Vietnam, Italy step up solidarity

The Italy-Vietnam Friendship Association in the Lombardy region (IVFA-L) on November 24 convened its regular meeting in the city of Milan.

Its aim is to promote solidarity and friendship between the two countries and raise funds for Agent Orange victims in Vietnam.

Addressing the event, Roberto Cocevari, President of the IVFA-L, reviewed the association’s operations, announced future activities and called for donations to help Agent Orange victims in Vietnam.

The IVFA-L has seen an increase in members and charitable activities in recent years. In 2011, the IVFA-L and the Italy-Vietnam Assistance Association raised 7,000 EUR (9,000 USD) to modernise a medical centre in Vietnam’s central province of Ha Tinh.

Three years ago, the IVFA-L also asked Lombardy authorities to contribute 30,000 EUR to fund the construction of a school in central Vietnam.

Vietnam’s Ambassador to Italy, Nguyen Hoang Long, praised the Italian friends and Vietnamese community’s efforts to strengthen relations between the two countries in the past and present.

President Sang hears voters’ suggestions

Voters meeting President Truong Tan Sang in HCM City on November 25 suggested that officials found to be corrupt or responsible for losing State assets should face harsher penalties.

Nguyen Minh Gioi, who lives in the city’s District 4, said that many residents were disappointed by the response to cases of corruption.

He stated his belief that stricter punishments would act as a deterrent to others.

Nguyen Van Nhon said that local people are worried because while thousands of corruption cases have been uncovered, many of the charges have been dropped to lesser ones, meaning lighter punishments.

Voter Nguyen Vinh Ngoc said that he is worried about mismanagement allowing important projects such as the Nam Dinh Television Tower and the Song Tranh 2 Hydropower plant to fall short of quality standards.

He added that currently the officials responsible have not been sufficiently held to account, and the Minister of Construction should not make excuses.

Ngoc said that the same type of mistakes can be seen in the price management of medicine by the Ministry of Health.

The President was also told that the National Assembly deputies should make sure that ministers fulfill their promises.

Voters did express their pleasure about the results achieved at the fourth session of the 13th National Assembly, which ended last week.

The President listened and replied to all of the opinions at the meeting.

RoK inspectors, auditors on Vietnam visit

A delegation from the Republic of Korea’s Board of Audit and Inspection (BAI) led by its Chairman Kun Yang is on a visit to Vietnam from November 23-26 to seek ways to boost relations with Vietnamese counterparts.

At a reception for the BAI delegation in Hanoi on November 24, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan said he is pleased with strong developments in the multi-faceted cooperation between Vietnam and the RoK over the past time.

He said that cultural similarities and great potentials for cooperation are favourable conditions for the two countries to continue boosting their multi-faceted ties in a more intensive, effective and comprehensive way, especially in 2012 when Vietnam and the RoK are celebrating the 20 th anniversary of diplomatic ties (December 22, 1992-2012).

Nhan spoke highly of the close and effective cooperation between the Vietnamese Government Inspectorate (VGI) and the BAI, expressing his wish that the two sides will continue strengthening their cooperation in all fields, particularly in experience sharing and personnel training.

For his part, Kun Yang said he hopes that his visit will help further develop the board’s relations with the VGI.

On the same day, the BAI delegation had a working session with Auditor General of the State Audit of Vietnam (SAV) Dinh Tien Dung, who highly valued important developments in bilateral relations over the past years, following an agreement on bilateral exchange and cooperation in May 2007.

The two sides have exchanged working visits and experience in public sector audit, he said, adding that the BAI has helped the SAV successfully organise the 42 nd meeting of the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institution (ASOSAI) Executive Committee in Hanoi in August 2010.

Dung also spoke highly of the BAI’s proposal on a project to improve capacity for Vietnamese auditors by using aid from the RoK Government in the 2013-2016 period.

He expressed his wish that in the coming time, the two sides will increase the exchange of information and delegations in order to strengthen mutual understanding and bilateral cooperation.

The BAI Chairman informed the host of the recent progress of ASOSAI activities and main issues at the 63 rd session of the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) Executive Committee.

He agreed with Dung’s proposal to increase the exchange of professional knowledge between the SAV and the BAI, expressing his wish that the two agencies will support each other at multilateral forums such as ASOSAI and INTOSAI.

Party leader works in Dong Thap Province

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong paid a working visit to the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap on November 24-25 to inspect the implementation of the 11 th National Party Congress Resolution and Party building work in the locality.

At a working session with provincial leaders on November 25, Trong emphasised the need to clarify outstanding achievements made by the provincial Party Committee, authorities and people in the socio-economic development of rural areas, as well as the building of the Party.

The province should report any difficulties or recommendations to the Party Central Committee in order to successfully implement the Resolution of the 11 th National Party Congress, he said.

After two years of implementing the Resolution, the province’s Party Committee and agencies have built practical and creative action plans and programmes suitable for each sector and locality in the current situation. It has created unity in the entire Party Committee and harmony among people.

Dong Thap Province recorded GDP growth of 13.55 percent in 2011. This year it is estimated to be 9.66 percent.

The province’s rice output is expected to surpass 3 million tonnes. The lives of local people have been improved with per-capital income reaching close to 25 million VND per head and the rate of household poverty dropping to 10.37 percent.

Earlier on November 24, the Party leader made a fact-finding tour of the poor commune of Phu Hiep in Tam Nong, a remote district in Dong Thap Province.

In an other activity, he offered incense to the tomb of Nguyen Sinh Sac, the father of President Ho Chi Minh.

Russian professor honoured with Friendship Order

The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisation (VUFO) on November 24 conferred the Friendship Order to Prof Dr Kolotov Vladimir Nikolaievich, President of St Petersburg’s Russia-Vietnam Friendship Society.

The honour recognises the Russian professor’s active contributions to strengthening the friendship and cooperation between the two nations.

At the ceremony, VUFO President Vu Xuan Hong noted that Prof Kolotov has made scientific reports on Vietnam’s development at many regional and international symposiums.

He has also written journals and granted interviews to Russian and world news agencies, showing his support for Vietnam in various areas.

Prof Kolotov said he will do his utmost to further support Vietnam and foster the friendship between the two nations.

Born in 1969 in St Petersburg, Kolotov is one of the Russian founders of the Ho Chi Minh Institute under the Saint Petersburg State University.

He has been invited to present reports on the Vietnamese history in Finland, Britain, Germany, France, Sweden, Italy, Denmark, and the Republic of Korea.    

As an experienced Vietnamese Studies researcher, he has trained other young researchers of the subject at the Saint Petersburg State University.

Leaders meet with Zanzibar President

President Truong Tan Sang last Friday told President Ali Mohamed Shein of Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous territory of Tanzania, that there was room to boost bilateral co-operation, especially in economics, trade, agriculture, and food security.

Receiving Shein in Ha Noi, Sang applauded the President's visit, expressing his delight at the development of the relations between Viet Nam and Tanzania, including Zanzibar, which was shown in two-way trade value of US$100 million.

Speaking highly of Tanzania's increasing role in East Africa and the United Nations framework, Sang affirmed that Viet Nam treasured ties with African countries, including Tanzania.

He suggested the two sides review all signed agreements and negotiate new ones to create sound legal grounds for the enhancement of bilateral co-operation.

Viet Nam was willing to share its agricultural knowledge with Tanzania, send experts to Tanzania to help the country in the field and create favourable conditions for businesses of both countries to penetrate each other's market.

For his part, Shein underlined the friendship between the two countries, reiterating that they had enjoyed fruitful co-operation in bilateral frameworks as well as at international forums.

He said he hoped Viet Nam would share its experience in development models and food security. He proposed the two countries foster co-operation in areas of each other's strengths including agriculture, fisheries, education and training.

Regarding international co-operation, Shein affirmed his country was ready to back Viet Nam in bids to join UN organisations, as well as the recognition of the country's market economy.

He forwarded an invitation from the Tanzanian President for Sang to visit his country to lift bilateral relations.

The same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung met Shein and said Viet Nam attached importance to the strengthening of comprehensive co-operation with Tanzania.

Dung expressed his gratitude to Tanzania for the support it had given Viet Nam in the fight for independence in the past, as well as the current cause of national construction and development.

Shein affirmed that his country treasured ties with Viet Nam and wanted to strengthen co-operation with Viet Nam in agriculture and fisheries, while expressing his hope that the country would share its national development experience, especially in reducing poverty.

The two sides agreed to create favourable conditions for their businesses to increase co-operation, especially in telecommunications.

They agreed on mutual support at international forums.

Shein also had a meeting with Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan.

VNN/VNS/VNA