Defence Minister receives outgoing US Ambassador

Public Security Minister General Tran Dai Quang commended outgoing US Ambassador David Shear’s positive contributions to forging Vietnam-US relations while receiving him in Hanoi on August 7. 

Minister Quang also praised the US diplomat for boosting long-term strategic cooperation between the Vietnam Ministry of Public Security and US agencies in an effective and practical manner.

He suggested both sides fully tap huge potential for broader cooperation across a variety of fields in the future and voiced his hope that David Shear will continue to make more contributions to developing relations between the two nations and increasing effective cooperation between the ministry and US relevant agencies.

US Ambassador Shear, for his part, pledged his utmost efforts to elevate Vietnam-US ties to a higher level and increase mutually beneficial cooperation for the two nations’ peace, stability and development.

S’pore diplomat says ties with Vietnam continue growing

As a key investor and a strategic partner in Vietnam, Singapore will continue working with Vietnam to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various sectors, said Singaporean Ambassador to Vietnam Ng Teck Hean.

In a statement issued on the occasion of Singapore’s National Day (August 9), he said Singapore’s cumulative investments in Vietnam have amounted to US$30.5 billion and that two-way trade between the two countries has reached US$13.1 billion.

According to the ambassador, Singaporean investors have recognized Vietnam’s economic potential. Big names like Sembcorp, CapitaLand, Keppel Land and Mapletree have been present in Vietnam for years and will keep creating more jobs for Vietnamese people as well as assisting the country in shaping urban and industrial landscapes.

The typical example is the five Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP) which have been developed in Haiphong City, Binh Duong, Bac Ninh and Quang Ngai provinces.

He added Singapore welcomes recent assurances from the Vietnamese Government to create a safe and stable investment environment and the excellent conditions for foreign investors after worker protests at VSIPs I and II in Binh Duong Province in May.

Regarding human resource development, Singapore has so far helped train more than 14,000 Vietnamese officials via the Singapore Cooperation Program.

He said Singapore remains committed to working with Vietnam to strengthen bilateral cooperation in various sectors, further enhance people-to-people ties, and work towards the realization of the ASEAN Community.

Hanoi raises flags to mark ASEAN founding anniversary

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs organised a ceremony at its headquarters in Hanoi on August 8 to fly the ASEAN flag together with the national flag of Vietnam to mark the bloc’s 47th founding anniversary (August 8) and the 19th anniversary of Vietnam’s ASEAN membership (July 28).

Attending the event were senior ministry officials, representatives from the embassies of ASEAN member countries and Venezuelan Ambassador to Vietnam Jorge Rondon Uzcategui – acting head of the diplomatic corps in Hanoi.

Since its establishment on August 8, 1967, ASEAN has ceaselessly expanded its multi-lateral co-operations and made efforts to build a common community rested on the three pillars of politics/security, economics, and culture/society.

On this day, the bloc’s flag will be raised in all ASEAN member states as a way to express their solidarity and determination to build an ASEAN community by 2015.

The ASEAN flag symbolises the members' unity and support for the bloc’s principles and endeavours. It represents a stable, peaceful, united and dynamic ASEAN community.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam together in one community.

Delegation visit to boost Japan links

A delegation from the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee's Economic Commission led by its head, Vuong Dinh Hue, is on a six-day visit to Japan to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries.

The visit is part of efforts to exchange experience with Japanese ministries, sectors and research institutes on the building and implementation of the "Abe-nomics" economic model - launched by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe - through currency, fiscal and economic growth policies.

During the visit, from August 5-10, the Vietnamese delegation will work with Japanese officials, including vice-president of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, Masahiko Komura; and chairman of the Lower House's Budget Committee and chairman of the Japan-Viet Nam Friendship Parliamentarian Alliance, Toshihiro Nakai.

The Japanese said they were keen to help develop the maritime economy, automobile and manufacturing industries, agro-forestry-seafood production and processing chains, as well as expanding investment in finance and banking.

Japan also pledged to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises to expand investment abroad and facilitate connectivity between businesses through apprentice exchanges.

The Vietnamese will visit Kanagawa and Fukuoka to explore collaboration opportunities and the operation of local multinational groups, including Nissan Motor, Sumimoto and Sozitsu. 

Vietnam attends AMM-47 and related meetings

Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh is leading a Vietnamese delegation to attend the 47th ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting (AMM-47) and some other related meetings which kicked off in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar on August 8.

Along with AMM-47, the delegation will participate in the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference (PMC), the 15th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (APT-15), the fourth East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (EAS FMM-4), and the 21st ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF-21).

The meetings are the most important events in the year of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and between ASEAN and its partners, attracting the participation of foreign ministers from 10 member countries of the grouping and 17 partners.

At the meetings, the foreign ministers will review the ASEAN cooperation as well as the relationship between the association and its partners over the past time, while discussing orientations to boost their partnership as well as regional and international issues of common concern, especially peace and security in the region.

The events are held in the context that the regional and international situation is changing remarkably, with ASEAN facing both traditional and non-traditional security challenges affecting peace, security and development of the region.

The Vietnamese delegation participating at the events with the aim of consolidating ASEAN solidarity and partnership, building a strong community and promoting ASEAN central role in maintaining an environment of peace, stability and cooperation in the region.

Vietnam calls on parties to respect Gaza truce

Vietnam calls on all parties concerned to respect the newly-reached ceasefire agreement in Gaza Strip and actively speed up negotiations for stability and peace in the region.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Hai Binh made the call in Hanoi on August 7 while answering reporters’ queries on Vietnam ’s response to a truce freshly reached by Palestine and Israel.

“Vietnam condemns all military acts targeting UN schools in Gaza Strip, killing and injuring local civilians and UN staff,” he stressed.

Vietnam treasures traditional ties with DPRK

President Truong Tan Sang has said that Vietnam always attaches importance to its traditional relationship with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), which was initiated and fostered by late President Ho Chi Minh and late President Kim Il-sung.

Meeting DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Su-yong on August 7 in Hanoi, the State leader said Vietnam is willing to share experience it has learned through decades of renewal with the DPRK.

He also described Ri Su-yong’s visit as an important contribution to strengthening the friendship between the two countries, suggesting both sides increase exchanges of high-level delegations in the future.

For his part, the DPRK minister stressed that his Party and State support Vietnam’s internal and external policies of Vietnam and appreciate its contributions to the maintenance of peace and stability in the region and the world.

He held that Vietnam and the DPRK share many historical similarities, which are firm foundations for both sides to enhance their partnership.

As the DPRK is implementing a number of policies to develop its economy, improve people’s living standards and attract investment projects in 16 economic zones, the country wishes to cooperate with Vietnam in the field.

The same day, the DPRK diplomat was received by Politburo member and standing member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC)’s Secretariat Le Hong Anh, who affirmed that Vietnam always keeps a close watch on the DPRK situation and further strengthen bilateral collaboration in economics, trade, culture and sports.

Earlier, Ri Su-yong had a meeting with CPVCC member and head of the CPVCC’s Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan, during which they discussed measures to further bolster the traditional friendship and cooperation between the two Parties and peoples in the future.

During his stay in Hanoi , the minister also paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum and visited the Hanoi Museum.

Party chief extends congratulations to Venezuelan leader

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on August 6 sent his congratulations to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro who has become new leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).

President Nicolas Maduro was elected as the PSUV leader during the party’s third National Congress running from July 26-31 in Caracas.

Planning sector urged to promptly make 2016-20 socio-economic plans

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has emphasised the need for the planning and investment sector to urgently make a socio-economic development plan for the 2016-2020 period.

Speaking at a national conference of the sector in central Da Nang city on August 7, PM Dung stated that the building of the plan at central and local levels must be conducted in an urgent and serious manner on the basis of the platform for national construction during the transitional period and the 2011-2020 socio-economic development strategy adopted by the 11 th National Party Congress as well as the Party Central Committee’s resolutions and the Prime Minister’s decrees on building plans for the period.

The plan should continue speeding up the implementation of three breakthroughs set in the 2011-2020 strategy on perfecting the socialist-oriented market economy institution, developing human resources and building a synchronous infrastructure system, he said.

In the context of unpredictable regional and global developments, the PM stressed the need to focus on analysing and forecasting the situation in order to make the plan feasible.

According to Dung, over the past time, the country has built and implemented mid-term public investment plans, bringing in initial positive results.

Based on the achieved outcomes, he urged the continued implementation of such plans for the 2016-2020 period, especially when the National Assembly approved the Law on Public Investment.

The mid-term public investment plans must be carried out at all levels to ensure more effective public investment and avoid scattered investment and cumbersome administrative procedures, he said.

It is also necessary to have mid-term plans for capital resources such as central and local budgets, Government and local bonds, official development assistance (ODA) and preferential loans, he added.

The conference is scheduled to run until August 8, during which participants will be updated on the Law on Public Investment and the revised Bidding Law.

VNA/VOV/VNN