Defence delegation meets US counterparts

Viet Nam and the US have held their third Defence Policy Dialogue at the deputy ministerial level to discuss issues related to defence co-operation as well as common security matters in the Asia-Pacific and the world.

The third Viet Nam-US Defence Policy Dialogue at deputy ministerial level took place in Ha Noi late last week.— Source People's Army Newspaper Online

Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh led the Vietnamese delegation to the event in Ha Noi on Friday; the US delegation was headed by Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for South and Southeast Asia Vikram J Singh.

The two sides reviewed the results of their co-operation related to the memorandum of understanding signed in September 2011.

They noted their cooperation progress, especially in humanitarian activities, including the search for the remains of soldiers missing-in-action, clearance of bombs, mines and other explosives and detoxification of Agent Orange chemicals.

They reached consensus on the need to increase co-operation in new areas, such as human resource training, UN peacekeeping activities, military medical service, natural disaster relief and search and rescue.

They expressed their hope that defence co-operation would continue to contribute to ties between the two countries for peace and stability in Asia and the Pacific.

Opportunities for Vietnam-Italy cooperation

Vietnam and Italy expect to sign a joint statement on a strategic partnership during an upcoming visit to Italy by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

They will also sign a number of cooperation agreements ranging from politics, diplomacy, security and national defence to economics, trade, culture, and education, ambassador to Italy Nguyen Hoang Long told Vietnam News Agency.

The visit will mark the start of the Vietnam Week in Italy from January 16-23 which includes a painting exhibition, a Vietnam-Italy economic cooperation forum, and art performances celebrating 40 years of diplomatic ties.

The Vietnamese Embassy will organize the Vietnam Year in Italy, with a host of political, cultural, and educational activities to take place in major cities of Rome, Florence, Bologna, Milan, Turin, Venice, and Napoli.

Long noted that Italy is one of Vietnam’s leading trade partners in the European Union. Despite the global economic slowdown, two-way trade has increased considerably in recent times, rising by 38 percent in 2011 and 10 percent in 2012, and hitting US$2.53 billion and US$2.8 billion respectively.

Italian investment in Vietnam has also climbed to nearly US$200 million, with many of its big companies operating efficiently in the country. Among them are Piaggio scooter manufacturer, Ariston water boiler manufacturer, and Datalogics producer of bar code readers.

Major banking and financial companies have entered Vietnam, including San Paolo Intesa and Unicredit banks, and Assicurazioni Generali insurer, that provide financial assistance to Italian companies operating in the Southeast Asian nation.

The Italy National Oil Corporation (ENI) began exploring oil and gas in the East Sea in 2012, marking an important step in the two countries’ economic cooperation.

According to the diplomat, Italy strongly supports economic ties between Vietnam and the European Union. It is one of few EU member states that have backed Vietnam’s market economy status.

Over the years Italy has boosted cultural cooperation with Vietnam, especially in cultural heritage preservation and human resource training. The two countries plan to expand bilateral cooperation in other areas including sports and tourism.

Many Italian localities have established twin sisterhood or signed cooperation agreements with their Vietnamese counterparts, including those between Hanoi vs Rome, HCM City vs Milan, Haiphong vs Genoa, and Hue vs Venice.

Vietnam will intensify cooperation between its localities and Italy in an effort to attract more investment from small and medium-sized businesses.

Approximately 5,000 Vietnamese nationals are residing across Italy, helping bridge economic and trade ties between the two countries.

Ambassador Long expressed his belief that Trong’s visit will open up a new chapter in Vietnam-Italy cooperation in the near future.

Party head to visit European partners

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong will pay official visits to Belgium and the European Union, as well as State visits to Italy and the United Kingdom from January 17-24.

The visits will be made at the invitations of Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo, President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy, Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and UK Prime Minister David Cameron, the CPV Central Committee's Commission for External Relations announced on January 14.

Meeting marks Vietnam-UK diplomatic ties anniversary

The UK Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City held a ceremony on January 14 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam-UK diplomatic ties.

