PM pushes for closer Vietnam-US ties

Vietnam attaches importance to strengthening the friendship and all-round cooperation with the US, PM Nguyen Tan Dung has said.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung receives US Congressman Eni Faleomavaega. (Photo: VNA)

While receiving Eni F.H. Faleomavaega in Hanoi on December 19, Dung appreciated the Congressman’s substantial contributions to Vietnam-US relations over the years.

Faleomavaega has conducted hearings on the impact of Agent Orange/dioxin on Vietnamese people’s health and the environment, and demanded that the US government provide more assistance to dioxin victims.

Dung expressed his hope that US congressmen will increase exchanges between the two countries’ legislative bodies and peoples to promote mutual understanding, and develop economic, trade, investment and science-technology ties, as well as supporting current negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.

Faleomavaega confirmed that he will continue lobbying US Congress to increase budget for dioxin clean-up efforts and assistance to dioxin victims living in contaminated areas.

He expressed concern about recent East Sea disputes which he said should be settled in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

He acknowledged Vietnam’s achievements in guaranteeing and promoting fundamental human rights, including the right to religious and belief freedom.  

The Congressman echoed Dung’s view that the human right issues should be viewed objectively based on verified information, taking into account the country’s traditional, cultural, historical characteristics and development level.

Party committee delegation ends 10-day visit to US

A Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) delegation led by Hoang Binh Quan, member of the CPV Central Committee and head of its Commission for External Relations, has just completed a 10-day visit to the US.

During the visit, made at the invitation of the US State Department, the delegation held talks with US Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman as well as meeting with Daniel Russell, special assistant to the US President, plus a number of senators, congressmen and senior officials from the US Administration.

The delegation met UN Deputy Secretary-General for the Department of Peacekeeping Operations Herve L Adsous, US Communist Party chairman Sam Webb, as well as several left-wing representatives.

Quan and his delegation also held discussions with senior scholars and experts from top US research institutes in Washington, New York, California and Hawaii. They also held working sessions with political and social institutes of the Republic and Democratic Parties.

During the sessions, Quan briefed US partners on the policies and achievements of Viet Nam during its cause of renewal, the country's recent socio-economic situation as well as the Party and Vietnamese State's foreign policy of independence, self-control, peace, co-operation and development.

The two sides sought directions and measures to make Viet Nam-US relations more practical and effective.

Quan noted the positive developments of bilateral ties since the two countries had normalised their relations, particularly in economics and trade. He affirmed that Viet Nam would continue its efforts to boost multi-faceted cooperation with the US for the benefits of people from both countries, peace and stability in the region and the world.

The US officials and experts applauded the delegation's visit and hailed Viet Nam's achievements during its renewal and socio-economic development under the Party's leadership in recent years, as well as the country's increasingly important role in the region and the world.

They highly valued the important developments of bilateral ties between the two countries during 17 years of normalised relations, affirming that the US Government would further strengthen the relationship with Viet Nam and other ASEAN member countries.

The two sides had frank and open discussions on issues in bilateral relations as well as regional and international matters of mutual concern. They agreed to work with other regional countries to foster their co-operation in order to effectively cope with the global economic crisis, including the acceleration of effective negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement.

They welcomed efforts to settle differences and disputes in the region through peaceful negotiations based on international law to maintain peace and stability in the region and the world.

At a meeting with the chairman of the US Communist Party and left wing representatives, Quan thanked US communists and people for the valuable support they gave Viet Nam in its struggle for independence in the past, as well as current national renewal and development.

PM departs for ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on December 20 leaves Hanoi for New Delhi to attend the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit marking the 20 th anniversary of the two sides’ dialogue relations.

Themed “ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace and Shared Prosperity”, the summit, taking place from December 20-21, will focus on future orientations of the ASEAN-India dialogue and adopt a vision statement to upgrade their dialogue to a strategic partnership.

With the spirit of “activeness, proactiveness and responsibility”, the Vietnamese delegation aims to develop the ASEAN-India dialogue in a practical and effective manner, focusing on cooperation in economics, trade, investment and science-technology, strengthening connectivity, assisting ASEAN in its community building, and Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) cooperation.

The delegation confirms the importance of the ASEAN-India relations for peace, stability and development in the region, which will enhance Vietnam’s role and position as well as contribute to fostering the country’s bilateral strategic partnership and cooperation with India.

The ASEAN-India dialogue was established in 1992. It was upgraded to full dialogue relations in December, 1995. The first ASEAN-India Summit was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in 2002.

ASEAN and India have set up dialogue and cooperation mechanisms that include a summit, post ministerial meeting plus one (PMC+1), consultation between the ASEAN Economic Ministers and the Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry, senior officials’ meeting (SOM), senior economic officials’ meeting (SEOM) and the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC), which are held annually.

India has actively participated in the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) since July, 1996.

The 8 th ASEAN-India Summit adopted the Plan of Action for the 2010-2015 period.

On the occasion of the 20 th anniversary of dialogue, the two sides jointly held a wide range of commemorative activities, including the ASEAN-India Business Fair, media and youth delegation exchanges, ASEAN-India art and cultural programmes, and the ASEAN-India car rally.

ASEAN and India have signed several framework agreements on comprehensive economic cooperation as foundations for the establishment of an ASEAN-India Trade and Investment Area.

Two-way trade between ASEAN and India reached 75 billion USD in 2011.

In recent years, Vietnam and India have seen close and effective cooperation in the ASEAN cooperation framework and related mechanisms. India has helped Vietnam implement two key projects, including the Vietnam-India Entrepreneur Development Centre (VIEDC) in Hanoi and the Vietnam-India Centre for English Language Training (VICELT) in Da Nang.

Partnership agreement with Laos to cement relationship

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Lao counterpart Somsavat Lengsavad yesterday, Dec 19, signed a Viet Nam-Laos partnership agreement for the year 2013.

This was one of the outcomes of the 35th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-governmental Committee for Economics, Culture, and Science and Technology Co-operation held in the northern province of Vinh Phuc.

During the meeting, both sides discussed a number of fields, including education and training, culture, science and technology, mining, energy and investment.

Under the terms of the economic partnership, both sides agreed to review the activities of Vietnamese investors in Laos and to create favourable conditions to implement investment projects and take punitive measures against enterprises which failed to deliver on promises.

The two sides requested enterprises involved in the hydro-power plant, Sekaman 3 to speed up processes so that commercial operations could be started soon.

They also targeted an increase of 25 per cent in two-way trade turnover next year.

Both sides agreed to continue preferential taxation treatment for goods made in each country.

They also paid attention to building a stable border line and completing border demarcation in 2014.

VNN/VNS/VNA/VOV