Ireland to assist Hanoi to develop hi-tech agriculture

Chairman of the Hanoi municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung (R) meets with  Irish Minister of State for Food, Forestry and Horticulture Andrew Doyle on March 16 

Ireland will increase supporting Hanoi to develop hi-tech agriculture, Irish Minister of State for Food, Forestry and Horticulture Andrew Doyle told Chairman of the Hanoi municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung.

At a meeting in Hanoi on March 16, the Minister of State said the two countries share many similarities when both have long history of fighting for national independence and dynamic and hard-working people. Like Dublin capital city of Ireland, Hanoi is an ancient city with rich culture and history.

He said his country has strong agriculture, and its agricultural products have been exported to more than 180 countries around the world. Therefore, aside from cultural and educational cooperation, Ireland wants the two countries to step up experience sharing and cooperation in developing high-value agriculture.

The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement and the Vietnam-Ireland memorandum of understanding signed in 2014 are the foundation for closer cooperation between the two nations.

Ireland will provide more technological assistance for Hanoi to improve agricultural product quality and ensure food safety, through which he hopes Ireland’s trade with Vietnam and Hanoi in particular will increase and Vietnamese businesses will have more chances to access European markets.

Doyle said to celebrate the National Day of Ireland, the Irish Embassy in Vietnam and the Hanoi People’s Committee will illuminate Thap But (Pen Monument) by Hoan Kiem Lake with green light on March 17 evening. As Thap But is a symbol of knowledge, through this event, Ireland expresses its wish to strengthen ties with Vietnam and Hanoi to develop education.

For his part, Chairman Chung shared the view on the similarities between the two countries and capital cities. He said he believes that the “greening” ceremony will be a highlight in a series of activities marking Ireland’s National Day in Hanoi, as well as in the two countries’ diplomatic ties.

Hanoi has learned many lessons from Ireland in recovering from economic crisis through agricultural development, he said, adding that in its five-year development plan, the city will enhance cooperation with and acquire agricultural technology from countries around the world, including Ireland.

It hopes that the Minister of State and the Ambassador of Ireland will serve as a bridge helping Irish businesses bolster cooperation and share experience with Hanoi in the time ahead, the official added.

Army official receives Russian military delegation

Lieut. Gen. Pham Hong Huong (R) and Maj. Gen Tsekov Oleg Mussovich (Source: QDND Online) 

Vice Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army Lieut. Gen. Pham Hong Huong hosted a reception in Hanoi on March 15 for a Russian Defence Ministry delegation led by Maj. Gen Tsekov Oleg Mussovich, Commander of Army Corp No.5 of the eastern military region. 

Speaking highly of comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia, Huong affirmed that bilateral defence ties are growing, reflected via visits by leaders of the two defence ministries. 

Huong expressed his belief that both sides will share experience in combating and training. 

Mussovich, for his part, suggested that the two sides should further enhance military ties in the near future.

Hanoi mayor receives delegation of LDS Church

Chairman of the Hanoi municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung (R) meets with Gary E. Stevenson, who led the delegation of the LDS Church, on March 15

Chairman of the Hanoi municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung hosted a reception in Hanoi on March 15 for a delegation of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) who are on a working visit to Vietnam.

Gary E. Stevenson, who led the delegation, expressed his delight at the positive changes of Hanoi with many big transport and urban infrastructure projects since he visited the capital city of Vietnam for the first time in 2016.

He noted the LDS Church is growing and has been present in 190 countries and territories with about 16 million followers, more than half of whom are US citizens.

He also noted with satisfaction that the Vietnamese Government Committee for Religious Affairs recognised the provisional mission of the LDS Church in Vietnam. At present, the LDS Church has two districts in Vietnam, including one with three branches in Hanoi.

Stevenson said the LDS Church followers in Hanoi have practiced their religion freely and in broader spaces, through which he can see the support of the city’s administration and the Vietnamese Government.

The LDS Church will continue implementing humanitarian programmes in Hanoi and Vietnam through encouraging its followers to actively engage in environmental protection, climate change response, and providing clean water for people in remote areas, he added.

Appreciating the Church’s activities in Hanoi and Vietnam, Chairman Chung expressed his hopes that the Vietnam mission of the LDS Church will soon be completed and develop.

He affirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of creating favourable conditions for all citizens to practice their faith.

During its development, Hanoi has been facing a number of challenges, especially in transport, pollution, health care and education. It hopes that the Church will become a bridge linking the city with the state of Utah of the US so as to open up cooperation opportunities in the future, the official noted.

Vietnam provides favourable conditions for Japanese businesses: Deputy PM

Deputy PM Trinh Dinh Dung (R) receives Managing Executive Officer and Global Head of Infrastructure and Environment Finance Group of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) Kazuhisa Yumikura

The Vietnamese Government is ready to create all favourable conditions for businesses from Japan, and the Kyushu region in particular, to do successful business in Vietnam, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung said.

He met with Chair of the Kyushu Economy International (KEI) Yutaka Aso and members of the Kyushu-Vietnam Economic Exchange Mission in Hanoi on March 15.

The Vietnamese leader expressed his delight to see the Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership growing strongly, comprehensively and practically across the board with high political trust.

He referred to the fact that Japan is the leading economic partners, the largest ODA provider, the second FDI investor, and the fourth bilateral trader of Vietnam. In 2017, Japan poured 9.11 billion USD in 2017, a fourfold rise from 2016.

He acknowledged and highly valued the constructive contributions by KEI as well as by Yutaka Aso in accelerating economic and investment cooperation and connecting businesses between the Kyushu region and Vietnam.

He expected that Yutaka Aso will work to encourage more small and medium-sized businesses from Japan to invest in renewable energy, science-technology, infrastructure development, environmental protection, climate change response and green agriculture in Vietnam.

Yutaka Aso said around 40 businesses from the Kyushu region took part in this visit and their representatives had working sessions in Ho Chi Minh City and central Da Nang city and met with leaders from Vietnamese ministries, sectors and businesses.

He noted that many Kyushu businesses want to invest in developing farm products in Vietnam, especially flowers and high-tech farm products.

The Deputy PM suggested the Japanese side to work more closely with the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and other ministries, sectors and localities and come up with solutions to launching cooperation in the field.

On the day, Deputy PM Dung hosted Managing Executive Officer and Global Head of Infrastructure and Environment Finance Group of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) Kazuhisa Yumikura.

Host and guest discussed issues relating to stepping up loan arrangement and extricating difficulties arising during the implementation of Japanese-invested BOT power projects.

The Vietnamese leader spoke highly of JBIC’s provision of loans and funding for important infrastructure projects, especially large-scale energy projects with the involvement of Japanese investors, in Vietnam.

He talked about some BOT power projects like Nghi Son 2, Van Phong 1 and Vung Ang 2 with Japanese investments, underlining that these projects are important to Vietnam’s power development planning as well as the country’s socio-economic growth.

Vietnam encourages the development of high-efficiency power plants to meet funding sponsorship conditions and new regulations of OECD, he told the guest.

Kazuhisa Yumikura said JBIC has actively supported Japanese businesses to come to invest in Vietnam, especially in infrastructure and energy, to bring huge benefits for both sides.

JBIC wishes to continue providing funding in the fields, he said.

HCM City utilises special mechanisms, policies

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council (ninth tenure) convened its seventh session on March 15.

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council (ninth tenure) convened its seventh session on March 15 to decide on major matters, aiming to utilise special mechanisms and policies. 

In her opening remarks, Chairwoman of the council Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam stressed the need to roll out a very specific development plan in order to materialise the National Assembly’s Resolution No. 54 on piloting special mechanisms and policies for the city’s development. 

The successful implementation of such mechanisms and policies would create a momentum for the southern metropolis to grow further, while contributing more to the nation, she said. 

During the two-day meeting, the delegates will mull over the implementation of the programme on streamlining administrative procedures, improving people’s satisfaction and launching public services in the city. 

They will also discuss fees, income of public servants, policies to attract experts, scientists and young creative labourers during 2018-2020, and personnel in public agencies in the locality. 

In November 2017, the NA issued Resolution No. 54/2017/QH14 on piloting special mechanisms and policies to bolster the development of HCM City. Later, the municipal People’s Council issued Resolution No. 25/NQ-HDND on implementing the resolution.