Hanoi’s Party leader cheers Christians on Xmas

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, Pham Quang Nghi, visited Catholic dignitaries at the Hanoi Archbishop Office on December 22 to celebrate Christmas.

He extended his greetings to Christian dignitaries and followers in Hanoi.

Nghi spoke highly of the 120,000-strong Catholic community’s positive contributions to the city’s 2012 socio-economic development.

Bishops and priests have mobilised parishioners to implement the Party, State and the city’s guidelines, policies and laws, Nghi said.

He affirmed that the authorities create favourable conditions for all people, Christians or not, to celebrate Christmas.

Hanoi’s Archbishop, Phero Nguyen Van Nhon, thanked the municipal Party Committee and authorities for caring for the lives of Catholics.

Nghi also visited Dang Duc Vuong, a 86-year-old Catholic living on Chan Cam Street and wished the family a merry Christmas.

On the same day, Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, Nguyen Cong Soai; Deputy Chairwoman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc; and Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Hanoi Chapter, Dao Van Binh visited dignitaries and followers of the Hung Hoa Diocese in Son Tay town, the Hanoi Committee for Solidarity of Catholics and the Bac Ninh Bishop Office.

Son La hydro-power plant begins operation 3 years ahead of target

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday called on northwestern Son La province to use all available resources to stabilise the lives of the 20,000 residents who were relocated to build the Son La hydro-power project.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung meets workers at the Son La Hydro-power Plant in northern Son La Province during his visit at the weekend. (Photo: VNS)

The PM was visiting the province during the weekend to officially inaugurate the plant, the largest of its kind ever constructed in Southeast Asia, which was both designed and built by Vietnamese engineers with assistance from foreign consultants.

The facility was completed three years ahead of schedule, saving trillions of dong and affirming Viet Nam's ability to execute such large projects.

Located in It Ong Commune, Muong La District, the plant has six turbines with a total capacity of 2,600 MW. It will provide the national grid with over 10 billion kWh of electricity each year.

Also it helps prevent flooding and supply water to the agricultural production, thus boosting socio-economic development in the country's northwest region.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dung said the inauguration of the plant was an important milestone in the development of the Vietnamese power sector.

He also asked the leaders of Son La, Dien Bien and Lai Chau provinces to continue allocating farming land and jobs for displaced people.

Dung emphasised that the successful relocating of residents was just the beginning; the more important task was to make sure their lives were stable and they could start their new production and business.

While meeting with the provincial authorities, the PM was also briefed on the province's socio-economic development.

The province's GDP growth rate hit an average of 11.34 per cent in the 2011-12 period, with average per capita income reaching nearly US$600.

The PM also asked the Public Security Ministry to coordinate with the investor and local authorities to ensure the plant met safety regulations.

PM Dung meets with Indian counterpart

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has affirmed Vietnam’s constant policy of strengthening the reliable friendship, long-lasting tradition and strategic partnership with India.

At his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on December 21, the two PMs discussed measures to boost cooperation between the two countries.

They agreed to increase the exchange of high-ranking delegations, maintain existing cooperation mechanisms, promptly establish the trade inter-committee and an education and training joint working group, and implement signed agreements to raise bilateral trade to US$7 billion in 2015.

They also agreed to further strengthen cooperation in information technology, biology, aerospace, nanotechnology, oceanography and Indian studies.

The two sides pledged to cooperate closely at regional and international forums. They affirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, maritime security and safety in the East Sea, settling disputes through peaceful means, abiding by international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and looking forwards to building the Code of Conduct of Parties in the East Sea.

They spoke highly of the close cooperation between their agencies in organising activities to mark 40 years of diplomatic ties and the Vietnam-India 2012 Friendship Year.

The leaders expressed their pleasure at the developing strategic partnership between the two countries and vowed to continue cooperation in all fields, including politics, economics, national defence and security, science and technology, culture, and education and training.

Dung congratulated India on its successful organisation of the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit, describing it a milestone in the history of the friendship and strategic cooperation between India and ASEAN, and with Vietnam in particular.

Singh spoke highly of Vietnam’s active participation in the event and stated that Vietnam is one of India’s most important partners in its “Look East” policy.

