Vietnam and Denmark on March 6 signed cooperation agreements on tertiary education and diabetes treatment during Danish Minister of Trade and Investment Pia Olsen Dyhr’s visit to Vietnam.

Under the agreements, the Design and Business School – TEKO – of Denmark and the Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH) will exchange students, syllabus and lecturers.

Their cooperation training programme, the first between universities of the two countries, will start this autumn with 20 TEKO students studying in Vietnam for 16 weeks during their third semester.

It is expected to boost students’ understanding of the international business environment and culture among nations.

The same day, the Danish minister highlighted the two countries’ cooperation programme in diabetes treatment during her fact-finding tour to the hospital run by Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Her tour aimed to accelerate the opening of a training centre on diabetes treatment built with the assistance of Denmark’s Novo Nordisk Company.

The minister also attended an exchange with students from the HCM Foreign Trade University and visited Viedam Company, a joint venture between Vietnam and Denmark in the plastic moulding industry.

Nam Dinh urged to utilise resources for growth

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has urged the authorities of northern Nam Dinh province to take full advantage of its resources for construction and development.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung and delegates. (Source: VNA)

While working with key provincial leaders in Hanoi on March 6, Dung agreed with the province’s goals for this year, including a growth rate of 12 percent, exports worth 400 million USD, a minimum rise of 15 percent in total social investment, and the reduction of poor households to 5.5 percent.

Dung asked the province to clear obstacles for production and trading firms, attract investment, especially in industries with high added value, and make the best use of high-quality human resource.

The local authorities were requested to pay attention to applying science-technology advances in intensive farming, speeding up the building of modern rural areas, and developing healthcare, culture and education. At the same time, they must further accelerate administrative reforms, combat corruption and take drastic measures to ensure traffic safety and order.

Dung, together with ministry and department leaders, gave opinions on the allocation of capital for the construction of the Nam Dinh–Phu Ly road and the negotiations for a 2,400MW power plant in Hai Hau district.

Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Pham Hong Ha said this year, Nam Dinh will step up the construction of new rural areas in 96 communes until 2015, open more large-scale model fields, channel more credit into production and trading to increase competitiveness, and attract domestic and foreign investment.

Last year, Nam Dinh enjoyed a rise of 11.7 percent in gross domestic product (GDP) and a GDP per capita of 21.1 million VND (1,000 USD). It created jobs for 30,500 workers and reduced the rate of poor households to 6.72 percent.

Cuba, Vietnam hold political consultation

Cuba and Vietnam have agreed to work closely together to improve medium- and long-term economic cooperation, as well as exchange of both theoretical and practical experience in areas of mutual concern to serve the national interest and development.

A Vietnamese Foreign Ministry delegation led by Deputy Minister Ho Xuan Son visited Cuba from March 2-5 to conduct political consultations between the two foreign ministries.

During the four-day visit, Son held talks with his Cuban counterpart Marcelino Medina, met with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba’s Central Committee and Head of the Commission for External Affairs Jose Ramon Balaguer, and Minister of Foreign Trade and Overseas Investment Rodrigo Malmierca Diaz and visited a number of historical and cultural relic sites.

The visit took place at a time when the time-honoured friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba have been consolidated with the intention of implementing the agreements reached during exchange visits between Party Leader Nguyen Phu Trong and President Raul Castro in 2012.

Delegates from both sides informed each other of current affairs in their respective countries and discussed specific measures to promote common goals. They also agreed to upgrade bilateral relations in an effective and sustainable manner across fields such as diplomacy, trade, oil and gas, telecommunications, agriculture, science-technology, culture and education.

Son compared notes with Cuban leaders on international and regional issues of common concern and agreed to coordinate and reciprocate support at multilateral forums such as the UN, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in order to protect the two countries’ legitimate interests and elevate their international status.

Vietnamese leaders on March 6 sent their condolences to Venezuelan leaders over the death of President Hugo Chavez Frias on March 5.

The message was cabled by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung to the First President of the United Socialist Party and President of the Venezuelan National Assembly Diosdado Cabello, and Venezuelan Vice President Nicolas Maduro.

Vietnamese leaders offered their deepest sympathy to the Venezuelan Party, State, Government, people and the family of President Hugo Chavez Frias.

They also expressed their belief that Venezuela and its people will be able to overcome the loss and continue reaping many remarkable achievements. They hoped the comprehensive friendly relations between Vietnam and Venezuela will continue to develop for the sake of the two peoples and for peace and stability in the region and the world.

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai led a Vietnamese delegation to Venezuela to attend the President’s official funeral to be held by the Venezuelan Government on March 8.

Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also sent his condolences to Venezuelan Minister of Foreign Affairs Elias Jaua.

Vietnam, France to boost cultural cooperation

Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh and Chairwoman of the French Senate’s Committee on Culture, Education and Communication Marie Christine Blandin discussed issues on enhancing bilateral cultural cooperation at talks in Hanoi on March 6.

The working visit of the French Senate delegation led by Blandin comes as the two countries prepare arts and cultural activities to herald the 40 th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and France.

Cultural relations between Vietnam and France have seen fine developments over the past years. With the motto ‘Recognising and respecting Vietnamese cultural diversity’, the French Government has helped Vietnam train human resources for many art fields such as dancing, cinematography and music.

Vietnam highly valued French support in preserving and restoring Vietnam’s tangible heritage as well as implementing human resource training projects.

Vietnam, New Zealand foster defence ties

Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh met with New Zealand Ambassador Maike Manning on March 6 to discuss preparations for his upcoming working visit to New Zealand.

They compared notes on a number of issues of mutual concern, and agreed that the two countries have maintained their fine relations, including cooperation in military and national defence.

The New Zealand side has helped Vietnam train its military officers.

Both agreed on the need to enhance experience exchange, especially in joining United Nations peace-keeping forces.

Thanh expressed his hope that Manning will contribute to further strengthening bilateral ties and the two countries’ comprehensive cooperation in military and national defence.

Prime Minister works with Dak Nong leaders

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung had a working session with key leaders of the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong in Hanoi on March 6 to discuss the province’s socio-economic development performance.

Dung praised Dak Nong’s achievements in socio-economic development since its reestablishment, in particular its triumphs in economic growth, healthcare, education, poverty reduction, political system building and ensuring social order.

He asked the locality to continue to mobilise resources and bring into full play its advantages to serve socio-economic development, especially in agriculture, forestry, the growing and processing of industrial trees, hydroelectricity and mining.

Dak Nong should also pay attention to health care, education-training and infrastructure, he said.

The State, Party and Government support the province in pursuing rapid and sustainable development and narrowing its gap with other localities nationwide, he affirmed.

Last year, the Dak Nong Party Committee, local authority and people made all-out efforts to overcome difficulties and realise most of the set targets.

The province has devised a 2013 development plan focusing on infrastructure to promote socio-economic development and social security in remote and ethnic minority areas.

On this occasion, the province asked the Government to fund its projects on helping migrants settle down and support the building of district hospitals with 75 billion VND expected to be mobilised this year.

VNN/VOV/VNA