Viet Nam attaches special importance to co-operation with Japan and wishes to promote ties with the country in politics, economics, science-technology, education and labour.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the statement while receiving Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Motegi Toshimitsu in Ha Noi on Monday.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung receives Japanese Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Motegi Toshimitsu in Ha Noi.

The PM expressed his hope that the two sides will actively implement joint agreements for the benefit of both countries.

He called on the partners to increase two-way trade, create favourable conditions for Japanese investors to do business in Viet Nam and for Vietnamese nurses to work in Japan.

Dung also proposed that Japan further increase official development assistance (ODA) for Viet Nam's projects in transport infrastructure, energy, healthcare, education and training, and see through joint projects including the Ninh Thuan 2 nuclear power plant, rare earth exploration and supporting intensive industrial parks.

The Vietnamese leader said he hopes that the Japanese Government will pay more attention to the early completion and effective implementation of an action plan for the six selected industries in Viet Nam's Industrialisation Policy, within the framework of the Viet Nam-Japan co-operation towards 2020 and a vision to 2030 agreement.

For his part, the Japanese Minister said that during his working sessions with relevant ministries and branches, co-operation in 15 sectors was discussed, including industry, energy, healthcare, training and the environment.

Japan will continue to work closely with Viet Nam in the implementation of the Viet Nam-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement and the Joint Initiative on improving the investment environment, Toshimitsu declared.

CPV delegation visits China

Head of the Economic Commission of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Vuong Dinh Hue is leading a delegation to visit China from June 30 - July 6.

The Vietnamese delegation was received by Chinese State Councilor Wang Yong in Beijing on July 2.

Wang welcomed the delegation, considering it a lively manifestation of the comprehensive cooperation between the CPV and the Communist Party of China under the common perception of leaders in both countries.

The Chinese State Councilor spoke highly of Vietnam’s achievements in socio-economic development and party building.

He added that the Chinese Government and people attach much importance to the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with Vietnam, and pledge to join hands with Vietnam to reinforce and develop the relationship.

Head of the CPV Central Committee’s Economic Commission Vuong Dinh Hue highly valued China’s experience in party building and socio-economic development in its reform and opening up process.

Exchanges between the two parties not only benefit each country’s development path, but also foster mutual understanding and create favourable conditions for the mutual development of the two countries, he added.

Vietnam consistently attaches importance to its comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with China, the Vietnamese official said.

Vietnam wants to, together with China, fully implement the common perceptions agreed by leaders of the two countries and tackle existing issues to develop Vietnam–China friendly relations in a stable and sound manner for the benefit of the two countries, and for peace and cooperation in the region and the world.

During the visit, the CPV delegation also had a meeting with Wang Jiarui, Head of the CPC Central Committee’s International Liaison Department.

Defence Minister receives Brunei Navy Commander

Defence Minister Genaral Phung Quang Thanh hosted a reception for visiting First Admiral Haji Mohd Hanifa, Commander of the Royal Brunei Navy, in Hanoi on July 2.

At the meeting, First Admiral Haji Mohd Hanifa briefed General Phung Quang Thanh on his work with Vietnam’s Navy High Command. In which, the two navies will boost bilateral cooperation through many exchange programmes and the establishment of a hotline to address maritime issues of mutual interest.

General Thanh highly valued the bilateral ties between the two ministries and navies, and stressed that their defence relationship has facilitated the development of bilateral ties in many other areas.

He said in the coming time the two sides’ military and naval forces will strengthen exchanges of all-level delegations, young officer exchanges, cooperation in search and rescue training, anti-terrorism and piracy.

NZ ambassador vows stronger links with Vietnam

New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Haike Manning has vowed to work his hardest to strengthen cooperation between the two countries during his term.

Meeting with Deputy Minister of National Defence, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, in Hanoi on July 2, Manning said the defence cooperation mechanism reached at the ASEAN Defence Ministerial Plus Meeting (ADMM+) in Hanoi in October 2010 has ushered in cooperation opportunities for both countries in various realms.

Deputy Minister Vinh noted with pleasure the effective Vietnam-New Zealand defence cooperation in the exchange of delegations, training, maritime police, naval forces and experience on joining the United Nations peacekeeping missions.

Besides bilateral cooperation, the two countries actively supported each other at multilateral forums like the ADMM+ and the ASEAN Regional Forum, he said.

He expressed his hope that Manning will contribute his efforts to military and people-to-people cooperation between the two nations.

Vietnam, Canada mark 40 years of diplomatic ties

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee hosted a meeting on July 2 to mark the 40 th anniversary of Vietnam-Canada diplomatic ties and the 146th Canada Day.

Addressing the celebration, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Hua Ngoc Thuan stressed that over the past 40 years, the long-lasting, stable and comprehensive partnership between the two countries has been consolidated and developed.

The two sides have maintained all-level delegation exchanges, he added.

According to Thuan, in 2012, bilateral trade surpassed 1.6 billion USD, nine times higher than 2011. Early this year, the two sides agreed to boost all-around cooperation, particularly in trade, investment, science-technology, education and training, and agreed to collaborate at multilateral forums.

Trade between HCM City and Canada reached more than 265 million USD in 2012, Thuan said, adding that Canada has 50 projects worth 91.5 million USD in the city.

Agriculture, health and education are also important content in the cooperation between the two sides.

The Vice Chairman said that HCM City wants to strengthen multifaceted cooperation with Canada, with priorities to be given to trade, investment, education and training, cultural exchange and science and technology.

He also pledged that the municipal authorities will create favourable conditions for Canadian investors to invest and do business in the city.

Canadian Consul General to HCM City Audri Mukhopadhyay said the good relations between the two countries are reflected in the development of trade, economic, education and training cooperation.

There are more than 3,000 Vietnamese students in Canada. Education cooperation programmes between the two countries have developed in HCM City, he added.    

Farmers need more support

Sung A Cha, a Viet Nam Farmers' Union (VNFU) member from northern Dien Bien Province's Muong Nhe District, asked the union for more support for farmers in mountainous areas during the organisation's sixth national congress, held in Ha Noi on Monday, July 1.

The union aims to support agricultural restructuring and the transformation of the rural economy, promote vocational training and create jobs. But Cha, voicing the concerns of many in his district, said farmers were suffering because they lacked resources and good plant varieties and had little business experience, yet were unable to switch to other jobs.

The idea that the country undervalued agriculture and the role that farmers play in the country's development should be absolutely dismissed, said Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

He said the union should improve its support for farmers in terms of access to funding, legal regulations, technology and science, brand development and access to the market by developing policies and strategies in close co-operation with relevant State agencies and sectors.

In particular, Trong noted that the VNFU needed to be proactive in helping outstanding farming households, farm owners and young farmers to become leading businesspeople who could contribute to rural socio-economic development.

According to Ha Phuc Mich, deputy chairman of the VNFU, from 2008 to present, the union has helped more than 3 million farmers borrow a total funding of up to over VND50 trillion (US$2.38 billion) from banks.

During the 2013-18 term, the union aimed to raise awareness among more than 95 per cent of farmers about the Government's legal policies in relation to agriculture, rural areas and farmers, raise the union's membership throughout the country and raise the farmers' support fund by at least 15 per cent a year, said Mich.

Cha asked for the union to help farmers access funding with favourable conditions, send capable staff to conduct agricultural training sessions for farmers and make timely, effective proposals to the Government to help farmers escape poverty.

Nguyen Dinh Xu, a from northern Ninh Binh Province, agreed, saying the Government and relevant State agencies needed to have more policies to support farmers, especially those in disadvantaged and remote areas, in order to help them access funds and earn higher profits from agricultural products.

To achieve that, the union needed strong, dedicated local staff who understood the difficulties of farmers and could offer them much-needed support, he said.

The congress, held every five years, is considered an important event for farmers nationwide.

This year's event will be held until tomorrow and will feature group discussions on pressing issues for farmers and the election of new leaders for the union. It is attended by nearly 1,200 participants representing about 10.4 million members of the union.

Labour co-operation with Laos to continue

Viet Nam and Laos should keep improving the quality of co-operation in labour and social welfare and diversify modes to contribute more to the socio-economic development of the two countries, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said.

He made the statement at the third meeting of Ministers of Labour and Social Welfare between Viet Nam and Laos in central Hue City on Monday.

Phuc acknowledged the effective co-operation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Welfare and the Lao Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, especially the signing of a labour co-operation agreement.

At the meeting, both sides agreed to continue implementing the bilateral labour co-operation agreement.

The ministries would increase the sharing of experiences and co-operation in labour and employment.

They would also work closely with agencies of both nations to search and collect remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and Lao soldiers who died in each other's territories during the war time.

The two sides agreed to hold their fourth meeting in Laos in 2015.

VNN/VNS/VNA