VN seeks Walmart support in TPP talks

Viet Nam hopes to have the support of major US retail corporation Walmart in the ongoing Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations as well as free trade pacts with other countries, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh said yesterday, Jan 7.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh meets Vice President, Home and Apparels of Walmart Global Sourcing, Bill Foudy in Ha Noi yesterday.

Receiving Bill Foudy, Vice President, Home and Apparels of Walmart Global Sourcing, in Ha Noi yesterday, Ninh said he highly valued the attention paid by Walmart to the Vietnamese market, as well as its intention to buy Vietnamese goods for its outlets in the US and other countries.

Foudy told the Deputy PM that Walmart hoped to establish its retail outlets in Viet Nam in the near future.

Kraig Biocraft Laboratories CEO welcomed in Hanoi

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh on January 8 received President, Chief Executive Officer, Director of Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc, Kim Thompson who is on a working visit to Vietnam.

At the reception, Ninh expressed his satisfaction with the positive developments of Vietnam-US relations over the years, noting that both nations are working together for the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) to deal with problems from bilateral economic and trade ties.

The US is Vietnam’s leading trade partner and seventh biggest direct investor.

Deputy PM Ninh appreciated Kraig Biocraft Laboratories Inc’s attention given to the Vietnamese market and its intention to develop a new silk technology project in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese Government will carefully study the project to make it produce practical efficiency after it is operational, he said.

Thompson said after his group’s fact-finding trip to some provinces, Lam Dong has been selected for Kraig Biocraft Laboratories’ investment.

He said he hopes the silk project will help further strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

PM: Policies on natural resources need prioritising

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has urged the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to prioritise completing its policies, especially five decrees guiding the execution of the revised Land Law and related circulars to ensure the law takes effect on July 1.

At a conference on implementing the 2014 State management of natural resources and environment in Hanoi on January 7, PM Dung asked the ministry to continue popularising new points of the revised law, which was approved at the 13th National Assembly’s sixth session in late November.

The ministry was also instructed to tighten management of the operation of reservoirs in both dry and rainy seasons in order to ensure they serve the purpose of easing floods during raining season while supplying water to people for daily activities and production in dry weather.

The Government leader required the ministry to work harder in addressing biological diversity regression and environmental pollution in river basins, trade villages and industrial zones. The ministry should closely coordinate with the environment police in investigating major polluting cases, he said.

At the same time, the PM emphasised the need to complete specific scenarios on climate change of each locality so as to have appropriate measures to minimise the negative consequences of the phenomenon on the socio-economic development of the locality in particular and the nation as a whole.

PM Dung also expressed his hope that the ministry will speedily raise the capacity of State management agencies on sea and islands from the central to grassroots levels, as well as intensify the educational campaigns on the important role of sea and island management in the country’s socio-economic development.

In 2013, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment completed most its tasks, particularly in drafting stipulations on land management in the revised Constitution and the revised Land Law which were passed by the National Assembly in November.

However, apart from important gained results, the natural resources and environmental management task still faced shortcomings, especially in dealing with land-related petitions and management of mineral exploitation in combination with environmental protection.

Meanwhile, Vietnam ’s natural resources have yet to be put into full use to serve the country’s sustainable socio-economic development.

Inspector General Huynh PhongTranh called for closer coordination between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the government inspectorate to reduce land-related petitions.

Deputy PM calls for closer ties with India

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc proposed boosting all-round links with India at a reception in Ha Noi yesterday (Jan 7) for President of the India–ASEAN Business Promotion Council Shantanu Srivastava.

The co-operation would cover economics, trade, investment, energy, tourism, national defence, science-technology and culture.

The Deputy PM expected the move to foster the two countries' traditional friendship and existing bilateral strategic partnership.

Srivastava appreciated the enthusiastic support of the Vietnamese government for Indian investors in the past years and hoped it would continue. He also expressed desire that both sides hold annual Culture Days.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai sought partnership in economic restructuring, including public investment, finance-banking and human resources, as he greeted Vice President of the Italian Chamber of Deputies Marina Sereni in Ha Noi yesterday, Jan 7.

Deputy PM Hai thanked the Italian government and people for their continued support to Viet Nam, particularly the provision of official development assistance.

The Government of Viet Nam wanted more Italian investment in oil and gas, manufacturing, small and medium-scale business, scientific and technological transfer, tourism and cultural exchange, he noted.

Sereni said the joint declaration on the establishment of a strategic partnership and an action plan signed by both countries' leaders in 2013 would lay the groundwork for concrete actions.

She agreed with her host that Viet Nam and Italy needed to expand partnerships, especially in business and investment, adding that Italy was encouraging more investment in technology and an extension of commercial reach at home, in EU markets and beyond.

President urges military training in new period

President Truong Tan Sang on January 7 urged the Army Corps No. 1 to strengthen military training, especially in the new period.

At a working session with the corp’s officers, the President said the harder the training is, the less blood shed on the battlefield. He asked the unit to build on its glorious tradition and heighten its strength to meet the requirement of national construction and defence in the new situation.

The 40-year-old Army Corps No. 1 has fought in the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign to liberate the South, leading to national reunification.

The corp also played an important role in the wars to defend the country’s northern and southwestern border regions.

Ho Chi Minh memorial inaugurated in Ca Mau

The southernmost province of Ca Mau on December 5 hosted a ceremony to inaugurate the extension to the local Ho Chi Minh memorial site.

The original memorial was built in 1994, with a stilt house modelled after the house where the President lived in Ha Noi.

With the purpose of turning the site into a venue for important socio-political activities and education on patriotism, the province started a project to upgrade and extend the site in early 2011.

The expanded memorial site covers an area of 62,200 sq.m. in Ca Mau city. The project had total investment of 80 billion VND, of which 60 billion VND was donated by the Viet Nam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) and the real estate Vingroup (VIC).

Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Pham Thanh Tuoi asked the site's management to organise regular activities for young people to help them learn about the country's beloved leaders.

On the occasion, Ca Mau province launched a patriotic emulat ion movement in 2014 in accordance with Uncle Ho's appeal "Emulation is patriotism".

VN eager to deepen ties with UK

Viet Nam will join hands with the United Kingdom (UK) to deepen the two countries' relations, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has said.

Receiving British Minister without Portfolio Grant Shapps on January 6, Dam urged both countries to intensify economic co-operation, as well as trade and investment promotion activities.

He also expressed hope that Britain would back Viet Nam's negotiations for a free trade agreement with the EU, while continuing to provide official development assistance to Viet Nam. Viet Nam wishes for further British investment in the education sector, he added.

Grant Shapps said the UK continues to place importance on developing its cooperation with Viet Nam and would try its best to implement previous agreements reached by the two countries.

British businesses are very interested in investing in Viet Nam and are hoping that the Vietnamese Government will create favourable conditions for them to invest in property, construction, educational services and machinery manufacturing in the Southeast Asian country, he remarked.

He also proposed that the two sides strengthen cultural exchanges and economic co-operation.

The UK is willing to share its experiences with Viet Nam, so that the country can successfully host the 2019 Asian Games (ASIAD), which will further contribute to deepening the friendship and mutual understanding between the two nations, he added.

Vietnam, Laos work closer to repatriate remains

Vietnamese Defence Minister Phung Quang Thanh and his Lao counterpart Douangchay Phichith have agreed to intensify the search for and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who laid down their lives in Laos.

At their talks in the Lao capital Vientiane on January 6, both ministers voiced their pleasure at practical cooperation outcomes in various fields.

They agreed that the two sides will increase collaboration in such spheres as personnel training, experience and delegation exchanges, and the building of a friendly and sustainable borderline.

The two officials were also updated on each country's socio-economic situation, the ministries' operations and issues of mutual concern.

The Lao host thanked Vietnam and its army for their practical help to Laos, adding that the Lao People's Army together with the Vietnamese army will nurture the sustainable development of the countries' special ties.

For his part, the Vietnamese minister conveyed his congratulations on the 65 th founding anniversary of the Lao People's Army and said Vietnam will exert all efforts to develop both countries' relations for regional and international peace and stability.

During their stay in Laos, members of the Vietnamese delegation also visited the Mechanised Infantry Regiment No. 1 of the Lao People's Army.

VNN/VNS/VNA/VOV