Vietnam congratulates RoK’s new PM

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on February 26 sent a congratulatory message to Chung Hong-won on his appointment as Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea.

Vice President meets with UK Minister of State

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan had a meeting with the UK’s Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Hugo Swire, in Seoul on February 26 on her working visit to the Republic of Korea.

During their talks, Doan expressed her hope that the UK, as one of the key members of the European Union (EU), will lobby the EU to recognise Vietnam as a market-based economy.

As the UK is also a key shareholder in the World Bank (WB), Vietnam hopes the UK will influence the bank to offer further development assistance loans to Vietnam, she said, adding her wish that the UK will continue to channel Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Vietnam from areas of the UK’s strength such as finance, petroleum-chemistry and science-technology.

Doan also expressed her wish that the UK will soon cooperate with Vietnam to build the UK-Vietnam University in central Da Nang city, adding that her side wants the UK to serve as an important bridge between the EU and ASEAN, in which Vietnam holds an important position.

Hugo Swire said he hopes the two sides will make all efforts to elevate the bilateral strategic partnership to a higher level, and propel bilateral cultural and economic cooperation in the time to come.

Party leader congratulates Vietnamese doctors

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong visited and congratulated staff at K hospital and the National Hospital of Pediatrics on February 26, on the occasion of Vietnamese Doctors’ Day (February 27).

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong reassures an ailing child at the National Pediatrics Hospital, as he toured facilities yesterday on the occasion of Vietnamese Doctors’ Day.

During the visits, Trong affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State regard public healthcare as an important strategic task. Doctors’ Day is a chance for all people to honour and express their gratitude to doctors.

He lauded generations of medical staff for overcoming difficulties, providing health check-ups and treatment to people, and engaging in scientific research and training.

Trong said he hopes Vietnamese doctors will follow President Ho Chi Minh’s teachings and strive to build a modern medical profession, meeting the aspirations of the people. He also offered gifts to patients at both hospitals.

As a national leading cancer hospital, the 1,000-bed K hospital is always filled to capacity as the number of patients rises by 5-10 percent per annum.

Bui Dieu, Director of K hospital, said with a population of 88 million, Vietnam sees 170,000–200,000 cancer sufferers, and over 1 million tumour patients every year, posing challenges for K hospital and the medical sector.

The National Hospital of Pediatrics boasts 1,250 beds and over 1,600 medical staff. Last year, it offered health check-ups to 700,000 children and treatment to 60,000 using advanced technologies.

PM affirms policy of religious freedom

The Party and State of Vietnam always respect people’s rights to religious and belief freedom, and ensures all religions observe the law, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has said.

Dung made the statement at a working session with leaders of the Government’s Committee for Religious Affairs in Hanoi on February 26.

The Party and State attach great importance to the State management of religions and mass mobilisation work, he added.

The Government leader asked the committee to bring into full paly its achievements and overcome limitations and shortcomings while better performing the State management of religions, firstly as an advisor on building related institutions and policies.

The committee is also required to intensify its inspection of the implementation of the law on religions.

Dung highlighted awareness work in the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies regarding religions.

He stressed the need to be vigilant against hostile forces that take advantage of religions to undermine national unity and political-social order.

Vietnam is home to 13 religions and 36 religious organisations licensed by the State, 24 million followers (27 percent of the total population), 83,000 dignitaries and 25,000 worshipping sites.

Non-religious people also have worshipping rituals dedicated to their ancestors, gods and to those who made great contributions to the nation.

The rituals are reflected in various festivals different across the country.

The head of the committee, Pham Dung, who is also Deputy Interior Minister, said religious activities basically abide by the law, and religious organisations take an active part in social life, especially in the fields of charity and humanitarian work.

The organisations have helped bring Vietnam closer to the world, and introduce the country’s renewed religious policies as well as changes in the religious life to international friends.

However, Pham Dung said the State management of religions still shows limitations and shortcomings, such as the shortage of legal documents on religions and beliefs, and legal documents that remain outdated in the context of international integration.

Along with difficulties regarding the organisation and officers in charge of the State management of religions, he also pointed out the lack of direction in belief activities in regions across Vietnam.

Illegal missionary work and superstition still exist among ethnic minority groups and at border areas, he said.

PM urges effort to clear ordnance

Removing the unexploded ordnances (UXOs) that remain from wars fought in previous decades should be a national priority, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said at a meeting in Ha Noi yesterday.

More than 1,000 people fall victim to UXOs every year. Around 800,000 tonnes of unexploded bombs and mines are estimated to remain in the country.

During the meeting, Dung suggested the State Steering Committee of the National Action Programme on Settling Consequences of Unexploded Ordnances (known as Steering Committee 504) negotiate with donors who could sponsor the programme, which would help people avoid encountering UXOs and assist UXO victims.

The PM said the Government has already drawn up many policies and spent billions of dong to confront the issue. Thanks to the public’s help and the support of the international community,

Viet Nam had made great strides in clearing bombs and mines left over from the war, he added.

Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh, head of the committee, said the committee planned to submit a plan for the 2013-2015 period to the Government for approval, issue a decree on plans to remove UXOs and coordinate funding mechanisms.

It will also map UXOs in the remaining 14 provinces, fund research on clearing the devices and organise an exchange programme to jointly overcome the consequences of UXOs on April 4 in addition to an international donor conference at the end of the year.

Germany to support mine-clearing process

Germany will continue supporting Viet Nam this year through its long-running mine and explosive clearance and resettlement project in the central provinces of Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue and Quang Binh.

This year, Germany will provide around US$1.3 million for the work, which has been undertaken by German non-government organisation Solidarity Service International (SODI) in co-operation with local authorities and the Viet Nam People’s Army.

In 2012, SODI found 19,275 explosives in Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue. Around 275 hectares of land were cleared for resettlement, agricultural production and infrastructure development.

Since 1998, the German Foreign Affairs Ministry has provided around $13.7 million for bomb and mine clearance in Viet Nam.

RoK keen to boost ties with Vietnam

New President of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Park Geun-hye on February 26 said that the RoK Government and she personally are very keen to bolster ties with Vietnam.

The RoK President made the statement at her reception for Vietnamese Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan, who was in Seoul for the President’s swearing-in ceremony.

President Park Geun-hye noted with joy the two countries’ celebrations of their 20th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, and last year’s 20 billion USD in two-way trade.

The RoK will do its best together with Vietnam to raise the trade figure to 30 billion USD in the coming years, she added.

She also affirmed that she will assist the Vietnamese community in her country, and especially help Vietnamese women married to RoK men live a happy life in the country.

The RoK President asked Vice President Doan to convey her regards to President Truong Tan Sang and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

She said she hopes to find an appropriate time to visit Vietnam at President Truong Tan Sang’s invitation relayed by Vice President Doan.

For her part, Vice President Doan affirmed that the Vietnamese State and people want to further their strategic cooperation partnership with the RoK.

Doan said she believes that under the leadership of President Park Geun-hye, RoK will thrive with rising international prestige.

She expressed her hope that the RoK Government will continue to assist the Vietnamese community in the country integrate into local society, contributing to the two countries’ development.

Earlier, at a meeting with leaders of three RoK economic conglomerates Lotte, Chamvit and LG, the Vietnamese Vice President affirmed that Vietnam always facilitates foreign investors’ activities on the basis of harmonising the interests of people, business and the State.

At a meeting with staff from the Vietnamese embassy in the RoK, the Vice President hailed their contributions to the fine development of Vietnam-RoK relations in various fields, especially in economics. She also asked the embassy staff to increase their support to the 120,000 members of the Vietnamese expatriate community living in the country. 

VNN/VNS/VNA