Developing youth talents key to future, says Prime Minister

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday, March 24, urged the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to continue developing the talent of its members so that they can make significant contributions to the country's growth.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung urge the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to continue developing the talent of its members so that they can make significant contributions to the country's growth.

The PM met with the union's central committee on the occasion of the 82nd anniversary of its establishment.

He expressed his hope that the organisation would continue to educate and inspire the country's youth.

He suggested that if young people could clearly define their responsibilities to themselves, their families and their country, they would be more likely to contribute to Viet Nam's socio-economic development.

Dung also asked the union to enhance a sense of solidarity among the next generation.

He acknowledged that it is necessary to involve the youth in more meaningful and useful activities in order to keep them engaged and aware of their important role to the national construction and defence.

The Government is currently considering a plan to establish a fund assisting young people in rural areas to set up and run their own business.

The first secretariat of the union, Nguyen Dac Vinh, told the Prime Minister that the union would focus on educating youth about morality and lifestyle, as well as canvassing for their opinions on amendments set to be made to the 1992 Constitution this year.

The union would keep assisting its members with their studies and business initiatives, he said.

On the same day, Dung held a meeting with 10 young people commended for their outstanding work and study this year in the fields of culture, sport, education, public security and business.

He told the group that he hoped they would continue to take advantage of their abilities and contribute to the development of Viet Nam.

Kon Tum strengthens cooperation with Lao provinces

An agreement to intensify the two sides’ traditional friendship and cooperation has been reached during a working visit to Laos’ southern provinces made by a delegation from Kon Tum Province in the Central Highlands.

During the March 19-23 visit, Secretary of the Kon Tum provincial Party Committee Ha Ban and the leaders of the Lao provinces including Attapeu, Sekong, Salavan and Champasak agreed to increase effective cooperation programmes.

Accordingly, Kon Tum will aid the Lao provinces in Vietnamese, English and healthcare training.

To continue the implementation of the two sides’ inked Memorandums of Understanding on building a friendly and peaceful common border, and furthering cooperation in various fields, both sides will work together to set up a network of border markets.

Besides, both sides have pledged to realise the Vietnam-Laos Agreement on National Border Regulations, and the guidelines and policies of the two Parties and Governments efficiently.

On this occasion, Kon Tum funded Attapeu province with 5 billion VND (238,000 USD) to construct a dormitory for Lao ethnic groups, and provided Sekong and Salavan provinces with 500 million VND (23,810 USD) each to improve their education and healthcare services.

Seminar looks back at Paris Agreement signing

A seminar was co-organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in France and the local authority of Paris suburb Choisy le Roi on March 23 to review the signing of the 1973 Paris Agreement that ended the war and restored peace in Vietnam.

Themed “1968-1973: peace negotiations from Vietnam to the world”, the event is the highlight of the commemoration week of the 40th anniversary of the Paris Agreement (27 January).

This is the initiative of Choisy Le Roi, a south-eastern suburb of Paris where the two Vietnamese negotiation delegations used to stay.

The seminar was attended by former Vietnamese Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh who used to be Chief negotiator of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of Southern Vietnam.

Participants discussed three main topics, including the historical background and significance of the agreement, its impact, and Vietnam’s views at present.

The event drew the attention and high evaluation of French friends, historians, and research experts in Vietnam.

VN and NZ agree to lift defence ties

Viet Nam and New Zealand will sign a co-operation agreement to elevate their defence ties.

This was decided by visiting Vietnamese Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh and his New Zealand counterpart Jonathan Coleman in Wellington on Thursday.

Both sides should exchange delegations at all levels as well as their military experience with a focus on navy co-operation, said Thanh during his talks with the host.

He affirmed that Viet Nam attached importance to its comprehensive partnership with New Zealand, particularly in the area of defence.

He added that Viet Nam wanted to bolster co-operation with New Zealand at multilateral forums such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+) to maintain the region's peaceful environment.

As a nation in the Asia-Pacific region, New Zealand found consultation with regional countries necessary, replied Coleman.

The new agreement between New Zealand and Viet Nam would help maintain peace in the region and ensure the legitimate rights towards the sea of each nation, the host said.

He went on to say that his ministry would help its Vietnamese counterpart in training, especially to raise the English language skills of Vietnamese military officials.

Coleman noted that New Zealand backed Viet Nam's initiative to set up an expert group to deal with the consequences of bombs and mines left from the war, as well as the nation's stance in settling disputes by peaceful means in accordance with international law.

The same day, Thanh met New Zealand Foreign Minister Murray Mc Cully.

Dominica fosters relations with Vietnam

The Dominican Republic wants to expand cooperation with Vietnam not only in politics, but also in economics, trade and culture, says President Danilo Medina.

While receiving a Vietnamese Party Commission for External Relations on March 22, Medina expressed his admiration for Vietnamese people’s past struggle for national independence and their current Renewal achievements.

He recalled that in the 1960s he took to the street joining other young Dominican people in demonstrations against the war in Vietnam.

The president suggested that both countries open their embassies in their capitals to facilitate bilateral cooperation programmes.

For his part, Tran Dac Loi, deputy head of the Commission, thanked Dominican people and President Medina himself for their support to Vietnam’s pat struggle for national liberation and its present Renewal cause.

He voiced Vietnam’s resolve to strengthen cooperation with Dominica in all areas of their strengths.

Both host and guest examined the preparatory work for an inauguration of late Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh’s Statue and a square named after him in Rafael Fernandez Boulevard, east of capital Santo Domingo, on March 24.

They also discussed the building of the Statue of Dominican hero Juan Bosch in Vietnam.

VN- Singapore relations thrive

Viet Nam and Singapore on Friday discussed ways to strengthen their bilateral ties at a foreign ministry consultation and exchange in Ha Noi.

The meeting was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Quang Vinh and the Permanent Secretary of the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bilahari Kausikan.

They noted with satisfaction the positive developments seen recently in the friendship and co-operation between Viet Nam and Singapore.

They agreed to continue working together at regional and international forums, especially within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and voiced their support for the bloc's increasing role in settling issues relating to peace and security in the region.

Both sides agreed to hold another consultation in Singapore next year.

This year Viet Nam and Singapore will organise a number of activities to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, which falls on August 1.

Old maps on Vietnam’s island sovereignty displayed

Eighteen maps, including four ancient ones, affirming Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos, are on display at an exhibition in Dong Nai province.

The old maps include “An Nam dai quoc hoa do” (Map of the Great Country of An Nam) published in 1838, “Dai Nam thong nhat toan do” (Complete Map of Unified Dai Nam) published during the Minh Mang reign in 1834, and a 1904 map of Indochinese weather stations.

There is also a Chinese administrative map of provincial boundaries published under the Qing dynasty in 1904. The map shows that the southernmost point of China at that time ended at Hainan Island.

Additionally, the exhibition introduced over 100 photos featuring the two archipelagos as well as Dong Nai’s activities towards national seas and islands.

The exhibition is opening its doors to visitors from March 22 to April 30 at Tran Bien Temple of Literature.

Within the framework of the event, there will be a wide range of activities, including a film making contest on Vietnam’s seas and islands.

Australia pledges more aid

The Australian Agency for International Development (AusAid) has committed to help Viet Nam realise the United Nations Millennium Development Goals and its national objectives.

James Batley, deputy director-general of the Asia Pacific and Programme Enabling Group of AusAid, said Australia would continue assisting Viet Nam in implementing its commitments through bilateral and multilateral aid.

Speaking at a high-level Viet Nam-Australia consultation in Ha Noi yesterday, he highlighted the successful co-operation between the two countries in fields such as education and infrastructure.

Vietnamese Vice Minister of Planning and Investment, Cao Viet Sinh, said that over the past 20 years the Australian Government has maintained its high non-refundable aid to Viet Nam with the amount increasing every year.

Projects using Australia's ODA in infrastructure, human resource development, economics, agriculture and rural development have effectively contributed to the country's socio-economic development, Sinh said.

Singapore-Vietnam relations develop well

Vietnam and Singapore exchanged measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation at their annual political consultation in Hanoi on March 22.

The meeting was co-chaired by Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Quang Vinh, and Permanent Secretary of the Singaporean Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bilahari Kausikan.
They noted with satisfaction the positive development of the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Singapore.

This year Vietnam and Singapore will organise a number of activities to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic ties (August 1), including the exchange of high-level visits by their top leaders, aiming to increase cooperation in politics, economics, trade, investment and culture.

They plan to upgrade bilateral relationship to a level of the strategic partnership in the near future.
Both sides acknowledged the effective cooperation between the two countries’ Foreign Ministries, and agreed to maintain the annual political consultation to promote mutual trust and understanding.

They agreed to work closely together at regional and international forums, especially within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to fulfil the goal of building a single, close-knit ASEAN community by 2015.

They voiced their support for strengthening solidarity in ASEAN and increasing the grouping’s role in settling issues relating to peace and security in the region, as well as encouraging its dialogue partners’ involvement in regional cooperation mechanisms.

They stressed the importance of peace, stability, and maritime security in the East Sea, the implementation of the six-point principle on the East Sea, the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in East Sea (DOC) towards the Code of Conduct (COC).   

On March 21, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh received Singaporean diplomat Bilahari Kausikan.

HCM City leaders welcome Myanmar Vice President

Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Le Thanh Hai on March 22 received Myanmar Vice President Nyan Tun.

Hai thanked the Myanmar Government and relevant agencies for assisting HCM City businesses and investors to learn about investment opportunities in Myanmar.

HCM City is making it easier for Myanmar firms to seek cooperation opportunities in the city. In March 2012, HCM City and Myanmar’s Yangon City signed a twinning agreement, Hai noted.

Nyan Tun said the signing of the twinning agreement will offer the two cities a chance to bolster new cooperation. He expressed his belief that bilateral cooperation will keep thriving comprehensively through the exchange of visits by the two countries’ leaders.

He said Myanmar wishes to strengthen economic development. Last year, the country issued a new law to lure foreign investment, thus offering chances for foreign investors, including those from Vietnam.

At an earlier meeting with HCM City Mayor Le Hoang Quan, Nyan Tun said Myanmar wishes to learn the city’s experience in improving locals’ lives, especially those living in rural areas.

Quan said the city is willing to share experience with Myanmar in poverty reduction.

During his stay in the city, Nyan Tun visited Cu Chi relic site, HCM City hi-tech park and Amata industrial complex in southern Dong Nai Province.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA