Culture key pillar of ties with Japan, says PM Dung

Viet Nam will make every effort to strengthen co-operative ties with Japan, especially in culture as it was an important pillar that supported sustainable co-operation between the two countries, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

The Prime Minister expressed the affirmation at a meeting in Ha Noi yesterday, July 18, with Masayuki Yamauchi, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Culture to the Japanese Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (R) meets with Masayuki Yamauchi, Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Culture to the Japanese Prime Minister.

He said Viet Nam considered culture a spiritual foundation of society in its development strategy. Therefore, the selective acquisition from world culture would play a critical part in building Vietnamese culture while maintaining national identities, he added.

The Government leader noted that similarities between Viet Nam and Japan could serve as a basis to further enrich cultural resources for the respective sides.

The host applauded the five principles in Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's foreign policy towards Southeast Asian countries, in which, facilitating cultural co-operation was highlighted as the fourth principle.

Prime Minister Dung said that he hoped Masayuki Yamauchi in his role as Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Culture for the Japanese Prime Minister would foster exchanges and co-operation between the two sides' cultural agencies, assisting Viet Nam in training experts and lobbying more financial funds to help Viet Nam preserve tangible and intangible cultural heritage sites.

He also expressed his delight at the friendship and co-operation between Viet Nam and Japan, which had been moving forward in a practical manner, especially after their bilateral ties which were lifted to a strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia.

For his part, Masayuki Yamauchi, who is also an honorary professor at Tokyo University, briefed the host on the outcomes of his working session with Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh.

He said recent cultural exchanges between the two countries, including the popularisation of Japanese language, would help elevate mutual understanding, acting as a catalyst for stronger co-operation in other areas such as economics, trade, investment, science and technology.

The guest confirmed that he would do his utmost to broaden cultural co-operation between Viet Nam and Japan via a series of two-way activities on a basis of mutual respect and understanding.

NA Chairman to visit ROK, Myanmar

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung will pay official visits to the Republic of Korea and the Republic of the Union of Myanmar from July 21-26.

Chairman Hung's visits are being made at the invitation of the Speaker of the Republic of Korea's National Assembly Kang Chang-hee, and the Speaker of the Myanmar Parliament and Upper House, Khin Aung Myint, reported the National Assembly's Committee on External Affairs on July 18.

Laos appreciates Vietnam’s effective assistance

Passason, a newspaper run by the Laos People’s Democratic Republic, ran an editorial on July 17, highlighting milestones in Laos-Vietnam relations, as well as Vietnam’s assistance to Laos over the years.

The Lao people are grateful to the Party, State and people of Vietnam for their heartfelt support and effective assistance during Laos’ past struggle for national liberation and current process of national construction and development, the editorial said.

It called on the entire Party and people of Laos to further develop the ties of traditional friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam, contributing to peace, friendship, cooperation and integration in the region and the world, for the sake of happiness, civilisation and prosperity of all nations.

Along with the editorial, the newspaper ran another article, confirming that Laos and Vietnam have treasured a long-standing friendship which was founded and fostered by late President Ho Chi Minh of Vietnam and late President Kaysone Phomvihan of Laos, as well as their successors.

The ties of friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation are bearing fruit, serving as an important factor behind the victory of each country’s revolution.

According to the article, hundreds of Vietnamese-invested projects have been licensed and implemented effectively in Laos.

In 2013, it said the Vietnamese government will grant 825 scholarships to Lao officials and students and incorporate the Vietnam-Laos relationship into its school curriculum.

The two countries are striving to raise their 2013 trade value by 25% and build their common borderline of peace and shared development.

Vietnam and Laos marked 36 years of signing the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty on July 18.

Deputy PM Nhan to visit Hungary

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan will pay an official visit to Hungary from July 28-30 at the invitation of his Hungarian counterpart Zsolt Semjen.

The visit creates a chance for the two countries to discuss ways to promote bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, education-training, science, and health care.

They will also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Nhan will hold talks with Semjen, pay courtesy visits to senior Hungarian leaders, and make a tour of several economic, cultural and educational centres in Budapest.

He will also meet with representatives of the Vietnamese community in Hungary.

Hanoi to host first Vietnam-Italy strategic dialogue

Vietnam will hold the first strategic dialogue with Italy in Hanoi on July 22-23, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting will be co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Thanh Son and his Italian counterpart Bruno Archi.

Both sides will discuss specific measures to boost bilateral cooperative relations and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Vietnam and Italy signed a joint statement on establishing their strategic partnership during Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to Italy in January 2013.

They agreed to establish a strategic dialogue mechanism to be held annually in Hanoi and Rome on a rotating basis.  

HCM City wants to boost ties with Sri Lankan localities

Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam has voiced her hope to promote relations between the city and localities of Sri Lanka, especially in development cooperation in areas of both sides’ strengths.

While meeting the visiting Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka Chamal Rajapaksa in HCM City on July 18, Chairwoman Tam said the two countries have a sound traditional friendship.

Senior leaders of both countries have exchanged visits over the past years, which have strengthened their bilateral ties in various fields, she noted.

She said Vietnam is grateful for Sri Lanka’s support during its struggle for independence in the past as well as its current national construction.

Chamal Rajapaksa said his visit aims to boost the traditional ties with Vietnam, while promoting their multifaceted cooperation in the future.

He said despite the distance between the two countries, Sri Lanka has paid much attention to bolstering its ties with Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City in particular.

During his stay in the city, Chamal Rajapaksa and his delegation also visited a number of historical sites such as the War Remnant Museum and the Cu Chi underground tunnel.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA