Viet Nam, Italy vow to bolster all-round links

The development of bilateral defence co-operation between Viet Nam and Italy was an important pillar in the strategic partnership between the two countries, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at a meeting with visiting Italian Defence Minister Giampaolo Di Paola in Ha Noi yesterday, Jan 10.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung (right) receives Italian Defence Minister Giampaolo Di Paola in Ha Noi.

Paola said Italy was willing to partner with Viet Nam in defence, especially in shipbuilding and training.

Both host and guest affirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability and maritime security in the East Sea.

They emphasised the need to settle disputes peacefully and in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and promptly build the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.

Dung said he was happy that Paola's visit to Viet Nam came as the countries celebrate the 40th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties.

He also expressed appreciation for the recent talks between Paola and his Vietnamese counterpart, Phung Quang Thanh, and hoped that Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's upcoming visit to Italy would lift the strategic partnership to a new level.

At a press briefing following the talks between the two countries' Defence Ministers, Paola and Thanh openly discussed issues on Southeast Asia, the East Sea and bilateral defence co-operation, including the exchange of delegations, human resources training and the defence industry.

Thanh said the two countries' deputy defence ministers would sign a Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral defence co-operation in the near future.

Paola said Italy highly valued the key role that Southeast Asia, including Viet Nam, played in global economic growth.
He added that Italy was willing to offer scholarships to Vietnamese military officers, especially those eager to study Italian and defence issues.

Paola's visit to Viet Nam is the first by an Italian defence minister since the two countries established bilateral defence ties.

Vietnam, UK celebrate 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties

The UK is the world’s number one investor in Vietnam’s financial services.

The 40th anniversary of Vietnam-UK diplomatic relations was celebrated in Hanoi on January 10 in the presence of UK ambassador Antony Stokes, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, officials from the Vietnamese Party, Government and National Assembly along with entrepreneurs and non-governmental organization (NGO) representatives.

This year is the centennial anniversary of late President Ho Chi Minh’s arrival in London. A blue plaque marks where President Ho Chi Minh worked at the Carlton Hotel, laying a solid foundation for friendship between the two nations.

Diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the UK have grown considerably following Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit to the UK in 2008, and the signing of the Strategic Partnership Agreement in 2010.

Addressing the celebration event, UK ambassador Antony Stokes said, “This is a night to celebrate how far we have come, it is also a night to look forward to an ambitious future. That is why our focus is to Inspire, Learn and Innovate: Khoi day Tai nang; Phat trien Tri thuc; Doi moi vi Thinh Vuong.”

“To inspire, we will run cultural exchanges in both directions reaching beyond cities and beyond barriers. To learn, we will use technology to help more young people reach their potential, supporting the development of educations centres of excellence in both countries. By innovating, we will boost our mutual prosperity, aiming confidently for our joint strategic partnership targets of doubling bilateral trade and boosting investment.”

FM Minh praised the achievements the two countries have recorded over the years, saying he hopes that bilateral cooperation in politics, diplomacy, economics, trade, and investment will become more effective in the future.

Closer coordination between Vietnam and the UK in dealing with global issues at international and regional forums will practically contribute to realizing and deepening the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership.

In addition, major cultural events such as a British Week in Hanoi. Danang and HCM City, a Vietnamese Week and the second Vietnamese Summer Festival in London will help promote mutual understanding and friendship and cooperation, meeting the aspirations and interests of the two countries’ people, Minh said.

Thousands of Vietnamese are currently studying in the UK. Britain has become a major export market for Vietnam and the world’s number one investor in Vietnam’s financial services. The launch of Vietnam Airlines direct flights is helping Vietnam become the UK’s fastest-growing tourist destination.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), bilateral trade turnover between Vietnam and the UK hit US$3 billion in 2011, of which Vietnam’s exports to Britain were worth US$2.4 billion, accounting for 14.5 percent of Vietnam’s total export turnover to the EU and 2.5 percent of the country’s general export value.

Vietnam’s UK imports reached US$645 million, making up 8.3 percent of its imports from the EU.

NA Chairman meets with voters

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung met with ethnic minority voters in Truong Ha Commune, Ha Quang District in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang to inquire into the outcome of a campaign to build new infrastructure in the commune.

During the meeting, Hung instructed provincial and district leaders to solve remaining problems in transport, irrigation, fresh water supply, sanitation and healthcare in the commune and create favourable conditions for local people to develop farming and husbandry.

Truong Ha Commune is home to three ethnic minority groups: Tay, Nung and Mong. Around 15.2 per cent of households in the commune are classified as poor, and the average income of residents is only VND8.5 million per year.

Hung asked local authorities to help these poor households improve their lives.

He also suggested agricultural experts work with local authorities to provide ethnic minority groups with plant and animal varieties suitable for the area's conditions.

Earlier the same day, Hung offered incense to President Ho Chi Minh at the historical site of Pac Po, where the late President lived for a short time after he returned from abroad to guide the Vietnamese revolution. He also visited and presented gifts to teachers and students at Pac Po Secondary School.

Viet Nam opposes Taiwan's oil plans

Taiwan's planned oil and gas exploration in the sea around Ba Binh Island seriously violates Viet Nam's sovereignty over the Truong Sa archipelago, causes international tension and complicates the situation in the East Sea, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi has said.

"Given the plethora of legal and historical evidence affirming Vietnamese sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, Viet Nam demands the Taiwanese side immediately cancel its plan," Nghi told a press conference yesterday.

Although China and Taiwan recently voiced concern that the Law on the Sea of Viet Nam might affect relations with other countries in the region, the spokesperson said the adoption of the law was a normal and necessary action for a sovereign coastal state and a member of the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

He added that the Law on the Sea clearly affirms the country's policy of peacefully settling the differences in the East Sea on the basis of international law, especially the 1982 UNCLOS and related agreements and mechanisms, and that the law aims to maintain peace, stability, security and co-operation in the East Sea.

Year of Friendship set to bring VN, India together

The 2012 Viet Nam-India Friendship Year created momentum for deeper and more sustainable development of the co-operation between the two countries in all aspects, officials from both sides said at a year-end ceremony on Wednesday.

Viet Nam's Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son said that as emerging economies, Viet Nam and India had rich potential for cooperation, helped along by their traditional friendship and recently established strategic partnership.

"Viet Nam wishes to intensify co-operation in areas where India is strong such as education and training, science and technology and marine research," Son said.

He added that Viet Nam also welcomed investment from Indian businesses in such areas as infrastructure, manufacturing, oil and gas exploitation, remote sensing technology and human resources training.

Indian Deputy Foreign Minister Xanjay Singh also expressed his delight at the success of the 2012 Viet Nam-India Friendship Year and positive developments in the two countries' relations during the past 40 years.

Prominent guests at the event included Viet Nam's Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh, who was paying a working visit to India from January 7 to 10.

On Tuesday, Ninh held talks with Indian Foreign Minister Salman Khurshid in New Delhi.

They expressed their pleasure at the success of the Viet Nam-India 2012 Friendship Year, as well as developments in bilateral ties over the last 40 years - especially since 2007, when the two countries established their strategic partnership.

The two sides seemed determined to make their strategic partnership more practical and effective.

They reached consensus on establishing a joint committee on trade and signed a supplementary agreement to the 1993 Aviation Agreement and a cooperative agreement between the two Ministries of Justice, as well as an agreement on the transfer of prisoners.

In addition, the two countries agreed to raise their bilateral trade to 7 billion USD by 2015 and strengthen cooperation in defence, culture, education and people-to-people exchange.

Ninh said that Viet Nam welcomed Indian investors to the country and would always create favourable conditions for them.

The Indian side agreed to provide preferential credit for Viet Nam to implement the country's hydro-power, irrigation and infrastructure projects.

Both sides pledged to cooperate at international and regional forums and affirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, maritime security and safety and the right to access natural resources in the East Sea.

They also agreed that concerned parties in the East Sea should practise restraint, avoid using force or threats of force and solve disputes through peaceful negotiations on the basis of international law, in particular the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), ASEAN's Six-Point Principles on the East Sea, the implementation of the Declaration on Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the early conclusion of a Code of Conduct (COC).

Japanese premier to make official visit to Viet Nam

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will pay an official visit to Viet Nam from January 16-17 at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, the Foreign Ministry announced yesterday, Jan 10.

Argentina President to visit Vietnam

President Cristina Fernandez will pay an official visit to Vietnam from January 18-21 at the invitation of State President Truong Tan Sang.

The visit aims to strengthen bilateral friendship and cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, agriculture, energy, science-technology, medicine and education-training, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Luong Thanh Nghi said on January 10.

Cristina Fernandez is scheduled to hold talks with her Vietnamese counterpart Truong Tan Sang and meet with other senior Vietnamese leaders.

She will also visit several economic and cultural centres in Hanoi and HCM City.

First Viet Nam-Laos Party theory conference opens

Key theoretical and practical issues affecting development in both Viet Nam and Laos were discussed at the first theory conference between the Communist Party of Viet Nam and the Lao People's Revolutionary Party opened in Ha Noi yesterday.

In his report, head of the Vietnamese delegation Dinh The Huynh, who is also Politburo member, Secretary of the Vietnamese Party Central Committee, head of the Committee's Commission for Publicity and Training and head of the Central Theory Council, called the two-day conference a chance for the two Parties to exchange views on urgent development issues.

For his part, head of the Lao delegation Cheuang Sombounkanh, who is also Secretary of the Party Central Committee, head of its Propaganda-Training Committee and president of the Lao National Social Science Council, stressed that the conference would help scientists on both sides learn from each other's experiences.

Vietnamese, Cambodian provinces boost cooperation

The Mekong Delta province of Long An and Cambodia’s Svay Rieng Province have agreed to strengthen their comprehensive cooperation, including in socio-economics, education, health, culture, tourism, security and order.

An agreement to this effect, was inked on January 10 by Chairman of the Long An provincial People’s Committee Do Huu Lam and Svay Rieng Governor Chieng Om during the latter’s visit to Long An Province.

The agreement highlights the role, significance and importance of their twinning relationship that has been built and fostered by the two localities’ leaders and people over the past time.

The two provinces will work together to bring their friendship to a new level of development. Especially, Vietnam will help Svay Rieng Province in agricultural development.

Earlier, the Svay Rieng delegation visited several agricultural production establishments in Long An Province.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA