Vietnam, Algeria agree to boost friendly exchanges

Chairman of the Algeria-Vietnam Friendship Association (AVFA) Tayeb Cherfaoui and Vietnamese Ambassador to Algeria Vu The Hiep have agreed on measures to further boost friendship between the two countries in the future.

During his meeting with AVFA leaders in Algiers on November 27, Hiep thanked the association for its active support of the two countries’ traditional friendship, which he said is a “praiseworthy” factor towards consolidating and expanding bilateral cooperation for mutual benefit.

Tayeb Cherfaoui said the association has been working closely with the embassy to find the best cooperation mechanism.

Both sides discussed specific and immediate measures to establish and foster the relationship between AFVA and the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO).

Hiep stressed the need to enhance the exchanges and coordination between the two sides.

He asked AFVA to aim expand economic cooperation between Vietnam and Algeria and pledged to release more detailed proposals in this field.

Party delegation visits China

A delegation from Deputy Head of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Commission for Communication and Education Pham Van Linh paid a working visit to China from November 20-25.

Linh and Permanent Vice Minister Luo Shugang and Vice Minister Wang Xiaohui of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee’s Propaganda Department shared experiences in communication and personnel training and discussed urgent issues that need to be resolved.

They applauded the outcome of the bilateral cooperation and stressed the need to deepen mutual understanding as well as strengthening publishing connections.

Linh said he hopes the agreement will progress and visits by journalists will be facilitated to educate young generations about the traditional friendship between Vietnam and China.

The Chinese guests briefed the Vietnamese delegation on the consensus reached at the third plenum of the 18th National Congress of the CPC, ways to raise public awareness of resolutions and press and publishing management.

Luo expressed his hope that during the 2014 theoretical workshop between the two Parties in Vietnam, the two sides will gain good experience in Party building, theoretical research and communication and personnel training.

During its stay, the Vietnamese delegation worked with CPC officials, authorities and their counterparts in Nanjing, Changzhou and Shanghai and visited several Chinese media agencies. 

PM tells Ninh Thuan to build infrastructure

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has urged the central province of Ninh Thuan to tap its potential for economic development.

The Prime Minister made the statement while addressing the province's leaders in Ha Noi yesterday, where he encouraged them to make use of Ninh Thuan's maritime economy, agriculture, salt production, tourism and services sector.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has urged the central province of Ninh Thuan to tap its potential for economic development.

Dung acknowledged the province's existing barriers to development, including poor infrastructure, lack of fresh water for agriculture, low-skilled workforce and high poverty rate.

The PM stressed the importance of upgrading critical infrastructure; including transport and irrigation networks, environmental sustainability and providing incentives for investment.

Highlighting the importance of the region's 2013 development targets, the Government leader also urged the province to speed up implementation of a new rural development programme and address gaps in education and healthcare.

In 2013, the province's GDP growth reached 10.5 per cent, while average income per capita swelled to VND22 million (US$1,050).

The province is expected to create 15,500 new jobs and reduce the poverty rate by 2 per cent this year.

Binh Phuoc plan

On the same day, PM Dung urged the southern province of Binh Phuoc to maximise its potential in rubber production, calling the province to develop its processing industry at a meeting with key provincial leaders in Ha Noi.

Hailing the province's achievements in development, with a high income per capita and an increase in local living standards, the PM said Binh Phuoc should tackle weaknesses in forest management while continuing its commitment to building new rural areas.

The provincial economy will see GDP growth of 9.59 per cent in 2013 and income per capita will rise to more than VND41.6 million ($1,980), up 9.4 per cent against last year, the province's leaders reported to the PM.

Leaders also said Binh Phuoc had seen positive changes in healthcare, education, social welfare and safety.

They also pledged to pursue growth and improve methods in crime prevention.

Namibia welcomes Vietnamese businesses, says President

Namibia will create favourable conditions for Vietnamese companies to enter its market and the larger Africa, President Hifikepunye Pohamba has said.

While receiving newly-accredited Vietnamese ambassador Le Huy Hoang in capital Windhoek on November 27, Pohamba encouraged joint cooperation projects, including a tripartite cooperation model on seafood, between Namibia, Vietnam and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

He recalled his recent visit to Vietnam where he saw with his own eyes the tremendous achievements Vietnamese people have made during their Doi Moi (Renewal) and international integration process.

Pohamba expressed his hope in the new position ambassador Hoang will make a further contribution to strengthening the friendship and fine cooperation between the two governments and peoples.

Hoang congratulated the government and people of Namibia on their great achievements in national development under the leadership of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) and President Pohamba himself.

He thanked Namibia for recognising Vietnam’s full market economy status and vowed to do his best during his term to deepen bilateral relations, especially in economics, trade, agriculture, and aquaculture.

The same day, Namibian Foreign Minister Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah met with Hoang to exchange views on diplomatic-political ties between the two countries.

She said she hopes both Namibia and Vietnam will continue to cooperate closely at the UN Human Rights Council as the newly elected members for 2014-16, and at other international forums to boost bilateral relations.

Cambodian DPM meets VNA boss

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An yesterday (Nov 27) received Director General of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Nguyen Duc Loi, who is on a working visit to the country.

The Cambodian leader praised the bilateral relationship between the two countries, paying tribute to Viet Nam's support for Cambodia to overthrow the Pol Pot genocidal regime.

An praised the VNA's coverage of Cambodian affairs for Vietnamese and international audiences and spoke highly of the partnership between the two national news agencies; which provides training and knowledge sharing between them; vowing to use her current post to help strengthen the existing partnership.

Director General Loi said the Cambodian news agency was a trusted partner of VNA, and thanked the Deputy PM and other Cambodian officials for supporting the relationship.

The same day, the VNA Director General also held talks with Cambodian counterpart Sok Mom Nimul, praising their respective news coverage, including those made during the 2012 Viet Nam–Cambodia Friendship Year.

The two sides also discussed measures to bolster professional links in preparation for the ASEAN Community in 2015. They signed a memorandum of understanding, in which they vowed to offer mutual assistance in human resources training and technical infrastructure.

The VNA delegation will stay in Cambodia until December 1. They are scheduled to meet with Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith and the Governor of Siem Reap.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA