President conveys holiday wishes to nation's brightest

President Truong Tan Sang yesterday, Jan 22, called on various intellectuals prior to the coming Tet holidays, where he praised their contributions to the country's art and science.

The President met with revolutionary senior writer Hoc Phi, People's Artist Bui Dinh Hac, and Professor Dang Huy Huynh, chairman of the Viet Nam Zoological Society.

President Truong Tan Sang meets with revolutionary senior writer Hoc Phi.

He noted that works, such as Hoc Phi's Dam Van Nun (Ni Co Dam Van), the film "On the way to mother's village" (Duong ve que me) by Bui Dinh Hac or research on Viet Nam's biological diversity undertaken by Dang Huy Huynh, still hold their true value, in spite of the passing of time, and are a motivating force for future generations.

Sang also said he wished all individuals working in the art and science sectors to contribute even more to the country's development. He then reaffirmed the State's policy in assisting artists and scientists as they seek to remain creative and as they develop their works of art and research.

Ambassador to South Africa Le Huy Hoang, President of the ASEAN Pretoria Committee (APC), presided over its first 2014 meeting on January 22.

At the meeting, Ambassadors from 7 ASEAN member countries set targets and orientations for the first six months of 2014 that center on propping up the image and the prestige of ASEAN and South Africa.

They have also set their sights on strengthening multifaceted cooperation between ASEAN and South Africa to ensure the goals of building the ASEAN community by 2015 are met.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Ambassador Hoang said as the APC coordinator, the Vietnamese Embassy in coordination with other ASEAN embassies will organise activities that seek to elevate the ASEAN image and in turn tap into the  investment, trade and tourism potential of South Africa.

The APC will also work with South African leaders to advise them on alternative ways to accelerate trade and investment exchanges on the occasion of President Zacob Zuma’s national speech in February 2014 in Cape Town, he added.

In addition, the APC will work with South African research agencies to organise seminars on South Africa and Africa, as well as sports and cultural exchanges, he concluded.

On the same day, Ambassador Hoang held a meeting with 21 Asian ambassadors in South Africa to discuss matters related to the upcoming elections in the country and ways to expand cooperation between Asia and South Africa.

Deputy PM visits Busan City

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on January 22 visited Busan City, his last stop-over during the Republic of Korea trip.

At a meeting with Mayor Hur Nam Sik, Phuc noted the strategic partnership between Vietnam and the RoK has flourished in all areas, from politics and diplomacy to economics, science-technology, culture, and education.

People-to-people diplomacy has been expanded with more than 100,000 Vietnamese and Korean nationals residing in each country, helping strengthen bilateral friendship.  

Phuc noted with satisfaction the close and effective cooperation between HCM City of Vietnam and its twin city of Busan, saying Busan has opened its trade and representative offices in HCM City and their two-way trade hit US$2.2 billion last year.

Currently approximately 80,000 Korean people are living and 1,800 Korean businesses are operating in Vietnam’s largest economic hub.

He proposed both cities expand cooperation in environmental protection, climate change adaptation, and human resource training.

He called on Busan businesses to further invest in HCM City and boroughs, primarily in high technology, clean production, and mechanical engineering.

Phuc thanked the Busan administration for supporting Vietnamese nationals, including women marrying Korean men, in residing in the city.

For his part, Mayor Hur vowed to work hard to promote ties between the two cities and two countries. He assured Phuc the local administration will seek to address issues related to the two cities’ relations, Vietnamese nationals’ integration into local community, and other economic and cultural exchanges.

Before leaving the RoK, Deputy PM Phuc visited the Busan-based Vietnamese Honorary General Consulate and a newly-built port in the city.

Japan will boost cooperation in agriculture, human resource training, technical assistance and science and technology with Vietnam, Ambassador Hiroshi Fukada has said.

At a meeting with Vuong Dinh Hue, head of the Central Economics Commission, in Hanoi on January 22, Hiroshi voiced Japan’s commitment to provide additional ODA to Vietnam, but said both sides need to clarify prioritised projects for disbursement in the context of economic difficulty.

He acknowledged Vietnam’s efforts in stabilising its macro-economy, containing runaway inflation and ensuring social security amidst global complications.

He suggested the Central Economics Commission pay more attention to financial and monetary market reforms, settlement of non-performing loans, and restructuring of State owned enterprises.

For his part, Hue noted since Vietnam and Japan established the strategic partnership in 2009, their relations have grown and flourished, bringing practical benefits to both countries.

He appreciated Japan’s goodwill towards providing its ODA to Vietnam, helping spur its socio-economic development over the years.

He echoed Hiroshi’s view that Vietnam needs Japanese assistance in agricultural development, climate change adaptation, and human resource training.  

Agriculture is one of the Commission’s priority areas in the coming time, Hue said.

He proposed the ambassador support the Commission in studying the Abenomics, post-crisis economic reform, and its experience in tackling non-performing loans, and developing a knowledge-based economy.

New Australian military attache welcomed

The Vietnamese Defence Ministry appreciates the support given by the Australian Defence Attache in training its personnel, Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh has proclaimed.

Vinh, who is Deputy Minister of Defence, expressed the thanks on January 22 when saying farewell to Colonel Matthew Dudley on the end of his term in office and welcoming Colonel Darren Kerr for the new term.

The Deputy Minister lauded the fine partnership between the two defence ministries, saying Australia has strongly assisted Vietnam in preparing for its involvement with UN peace-keeping activities. Their work together in ensuring marine security, anti-terrorism and tackling the aftermath of war has also reaped practical results, he said.

Vinh hoped that Colonel Kerr will continue the good job that his predecessor made in bringing the ministries closer together.

On behalf of the Defence Attache delegation, Colonel Dudley thanked the Defence Ministry for facilitating his work during his term, and asked for continued support to be given to his successor.

HCM City – Belgium cooperation falling short of potential

There is massive potential for cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and Belgium, yet their trade ties remain modest, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan explained to Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Johan Vande Lanotte.

During a reception held for the Belgian guest in the city on January 22, Quan noted that the southern hub exported 154 million USD worth of commodities to Belgium in 2013, while its imports from the country stood at over 243 million USD.

Belgium now has 14 projects worth more than 8.5 million USD in HCM City and is aiding the city in several important developments, such as dredging the Soai Rap River, he said.

The official expressed his belief that through Lanotte’s visit, both sides can boost their collaboration in fields of mutual concern, and HCM City will try its best to promote these relations, especially in economics.

Speaking highly of the development potential with HCM City, Lanotte claimed that the Belgian Government attaches great importance to the two countries’ relations.

He voiced his interest in the city’s infrastructure development projects, including those to build a new seaport system.

He also told city authorities to compile detailed proposals for projects seeking financial assistance to make it easier for Belgium to consider them.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA