Thua Thien-Hue urged to utilise strategic location

President Truong Tan Sang has called on central Thua Thien-Hue province to take full the advantage of its strategic position in the central coastal region to become a unique centre of culture, tourism, health and education.

The President addressed the ceremony to celebrate Vietnamese Doctors’ Day. (Photo: VNA)

The President met with local leaders during his visit to the province on March 3.

Sang said he was pleased at the development of Thua Thien-Hue’s agricultural sector, which has overcome the difficulties facing the national economy. The province’s contribution to the State budget is the highest among the central provinces.
 
He also stressed that the province needs to further exploit its potential for tourism in order to boost income.

Apart from taking intensive work to preserve relics in the ancient capital of Hue, the province must diversify the activities open to tourists and continue upgrading airports to allow a growing number of tourists to visit, the President added.

He urged local authorities to cooperate more with other countries on the East-West Economic Corridor while suggesting them work with the Government to complete key road and marine transport projects so that the region can benefit from the potentially lucrative trade agreement recently agreed between Vietnam, ASEAN and China.

Later the same day, President Sang attended a ceremony to celebrate Vietnamese Doctors’ Day held in Hue Central Hospital and paid a visit to Chan May-Lang Co Economic Zone, which since its establishment six years ago has attracted 32 investment projects, 12 of which have already become operational.

NA Chairman, PM to visit Russia

Chairman of National Assembly Nguyen Sinh Hung and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will pay official visits to Russia this year.

The news was released by Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Pham Xuan Son at an annual New Year’s meeting with Russian businesspeople and media in Moscow on February 28.

The event also saw the participation of representatives from the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economic Development and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry as well as Moscow authorities.

Ambassador Son also reported that Viet Nam and the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan will start talks on establishing a four-party free trade area by the end of March.

VN, Canada further all-round links

Viet Nam and Canada agreed to further links in economics, trade, investment, science-technology, education-training and regional and international issues in a more effective manner.

The agreement was reached during Deputy Foreign Minister Ho Xuan Son’s meetings with the Canadian hosts within his visit to Canada from February 28 - March 1.

The Vietnamese diplomat held talks with his counterparts Morris Rosenberg and Peter Boehm, as well as other Canadian leaders including Deputy Minister of Agriculture Claude Carriere, Chairman of the Canada - Viet Nam Friendship Parliamentary Group and leaders of the Canadian International Development Agency.

Son stressed that Viet Nam values the development of a comprehensive, stable and long-term partnership with Canada and expressed hope that the two countries would work closely together to celebrate their 40th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

He put stress on exchanging high-level delegations and hosting cultural, artistic and economic activities.

Son voiced Viet Nam’s support for Canada bolstering ties with ASEAN member nations and the Asia-Pacific region, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.

The diplomat suggested the Canadian Government and Parliament create favourable conditions for the overseas Vietnamese community to integrate into Canada while actively contributing to friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Danish foreign affairs minister's visit strengthens green growth ties

Denmark is willing to continue cooperating with Viet Nam in green growth by sharing its experience with climate change, environmental protection and green energy, said Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs Villy Sovndal.

Sovndal made the statement at separate talks with Vietnamese government leaders and other high-ranking officials during his visit to Viet Nam this week. The visit comes at a time when Viet Nam and Denmark are enjoying vigorous development in bilateral cooperation.

During a meeting yesterday with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, the guest affirmed that his country would make every effort to implement the signed agreements and facilitate bilateral cooperation in new areas.

PM Dung said Viet Nam wished to further intensify cooperation with Denmark in all fields, especially in economics, trade, investment, Official Development Assistance (ODA), education-training and green growth.

Dung expressed his hope that Denmark would continue creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese expatriate community in the country.

In bilateral talks with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh the same day, the Danish minister spoke highly of Viet Nam’s socio-economic achievements, as well as its increasingly prestigious role in the regional and international arena. He said that Denmark always attached importance to fostering friendship and ties with Viet Nam.

Denmark is actively helping Viet Nam carry out its 2012-2020 Green Growth Strategy, which in turn will pave the way for Danish firms to invest in seaport construction, ship building and food processing, he added.

The Danish FM affirmed that his side would support Viet Nam in strengthening comprehensive cooperation with the EU, accelerating the approval of the Viet Nam-EU Partnership and Co-operation Agreement (PCA) and negotiating the Viet Nam-EU Free Trade Agreement.

On the East Sea issue, Sovndal said that his country supports Viet Nam’s stance on settling disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law.

Minh expressed his gratitude to the Danish Government and people for their ODA in the past years, adding that the assistance had been effectively used to make significant contributions to the socio-economic development of Vietnam and its international integration.

President pays working visit to Quang Tri    

President Truong Tan Sang has praised local people in central Quang Tri province for their part in turning the province into one of localities leading in paying gratitude to those who rendered services to the nation and promoting agricultural development.

Sang, however, showed his dissatisfaction with the performance of the province’s relevant agencies in that tasks, during his working session with the provincial authorities on March 2.

In 2012, the province, which borders Laos, recorded an economic growth rate of 8 percent and a 5.7 percent rise in budget collection. All of its 117 communes have accomplished the planning on new rural areas.

It has established Khe Sanh and Lao Bao urban areas on the East-West Economic Corridor, which links with Laos and Thailand , aiming to draw in more local and foreign investments for provincial development.

According to the President, the province’s border gate with Laos can also facilitate its trade with other ASEAN countries and bring it lots of opportunities and challenges when trade liberation is realised among ASEAN by 2015.

Quang Tri, therefore, needs to quickly seek ways to enhance its competitive capacity and that of every business and locality to exploit the advantages held by the border gate, Sang said.

He analysed in depth the lessons drawn from previous economic growth models and asked local authorities to study them thoroughly for designing most appropriate development schemes.

During his stay in Quang Tri, President Sang visited Vinh Thach commune which has had a new facelift since implementing the new rural area building programme.

President Sang reckoned that the locals’ key role in designing, implementing and managing infrastructural facilities of their new rural area can make the outcomes of the new rural area building programme sustainable.

He witnessed donors presenting of 100 cows to poor households in Vinh Thach commune.

Sang offered incense to war fallen combatants at Truong Son Martyrs Cemetery, Road 9 National Martyrs Cemetery, and Quang Tri Citadel Memorial.

VN, Laos defence ministries ink 2013 plan

Defence Ministries of Vietnam and Laos signed a cooperation plan for 2013 in Hanoi on March 3.

The document was inked by Minister of Defence General Phung Quang Thanh and his Lao counterpart Douangchay Phichit, who is also Deputy Prime Minister of Laos.

At the signing ceremony, Thanh stressed that the plan will allow for the consolidation of the traditional friendship between the two nations and their armies. It also marked the special solidarity between the two armies.

Douangchay Phichit said that he highly appreciates the hard work undertaken between the two ministries of defence last year, and believes that the continued cooperation will reap further rewards in the coming years.

Vietnam attaches importance to ties with Serbia

Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh at talks with his visiting Serbian counterpart Ivan Mrkic in Hanoi on March 1 affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to consolidating and developing the friendship and cooperation with international friends, including Serbia.

Minh described Mrkic’s visit from February 27 to March 2 as an important milestone in the two countries’ growing traditional relations.

He expressed his delight at Serbian people’s achievements during the country’s construction and development as well as its regional and international integration.

Mrkic said that the celebration of their 55 th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2012 created a new momentum for Vietnam and Serbia’s developing relationship.

He spoke highly of great achievements Vietnam has made during its renewal process, affirming that Serbia hopes to expand and further intensify its traditional friendship with Vietnam.

The Serbian top diplomat said that there is much potential for Vietnam-Serbia economic and trade ties to grow, and asked the two sides to closely coordinate in fostering bilateral direct trade.

Both sides said they are pleased with the fine development of the Vietnam-Serbia political ties and the regular exchanges of all-level delegations, and affirmed that the two countries will continue to increase meetings of their leaders, even at international forums.

The two ministers highly valued the official signings of an agreement on double taxation avoidance and an arrangement on mutual recognition of market economy status within the framework of Mrkic’s visit.

The two documents will create a legal basis to promote bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation, they added.

Both host and guest agreed to soon complete negotiations to sign an agreement on economic cooperation and another on investment encouragement and protection.

At the talks, the two sides also exchanged views on measures to intensify cultural exchange, foster people exchanges and develop tourism between Vietnam and Serbia.

The two FMs appreciated the initial results of the student exchange programme between the two nations, and affirmed their willingness to negotiate and sign an agreement on educational cooperation and the increase of student and postgraduate exchanges.

They also exchanged opinions on regional and international issues of mutual concern and highly valued the effective cooperation between the two countries at international forums over the past time, especially within the framework of the United Nations and the Non-aligned Movement.

HCM City comments on draft revised Constitution

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council convened its eighth meeting on March 1 to collect opinions from its staff on the draft amendments to the 1992 Constitution.

Lam Dinh Chien, head of the municipal Inspection Department, told the press that participants focused their discussions on Article 115 in Chapter IX mentioning local authority.

They agreed that eligible localities are permitted to establish their own urban authorities and the phrases of the People’s Committee and the People’s Council should be changed into the local authorities.

However, Chien said, the Constitution should stipulate that the establishment of the urban authority must abide by the law.

At the meeting, many delegates contributed their ideas to the decentralisation between central and local authorities.

They also commented on human rights and the rights of citizens as well as the development of education-training, and science-technology.

Deputy PM receives Sumitomo President

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has acknowledged the Sumitomo Corporation’s contributions to promoting the relationship between Vietnam and Japan.

