Indian President Pratibha Patil sent a message of sympathy to Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet on November 7 over the losses caused by recent heavy rains and subsequent floods in northern Vietnam.
In the message, President Patil also expressed her condolences to the families of victims of the natural disaster.
Previously, on November 3, on behalf of the Indonesian government and people, the Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam sent a letter of sympathy to the Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem and the victims’ families.
Torrential rains and floods have hit northern and central provinces since October 30, killing and causing the missing of 79 people. The capital of Hanoi is the hardest-hit with 22 reported dead.
Vietnamese Ambassador to France Le Kinh Tai affirmed that Vietnam will never forget the friendship, assistance and immense support given by the French Communist Party and French friends in the past struggle for national independence and the cause of current national construction.
He made the affirmation at a cordial reception held in Paris on Nov. 6 for French friends who have continually given their wholehearted support to Vietnam.
Prominent among the guests at the function were Raymond Aubrac, ex-senator Helene Luc, President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Association Jean-Pierre Brard, and historians Alain Ruscio and Charles Fourniau.
Ambassador Tai said that the ties between the Vietnamese and French nations and communist parties over the past eight decades is a valuable asset that must be preserved.
The diplomat hoped to continue receiving their strong support for Vietnam in its efforts to reduce poverty and eliminate hunger and in the fight for justice for Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange.
Secretary-General of the Association of French War Veterans (ARAC) Claude Delevacq hailed Vietnam, a developing country that has seen many changes, for overcoming numerous difficulties to become an attractive destination to many French tourists.
ARAC has provided Vietnam with assistance for almost 20 years. The association has given regular help to Vietnamese Agent Orange /dioxin victims, particularly children living in the Van Canh Friendship Village.
Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan received Laurent Baeudoin, President of the Canadian giant plane manufacturer Bombardier, in Hanoi on Nov. 7.
The Vice President hailed Laurent Baeudoin’s first visit to Vietnam and expressed her belief that it will help him to understand more about Vietnam ’s demands and its potential to make investment decisions.
Vice President Doan affirmed that Vietnam possesses a stable and favourable investment environment and a desire to receive cooperation from foreign partners, including those from Canada.
Laurent Baeudoin informed the host of his working meetings with the Vietnamese Planning and Investment Minister and the General Director of the national flag-bearer airline company, Vietnam Airlines.
He said Bombardier to sell a range of transport vehicles to Vietnam and invest in highway construction in the country.
The Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) presented a "For peace and friendship among nations" badge to out-going Chinese Ambassador Hu Qianwen in Hanoi on Nov. 7 in recognition of his efforts to cement the Vietnam-China ties.
VUFO President Vu Xuan Hong hailed the contributions the Chinese Ambassador has made to strengthen the friendly and cooperative relations between the Parties, the States and the people of Viet Nam and China.
Ambassador Hu Qianwen said he was honoured to receive the prestigious award and expressed confidence that the friendship between the two Parties, States and peoples will continue to develop in the future.
The fields of education-training and transport are areas ripe with potential to create a host of useful cooperation opportunities for Ho Chi Minh City and the Czech Republic.
Chairman of the HCM City’s People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan and Deputy Chairman of the Czech Republic ’s Chamber of Deputies Vojitec Filip reached the agreement at the meeting in HCM City on Nov. 7.
Quan said he hoped that the visit by the Czech delegation will help to further develop cooperation between Vietnam and the Czech Republic in general and HCM City and the Czech Republic in particular.
He voiced his support for a closer cooperation between universities in HCM city and the Czech Republic, as well as the opening of a Czech training school in the city to meet the increased demand for skilled labour.
Investment in transport infrastructure is one of the city’s leading preferential fields. Accordingly, the city plans to invest 25 billion USD in developing its transport infrastructure between now and 2020, he added.
Deputy Chairman Filip said country is considering the establishment of a training school in HCM City, and is willing to help and share its experiences in developing and managing urban transport systems with HCM City officials.
Chairman of the Vietnam-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Union Ho Duc Viet expressed his hope that the visit to Vietnam by Sugi Ryotaro, the Vietnam-Japan Special Friendship Ambassador, will contribute to promoting the two countries’ friendship and cooperation.
The chairman made this statement while receiving the Japanese diplomat in Hanoi on Nov. 6.
He emphasised that Vietnam hopes to build a strategic partnership and sign bilateral agreements with Japan , as well as continue to implement a number of signed agreements.
He lauded the Japanese ambassador’s initiatives to organise forums relating to industrial development and the promotion and advertisement of industrial and handicraft products.
The Japanese ambassador expressed his pleasure at the success of the recent Vietnam Festival in Japan, which introduced an exhibition of a range of images of Vietnam to the Japanese people.
He expressed his hope to contribute even more to developing the cooperation and friendship between the two nations.
(Source: VNA) | 
