the 70th birthday of the diplomatic sector was organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in China. Rare documentaries on the sector’s milestones were screened at the Beijing event.

Celebrations of the sector’s birthday as well as the 70th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day were also held in many other nations like South Africa, New Zealand, France, Italy and Malaysia.

Foreign congratulatory messages on Vietnam’s National Day

Officials from the Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs have sent messages of congratulations to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on Vietnam’s 70th National Day and the 70th founding anniversary of the diplomatic sector.

In her message, Head of the LPRP Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Sounthone Xayachack has lauded great and comprehensive achievements made by Vietnam in its national construction and development course under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam over the last 70 years.

She highlighted the important services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the country’s successes, saying that the body has worked to raise Vietnam’s position regionally and globally and foster special relations between the two Parties and States as well.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s message said Vietnam’s diplomacy protects the country’s interests and legitimate rights abroad.

The Russian diplomat also appreciated effective multi-faceted coordination between the two countries’ Foreign Ministries and expressed his hope that the two agencies will continuously maintain their close links in order to further step up the Vietnam-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.-

HCM City celebrates Malaysian National Day

The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) and the city’s Vietnam-Malaysia Friendship Association (HVMFA) celebrated Malaysia’s 58th National Day (August 31) on August 28.

Speaking at the celebration, HVMFA President Nguyen Thi Lien said the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Malaysia has been bolstered and developed in multiple areas since the two countries officially established diplomatic ties over four decades ago.

The two sides have accelerated delegation exchanges at all levels while working closely and supporting each other at both regional and international forums, she noted.

She affirmed that Malaysia is among Vietnam’s ten largest trade partners and ranks eighth out of 101 investing countries and territories while Vietnam is operating eleven investment projects worth more than 800 million USD in Malaysia.

Bilateral cooperation in tourism, security-defence and labour has seen great progress in recent years, benefiting both sides, she added.

According to Lien, Ho Chi Minh City and Malaysia have maintained strong cooperation in politics and external affairs activities as well as people-to-people exchange.

For his part, Malaysian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Sofian Akmal Bin Abd. Karim spoke highly of the 40-year development of the countries’ relations, highlighting that Vietnam, particularly Ho Chi Minh City, is a favourite holiday destination of Malaysian nationals.

As the chair of ASEAN for 2015 and working towards its theme of chairmanship – “Our People, Our Community, Our Vision”, Malaysia looks to coordinate with Vietnam and other ASEAN member states to bring people closer to each other and create a people-centred ASEAN community, he stressed.

VN attends women's assembly

National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan joined nearly 150 delegates from 40 countries in the World Assembly for Women (WAW), which opened in Tokyo, Japan yesterday.

Speaking at the event, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe highlighted his country's achievements in women's development over the last two decades, citing a 30-per-cent increase in the number of women holding managerial positions in the country as an example.

He underlined the important role played by women in society and called for stronger involvement from women in various fields, as well as more international efforts to include them.

Participating delegates presented reports and gave opinions related to women's education and support to female Asian entrepreneurs.

On the second working day, delegates will discuss the topic in groups, focusing on issues such as women and economy, global issues for women, women's empowerment and women in the natural sciences.

Diplomats win Golden Star

The diplomatic sector received the Golden Star Order – the noblest order of Viet Nam — for the second time at a ceremony marking its 70th founding anniversary (August 28, 1945) in Ha Noi yesterday.

At the event, President Truong Tan Sang said the order illustrated the Party, State and people's recognition of the great contributions of the service.

During the 70-year course of national development, the diplomatic service has assisted with revolutionary missions. It has taken the lead in coping with internal and external enemies while effectively coordinating with political and military forces to win over international support for Viet Nam's struggles.

The President highlighted the service's dedication over the past 30 years of "doi moi" (reform), elaborating that while Viet Nam had diplomatic relations with only 11 countries in 1954, it has set up official ties with 185 countries and promoted economic, trade and investment cooperation with 224 markets around the globe at present.

He emphasised that this is the first time Viet Nam has had such widespread, equal and friendly foreign relations; a peaceful and stable international environment; and strong and favourable standing in the global arena.

They should also unceasingly renew their thinking, he said, urging the service to enhance research studies and forecasting to issue timely and efficient strategies and policies, ultimately ensuring national benefits and creating the best conditions for the country's growth.

On behalf of the diplomatic staff, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh expressed his honour to receive the Golden Star Order and pledged the service's resolve to uphold its 70-year tradition and devotion to the country's development and protection.

Lao PM hails military ties

Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong applauded effective co-operation between Viet Nam's and Laos' armies, which has helped them build peaceful, stable borders.

At a reception for Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Do Ba Ty, chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army, in Vientiane yesterday, Laos' PM said enhancing military co-operation was essential to deepening relations between the two armies and countries.

Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong thanked the Vietnamese Party, State, people and army for their support in the resistance wars against French and US forces, as well as in peace time.

For his part, Ty briefed the host on co-operation between the two nations' defence ministries and plans to develop bilateral ties.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese and Lao defence ministries have worked closely on political work, delegation exchanges, training and military aid reform.

Universal values of Declaration of Independence examined

A symposium was held in Hanoi on August 28 to provide more insight into the national and global values of the Declaration of Independence of Vietnam, written by late President Ho Chi Minh in 1945.

Seven decades ago, revolutionary forces led by the Party and Ho Chi Minh successfully conducted a general uprising against the French colonialists. On behalf of the caretaker revolutionary Government, President Ho Chi Minh on September 2, 1945 read the Declaration of Independence, proclaiming Vietnam’s independence and the foundation of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

At the symposium, scientists dug deep into the Declaration’s significance and values, which they said was the crystallisation of the traditional patriotism and the entire nation’s aspiration for independence and freedom, as well as its role in opening up a new era in Vietnam’s history – the era of independence, freedom and happiness.

They also clarified the document’s significance to the national liberation movements around the globe and the development of humankind’s thought about human rights and the right to self-determination.

Speeches also highlighted the lofty humane values of Vietnam and the world crystallised in the Declaration, which is still relevant in the current domestic and international situation.

The function, an activity to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day (September 2), was held by the Ho Chi Minh Museum, the archives department of the Party Central Committee Office, the President Ho Chi Minh relic site, and the Institute for Studies on Ho Chi Minh and Party leaders.

Also on August 28, the symposium organisers opened an exhibition on the 70-year process of building a State “of the people, by the people and for the people” under Ho Chi Minh’s ideology.

The display featured more than 200 photos and items illustrating the establishment of Vietnam, the consolidation of all-level authorities and the legal system, the social, economic and cultural development, and the mobilisation of all people in the national protection.

VNA/VNS