At a March 1 reception for Sumitomo President and CEO Kuniharu Nakamura in Hanoi, Phuc praised the corporation for its effective investment and business activities in Vietnam. He highlighted Sumitomo’s work on industrial park development and urban transport infrastructure construction, both of which will help Vietnam attract more foreign investment.

Phuc also applauded the joint efforts in organising celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties.

Japanese business operations will give fresh impetus to luring more foreign investment to Vietnam. The Vietnamese Government is willing to foster favourable conditions for foreign investors—including those from Japan—to run businesses in the country, Phuc said.

Sumitomo President Nakamura said his delegation’s visit is a prelude to the year’s 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties, adding that his corporation is intensifying trade promotion activities calling for Vietnamese businesses to invest in developing modern, environmentally friendly industrial parks.

Vietnam-Japan Friendship Year opens

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has emphasised the importance of Vietnam-Japan Friendship Year 2013 as both nations embark on furthering their strategic partnership.

He was speaking at the March 1 event to inaugurate the friendship year at the time to commemorate the 40th anniversary of bilateral relations. The event attracted high-ranking delegates from both countries.

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Tanizaki Yasuaki expressed pleasure with activities scheduled for the year and gratefully recalled Vietnam’s support for tsunami and earthquake victims in Japan.

Japan is one of the leading ODA donors for Vietnam. The country pledged 2.6 billion USD in ODA in 2013, with priority given to infrastructure development.

The ambassador also noted that the number of members for the Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam had already topped 1,000.

President approves Quang Binh’s socio-economic policy

President Truong Tan Sang has expressed his approval of the development policy of the central province of Quang Binh, saying that the question now is how to implement it effectively to achieve the middle income status.

At a working session with the provincial Party committee’s standing board during his visit to Quang Binh on March 1, Sang said the province has made progress in many fields, from rural and marine economy to urban transport and tourism.

“If the province continues to take drastic and concerted measures suitable with the local socio-economic situation, Quang Binh is sure to record even greater development,” he said, adding that with the large number of fishermen operating offshore, the provincial government should organise more logistic and rescue services to assist the fishermen at sea.

Located in the northern central coastal region, Quang Binh is endowed with rich marine resources. The province gained a growth rate of 7.1 percent last year with industrial production and services accounting for an increasing proportion in its economic structure. Also in 2012, the number of tourists to Quang Binh surpassed 1 million for the first time, up 9 percent from the previous year.

The same day, President Sang visited Dai Trach commune in Bo Trach district, which is a model in the programme of building new style rural areas.

Over two years implementing the programme, the commune has now achieved 13 out of 19 categories for a standard new style rural area. The poverty rate has dropped to 4.53 percent.

Praising the people and officials in the commune for upholding their revolutionary traditions, the President stressed that only when the people’s right of mastery is respected, can the achievements be sustainable.

President Sang also toured the fishing commune of Bao Ninh in Dong Hoi city and Ly Hoa border post.

Ninh Thuan urged to realise more of its potential

The south-central province of Ninh Thuan needs to renew its ways of thinking to attract more investment and effectively exploit its tourism industry and wind power energy development potential.

Party Central Committee (PCC) Secretary and Head of the PCC’s Organisation Commission To Huy Rua made the remark during his March 2 working visit to Ninh Thuan to review the province’s two-year implementation of the 12th provincial Party congress’ resolution.

Provincial Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Chi Dung reported the province has maintained its socio-economic stability and achieved a 10.4 percent annual GDP growth rate. Per capita income hit VND19.1 million in 2012, narrowing the gap between the provincial and national reading to 62 percent. The State budget‘s VND1,346 billion in revenue trebled 2008’s figure.

During the reviewed period, Ninh Thuan granted investment licenses to 110 projects representing total registered capital of VND41.5 trillion.

Progress was made in ensuring national security and defence, intensifying Party building, and improving local people’s living standards.

Rua praised the province’s efforts towards achieving its set socio-economic targets, spurring on administrative reform, improving its competitive capacity, enhancing the quality of its human resources, and reinforcing solidarity among its residents.

Rua’s delegation also used the working visit to present the provincial Fund for the Poor with VND6 billion donated by Mai Linh Investment Joint Stock Company and other businesses. The money will be used for school and housing construction.

Japan to train officials

The National Personnel Authority of Japan (NPA) will help Viet Nam retrain civil servants who are candidates for leading posts.

The comprehensive assistance, including designing training programmes and providing lecturers for the training, was made at the request of the Vietnamese side following their studies on Japan’s civil service system.

According to Japanese newspaper Nihon Keizai, this is the first ever assistance Japan has offered to a country though it once sent experts to developing countries as well as received their trainees.

In detail, the NPA will co-operate with the Ho Chi Minh Academy of Politics and Public Administration to organise four-month training courses for about 500 public servants.

Experts from Japanese ministries and branches, including those from NPA, will participate in giving lessons during the courses, with the first expected to start this month and the second in autumn.

 

VNN/VOV/VNA