Vietnam commits to Germany university project

Deputy PM Nguyen Thien Nhan has pledged to mobilise all resources for the Vietnam-Germany University to operate efficiently.

Nhan made the commitment while receiving Dr Udo Corts and Dr Ghawami, members of the Vietnam-Germany University Council, in Hanoi on July 10.

He admitted that though the university enrolled students in the first phase, the project remains slow going due to a number of issues that have arisen during the implementation process.  

This is a completely new research university model in Vietnam which needs its own policies, said Nhan.

He assured his guests that the Vietnamese government will consider resources available to address the pending issues.

He also proposed that Dr Udo encourage German businesses to receive Vietnam-Germany University students to work at their workshops and research institutes as apprentices.

The university needs to conduct more research and make forecast about the demand of society as well as Vietnamese and German businesses to work out practical and efficient training programmes, said Nhan.

Dr Udo noted some difficulties the university faces in welcoming students majoring in technical affairs, but said the university has recently created conditions for students to contact Vietnamese and international companies to increase their employment opportunities upon graduation.

He proposed that the Deputy PM instruct relevant ministries and agencies to complete the legal framework and specific characteristics for new university models to resolve pending issues in reality.

The Vietnam-Germany University is not only an international research centre for Vietnamese students, but also an ideal venue for economic cooperation between the two countries, he said.

The university was established in March 2008 under a cooperation agreement between Vietnam and the German State of Hessen. Based in HCM City, the institution enrolled its first students in September 2008.

In June 2010, the World Bank approved US$180 million in loan for the university to develop major facilities, including a new campus in Binh Duong province. The project is scheduled for completion in 2017.

Hai Phong urged to tap potential

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has called on northern Hai Phong City's Cat Hai island district to focus on exploiting its potential and strengths in tourism and services, especially port services, to secure sustainable development.

Trong made a working visit to Cat Hai yesterday to check implementation of targets related to socio-economic development, defence, security and Party building work.

He advised the district's authorities to adopt concrete measures that can encourage the private sector to join hands in improving the development of the locality and Hai Phong City.

Regarding Party building, Trong said the district should give due attention to personnel planning and resolutely translate into deeds the resolution on Party building issued at the fourth conference of the Party Central Committee.

Cat Hai people and authorities should work together to make their district deserve its position as a gateway to Hai Phong city, a tourism and service centre and a stronghold to defend the fatherland, Trong said.

Cat Hai, one of the two island districts of Hai Phong, has 366 islands in total covering nearly 345sq.km with a population of around 30,000. It has great potential for tourist development and seafood production.

In 2011, more than 1.2 million tourists visited Cat Hai. The figure was 1.33 million in 2012 and 654,000 in the first half of 2013. The district is also famous for fish sauce brands such as Cat Hai and Cat Ba.

On the same day, Trong visited Cat Ba national park, Cat Ba border station, Hai Phong port and Dinh Vu port.

He also visited and offered gifts to several social policy beneficiaries in Hai Phong City.

Japan enhances defence cooperation with Vietnam

Vietnam and Japan will continue promoting cooperation in defense in future, said the military attaché at the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam, Colonel Ueda.

Colonel Ueda made the statement at July 10 meeting with Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Defence, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh at the end of his term in Vietnam.

Vinh highlighted Colonel Ueda’s contribution to the bilateral friendship and cooperation between the two armies during his term.

On the occasion, Sen. Lt. Gen. Vinh greeted the new Japanese military attaché, Colonel Ozawa.