Indian Communist party leader visits

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong yesterday, May 28, held a meeting with visiting General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy.

Trong told Reddy that the visit was considered an important milestone and a vivid manifestation of the traditional friendship between the two parties and peoples.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong receives General Secretary of the visiting Communist Party of India Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy. (Photo: VNA)

The CPV leader suggested that the two parties accelerate exchanges of delegations and theories, and share experiences and practices in implementing policies on economic renewal and development as well as in party building in the time to come.

Trong underscored the long lasting ties between the two parties and peoples, adding his wish that the CPI, which plays an important role in Indian politics, will uphold its positive contributions to further consolidate Viet Nam and India's multifaceted co-operation and strategic partnership.

Reddy said the CPI will do its utmost to consolidate and develop the traditional ties built and nurtured by the two parties and peoples, contributing to further intensification of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

He also informed the host of the fine outcomes of the talks between the two parties' delegations.

Previously, Reddy held talks with Hoang Binh Quan, member of the CPV Central Committee and head of its Commission for External Relations.

The two sides informed each other about the party and socio-economic situation in their respective countries. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and discussed measures for future co-operation between the two parties and peoples.

During the visit, the CPI delegation laid a wreath at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, paid visits to Ho Chi Minh City and northern Quang Ninh Province, and held a working session with former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh.

US, Vietnam boost defence cooperation

Senior Lieutenant General and Deputy Minister of Defence Nguyen Chi Vinh on May 28 received Acting US Assistant Secretary of State, Joseph Y. Yun, who is in Hanoi for the Vietnam-US Dialogue on the Asia Pacific region.

At the reception, Vinh reviewed recent defence cooperation between the two sides and touched upon a series of events that will get underway in 2013.

The Vietnam Ministry of National Defence and the US Department of Defence signed a cooperation agreement in 2011, which has provided a favourable framework for bilateral cooperation in defence, Vinh said

Yun said he hopes that both nations will also continue promoting bilateral cooperation in defence, as well as economics, trade, development and education.

Host and guest said they hope the two defence agencies will cooperate closely in searching the remains of US servicemen missing in action during the war in Vietnam, as well as deactivating bombs and landmines left over from the war and providing humanitarian aid.

Vietnam, France raise urban railway cooperation

A senior French diplomat has said that his country wishes to contribute its advanced technical expertise to the development of urban railway systems in Vietnam, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Fabrice Mauries, Consul General of France in Ho Chi Minh City, made the remark on May 28 at a seminar with leading Vietnamese and French experts in rail transport and urban planning, adding that it is a concrete illustration of the bilateral partnership between the two countries.

The event, which was held in this southern economic hub by the French Embassy in Vietnam, the French Agency for International Business Development in Vietnam and the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Unit, is part of economic activities to mark Vietnam-France Year.

The diplomat said that developing urban railway systems is an important area in the France-Vietnam partnership, which is manifested by the construction of a pilot line in Hanoi with a majority of French financial assistance.

With annual GDP growth of 7 percent over the past 20 years, population growth of one million people per annum and the fast speed of urbanisation, experts say Vietnam needs an urban railway network to meet growing socio-economic demand.

The seminar created an avenue for the Vietnamese side to update information on its fledgling urban railway and planning, and for the French side as well as international firms to seek opportunities for railway construction projects in Vietnam, said Hoang Nhu Cuong, Vice Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Unit.

Discussions touched upon related issues such as the creation of future railway lines, ticket systems, public transport infrastructure planning, and the control of risks, safety and working conditions.

Hanoi is planning to build eight urban railway lines, of which four having been implemented, in Ho Chi Minh City, the figure is 10, including one tram and two monorail routes, according to data presented at the seminar.

Vietnam, Laos strengthen border peace, stability

The High Command of Military Zone 4 and the High Command of six Lao provinces that share a border with the zone held a joint meeting to evaluate their cooperation in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on May 28.

During the meeting, the two sides appreciated the results achieved in various fields such as the propagation of the governments’ policies and laws, the building of 14 primary schools and five clinics in the area, the organisation of literacy classes for more than 1,600 people and free health checks for 1,389 people.

In addition, Vietnam and Laos worked together to find the remains of 749 Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and specialists who died on Lao battlefields in the past.

Last year, border security-politics saw positive changes, with smuggling, drug trafficking and illegal migration reduced, living conditions of border area residents improved and the bilateral relationship strengthened, contributing to a peaceful, friendly and stable Vietnam-Laos border.

In the coming time, the two sides will continue exchanging information particularly on border security and politics, and enhance cooperation in gathering and repatriating the remains of Vietnamese martyrs, coping with natural disasters, and implementing the project of upgrading and building more boundary markers along the shared border.

Viet Nam, Chad to step up agricultural co-operation

The Republic of Chad hoped to further agriculture co-operation with Viet Nam and the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and to extend the scope of technology transfer projects this year.

The statement was made by Dangde Laobele, Chad's Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation, during a meeting with Cao Duc Phat, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, in Ha Noi yesterday, May 28.

Laobele praised the results of agriculture co-operation projects with Viet Nam during the past two years.

Following a trilateral agreement to support agricultural technologies for Chad, the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have sent 10 experts to help the country implement agricultural projects since 2011.

Phat said Viet Nam would continue to send experts to Chad and would also welcome experts from Chad to Viet Nam to share their experiences.

Both sides said they hoped agriculture co-operation would continue to expand and relations between the two nations would continue to grow.

Australian envoy says Viet Nam is an important partner

The Australian PM's special envoy Angus Houston said that his country considers Viet Nam one of its important partners and wishes to facilitate further cooperation, especially in economics, trade, investment, education, culture and defence-security.

Houston stressed that Australia will do its utmost to ensure peace and stability in the region and the world, while at the same time supporting cooperative activities between the two countries in all realms.

Meeting with Vietnamese Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Ha Noi yesterday, May 28, as part of a working visit to the country, he was applauded for paying a visit. Phuc also noted the development of bilateral ties in all fields with delight.

He highly valued the effective support and cooperation that Australia has provided to Viet Nam in the fields of Official Development Assistance (ODA), health and education-training as well as poverty reduction projects.

The host suggested the two sides increase all-level delegation exchanges and investment-trade-economic ties as well as other practical measures to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

The Deputy Prime Minister expressed his hope that the two sides would work closely together in matters of mutual concern, such as migration and immigration, to further strengthen their friendship and co-operation.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA