PM receives Saudi Arabian diplomat

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received Saudi Arabia’s newly accredited ambassador, Salah Bin Ahmad Sarhan, in Hanoi on November 12.

Mr Dung affirmed that the Vietnamese government will create favourable conditions for the ambassador to fulfil his duty in Vietnam, helping foster bilateral ties in all areas.

He expressed his pleasure at the growing ties between Vietnam and Saudi Arabia and said he hopes both countries increase cooperation in key areas including oil and gas, labour and agriculture.

He proposed that the ambassador work closely with relevant Vietnamese ministries and agencies to conduct negotiations and sign agreements on double tax avoidance, investment and labour. He also urged for the establishment of an inter-governmental committee to boost economic, trade and investment ties.

Ambassador Salah Bin Ahmad Sarhan said he will do his utmost to strengthen relations between Saudi Arabia and Vietnam. He voiced Saudi Arabia’s desires to receive Vietnamese guest workers and increase cooperation with Vietnam in oil&gas and agriculture.

Vietnam-US dialogue on human rights achieves positive results

International and regional mechanisms of human rights, freedom of religion, freedom of association and freedom to express political views were discussed in an open and frank manner.

The 14th session of the annual dialogue on human rights between the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the US Department of State took place in Washington on November 11.

The Vietnamese delegation, led by Le Hoang Trung, Head of the Department of International Organisations under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, included representatives from the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Information and Communications, the Government Office, the Government Committee for Religious Affairs and the Vietnamese Embassy in the US.

The US side included Mr Michael Posner, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labour and other officials from the US Department of State, the National Security Council, the US Department of Commerce, the US Department of Labour, the US Agency for International Development and the US Embassy in Hanoi.

At the meeting, the Vietnamese delegation reviewed Vietnam’s achievements in exercising democracy, ensuring human rights and its efforts to increase international cooperation in promoting human rights including the successful presentation of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

The Vietnamese side also pointed out incorrect information concerning the human rights situation in Vietnam contained in a recent resolution adopted by the US House of Representatives.

Both sides agreed that the dialogue achieved positive results and provided a good opportunity to share information and promote mutual understanding.

Chemical corporation awarded for its achievements

The Vietnam National Chemical Corporation (Vinachem) has been awarded the Ho Chi Minh Order and the Labour Order, second class, on the 40th anniversary of the chemical industry. 

Speaking at the award ceremony on November 12, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung praised Vinachem for having created a strong brand name and actively contributed to the country’s economic development.

Mr. Hung asked Vinachem to bring into play the corporation’s tradition to fulfill its set targets and become a strong economic corporation.

Vinachem has 10 subsidized companies, 16 joint stock companies, four enterprises and 12 foreign joint ventures with China, the US, Japan, the Netherlands, Korea, and ASEAN countries in the fields of fertilizer, pesticide, detergent, rubber products, paint and petrochemicals.

Vinachem has achieved an average growth rate of 11.13 percent in the last 10 years with its production value making up ten percent of the total industrial ouput.

The corporation’s sales have surged to VND24,000 billion from VND13,500 billion in 2006. It contributed VND915 billion to the state budget in 2008.

A CPV delegation visits Cuba

A delegation from the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) led by Hoang Binh Quan, head of the CPVCC’s External Affairs Commission, met with Abelardo Alvarez, secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (CPC) on November 9, as part of its visit to Cuba from November 7-11. 

At the meeting, the two sides affirmed their determination to boost cooperation between the two communist parties and the two countries.

Hoang Binh Quan expressed his pleasure at Cuba’s achievements over recent years despite the US embargo, saying he believes that the Cuban state and people will overcome all their difficulties.

The secretary of the CPC thanked the Vietnamese communist party, state and people for their solidarity and assistance to Cuba over the years.

Mr. Quan had previously met with Jorge Marti to discuss ways of developing the traditional relationship between the two parties and two countries.

Also during the visit, the Vietnamese delegation laid a wreath at the statue of Ho Chi Minh and visited Nguyen Van Troi school.

Army delegation visits Algeria

A Vietnamese military delegation led by Lieutenant-General Nguyen Tuan Dung paid an official visit to Algeria from November 8-12 at the invitation of the Algerian Ministry of National Defence.

General Mitiji from the Algerian Defence Ministry, highlighted the visit by the Vietnamese military delegation, which aims to strengthen the relationship between the two armies and consolidate the friendship between the two countries.

During their visit, the Vietnamese guests met with senior officials and military personnel from the Central Military Museum, the Army Publishing Department and visited several historic and cultural sites in Algiers and Tipaza.

Party, State leaders attend great national unity festival

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and State President Nguyen Minh Triet on Nov. 11 attended a “Great National Unity” festival at model communities in Hanoi and the northern province of Phu Tho.

The festivals were held to mark the 79th founding anniversary of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF).

Talking to villagers in Phu Tho’s Kim Duc village, President Triet emphasised the importance of unity in both national defence and construction, to which the VFF, the nation’s largest social organisation, has significantly contributed since its foundation on November 18, 1930 as the Vietnam National Reunification Front.

“National unity has doubled the strength of the nation, leading to its numerous great achievements and improving Vietnam’s international prestige,” Mr Triet said.

Kim Duc has been recognised as a model of great unity in economic development. There, hunger has been eliminated and just nine of 87 families live under the poverty line. Although in a remote mountain location, the village has managed to put all children of school age in school. The small village is also home to a number of university and vocational college graduates.

Party General Secretary Manh hailed the VFF-sponsored movement for building a health cultural life in communities nationwide, saying that it will serve as a firm spiritual foundation for society as a whole.

RoK National Assembly speaker to visit Vietnam

A delegation of the Republic of Korea’s National Assembly led by its speaker Kim Hyong O will visit Vietnam in the near future. 

The visit was made at the invitation of Nguyen Phu Trong, Chairman of the Vietnam National Assembly, according to a communiqué released on November 10 by the NA Committee for External Affairs.

China extends sympathy to storm victims

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi has sent a message of condolence to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem over the heavy loss of life and property caused by storm Mirinae in Vietnam.

In a message dated November 9, FM Yang expressed his belief that people in the storm-hit areas, under the leadership of the Vietnamese government, would recover from the damage and resume their production and normal life soon.

On November 10, Tran Duc Mau, Vice Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, handed over 800 million VND donated by overseas Vietnamese to the central province of Quang Ngai.

Losses caused by rains and floods in Quang Ngai province in October and early November reached nearly VND5 trillion, said Dinh Thi Loan, Vice Chairman of the Quang Ngai provincal People’s Committee.

The death toll from storm Mirinae hit 116, the Central Steering Committee for Storm and Flood Prevention reported on November 7.

The central province of Phu Yen was hardest striken with 73 deaths, followed by Binh Dinh with 22, and Khanh Hoa with 13.

APEC contributes greatly to Vietnam’s integration efforts

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum has made important contributions to Vietnam’s integration efforts since the country was admitted more than a decade ago. 

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem made the remark in a written statement in anticipation with APEC’s 20th founding anniversary and the upcoming 17th APEC Summit in Singapore.

APEC has brought practical economic, political and cultural benefits to Vietnam, through multilateral cooperation models and has proven itself an effective channel for the country to boost its relations with other member economies, Mr. Khiem said.

He affirmed that Vietnam has proactively taken part in and contributed to many APEC activities with a high sense of responsibility, which has, in return, helped heighten Vietnam’s prestige and stature in the international arena.

Vietnam’s most outstanding achievement to the forum was its hosting of APEC in 2006, which was highly praised by the forum members as a success and an important transitional event in the reform of APEC, Mr. Khiem noted.

He also cited the country’s organisation of over 100 big and small events for the forum as an indication that Vietnam’s international profile has been growing and that the country has won the trust and respect of nations around the world.

Throughout more than a decade, Vietnam has enthusiastically joined in the forum’s various cooperation programmes, including CAPs, SCSC, ECOTECH, and ABTC, contributing to strengthening friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding among member economies, and promoting the sharing of experiences in using aid, developing infrastructure, and transferring technology, Mr Khiem said.

Vietnam’s State President Nguyen Minh Triet will attend the 17th Summit of APEC, which will take place in Singapore on November 14-15.

Mr. Triet is expected to work with other APEC leaders on specific measures to help member economies continue to maintain sustainable and comprehensive growth and to further APEC cooperation in the coming time.

Vietnam enhances economic ties with Pakistan, Bangladesh

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received the new Pakistani and Bangladeshi ambassadors in Hanoi on November 11.

He told each diplomat that his government will create favourable conditions for them to fulfil their tasks, contributing to promoting friendship and cooperation between the three countries for the benefit of each nation.

At the reception for Pakistani Ambassador M.G. Kiani, PM Dung stressed that Vietnam and Pakistan are keen to boost their bilateral cooperation and friendship through promoting the exchange of visits of high-ranking delegations, political dialogues between the two foreign ministries, mutual support at multilateral forums, and the activities of the joint governmental committee.

Vietnam is willing to discuss the signing of a free trade agreement with Pakistan and supports Pakistan in its relations with ASEAN countries, Mr. Dung said.

Ambassador Kiani expressed his admiration for the socio-economic achievements Vietnam has recorded in recent years and said that the country is becoming one of the region’s leading economies.

He thanked Vietnam for its support for Pakistan’s bid to become a full partner of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He said he hoped in 2010, as the ASEAN Chair, Vietnam would strengthen its support for his country in this effort.

While receiving Bangladeshi Ambassador Supradip Chakma, PM Dung said that the two countries enjoy a good traditional friendship and that they should exert efforts to expand and deepen bilateral cooperation in all areas for the benefit of the two countries’ people.

Investment and trade between the two countries has made positive progress, but has yet to match their potential, he said.

Both Vietnam and Bangladesh are among the nations worst-affected by climate change so they need to work together to raise a common voice at international forums on the issue, Mr. Dung said.

Ambassador Supradip Chakma expressed his hope that Vietnam and Bangladesh would enhance the exchange of visits by delegations at all-levels, helping promote understanding and cooperation in all areas.

Bangladesh wants to learn from Vietnam’s experiences in socio-economic development, particularly in agriculture, the Ambassador said. He welcomed trade promotion and cooperation on responses to climate change between the two sides.

NA Chairman receives Tanzanian guest

Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Phu Trong received a visiting delegation from the Tanzanian Parliament led by Deputy Speaker Anne S. Makinda in Hanoi on November 11.

NA Chairman Trong described the visit by the Tanzanian Deputy Speaker as a milestone in ties between the two nations and the two legislative bodies.

It is also a chance for the two parliaments to exchange and share legislative experience, he added.

Deputy Speaker Anne S. Makinda said she hoped Vietnam and Tanzania will boost cooperation in environmental protection as her country is experienced in the sector.

Vietnam expects to strengthen its relations of friendship and cooperation with Tanzania, NA Chairman Trong said, adding that he hopes agreements reached during talks between the two legislative delegations will contribute to enhancing exchanges and cooperation between the two legislative bodies and peoples.

Party delegation visits France

A senior delegation from the Commission for Information and Training’s Theoretical Council of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee has held a working session with officials of the Communist Party of France (CPF) during their visit to France.

On November 10 the two sides exchanged views on international issues of mutual concern and party activities in each country.

To Huy Rua, CPVCC Politburo member and Chairman of the Theoretical Council, briefed the host on Vietnam’s achievements in 2009, especially its economic growth rate of 5.3 percent.

He suggested that the two parties continue exchanging views in the coming time and invited a delegation of the Communist Party of France to visit Vietnam.

During the visit to France, the Vietnamese delegation also worked with the Gabriel Peri Research Institute of the CPF.

On November 11, Rua met with Vietnamese agencies in France.

Vietnam offers agricultural assistance to Tanzania

Vietnam is willing to help Tanzania develop agriculture under the current cooperation model it has been carrying out with African countries, says Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem.

Mr Khiem made the statement while receiving Anne S. Makinda, Vice Chairwoman of the Tanzanian National Assembly in Hanoi on November 11. He described Ms Makinda’s visit as a milestone in the relations between the two countries and National Assemblies.

Host and guest shared the view that bilateral ties have fared well, especially in politics, but economic cooperation has not yet matched their potential. 

Mr Khiem proposed that both countries consider establishing a joint economic commission to increase cooperation in this field.

For her part, Ms Makinda expressed her admiration for Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements and said the Tanzanian National Assembly and government recently decided to give top priority to agricultural development. She said she hopes that Vietnam will share experiences with her country in this field.

Ms Makinda began a week-long visit to Vietnam on November 10.

Budget deficit to be set at 6.2pct of GDP

The National Assembly on November 11 approved a resolution, setting State budget overspending for 2010 at 6.2 percent of the country’s GDP.

The legislature approved the government’s solutions to realize the budget estimates for 2010 and proposals made by the NA Committee for Finance and Budgetary Affairs.

It asked the government to implement its flexible fiscal policy under strict scrutiny, practise thrift and improve spending efficiency while tightening tax management and combating tax evasion. 

It allowed the government to mobilise VND56 trillion from bond sales (equivalent to last year’s figure) for development projects, examine funding for national target programmes and continue to give the self-financed mandate to State organisations, especially those in the healthcare and education sectors.

The NA also proposed that the government review the implementation of its financial tasks in 2006-2010 and plans for the next five and 10 years until 2020.

Construction of key Vietnam-Laos border marker begins

Work started on November 10 to build marker No. 666 at the A Deut-Ta Vang border gate between the central province of Thua Thien Hue of Vietnam and Sekong province of Laos.

The marker, which will be distinguished from others by being built on a monumental scale, is part of an ongoing project to upgrade and increase the system of border markers between Vietnam and Laos. The project is significant to the political security and socio-economic development of the two countries, especially for localities along the common border.

Construction of marker No. 666 is scheduled for completion in January 2010.

On the occasion, Thua Thien Hue-province handed over two projects that it helped build for Sekong province. The two projects worth VND3.1 billion are the Ta Vang Check Station and a road from the station to border marker S10.

PM receives Russian, Panamanian ambassadors

Vietnam attaches great importance to promoting traditional friendship and strategic partnership with Russia, says Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

Mr Dung made the statement while receiving newly accredited Russian ambassador Kovtun Andrey Grigorievich in Hanoi on November 10.

The government and people of Vietnam will do their utmost to develop the strategic partnership with Russia in all areas, from politics and diplomacy to economics, investment, trade, energy, science-technology, and education-training, bringing practical benefits to both sides, said Mr Dung.

At another reception for newly accredited Panamanian ambassador Eduardo Antonio Young Virzi, Mr Dung said Vietnam wants to increase cooperation with Panama in the areas of their strengths, especially maritime transport services, trade and agriculture.

He affirmed that the Vietnamese government will create the best possible conditions for the two ambassadors to fulfil their tasks. He proposed that the ambassadors work closely with relevant Vietnamese ministries and agencies to effectively implement cooperation agreements signed between their countries.

The ambassadors said they will try their best to strengthen bilateral ties between their countries and Vietnam in all areas.

Vietnam calls for civilian protection in Great Lakes region

A Vietnamese diplomat underscored the importance of civilian protection while calling upon all parties concerned to make a greater effort to promote the peace process in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Great Lakes region.

Speaking at the UN Security Council meeting on the situation of the Great Lakes region in New York on November 9, Vietnam’s deputy representative to the UNSC, Ambassador Hoang Chi Trung, expressed his concern about the threats that armed groups posed to the stabilization of the DRC and the Great Lakes region.

The ambassador called for a more effective cooperation between the UN Mission in the DRC (MONUC) and the UN Missions in the sub-region, including the UN Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) and the UN Missions in Sudan (UNMIS) to ensure the effectiveness of the implementation of their mandate, especially in civilian protection.

The Vietnamese representative highlighted the contribution made by the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General, Obasanjo, to expediting the implementation of the March 23 Agreements and the recent improvement in the DRC-Rwanda relations.

He said Vietnam supports a comprehensive approach to the Great Lakes region which attaches adequate importance to both security consolidation and socio-economic development.

“We hold that military measures alone are insufficient, and that only by promoting development in the area can the international community resolve the root cause of the conflicts in the Great Lakes region. In this connection, we reiterate our full support for the implementation of the UN Security and stabilization support strategy in the region,” said the Vietnamese diplomat.

President welcomes Russian guests

State President Nguyen Minh Triet received the President and Chairman of the Management Board of the Bank for Foreign Trade, Kostin A.L., who was leading a Russian business delegation on a visit to Ho Chi Minh City on November 9.

The State leader said he was pleased to welcome the Russian guests, expressing the wish that they will harvest good results during their visit, opening new possibilities for cooperation between the two countries’ businesses.

He thanked the people of the former Soviet Union and the current state of Russia for supporting Vietnam during its struggle for independence in the past as well as its current national development.

While affirming Russia is a traditional, faithful and reliable friend of the Vietnamese people, President Triet expressed his wish that cooperation between the two countries would become more effective in the future.

He also congratulated Russia on its recent successes, saying that the increasing role and position of Russia, especially in economics, science and technology, and the military, have contributed to stabilising the world situation.

For his part, Kostin informed the State President of the results of his delegation’s meetings with leaders of major Vietnamese enterprises. Businesses on both sides agreed to boost investment cooperation in energy, auto assembly and tourism projects in Vietnam.

The two sides agreed on the establishment of a Russian business investment fund in Vietnam and the investment by Vietnamese enterprises in energy and mining in Russia as well as the development of a joint venture to invest in a third country.

Russian Institute receives Vietnam’s Friendship Order

The All-Russian State Institute of Cinematography (VGIK) has been awarded Vietnam’s Friendship Order in recognition of its contributions to training Vietnamese actors and actresses over the past decades.  

Bui Dinh Dinh, Vietnamese ambassador to Russia, presented the Order to VGIK Rector Vladimir Malyshev at a ceremony in Moscow last week.

The awards ceremony took place within the framework of the 29th international VGIK festival in Moscow from November 2-7.

The VGIK, the first film school in Russia, was founded in 1919.

PV