Dung and his entourage left New Delhi for Vietnam the same day.

Indochinese countries promote cooperation

The Vietnamese Embassy held a December 22 meeting in Japan with staff from the Lao and Cambodian Embassies.

Vietnamese Ambassador Doan Xuan Hung stressed the unique traditional ties between the three Indochinese nations.

The three countries’ embassies often organise exchanges to promote mutual understanding and cooperation in their external affairs, he added.

Lao Ambassador Kenthoong Nuathasing recalled attending a number of such events during his term in Australia. He said he believes the exchange will be maintained to tighten solidarity and friendship.

Cambodian Minister Counsellor Iem Puthviro expressed his delight at the recent meeting, noting it will help strengthen relations between the three embassies’ staff.

After the meeting, participants joined in some sports contests and cultural programmes.

Vietnam – RoK ties live up to strategic level

The relationship between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) has lived up to its agreed strategic level as evidenced by a deep mutual trust, highly-efficient multidimensional cooperation and cherished exchanges between people.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Tran Trong Toan made the remarks at a banquet in Seoul on December 21 to celebrate the 20 th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties.

The function, co-hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy in the RoK and the RoK-Vietnam Friendship Association (KOVIFA), welcomed the attendance of the first Vietnamese ambassador to the RoK Nguyen Phu Binh and the first RoK Ambassador to Vietnam Choi Yong-joo, among others.

Vietnam and the RoK lifted their diplomatic ties, first set up on December 22, 1992, to a comprehensive partnership in August 2001 and then a strategic cooperative partnership in October 2009 for the interest of both people, and for peace, stability and development in the region.

Ambassador Toan said over the past 20 years, cooperation between the two countries has developed robustly in all cooperative fields, ranging from politics, economics, culture, social affairs, education and training, to science and technology, defence and security and people exchanges.

“Vietnam and the RoK have become sincere friends and reliable partners in their national construction and development cause,” the Vietnamese diplomat said.

Toan affirmed the contributions by economic and social organisations, like KOVIFA and the Vietnam-RoK Friendship Association (VIKOFA), to the increasing friendship and strategic cooperation between the two countries.

He appreciated the warm sentiments and support that the RoK Government and people have given to Vietnam as well as contributions by KOVIFA, the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI), and the Korean International Trade Association (KITA).

On the day, a Vietnamese sailor currently working in Mokpo, the RoK’s Jeolla province, Tran Dinh Tam, was honoured by the RoK S-Oil petroleum corporation as a hero of 2012 at a ceremony in Seoul.

Tam, coming from An Duong district, the northern port city of Hai Phong, rescued a RoK tourist from drowning at the sea on February 23 when he was walking along the coast with friends.

Eighteen others also won the Hero Neighbour 2012 Award, which was first launched in 2008, in honour of those who willingly sacrifice their lives to save others’ lives.

Egypt president seeks close ties with Vietnam

Egypt wants to strengthen friendship and cooperation with countries, including Vietnam, says President Mohamed Morsi.

Morsi made the statement at a recent reception in Cairo for 14 ambassadors, including Vietnamese ambassador Dao Thanh Chung, who presented their credentials to him.

He said Egypt is in transition to a comprehensive development period and it wants to foster cooperation with its partners.

Diplomat Chung conveyed State President Truong Tan Sang’s best regards to Morsi and said he will do his utmost to promote the long-lasting friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Egypt.

Public Security minister on visit to Laos

A high-level delegation from the Ministry of Public Security, led by Minister Tran Dai Quang, was received by Lao Party General Secretary and President Choummaly Sayasone on Friday, Dec 21.

The host spoke highly of the co-operation between both countries' ministries of public security in recent years.

He expressed his gratitude for the effective assistance the Vietnamese side has offered the Lao ministry and expressed hope that the two ministries would continue to work together closely in the future in order to ensure national security and social order is maintained in both nations.

Quang, who is also a politburo member of the Communist Party of Viet Nam, briefed the Lao leader on the outcomes of the talks between the Vietnamese delegation and representatives from the Lao Public Security Ministry, headed by Minister Thongban Seng Aphon.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA