VN slams use of force on East Sea

Viet Nam requests regional countries not to use force against fishermen and other people working at sea, Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh said at the ASEAN Defence Senior Officials' Meeting Plus (ADSOM+) held in Brunei on Thursday.

The country requests parties involved to settle disputes through peaceful dialogue in accordance with international and regional treaties, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), ASEAN's six-point principle on the East Sea, and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties on the East Sea (DOC) towards the Code of Conduct (COC), Vinh said.

"As a nation with a long coastline, Viet Nam has always displayed concern and a high sense of responsibility in ensuring regional peace and stability," Vinh added.

Vinh's statements on behalf of Viet Nam were supported by many conference participants.

Delegates at the conference spoke highly of the results of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM+) co-operation since its establishment in Ha Noi in 2010 and expressed hopes that the co-operation process would continue to develop.

They also expressed support for Viet Nam's new initiative to establish a group of experts to overcome the consequences of unexploded ordnance left over from the wars in the ADMM+ framework. The ADSOM+ conference was attended by deputy defence ministers and senior defence officials from 18 member countries of ADMM+, including the 10 members countries within ASEAN and China, Japan, South Korea, Russia, the US, India, Australia and New Zealand.

Prime Minister inspects air force training

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked the Air Defence-Air Force to always heighten vigilance and preparedness as it continues to build a strong air force to fulfil all assigned tasks.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung visited Air Defence Force's 910
Training Regiment in central coastal Phu Yen Province yesterday, April 7.
 

The PM stated the importance of national defence when inspecting combat training at Air Force Regiment 910 on April 7 during his visit to the central province of Phu Yen.

At a meeting with its officers and soldiers, Dung praised the regiment’s achievements, as well as its contributions to the country over the past years, noting that the defence building task is still extremely important for a peaceful country.

The regiment has to teach moral virtues and dignity to pilots and officers in the new revolutionary period so that it becomes a united division, which is absolutely faithful to the Party, State and people, and deserving of the heroic regiment’s glorious tradition, Dung added.

He asked the regiment to actively renovate its training methods, especially for pilots.

Over the past 54 years, Regiment 910 has always fulfilled its assigned duties, including the training of thousands of Vietnamese pilots, thus improving the fighting capacity of the country’s Air Force.

It has also actively participated in search and rescue activities.

The same day, PM Dung also inspected the construction of a passenger terminal at Tuy Hoa airport. The project got underway in August 2012, and is scheduled to be completed this August.

FM to leave for ASEAN Meeting in Brunei

Foreign Ministers Pham Binh Minh will attend an ASEAN Ministerial Preparatory Meeting in Brunei on April 10-11.

The meeting aims to promote ASEAN’s common goals and prepare for the 22nd ASEAN Summit to be held in Brunei on April 22-23.

Earlier, a Senior Economic Officials’ Meeting (SEOM) opened in capital Banda Seri Begawan of Brunei on April 7 in the lead up to an ASEAN Coordinating Council Working Group (ACCWG) meeting.

Representatives from the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade and Ministry of Foreign Affairs attended the meeting.

Delegates examined challenges ASEAN and East Timor face when East Timor joins ASEAN economic agreements, including agreements within the bloc and those between ASEAN and its dialogue partners.

NA Standing Committee to meet this week

The National Assembly Standing Committee will convene its 17th meeting from April 9-18 to discuss draft amendments and supplements to several laws, announced the NA Office.

During the meeting, the committee will discuss a wide range of important issues, including the draft amendments to the 1992 Constitution, and the Government’s report on taxation solutions to support businesses.

Participants will work out the schedules for NA supervision programmes, and new laws and regulations for 2014, as well as the adjustment of the 2013 law and regulation making programme.

Party leader works with coal, mineral group

On April 6, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong inspected production and Party-building work at the Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Holding Corporation in northern Quang Ninh Province.

Trong expressed his delight at meeting the miners, who are a key force of the Vietnamese revolution.

The leader paid special attention to their lives, especially housing and income. He listened to suggestions to improve their material and spiritual lives.

Thanks to great efforts, the Corporation drove its total output of coal up from 6 million tonnes in 2004 to 44.5 million tonnes in 2012.

This year, it will take drastic measures to stabilise production and maintain jobs and income for workers. At the same time, it will step up consumption and practice thrift to improve working efficiency.

In the first quarter of this year, it expects to churn out 11.7 million tonnes of coal and sell 10.7 million tonnes.

During the period, the group hopes to earn 24 trillion dong (1.2 billion USD) in revenue and contribute over 2.6 trillion dong (130 million USD) to the State budget. Each worker is expected to earn an average of 7.6 million dong (360 USD) per month.

Quang Ninh urged to focus on socio-economic development

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong has asked the northern province of Quang Ninh to focus on evaluating its achievements and shortcomings in the implementation of socio-economic development tasks and in Party building.

Trong on April 7 had a working session with the province’s leaders, where he made suggestions on Van Don special administrative-economic zone and Mong Cai border gate economic zone projects.

The province’s leaders reported that in the last two years, its GDP growth recorded an annual rate of 9.53 percent, while average per capita income was more than 2,600 USD per annum, 1.7 times higher than the national level.

The province’s economic structure is moving in the right direction and it is always among the top five localities nationwide with the highest State budget revenues.

Local people’s living conditions have been improved, with the rate of poor households decreasing rapidly and now standing at only 3.52 percent.

Quang Ninh’s leaders directed the completion of cultural and social welfare projects in Ha Long city based on local people’s expectations.

The province also took back 179 breached land use projects, and implemented measures to crack down illegal coal mining and trade, as well as dealt with current pressing issues, including environmental pollution, corruption and medical ethics.

In terms of Party building, the province has focused on directing the strict implementation of the fourth CPV Central Committee’s Resolution and evaluates itself and allows for grassroots to provincial level appraisals.

The task of Party development has also been strengthened and a number of disciplinary cases have been carried out. In the 2010-2012 period, more than 7,500 new members were admitted to the Party in the province, while 381 Party cells and 37 grassroots Party organisations were established.

Vietnam, Ukraine boost security cooperation

Vietnam hopes to boost cooperation with Ukraine in enhancing public security officials’ capacity of combating international criminals, especially those using high technology, said Minister of Public Security General Tran Dai Quang.

Minister Quang made the statement when receiving a delegation from Ukrainian external security service led by their Vice Director Lieutenant-General S. Sergey Ivanovich, in Hanoi, on April 5.

He highly valued the delegation’s working visit, regarding it as an important event marking a new step of development in the two security agencies’ sound cooperative relations.

Quang also stressed the importance of bolstering cooperation across all fields, including security work, to ensure social safety and order in each country, their regions and the world at large.

He hoped Vietnam and Ukraine will closely work together to enhance news exchanges and share experience to combat and prevent all kinds of crime.

For his part, Ivanovich expressed his pleasure at the sound friendship and cooperation between the two Governments, peoples, and public security agencies, which, he hoped, would be further intensified in a deeper and more effective manner in the coming time.

Vietnam, Turkey look to foster cooperation

Trade promotion and tourism cooperation should be prioritised between Vietnam and Turkey, said a seminar in Hanoi on April 5.

The seminar, jointly held by the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences and the Centre of Strategic Research under the Turkish Embassy, marks the 35 th anniversary of the two countries’ bilateral diplomatic ties.

Associate Prof. Dr. Do Duc Dinh, a senior expert of the Research Institute of Africa and the Middle East, said it is time for Vietnam to pay attention to and give priority to expanding cooperation with Turkey, which is expected to become a trustworthy partner and a bridge to help Vietnam further ties with countries in Western Asia, Africa and Europe.

The solution is to start negotiating a free trade agreement with the country as soon as possible, he said.

Vietnam-Turkey ties have seen rapid, practical and effective development since 1997, when the two countries inked a bilateral trade agreement.

The same year, Turkey opened its embassy in Hanoi and six years later, the Vietnamese Embassy officially commenced operations in Ankara, Turkey’s capital.

Since then, Vietnam has considered Turkey as one of its leading partners, proven by the fact that the country is now Vietnam’s largest trade partner in Western Asia.

Cooperation in investment, tourism, labour and strategic dialogue has also enjoyed remarkable outcomes.

With a special strategic and geographical location in both Asia and Europe, and a proactive foreign policy that is adjusted to suit the new situation, Turkey has proven its significant role in both regions and its capacity to balance relations between developed countries in Europe, America and developing nations.

The new moves offer both opportunities and challenges in the efforts to develop the comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Turkey.

Vietnam, RoK strengthen trade, investment cooperation

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has said Vietnam hopes to work with the Republic of Korea (RoK) to further the cooperation between the two countries in a deep, effective and practical manner.

Meeting Kim Yong Hwan, Chairman cum President of the Export-Import Bank of Korea in Hanoi on April 5, Dung expressed his delight at the fine development of the strategic partnership that Vietnam and the RoK are enjoying in all fields, including economics, politics, external relations, education and training, science and technology, and official development assistance (ODA).

The results that Vietnam and the RoK have achieved over the past years have benefited the common development of both Vietnam and the RoK.

Dung spoke highly of the bank’s contributions to promoting bilateral cooperation in trade and investment, as well as providing ODA to Vietnam. He said he hopes the bank will continue its effective efforts to boost cooperation and increase its funding of infrastructure projects in Vietnam.

Kim Yong Hwan affirmed that his bank will continue to closely coordinate with Vietnamese ministries, relevant agencies and businesses to foster trade and investment cooperation between Vietnam and the RoK.

He stressed that his bank will do its utmost to enhance credit support for RoK businesses to successfully implement investment projects in Vietnam.

Cambodian officials graduate from Vietnamese language course

The second phase of a Vietnamese language course for Cambodian Senate officials has ended successfully, with 24 members receiving certificates for completing the course.

The closing ceremony was held in Phnom Penh on Friday, April 5, with the participation of Vice Secretary General of the Cambodian Senate Lok Chhai and Vietnamese Charge d'affaires to Cambodia Lai Xuan Chien.

The four-month course, taught by lecturers from Ha Noi University, was held within the co-operation framework between the Vietnamese National Assembly and Cambodian Senate.

Lok Chhai said the course was a symbol of mutual determination to enhance the partnership of the two law-making bodies to meet the increasing demand for co-operation between the two countries' people.

The classes create an opportunity for Cambodian officials to pursue postgraduate education in Viet Nam while also helping them research the Vietnamese language and become professional translators, he added.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA