Viet Nam proposed to establish a group of experts to develop ways of overcoming consequences of unexploded ordnance left from wars at the ASEAN Defence Senior Officials' Meeting (ADSOM) in Brunei on Tuesday.

Addressing the event, Deputy Defence Minister, Senior Lieut. Gen Nguyen Chi Vinh stressed that the initiative would assist not only Viet Nam but also other regional countries facing serious consequences and threats of bombs, mines and explosives.

Viet Nam proposed to establish a group of experts to develop ways of overcoming consequences of unexploded ordnance left from wars at the ASEAN Defence Senior Officials' Meeting in Brunei on Tuesday. 

"It will also contribute to maintaining peace, stability and development in the region," he said.

The initiative won support from delegates who said that it would contribute to enhancing co-operation within the framework of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+) and bring practical benefits to people in the region.

Defence Minister greets Russian security leader

Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh gave a warm reception yesterday for visiting Director of the Russian Federal Security Service (RFSS) General Bortnikov A.V, who is leading a high-ranking delegation around Viet Nam from April 2-4.

Minister Thanh hailed the Russian official's working visit, expressing his belief that it will strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the two governments and people, as well as between his ministry and the RFSS.

Thanh spoke highly of the achievements the Russians have attained in recent years and thanked the country and its people for the support given to Viet Nam in national construction and defence.

The officials discussed measures to foster cooperation and contribute to maintaining peace and security in the region and the world at large.

Guinea seeks Viet Nam's agricultural experience

Guinean Minister of Trade Mohammed Dorval Doumbouya has expressed his interest in Viet Nam's agricultural experience and hoped that the two countries would increase trade in the field.

During a meeting with President Truong Tan Sang in Ha Noi yesterday, April 3, Doumbouya said he hoped Viet Nam would send agricultural experts to assist Guinea in improving the quality of processing and production.

He mentioned other sectors promising for co-operation including motorcycle manufacturing, healthcare and education.

Briefing the host on the outcome of his talks with Viet Nam's Ministry of Industry and Trade, the minister expressed his hope for further exchange between the two countries.

Agreeing on Doum-bouya's proposal to strengthen trade co-operation, Sang suggested promoting exchanges of high-ranking delegations while exploring each other's potential to increase ties.

Affirming that Viet Nam treasured traditional relations with African countries, including Guinea, the President said Viet Nam was willing to share its experience in all fields and create conditions to promote bilateral co-operation.

Sang also took the opportunity to invite the Guinean President to visit Viet Nam. 

ASEAN, China to further strategic partnership

Countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China have pledged to further promote their strategic partnership and comprehensive cooperation in line with the principles of mutual understanding and respect as well as friendly neighbourliness.

They made the commitment at the 19th ASEAN-China Senior Officials Meeting in Beijing which closed on April 2. The meeting at vice foreign minister level is held annually within the framework of the ASEAN-China dialogue to review bilateral ties in all fields.

Last year, China remained ASEAN's biggest trade partner and ASEAN became the third biggest trader of China with two-way trade reaching nearly 400 billion USD. China also poured over 100 billion USD in vestment in ASEAN member countries in 2012.

The meeting saw the two sides set a target of 500 billion USD in two-way trade by 2015.

They also underscored the importance of bilateral coordination for regional peace, security, stability and development as well as their support of ASEAN's pivotal role in a regional architecture.

It is also agreed at the meeting that ASEAN and China will co-host a number of practical activities to mark the 10 th anniversary of the establishment of their strategic partnership which falls in 2013.

The two sides reached consensus that maintaining peace and stability in the East Sea is of significance to all countries in the region, contributing to strengthening the ASEAN-China strategic partnership.

Both ASEAN and China affirmed their commitment to fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC).

In particular, on the basis of the joint statement on the 10th anniversary of the DOC signing adopted at the 15 th ASEAN-China Summit in November 2012, ASE AN countries and China will maintain dialogues and consultations and jointly carry out cooperative activities within the DOC framework to consolidate mutual trust, while cooperating to wards the building and adoption of a Code of Conducts in the East Sea (COC).

ASEAN countries stressed that they are willing to soon carry out official COC negotiations with China, in order to foster mutual understanding and trust for peace, security, stability and cooperation for development in the region.

Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Vice Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh, said Vietnam believes that China will continue its policy on peaceful development, cooperation and building trust in the region, as well as boosting the ASEAN-China strategic partnership in an effective manner.

He affirmed that Vietnam will continue coordinating and working together with other ASEAN countries and China to further enhance the strategic partnership between them.

The Vietnamese representative called on ASEAN and China to beef up cooperation on ensuring peace, stability, security and maritime safety in the East Sea, resolve territorial disputes on the basis of international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The two sides should implement fully and effectively the DOC and soon start the negotiations on the building and adoption of the COC for peace, security and stability in the region, he added.

Constitutional amendments under compiling board’s review

The compiling board under the Committee for drafting amendments to the 1992 Constitution held its 7th plenary meeting in Hanoi on April 3 to review the updated draft based on the comments from the public.

Addressing the event, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said the people nationwide have expressed their will through their recommendations to the draft amendments. It is the job of the compiling board to sum up the feedback and select suitable contents for the constitutional amendments, he said, adding that the selection must be based on good reasons and well-founded arguments.

At the same time, the reasons why certain opinions cannot be accepted must also be explained to the public.

Underscoring the feedback collection as one of the major activities in the country’s political life, Hung said the organisation of the referendum should be examined so that it will be done better from now on.

The NA chairman said public opinions on the draft will continue to be gathered and sent to the committee for drafting amendments until September 30 this year before the draft revised constitution is submitted to the National Assembly.

VNN/VNS/VNA