PM welcomes senior Chinese official

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on May 3 received Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Ho Hau Wah, describing his visit as a practical contribution to bilateral comprehensive cooperation.

Vietnam and China have enjoyed a traditional and friendly relationship, and then lifted their ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership, Dung told the Chinese official, who is former head of the Macau Special Administrative Region.

Vietnam will try its best, together with China, to further develop the cooperation for the benefit of both nations, Dung stressed.

He proposed the two sides continuing facilitating economic, trade and investment activities between their businesses, and the Chinese side creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in the country.

Ho told Dung that the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic partnership has delivered practical benefits to the development of the two countries over the past time, applauding Vietnam ’s socio-economic and national construction achievements that he witnessed during the visit.

China treasures its ties with Vietnam, said Ho, adding that his visit aims to further strengthen the friendship and mutual understanding between the two nations, as well as bilateral cooperation in economics, trade and investment.

The same day, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Huynh Dam received CPPCC Vice Chairman Ho Hau Wah.

Upper Laos Victory - symbol of Vietnam-Laos alliance

The Upper Laos Campaign to liberate Sam Neua in Laos’ Houaphan province is a symbol of Vietnam-Laos combat alliance, it was affirmed at a seminar highlighting the campaign held at Vieng Xai relic site, Houaphan, on May 3.

Present at the event were Lao Prime Minister Thongsinh Thammavong, Deputy Defence Minister Lieutenant General Chansamone Channhalath, Houaphan’s Governor Khamhung Huongvongsi, and high-ranking military officers.

Vietnamese representatives included Director of the Military History Institute of Vietnam Major General Vu Quang Dao, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Manh Hung, and many Vietnamese war veterans.

Delegates listened to more than 20 speeches and stories from historical witnesses highlighting the successful cooperation between the Government of Vietnam and the Lao Resistance Government.

Under the leadership of late President Ho Chi Minh, the two sides launched the Upper Laos Campaign in 1953 to wipe out part of the enemy’s forces, liberate occupied territory, assist the Lao Resistance Government build and expand its revolutionary bases, help Lao people’s resistance war and destroy the enemy’s strategic bases in the north of Indochina.

The campaign saw the participation and command of many talented generals from both sides, like General Vo Nguyen Giap and Prime Minister of the Lao Resistance Government Souphanouvong.

60 years on, the world has changed but the 1953 Upper Laos Victory remains a symbol of the Vietnam-Laos special relationship, helping contribute to each country’s construction and national defence cause.

The seminar was co-organised by the Lao Defence Ministry and Houaphan provincial authorities.

Poland’s National Holiday celebrated in HCM City

Poland is always looking to boost its ties of friendship and cooperation with Vietnam.

Vice Polish Ambassador to Vietnam Jacek Kaprzyk made the statement at a meeting in HCM City on May 3 marking Poland’s National Holiday (known as Constitution Day).

He reiterated Poland’s pride in its past support for Vietnam’s national independence struggle and its constant construction and development process.

He said Poland plans to open a number of economic and cultural offices in HCM City, taking advantage of its importance as a national and regional hub for economics and trade.

At the meeting, HCM City’s Vietnam-Poland Friendship Association Vice Chairman Nguyen Dang Cuong stressed the traditional friendship between the two countries that stretches back over more than half century. The two countries regularly exchange delegation visits to promote mutual understanding and share experiences.

Cuong expressed hope that these traditional ties - particularly those linking Ho Chi Minh City and Poland - will continue to grow and flourish for mutual benefit, and for peace, stability and development in the region and the rest of the world.

Human rights progress in Russia and Cuba

Vietnam highly appreciates Russia and Cuba’s human rights improvements and positive contributions to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) process.

Ambassador Nguyen Trung Thanh, Head of Vietnam’s permanent representative mission to the UN made the statement at the 16th session of the Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Working Group which was held in Geneva from April 22-May 3.

With regard to the protection and promotion of human rights in 14 nations including Russia and Cuba, Thanh said Russia has spared no effort to build constitutions, reform laws and promote regional and international cooperation on human rights.

Vietnam highly appreciates human rights in Russia and hopes that Russia will persist in consolidating its law-governed federal state, and promoting the welfare of all social groups, Thanh said.

At the May 1 UPR session, he praised Cuba’s efforts to ensure fundamental rights of citizens in the face of economic and trade embargo.

Thanh suggested Cuba should pay greater attention to caring for children, enhancing women’s role, promoting gender equality and ensuring the rights to religious freedom and belief.

The Vietnamese diplomat also applauded efforts made by Turkmenistan, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Djibouti, Bangladesh, Cameroon and Azerbaijan in ensuring and promoting human rights.

Vietnam, Japan promote defence cooperation

Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh received Chief of Staff-Japan Maritime Self Defence Force (JMSDF)- Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano in Hanoi on May 2.

At the reception, Thanh said defence cooperation between Vietnam and Japan has grown considerably through the exchange of visits by leaders from both sides at deputy ministerial-level.

He emphasized the need to boost defence cooperation in the coming time with a particular focus on training military personnel and sharing experience in building and developing naval forces.

For his part, Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano expressed his wish to further strengthen cooperation the two armies as well as naval forces.

As part of the 2013 plan for cooperation between the two naval forces, Admiral Katsutoshi Kawano visited the President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, the Vietnam Naval High Command and some units of the Vietnam People’s Navy.

Congratulations to Dutch King and Italian PM

President Truong Tan Sang on May 2 sent a message of congratulations to the monarch of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Willem Alexander on the occasion of his enthronement on April 30.

The same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung sent a message of congratulations to Enrico Letta on his assumption of Italy’s Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also sent his congratulations to his new Italian counterpart Emma Bonino.

Vietnam Navy buys Russian emergencies simulator

The Vietnamese Navy has bought Gefest/Hephaestus complex simulating emergency situations on board from St. Petersburg-based Aqua-Servis company.

Vietnam News Agency quoted the Voice of Russia saying the training complex will be handed over to the Vietnamese side before 2014.

Gefest/Hephaestus is able to simulate emergency situations on board: in simulated compartments sailors can practice dealing with water, fire and excessive smoke.

The radio also reported that the Russian Ministry of Defence plans to purchase this training complex.

In 2011, the simulator was supplied to Russia’s Coast Guard Border Service.

Japan encouraged to continue investment

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has called for Japan to continue investing in Viet Nam, and asked the country to support Vietnamese goods - especially aquatic and seafood products - in the Japanese market.

Dung made the statement after receiving Japanese Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Amari Akira, who is in Viet Nam on a working visit.

The PM highlighted the recent achievements of the Viet Nam - Japan strategic partnership and outlined his hope that further efforts will be taken to enhance co-operation.

Dung also spoke highly of the results of talks between the Japanese Minister and Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang, saying that Minister Akira's visit will help promote bilateral co-operation.

He declared Viet Nam's support for Japan's involvement in the Trans-Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership Agreement (TPP), and said he hoped the two countries would work closely throughout the negotiation process of the trade deal.

Minister Akira promised that Japan would make every effort to develop its partnership with Viet Nam in all fields and asked Dung to help Japanese enterprises succeed in the country.

He added that he would work with Japanese ministries to remove technical barriers stalling the progress of Vietnamese exporters to Japan.

Deputy PM receives Czech Ambassador

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc received Czech Ambassador to Viet Nam Martin Klepetko in Ha Noi yesterday.

Phuc expressed delight over the development of relations between Viet Nam and the Czech Republic, especially in the fields of investment, trade, culture and science and technology.

Viet Nam treasures its friendly ties and multifaceted co-operation with traditional partners in Central and East Europe, including the Czech Republic, the deputy PM stressed.

Viet Nam hopes the Czech Government continues creating favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in the European country, he said, adding that Viet Nam also wished to continue receiving additional Official Development Assistance (ODA) from their Czech partners, particularly for healthcare and light industry projects.

The Czech ambassador said his country would continue strengthening relations with Viet Nam, especially in fields that are strengths of the Czech Republic, such as light industry and glass manufacturing.

The two Governments should seek ways to help businesses from both sides boost their investment in each country, he noted.

Source: VNA/VOV