Addressing the event, Consul General Douglas Barnes said that the two countries will continue strengthening cultural exchanges, supporting educational cooperation and working together to achieve the targets set out in the Strategic Partnership Agreement to boost two-way trade.

Nguyen Thi Hong, Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Committee, affirmed that the Vietnam-UK relations have developed well in various areas, from politics to trade, investment and official development assistance (ODA).

UK is one of the city’s big trade partners and investors in the European Union, with the 2011 turnover of US$605 million and 95 projects worth US$682 million invested by UK businesses. Many big economic corporations have been operating in the city and contributing actively to its socio-economic development.

According to the Consulate General, a wide range of activities will be organised in 2013 to celebrate the anniversary.

S Korean legislator meets leaders

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung has affirmed that Viet Nam wishes to increase co-operation with the Republic of Korea and suggested that the two sides maintain all-level delegation exchanges to boost mutual understanding and trust.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung (right) receives his Korean counterpart Kang Chang-Hee during his visit to Viet Nam yesterday.


During talks yesterday, Jan 14, in Ha Noi with Kang Chang Hee, Speaker of the National Assembly of the RoK, Hung described his official visit as a demonstration of the strategic co-operative partnership between the two countries, which would strengthen the friendship and co-operation between the two Legislatures.

Hung expressed his delight at the developing bilateral ties, especially the successful Viet Nam-RoK Friendship Year that marked the 20th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

Applauding the economic co-operation between the two countries, which had benefited the people from both nations, he said he hoped the RoK's National Assembly would continue to support Viet Nam and help increase their country's Official Development Assistance (ODA), especially for Viet Nam's infrastructure development.

"Our National Assembly would increase its supervision of ODA to ensure it is used effectively," he said.

Hailing the two countries' close co-ordination at regional and international parliamentary forums, Hung said he believed the concerted efforts of the two Assemblies, States, Governments and people would help the Viet Nam-RoK strategic co-operative partnership flourish, benefiting both sides and enhancing peace, stability and development in the region and the world.

Kang agreed with his counterpart's suggestions, emphasising the close and effective relations businesses from both sides had enjoyed in the last two decades.

Viet Nam's advantageous geographical location and its natural and human resources would help the two countries further strengthen their co-operation, he said.

Meanwhile, RoK, with its strong economic development and industry, was willing to co-operate and share its experiences with Viet Nam, he said, stressing that the finalisation of a bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) with Viet Nam would expand comprehensive co-operation between the two nations.

Past co-operation between the two Parliaments had helped strengthen exchanges and understanding between the two peoples, he said.

The RoK Parliament wished to closely co-operate with its Vietnamese counterpart, especially in sharing legislative and supervisory experience, Kang said, adding that he would make every effort to ensure the interests of foreign brides, including those from Viet Nam.

At the talks, the two sides agreed to strengthen co-ordination and boost co-operation in science and technology.
The legislators affirmed they would do their utmost to foster friendship and co-operation between the people and parliaments of both countries.

Yesterday evening, Hung hosted a banquet in honour of his RoK counterpart.

Also yesterday Kang was received by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Trong proposed the two sides expand co-operation in building mechanisms, infrastructure and human resources development.

Kang vowed to do his best to develop the friendship and co-operation between the two legislatures and people. He said he believed the RoK-Viet Nam strategic co-operative partnership would grow to a new level.

Welcoming Kang on the same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung stressed Viet Nam's policy to deepen Viet Nam-RoK co-operation for the common development of the two countries and for peace, stability, co-operation and development in the region and the world.

Dung said he hoped the RoK's legislative body would support the two countries' co-operation in politics, diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges, as well as the two Governments' links in economics, trade, investment, tourism and labour, and promote the bilateral free trade agreement negotiations.

Dung said he hoped the RoK would maintain its provision of official development assistance for Viet Nam, as well as support peace, stability and the settlement of disputes in the East Sea by peaceful means in line with international law.

Kang said promoting co-operation with Viet Nam was important to his country, especially in economics, trade, investment, education and training.

He said he would discuss Dung's co-operation recommendations with his country's relevant agencies. He also suggested the two countries intensify co-operation in energy, infrastructure, science and technology and aviation.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA