Vietnam hopeful of close links with Switzerland

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has stated that Vietnam wishes to bolster cooperation with Switzerland for mutual benefits.

President Nguyen Tan Dung (right) receives United Nations Resident Co-ordinator Pratibha Mehta in the State Office yesterday, Oct 24.

Welcoming head of the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research Johann N. Schneider-Ammann in Hanoi on October 24, PM Dung lauded what was reached at his working sessions with the Vietnamese ministries and agencies, which according to him, will elevate bilateral links across economics, trade, investment, education and training.

PM Dung suggested the countries facilitate bilateral trade and investment. He said he hopes the European nation will continue providing Vietnam with more development assistance packages.

Vietnam is willing to work with Switzerland and relevant sides on a bilateral free trade agreement, enabling Swiss firms to operate smoothly in Vietnam, the host said.

Schneider-Ammann said both nations boast areas of highly potential cooperation in view of their long-standing friendship.

He informed his host that his visit aims to strengthen bilateral coordination in economics, trade and investment, adding that he hopes the Vietnam–Switzerland free trade agreement will materialise soon so that their enterprises will find it easier to do business in either country.

Vietnam, Australia ink education agreement

Vietnam and Australia will encourage meetings and cooperation on education between their government agencies, education institutions, and research organisations.

Australia will increase prioritised activities of its education and training institutions in Vietnam.

This forms part of a Vietnam-Australia education agreement signed in Hanoi on October 24 to replace a similar agreement signed in Melbourne, Australia, in 2008.

Prioritised areas of cooperation include expertise, teacher and student exchanges, curriculum exchange, and modern teaching methodology development, as well as sharing experience in human resource development taking into account labour market forecast and need.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Vietnamese Minister of Education and Training Pham Vu Luan noted with satisfaction the effective cooperation in education and training between Vietnam and Australia over the years.

He said both sides have expanded cooperation programmes, including the Australian Government’s scholarship programme.

Australian ambassador to Vietnam Hugh Borrowman said his government supports education cooperation with Vietnam, pointing to the fact that more than 40,000 students and 600 research graduates are currently studying in Australia.

He expressed hope there will be more scholarship and joint research programmes and student exchanges between the two countries’ education institutions.

Gov't asks NA to raise budget overspending level

The National Assembly’s Committee for Finance and Budget has expressed approval to the government’s proposal to raise the budget overspending level to 5.3 percent of the gross domestic product (GDP) from the previously set 4.8 percent.

In a document verifying the Government report on the implementation of the 2013 State budget estimates and the State budget estimates and central budget allocation for 2014, the committee also agreed to cut several expenditure items as mentioned in the Government report.

The committee basically reached consensus on the principles of central budget allocation for the next year. However, it proposed the Government need to give priority to poor provinces with limited budget collection sources, localities heavily devastated by natural disasters. Attention should also be paid to areas inhabited by ethnic minority people, agricultural and rural development and farmers while the practice of thrift should be further promoted.

The committee commended the Government on its efforts in ensuring spending in the context of sharply decreasing budget revenues.

The 2013 State budget collection is estimated at 790.8 trillion VND, down 63.63 trillion VND compared to plans, while State spending is projected at 986.3 trillion VND, up 8.3 trillion VND.

Also on the NA’s third working day on October 23, the Government presented a report on three years of implementation of national target programmes for 2011-2015.

The government affirmed that the programmes have obtained encouraging results, thus contributing to fulfilling the goals of ensuring social security and reducing poverty, particularly in mountainous, remote and ethnic people-resided areas.

During 2011-2013, the national target programmes received nearly 80.3 trillion VND from the State funding and official development assistance sources.

However, the report admitted that some programmes might not achieve the set goals as scheduled while capital arrangement for the programmes was lower than planned.

The Government proposed reducing the number of national target programmes after 2015, keeping only those in key areas such as building new style rural areas, poverty reduction and environmental protection.

The same day, the Government also presented a plan on supplementary bond issuance for the 2014-2016 period, asking for an additional 170 trillion VND worth of Government bonds.

It said 61.68 trillion VND of the additional mobilised capital will be spent on projects upgrading national highways 1A and 14 (Ho Chi Minh highway’s section running through the Central Highlands), and 73.32 trillion VND will be supplied to incomplete projects funded by Government bonds for 2011-2015.

The Government plans to allocate 20 trillion VND as counterpart capital in ODA projects in poor and difficulty localities clarified in the Prime Minister’s Decision 60/QD-TTg, and another 15 trillion VND to rural infrastructure development under the national target programme on new rural area building.

The Committee for Finance and Budget ’s verification report agreed with the Government proposal on supplementary bond issuance and allocation, adding that although public debt has yet to exceed the limit set by the NA, but the Government should take active measures to keep debt under control.

The implementation of the 2013 state budget estimates, the State budget estimates and central budget allocation for 2014, the three-year implementation of national target programmes in the 2011-2015 period and the plan to issue Government bonds in the 2014-2016 period will be further discussed by NA deputies on October 25.-

Russian, Vietnamese communist parties boost ties

A delegation from the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) led by Politburo member and Secretary of the Party Central Committee To Huy Rua hold talks with their Russian counterparts in Moscow on October 23.

The two parties’ leaders discussed the situation in their respective nations and measures to increase the efficiency of cooperation in the time ahead, promote delegation exchange, information sharing and working experience, especially in Party building.

Chairman of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation (CPRF) Gennady Zyuganov affirmed that his party fully supports President Vladimir Putin, the Government and the State Duma’s policy of strengthening all-round cooperation with Vietnam, particularly in power energy, nuclear energy and oil and gas.

The CPRG leader also pledged his tireless efforts to contribute to the proper implementation of cooperation agreements between the two sides thus helping reinforce the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership.

The same day, Rua visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Moscow and talked with Vietnamese community representatives.

Ukraine’s Communist Party delegation visits Vietnam

Le Hong Anh, Politburo member and Standing member of the Party Central Committee Secretariat, on October 23 received a delegation of the Communist Party of Ukraine (CPU) led by Oplazhko V.N., Secretary of the CPU Central Committee.

At the meeting, the Ukrainian guest said he was satisfied with the outcomes of his working sessions with Vietnamese partners. He expressed hope that the two parties’ cooperation will be developed in a result-oriented manner to further consolidate the traditional friendship between the two parties and peoples.

Le Hong Anh reiterated that the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) always attaches importance to its ties with the CPU and will further promote their links in the time to come.

On the same day, the Ukrainian delegation had talks with Hoang Binh Quan, head of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations.

The two sides informed each other about the situation in their respective countries and parties and exchanged views on issues of mutual concern. Measures to strengthen relations between the parties were also tabled during the talks.

During their stay in Vietnam, the Ukrainian delegation is set to have working sessions with the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for Organisation and Commission for Popularisation and Education, the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Public Administrative and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour.

Vietnam hopes for stronger Swiss support

National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan has voiced her hope that Switzerland will continue assisting Vietnam in the areas of its strengths like finance, banking and high technology.

Receiving Head of the Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research Johann N. Schneider-Ammann in Hanoi on October 24, Ngan said parliamentary cooperation is one of the effective cooperation channels as bilateral ties are in blossom, especially in economics, trade, investment, education and training.

She said Vietnam is efficiently utilising Switzerland’s official development assistance, which has factored in its poverty reduction, environmental protection, infrastructure ramp-up, socio-economic development and global economic integration.

She said she hopes the European country will make it easier for Vietnam to step up negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) to which the European country is a member.

Schneider-Ammann informed his host that he is accompanied by 17 Swiss firms working in machinery engineering, finance, banking and watch-making, alongside two State Governors, adding that they are keen to further trade and investment with Vietnamese partners.

Switzerland always backs Vietnam in negotiations for the FTA, he said, adding that he believes it will forge a legal framework to improve the business climate and trade ties between the two sides.

PM praises UN’s operations in Vietnam

Vietnam highly values the global operation of the United Nations (UN) in two main pillars of peace and development, which is raising the UN’s position in the word, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has said.

At a reception for UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam Pratibha Mehta in Hanoi on October 24 to mark UN Day, the PM also praised the UN’s effective coordination and assistance to Vietnam over the past time.

PM Dung informed his guest of Vietnam’s development strategy for people-centred sustainability, adding that the country’s economic development policies are always in association with social development and justice, better ensuring people’s rights.

He said Vietnam wants to receive more UN support to successfully fulfil its Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

For her part, Mehta spoke highly of Vietnam’s active and responsible participation in the UN’s activities, adding that Vietnam is an example of the successful realisation of MDGs by 2015.

She also praised Vietnam’s efforts and achievements in dealing with the global economic downturn, macro-economic stabilisation, inflation curbing, as well as in poverty reduction, social welfare, and narrowing the development gap between urban and rural areas.

The UN in Vietnam will do its utmost to nurture and deepen its fine relationship with Vietnam and stay side-by-side with the country in fulfilling its development goals, she added.

Vietnam, Iran share brighter outlook

The 40th anniversary of Vietnam–Iran diplomatic ties has recently been celebrated in the Iranian capital city Tehran, reviewing that the two countries’ traditional friendship and cooperation have flourished over the past years.

Speaking to senior Vietnamese and Iranian officials, Vietnamese Ambassador Tran Trong Khanh recalled that both nations have facilitated high-ranking visits, signed scores of cooperation deals and worked closely together at global forums.

He said he is optimistic over the sustainable and all-inclusive cooperation between the two sides in the coming time thanks to the strong will of their leaders and people.

Iranian Minister of Trade, Industry and Mining Mohammadreza Nematzadeh shared the view that Vietnam and Iran boast areas of highly potential cooperation, especially across economics, trade and investment.

In the solemn and warm atmosphere, both sides declared to go to all lengths to foster their future ties.

In celebration of the anniversary, President Truong Tan Sang and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rowhani cabled congratulatory messages to each other.

State funeral held for veteran general

A State funeral was held in Hanoi on October 24 for Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Nam Khanh, former deputy chief of the General Political Department of the Vietnam People’s Army.

The general, who passed away on October 20 at the age of 86, was a member of the Party Central Committee during the fifth, sixth and seventh terms, and a former member of the Central Military Commission.

Senior Lieutenant General Khanh was born in 1927 in central Binh Dinh province.

He joined the revolution in 1945 and became a member of the Indochina Communist Party (now the Communist Party of Vietnam) in 1946.

He was appointed Major General in 1977, Lieutenant General in 1984, Senior Lieutenant General in 1988. In 1997, he retired.

In recognition of his contributions to the revolution, Senior Lieutenant General Khanh was awarded the Independence Order (first class), Military Exploit Order (first class), the Anti-American Resistance for National Salvation Order (first class) and other honours.

The leaders of the Party, State, Government, National Assembly and Vietnam Fatherland Front, former Party and State leaders and high-ranking officers of the armed forces paid last tribute to the veteran revolutionary. Representatives from many foreign embassies and international organisations also came to bid farewell to the general.

Senior Lieutenant General Khanh was buried at the Mai Dich cemetery, Hanoi on the same day.

VNN/VNS/VNA