Vietnam, IRRI boost cooperation

Vietnam wishes to promote sound and effective cooperation with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to produce quality rice varieties and work out cultivation processes, especially in the context of climate change and rising sea level.

The statement was stressed by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on February 25 when he received Director of IRRI Robert S. Zeigler, who is paying a working visit to Vietnam.

At the reception, Dung spoke highly of the IRRI’s effective support to Vietnam in the past years with up to 80 percent of high-yield rice varieties in the Mekong Delta.

For his part, Zeigler expressed his pleasure at Vietnam’s achievements in agricultural development, and praised Vietnam’s strategic and practical agricultural policies.

Vietnamese leaders receive Brunei minister of energy

President Truong Tan Sang and Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai both hosted receptions in Ha Noi for Pehin Yasmin, Brunei’s minister of energy, who is currently paying a visit to Viet Nam.

President Truong Tan Sang (right) receives Brunei Minister of Energy Pehin Yasmin. (Photo: VNA)

President Sang said the results of a working session between the Brunei delegation and the Viet Nam National Petroleum Group (PVN) would strengthen the two countries’ economic ties.

He also spoke highly of Brunei’s ASEAN Presidency, suggesting the two countries boost co-operation in the fields of agriculture, forestry and fishery.

Yasmin said the goal of his visit was to realise agreements signed by the two countries’ leaders, especially in oil and gas co-operation.

Regarding the working session with the PVN, he affirmed that the two sides had agreed to upgrade their relationship.

Meeting with Yasmin, Deputy PM Hai said that Viet Nam hoped to continue attracting investment in energy, in particular from countries rich in petroleum like Brunei.

Viet Nam was also willing to cooperate with businesses from Brunei to implement projects in the country as well as overseas, such as supplying crude oil for export, he added.

For his part, Yasmin affirmed Brunei’s determination to strengthen its relationship with Viet Nam.

He also prioritised boosting petroleum cooperation between the two countries, saying this would benefit both sides and contribute to the development of their relationship.

Party leader visits Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc provinces

On February 25, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong paid a new year visit to the northern province of Phu Tho. He had a working session with the Standing Board of the provincial Party Committee.

Local Party officials reported that last year, the province achieved an economic growth higher than the country’s average. Per capita GDP reached 20.4 million VND, equivalent to almost 1,000 USD, and the poverty rate was just above 14 percent.

In the Lunar New Year festival this year, the province raised over 12.3 billion VND to support needy families, ensuring that all people enjoyed a happy holiday.

Local Party organizations are seriously conducting criticism and self criticism in line with the 11 th Party Central Committee’s Resolution on Party building.

The Party General Secretary noted that Phu Tho needs to pay attention to the resolution’s new points, and try effective and creative ways of implementation.

He suggested the province submit ideas to the Party Central Committee, contributing to improving the Party’s leadership capacity and strength.

The same day, Trong also met with leaders of Phu Tho’s neighbouring province of Vinh Phuc .

The Party leader said that Vinh Phuc is one of the provinces that have implemented well the criticism and self criticism movement and the 11 th Party Central Committee’s Resolution on Party building. However, he added, the province needs to strive for more achievements in the time to come.

He asked the province to strictly review the shortcomings so as to find out their causes.

Local leaders reported that the province has solved difficulties in State management, especially in such issues as land management, administrative reform and public investment restructuring.

In 2012, the province’s budget obtained 14.5 trillion VND, with the average per capita income of 47 million VND per annum.

Vietnam prioritises enhancing ties with Laos

Vietnam always prioritises the consolidation and strengthening of the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation with Laos.

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc made the remarks at a reception hosted by General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President Choummaly Sayasone in Laos ’ southern province of Attapeu on February 25.

Phuc congratulated Laos on its achievements in implementing the Resolution of the 9 th Party Congress and the 7 th five-year socio-economic development plan, as well as its admittance to the World Trade Organisation and success in hosting the 7th Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Meeting (ASEP 7), the 9 th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 9) and the Asia-Europe Business Forum.

He affirmed that he will direct Vietnam’s ministries, departments and localities to actively implement cooperative agreements in economics, education-training, and security-defence with the Lao side for the fine development of the two countries’ relations.

Sayasone expressed his delight at the success of the 2012 Vietnam-Laos Friendship Year, describing it as an important event in political activities and a highlight in the two countries’ relationship.

He appreciated Vietnamese businesses’ investment in Laos and expressed hope that they will focus on finishing key and large-scale projects in Laos ’ socio-economic development plan, as well as expand their operations to disadvantaged provinces in the country.

Within the framework of his visit to Laos , Phuc also attended the inauguration ceremony of a sugarcane factory and a thermo-electricity centre, funded by Hoang Anh Gia Lai Corporation (HAGL), in Attapeu province.

Addressing the ceremony, which was attended by Sayasone and Deputy Prime Minister Somsavad Lengsavath, among others, Phuc hailed HAGL’s efforts in implementing and ensuring the quality of the two projects.

He suggested Vietnamese investors in Laos, especially HAGL, grasp thoroughly the spirit of the Vietnam-Laos cooperation strategy for the 2011-2020 period and the five-year cooperation agreement (2011-20 15) between the two countries.

On behalf of the Lao Party and Government, Somsavad Lengsavath expressed his gratitude to the Vietnamese Party and Government for their help to his country over the years. His thanks were also extended to Vietnamese businesses, especially HAGL, which have implemented efficient projects in Laos.

On the same day, Phuc and his Lao counterpart attended the inauguration ceremony of the Hoang Anh-Attapeu rubber-latex processing factory. The factory, with an 11-million USD investment from HAGL, has an annual capacity of 25,000 tonnes.

