Vietnam, Cuba ink judicial cooperation MoU

The Ministers of Justice of Vietnam and Cuba have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the cooperation between the two ministries.

The signing was made on the occasion of a visit by Vietnam’s Minister of Justice Ha Hung Cuong to Cuba from December 11-15.

During talks with his Cuban counterpart Maria Esther Reus Gonzalez, Minister Cuong briefed the host on Vietnam ’s socio-economic situations, and shared Vietnam’s experience in issues related to constitutional amendments, legal system perfection, legal support for businesses, the organization and operation of the court, legal training and cooperation, and state management in legal practices.

For her part, Minister Maria Gonzalez said the Vietnamese delegation’s visit will actively contribute to strengthening the traditional and special relation between Cuba and Vietnam.

It also offers a chance for the two justice ministries to share experience and realise the signed agreements in the field, she added.

She affirmed that Vietnam’s experience in legal system reforms during its renewal (doi moi) period is of significance for Cuba.

Both sides agreed that the signing of MoU marks a new development in the two ministries’ relation, paving the way to set up legal and judicial cooperation between the two countries, which lays the foundation for bilateral economic, trade and investment ties to expand.

During his visit, Minister Cuong also met with the Secretary and Head of the International Department of the Communist Party of Cuba’s Central Committee, Jose Ramon Balaguer.

He briefed the host on the outcomes of his talks with Cuban justice ministry and legal and judicial agencies, including measures to expand bilateral cooperation in the field.

Balaguer said the outcomes are practical measures to realise agreements reached by the two countries’ leaders.

The Vietnam delegation also laid wreaths at the monuments of President Ho Chi Minh and Cuban hero Hose Marti, and visited a joint project between Vietnam and Cuba on rice production in Matanzas province.

President Sang offers gifts to flood victims

President Truong Tan Sang on Saturday visited, and presented gifts to, victims of the recent floods in three districts of the central province of Quang Ngai.

He praised authorities and local residents in districts of Son Ha, Tu Nghia and Nghia Hanh for their solidarity and mutual support in efforts to rebuild after the disaster.

President Truong Tan Sang hands over gifts to families affected by storms and floods in Son Nham Commune, Son Ha District, Quang Ngai Province on Saturday.

The President also reminded them to make preparations for future flooding, with a top focus on residential planning and planting trees.

Apart from necessities such as rice and food, Quang Ngai should provide the local residents with all necessary farming tools and seeds to restore agricultural production, he stressed.

Also, President Sang and the Central Committee of the Viet Nam Red Cross Society presented gifts to 120 storm-hit families, as well as 320 cows to local residents.

The floods, which submerged 70 communes in the region under 2-4m of water on November 15-16, killed 15 locals, swept away 130 houses, and damaged 4,000ha of crops.

Total losses amounted to around US$47.6 million. The provincial authorities have asked the central Government for 4,000 tonnes of rice and seedlings and $16 million to rebuild houses, roads and recover production.

Yesterday, Sang visited the people of Dai Hung Commune, Dai Loc District in central Quang Nam Province, an area frequently affected by floods.

During the past four years, the commune has experienced 10 serious floods, causing considerable damages endured by its residents. Therefore, Sang asked for local authorities to offer adequate support towards its residents and step up construction of flood-proof infrastructures.

He also told local authorities and residents to enhance prevention work and minimise the damages caused by disasters.

Sang presented 100 gifts and 170 cows to disadvantaged locals in Quang Nam to help them earn a better living.

Sang also visited the residents of the resettlement area near the Tranh River Hydro Power Plant 2 in Bac Tra My District in Quang Nam and supervised the operation of the plant.

Hanoi hosts two important diplomatic conferences

The 17th National Conference on External Relations opened in Hanoi on December 15 before the 28th Diplomatic Conference scheduled to take place one day later.

Addressing the 17th National Conference on External Relations, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said the conference’s aim is to enhance the role of localities in boosting international integration.

He also hailed the contributions of local external relations departments nationwide to the country’s achievements in the context of economic restructuring, sustainable development and international integration.

Local external relations departments have been consolidated and have become a driving force in implementing policies to boost economic, trade, investment cooperation and cross cultural exchanges with other countries in the region and the world, FM Minh said.

The event attracted more than 350 delegates representing all provinces and cities, ministries and heads of Vietnamese representative offices abroad.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the Republic of Korea (RoK) Pham Huu Chi noted the potential of lifting Vietnam - RoK ties to a trustworthy strategic partnership level at a banquet celebrating the 21 st anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties in Seoul on December 12.

Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Huu Chi. (Source: VNA)

Chi said the further upgrade of Vietnam-RoK ties to a new height is the consensus and strong will by the Vietnamese State and people.

He also took the occasion to thank the Korean Government and people for their tireless work to enhance bilateral ties over the past time, bringing about great strides across the board.

The diplomat said he is confident in the future of bilateral partnership for the sake of their people.

President of the Korea – Vietnam Friendship Association (KOVIFA) Choi Young-joo stressed that the two countries shared many similarities in history and culture as well as the common goal of peace, friendship and cooperation.

Choi sounded his confidence about the Vietnam – RoK relations in the coming time, built upon their success over the past 21 years and resolve by the two Governments and people.

Top officials of the Ho Chi Minh City and the German city of Leipzig have talked about the possibility of future cooperation in culture, health care, education-training and sports.

The talks took place in HCM City on December 13 between Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan and Lord Mayor of Leipzig city Burkhard Jung, who is in Vietnam for a working visit.

Chairman Quan said he believes the visit will open up more chances to advance ties between the two cities on the basis of their memorandum of understanding signed in 2005, adding that he hopes they will reach an official cooperation scheme soon.

The Leipzig mayor, for his part, suggested that the two sides work out specific content for cooperation as early as possible, focusing on partnerships between their universities and small and medium-sized enterprises.

A lot of Leipzig firms are interested in HCM City market, especially in waste treatment, he said.

He told his host that the German Government backs the home-grown firms to invest in HCM City.

Both sides agreed to urge relevant agencies to prepare documents and plans for joint projects next year.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA