President speaks highly of Japanese investment

President Truong Tan Sang has highly valued Japanese investment in Vietnam and asked a Japanese businessperson to call on his fellows to make fact-finding tours of seafood processing facilities in the central provinces of Binh Dinh and Phu Yen.

At a May 23 reception for a visiting delegation of the  Kyoei Steel, Ltd led by its Chairman Emeritus Akihiko Takashima, President Sang expressed his hope that the visit will reap good results and help realise agreements and commitments signed during his trip to Japan in March.

In reply to the firm’s proposal on ensuring stable electricity supply for its steel mill project in Vietnam, the State leader said he will ask relevant ministries and agencies to consider and handle the issue.

Takashima said he hopes Vietnamese ministries and agencies will support Kyoei Steel-invested projects in the country, especially a metallurgy one.

The guest also informed President Sang on the progress of investment projects underway in Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Ninh Binh provinces, adding that the firm is sparing no efforts in making adjustments to deal with economic difficulties.

Reiterating Sang’s call for investment from Kansai region-based firms to Vietnam, the chairman affirmed Vietnam is an attractive destination in the eyes of Japanese investors.

He also said he hopes to make more contributions to further boosting trade and investment ties between the two countries.

NA deputies hail PM Dung’s political view

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung pointed out China’s intention behind its placement of Haiyang Shiyou – 981 oil rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in his speech at the World Economic Forum on East Asia 2014 (WEF East Asia) in the Philippines.

The Vietnamese people were moved by his statement: “Vietnam would not barter sovereignty for unrealizable friendship”, considering this Vietnam’s firm stance to the world regarding its national independence, self-reliance and sovereignty.

Deputies attending the ongoing 7th session of the 13th National Assembly showed support for Dung’s statement. Tran Du Lich, a deputy from Ho Chi Minh city said, “Vietnam’s reaction will make China reconsider its policies amid strong global criticism. Vietnam should continue to consolidate national unity and work out appropriate and coordinated measures on all fronts.”

Nguyen Ba Thuyen, a deputy from the central highland province of Lam Dong said, “The Prime Minister did listen to the people and showed his spirit. The East Sea is currently a pressing issue. Our people should remain united to defend our maritime sovereignty.”

Prime Minister Dung told the world that Vietnam wanted peace for further development.

Prime Minister wraps up Philippines visit

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his delegation left Manila on May 22, concluding their working visit to the Philippines and participation in the World Economic Forum on East Asia 2014 (WEF East Asia).

During meetings and talks,  PM Nguyen Tan Dung and President Benigno S.Aquino III agreed on important orientations and measures to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

They consented to establish a joint working committee chaired by the two foreign ministries, with the aim of building a roadmap towards a strategic partnership.

Regarding the East Sea issue, the two leaders expressed deep concern about China’s infringement upon the waters of coastal states. They agreed to join ASEAN and the international community to strongly protest China’s illegal actions and requested China immediately remove its Haiyang Shiyou – 981 oil rig and escort vessels out of Vietnam’s territorial waters.

PM Dung’s speech grabbed the attention of delegates at the WEF on East Asia 2014.

He affirmed that East Asia cannot develop without peace and stability. Therefore, China's deployment of its oil rig and escort flotilla, deep within Vietnam’s waters, is not only a serious violation of international law, but directly threatens regional peace and stability. It adversely affects security and maritime safety in the East Sea, where half of all global goods are transported by sea.

PM Dung also stressed that the solidarity and protest of the international community is urgently required to prevent further such violations of international law.

Mexico praises Vietnam’s peace stance

Head of the parliament of Mexican Zacatecas State, Alfredo Femat Banuelo, has expressed support and appreciation for Vietnam’s peace stance, in dealing with tensions in the East Sea consistently and correctly.

He also affirmed profound solidarity with Vietnamese people and said that Vietnam’s goodwill will contribute to maintaining peace and stability in the region.

In a four-point resolution signed and sent to the Vietnamese Embassy in Mexico by representatives from seven parliamentary delegations, Femat Banuelo called on China and Vietnam to exercise the utmost restraint to avoid armed conflict and instead seek political talks to resolve the East Sea issue in compliance with international law.

Zacatecas State Parliament also urged the federal Parliament through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to call for UN intervention and consideration of issues and conveyed a message of peace to countries’ embassies concerned.

During the earlier talks with Chairman Alfredo Femat Banuelo, ambassador Le Thanh Tung briefed him on developments regarding China’s unilateral placement of Haiyang Shiyou – 981 oil rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

The ambassador agreed that China’s action is illegal, violating Vietnam’s sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction, and seriously threatened peace, security, stability and maritime safety in the East Sea.

Tung also reaffirmed Vietnam’s consistent stance, asking China to immediately stop their illegal actions and immediately withdraw its oil rig and ships from territorial waters belonging to Vietnam's sovereignty.

Vietnam deploys peaceful means and exercises maximum restraint to protect its sovereignty and legitimate interests thus contributing to the re-establishment of peace and stability in the region, he added.

Senior army officer greets Venezuelan guests

Lieutenant General Nguyen Quoc Khanh, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, received a delegation of the Venezuelan Institute of Higher Studies for National Defence in Hanoi on May 22.

Lt. Gen. Khanh said that the two countries’ relations, including in defence, have flourished since they established diplomatic ties in December 1989.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Defence set up an attaché office in Venezuela through which bilateral cooperation in the field will be enhanced, he added.

The officer suggested more delegation exchanges be organised at various levels in order to deepen mutual understanding and seek more collaborative opportunities.

He said the Vietnam National Defence Academy offers courses for foreigners and invited the Venezuelan Ministry of Defence to send its officers to study in the country.

Khanh pledged that Vietnam will create the best possible conditions for international officers to visit and study in its military units and academies.

In response, visiting guests said they will submit the host’s proposals to the Venezuelan Defence Minister.

They noted that the Venezuelan people and army will forever stand by Vietnam in the national construction and defence.

Vietnam, Ivory Coast promote cooperative ties

The Ivory Coast wants to strengthen ties of friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam in line with its maximum potential for the mutual benefit of both nations.

The country’s leaders expressed the desire at separate meetings with the Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Phuong Nga during their visit from May 20-22.

Nga met with Parliament Speaker Guillaume Soro, Foreign Minister Charles Koffi Diby, Agriculture Minister Sangafowa Coulibaly, and Minister Commerce Jean Louis Billon.

The hosts lauded Vietnam’s Renewal achievements, which they said together with the Ivory Coast’s reconciliation success are solid foundations for expanding bilateral cooperation.

They pledged to closely coordinate with Vietnam at international forums, support and share Vietnam’s viewpoint on dealing with disputes through peaceful measures.

The two sides agreed to encourage business exchange and speed up negotiations to soon sign a number of agreements including those on investment promotion and double taxation avoidance, to raise bilateral trade value to a new level, while boosting cooperation in agriculture and human resource training.

They will first focus on training, expertise exchange, and technology transfer in rice production and cashew nut processing.

They agreed to jointly conduct activities to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2015.

Lawmakers discuss socio-economic development plans

Deputies at the ongoing seventh session of the 13th National Assembly on May 23 discussed the implementation of socio-economic development plans and State budget in the first months of 2014.

They heard reports on a draft law on managing and using the State capital for production and trade at the afternoon plenary session of the day which was presided over by NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung.

They also deliberated on draft law on entry, exit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam.

The legislature will hold a plenary session on May 24.

Honours bestowed for true patriotism

The 11th Viet Nam Glory programme was held in Ha Noi yesterday to honour 19 outstanding individuals and 11 organisations in construction, defence, labour and production.

Thai Phung Ne, one of the people behind the Son La Hydropower Plant, and Senior Lieutenant Tran Van Vung from the Coast Guard High Command were among those honoured.

President Truong Tan Sang congratulated the winners saying they were role models for patriotic movements.

He thanked the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour and the Central Committee for Emulation and Reward for holding the awards during the past 10 years.

He said he was happy this year's programme also selected coast guard and fisheries surveillance officers and fishermen who had shown courage and determination in demanding China withdraw its illegal oil rig.

China threatening East Sea peace: Vietnamese scholar

Using oil prospecting as a pretext, China is adding fuel to the fire of tension in the East Sea, Ass. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Chu Hoi, senior lecturer at the Hanoi National University, has said.

Hoi, who is also member of the World Ocean Forum, made the comment on China’s illegal placement of its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981, along with many ships, deep inside Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf.

“China’s perverse and brazen violation of international law in the 21st century – a century of civilised behaviour - has really shocked people in Vietnam and the world,” he said.

“From the angle of intensive studies on marine management, we are not surprised at the action as it is only a step in China’s path to realise its wicked ambitions,” he added.

According to the researcher, to continue realising the so-called “China Dream”, with an intention to occupy the whole East Sea and gain the exclusive right in exploiting resources, China has taken a number of steps. Among them, in 2009, China extravagantly brought to the United Nations its claim for a nine-dash line that covers 80 percent of the East Sea area, violating international law and sovereignty of neighbouring coastal countries, including Vietnam.

At the same time, to demonstrate its ability to manage this space, China has implemented a series of activities under the guise of ‘civil’ behaviour, he added.

China also occupied the Scarborough Shoal of the Philippines in 2012 and the James Shoal claimed by Malaysia in 2013, and now it has illegally placed the huge oil rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone.

“China sets up security positions posed as civil ones to test its neighbours’ responses and then gradually nibbles at strategic locations in the East Sea,” Hoi analysed.

The Vietnamese scholar quoted Wang Yilin, Chairman of the China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), as saying in 2012 that large-size deepwater drilling rigs are mobile national territories and a strategic weapon of China.

And now, the presence of this “mobile territory” in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone means China’s delivery of a message: China is ready to invade the waters of Vietnam, a sovereign country and a traditional friend and neighbour.

“Obviously, China is taking a dangerous step, defying international law and public opinion and challenging the entire world,” Hoi said, adding that at a time when the UN’s international legal organisations are considering the Philippines’ case against China relating to the nine-dash line, such an act is not suitable to the “culture of conduct” of a country which is a member of the UN Security Council.

Unilaterally using the “Show off power in the east and strike in the west” strategy for a long time, China is threatening security and peace not only in the East Sea but also the East China Sea and ASEAN, he concluded.

National Assembly addresses economy

National Assembly deputies yesterdat talked about the 2013 socio-economic development plan and state budget.

They highly applauded the efforts of the Government, ministries and different levels of agencies in tackling the economy's difficulties. However, deputy Tran Hoang Ngan from Ho Chi Minh City said that in the long term, the Government needed to continue economic restructuring and step up institutional reforms.

The Government should also address concerns relating to jobs, environmental pollution, administrative procedures and overloaded hospitals, Ngan said, adding that there was an urgent need to halt unnecessary projects in order to prioritise national strategic defence projects.

Saying the National Assembly should pass a resolution that would help farmers and fishermen maintain a sustainable agriculture sector, Ngan suggested using the VND35 trillion (US$1.6 billion) that the Ministry of Transport saved from halting unnecessary transport infrastructure projects to build ships for fishermen.

Deputy Tran Du Lich from HCM City agreed, saying that one of the top missions for the Government was comprehensively developing the agriculture sector.

He added that the Government had to support fishermen in building ships.

"This is a matter of urgent need," he said.

Regarding state budget issues, Deputy Lich said the State needed to say no to any expenses that were not approved by the National Assembly.

Deputy Vo Thi Dung from HCM City said the Government needed a more detailed analysis on public debts.

Meanwhile, deputy Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam from HCM City suggested that the Government clarify the reason for any unauthorised expenses in the state budget.

Ongoing discussions

In the afternoon, deputies at the seventh session of the 13th National Assembly heard a Government report on a draft law on management and the use of state capital in production and business and discussed a draft law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Viet Nam.

Under current regulations, enterprises are allowed to actively seek business opportunities and expand production and markets, however, provisions related to State-run businesses have not yet been legislated.

Therefore, the issuing of a law on management and the use of state capital in production and business must aim to meet the requirements of State companies in re-organisation and enhancement. The law must also clearly define the State role in capital management.

Regarding the draft law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Viet Nam some deputies showed concerns about regulations on temporary residence in the various zones set up for industry and export processing.

VNN/VNA/VNS/VOV