UN Peacekeeping official visits Vietnam

Deputy Minister of National Defence, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh hosted a reception in Hanoi on February 25 for Edmond Mulet, Assistant Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations at the United Nations, who is on a visit to Vietnam until February 28.

At the meeting, Vinh stressed that the experience sharing and support from the UN Department for Peacekeeping Operations over the past time, and Mulet’s suggestions during this visit, will help the Vietnam People’s Army complete its preparations to participate in the UN’s peacekeeping force in early 2014.

He also informed the guest of the training of officers, who will work as observers at the UN.

Mulet said that the peacekeeping department will work closely with the Vietnam People’s Army and create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese side to send officers to visit a UN peacekeeping mission.

Earlier the same day, Mulet met with Assistant to Vietnamese Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc, who highly valued the UN’s contributions to maintaining peace and international security over the past 70 years, including the implementation of peacekeeping operations in many regions across the world.

Ngoc affirmed that Vietnam will continue implementing foreign policies of independence, self-mastery, peace, cooperation and development, and take the initiative in international integration.

The country is a trustworthy friend and partner and a responsible member of the international community, and attaches importance to the multi-faceted relationship with the UN, he added.

For his part, Mulet spoke highly of Vietnam’s role, international prestige and contributions over the past years, adding that he hoped Vietnam will continue to contribute to the UN’s activities, especially in maintaining peace and international security.

National Day greetings to Kuwait

President Truong Tan Sang on February 25 sent his greetings to Kuwait’s King Sheikh Sabah Al Almad Al Jaber Al Sabah on the occasion of the 52 nd National Day of Kuwait (February 25, 1961-2013).

The same day, Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh also extended his greetings to Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al Hamad Al Sabah, Kuwait’s Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Congratulations to Cuban leaders

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and President Truong Tan Sang on February 25 extended their congratulations to Raul Castro Ruz, First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), on his re-election as President of the Cuban State Council and the Council of Ministers for the 2013-2018 term.

The same day, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung extended his congratulations to Esteban Lazo on his election as the National Assembly Chairman of the People’s Power.

Russia communist leader applauds Vietnam’s socialism achievements

A senior Russian communist party leader has applauded Vietnam’s achievements on its path to building socialism.

Chairman of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (KPRF)’s Central Committee Ghennady Ziuganov made the statement on February 24 at a reception for a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation led by Ngo Van Du, a Politburo member and head of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Commission for Inspection. The delegation is in Russia to attend the 15th congress of the KPRF that opened in Moscow on February 23.

Chairman Ziuganov said that relations between the KPRF and the CPV will be further consolidated and intensified on the path of building socialism and communism in the two countries.

He expressed his delight at the developing ties between the two parties, saying that this would help create a foundation for further strengthening the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership.

The chairman recalled his memories of Russia-Vietnam relations during the war against the US, adding that communists in the State Duma, the Lower House of the Federal Assembly of Russia, always call for further boosting ties with Vietnam.

He also touched upon particular projects in areas of bilateral cooperation, saying that Russian party members responsible for the projects will play active roles to see the projects through in the time to come. He also expressed his hope that the Vietnamese side will create the most favourable conditions for the implementation.

Ziuganov stressed that Vietnam, along with China, Cuba, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Laos, serves as an example to drive the KPRF, other communist and workers parties to realise their goal of building a socialist society in their respective countries.

Du, who is also secretary of the central committee of the CPV, congratulated the KPRF for its achievements in the past years, wishing that the two parties will enjoy further development in their cooperation, solidarity and friendship.

The Vietnamese party official expressed gratitude to the KPRF leaders for their constant support to Vietnam in developing Vietnam-Russia ties and socio-economic development projects.

On this occasion, the Vietnamese delegation laid a wreath at the Ho Chi Minh Monument at the Ho Chi Minh Square in Moscow. They also had a meeting with staff from the Vietnamese embassy in Russia and representatives of Vietnamese associations and students.

At the meeting, Du updated the community on the country’s latest situation, new policies and guidelines of the Party and State in the new context.

The country is implementing policies with short- and long-term measures for sustainable socio-economic development, and the protection of its national sovereignty, he added.

Hanoi to host ASEAN-EU Business Summit

The third ASEAN-EU Business Summit will take place in Hanoi on March 8-9 in conjunction with the 19 th ASEAN Ministers Retreat Meeting.

The summit will be jointly held by the European Union (EU), the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade, the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the EU-ASEAN Business Council, the ASEAN Business Advisory Council and the ASEAN Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

It serves as a high-level dialogue platform for businesses and Governments of the EU and ASEAN member countries to boost trade and investment.

The success of the first Business Summit in Jakarta in 2001 and the second in Phnom Penh in 2012 has shown that the ASEAN-EU Business Summit offers an opportunity for the business communities of ASEAN and the EU to interact and directly covey their views, concerns and wishes to economic leaders from the two regions.

As many as 600 local and international high-level policy makers and international business leaders will seek ways to further improve business in the most relevant trade and investment sectors such as agri-food, automotive, financial services, ICT, infrastructure/connectivity and pharmaceuticals.

Results of the discussions will be presented to the ten ASEAN Trade Ministers and EU Commissioner for Trade at the end of the summit, making it an ideal platform to advance private sector recommendations to policy makers on regional issues.

In the past years, ASEAN has achieved world-wide recognition for being one of the most dynamic and integrated regions. The growing purchasing power of 600 million consumers and the ongoing progress of regional agendas are offering an integrated market and production base for both businesses and consumers.

As the world’s largest single market with 500 million consumers and an abundant source of top quality investments, the EU presents great potential to bring advanced technologies, innovation and expertise to ten dynamic economies of ASEAN.

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