Vietnam, Cuba share experience in Constitution amendment

National Assembly Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu has said that Vietnam is willing to share experience with Cuba regarding the process of revising Constitution as well as in judicial reform.

NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu receives Cuban Council of State Secretary Homero Acosta Alvarez. (Source: VNA)

NA Vice Chairman Luu, who is vice chairman of the Committee for drafting amendments to the Constitution, made the statement during a working session in Hanoi on October 16 with Cuban Council of State Secretary Homero Acosta Alvarez, who is also Coordinator of a research working group on Constitutional reform.

Luu told the guest that the revision of Vietnam’s 1992 Constitution aims to continue affirming and clarifying essential contents mentioned in the Constitution on socialist democracy, ensuring the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, developing the socialist-oriented market economy and perfecting the law-governed socialist State of the people, by the people and for the people.

The Cuban official said he wants the two sides share experience in judicial reform, especially in Constitutional amendment.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on Constitutional reform and the rearrangement of legal norms during the economic renovation process.

They also discussed major issues on Constitutional reform that receives the attention of the public in Vietnam.

Prime Minister meets Haiphong voters

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on October 16 met voters in Haiphong city’s Vinh Bao district in preparation for the upcoming sixth National Assembly session.

The voters proposed that the government continue taking good care of individuals and families who have rendered services to the revolution, as well as poor and vulnerable groups in the locality.

They called for direct support for farmers, particularly in seeking markets for agricultural products, and more investment in rural infrastructure building.

PM Dung took note of voters’ opinions and affirmed that the Party and State pay great attention to agricultural and rural development. He said the Government will continue allocating appropriate resources to boost the sustainable development of the agriculture sector.

The PM made clear that the programme of building new-style rural areas is part of the industrialisation and modernisation of the agriculture sector, aiming to improve living conditions of rural residents.

Therefore, the government will continue to increase investment in the programme while adjusting criteria of new-style rural areas to match reality, he said.

The government leader also requested Haiphong city to make a greater effort in implementing the programme.

The PM confirmed that the government will assist major infrastructure projects in the city, especially those in transportation and irrigation.

South Africa praises Vietnam’s development achievements

President Jacob Zuma has valued Vietnam’s Renewal achievements and expected stronger bilateral cooperation, including between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the African National Congress (ANC).

Zuma made the statement while receiving Vietnamese ambassador to South Africa Le Huy Hoang, who presented credentials to him in capital Pretoria on October 16.

He said African leaders and people admire Vietnamese people’s past struggle for national independence, freedom and unification, considering it a source of encouragement to South Africa’s struggle against Apartheid, culminating in the ANC’s historic victory in the 1990s.

Zuma expressed his belief Hoang will fulfil his mission in South Africa, contributing to strengthening friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

For his Part, Hoang conveyed President Truong Tan Sang’s regards and invitation to visit Vietnam to Zuma.

He congratulated South Africa on its recent tremendous achievements under the leadership of the ANC, increasing its role and position in Africa and the world.

He voiced Vietnam’s strong resolve to boost friendship with South Africa, and vowed to work hard to deepen all-round cooperation between the two countries, especially in economics, trade and education.

President Zuma said he will arrange time to visit Vietnam in the near future.

Vice President receives international gemologists

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan on October 16 received gemologists from 23 countries attending the 33rd International Gemological Conference (IGC 33) in Hanoi.

Doan was briefed on the outcomes of IGC 33, which, as Secretary General for IGC’s Executive Committee Jayshree Panjikar said, will open up more cooperation opportunities for Vietnamese and international scientists.

She thanked the scientists for cooperation in organising the conference, helping Vietnamese experts share experience with foreign partners in gemology.

The leader deemed scientific reports at IGC 33 as a valuable and useful source of information, particularly gemstone assessment measures and exploitation management.

She also considered the conference a chance to popularise Vietnam as a country rich in natural resources, including gemstones, and help its gemstone industry integrate into the region and the world.

At IGC 33 from October 13 – 16, participants mulled over 63 reports concerning the differentiation between natural and man-made gemstones, measures to assess and upgrade gemstone quality.

The event was jointly organised by the Vietnam National University in Hanoi and Doji, the only Vietnamese member of the International Coloured Gemstone Association.

The southern Binh Duong province and Italy’s Emilia Romagna region on October 16 signed a joint statement on strengthening bilateral friendship and cooperation, and an agreement on economic and trade cooperation.

Accordingly, the two sides agreed to enhance their friendship ties and expand cooperation in economy, science-technology, education-training and culture.

In the immediate future, Binh Duong province and Emilia Romagna region will focus on intensifying trade promotion and cooperation in industry, service and tourism sectors, and on exchanges and experience sharing activities in science-technology, education-training and culture-society.

The outcomes of the cooperation will serve as the foundation for the two sides to sign an official cooperation agreement.

Under the economic and trade cooperation agreement signed the same day, the two sides will create favourable conditions for their businesses to study each other’s markets and increase trade and investment promotion activities in sectors of great potential for mutually beneficiary cooperation.

Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Mai The Trung took the occasion to brief the Italian guests on the province’s current socio-economic situations.

Binh Duong province enjoys a growth rate double the national average and has so far attracted 2,174 foreign direct investment projects with total investment capital of 18.6 billion USD. Among them, Italian enterprises invested around 30 million USD in eight projects.

Trung said he hopes to see more Italian investors coming to the province.

According to President of the Legislative Assembly of Emilia Romagna region Palma Costi, Emilia Romagna has a population of 4.5 million. This is a wealthy region, with export turnover of industries reaching 50 billion EUR in 2012.

Vietnam, Belgium hold first political consultation

Vietnam and Belgium reached consensus on many measures to boost bilateral cooperation during the first Vietnam-Belgium political consultation at deputy foreign ministerial level in Hanoi on October 15.

During the event, which took place in the framework of Belgian Deputy Foreign Minister Dirk Achten’s visit to Vietnam from October 13-17, the two sides agreed to increase exchanges of delegations at all levels.

They will continue to coordinate in organising activities to celebrate the 40 th anniversary of diplomatic ties, while fostering cooperation among localities of Vietnam and Belgium.

The two sides will also encourage and create best conditions for businesses of both countries to meet and seek cooperation in prioritised realms, including seaport development and logistics, transport, green growth and high technology.

Vietnam and Belgium will work together to effectively implement joint projects on development cooperation, including those specified in the programme of orientation for cooperation in the 2011-2015 period.

The Belgian side affirmed that it considers Vietnam a prioritised partner in development cooperation and pledged to maintain its support in human resource training by granting more post-graduate scholarships to Vietnamese students and strengthening the links among universities and institutes of both countries.

The two sides agreed to maintain the consultation mechanism between ministries and sectors of the two countries, while lauding the success of the second meeting of the Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation, which took place from October 14-15.

Regarding international issues of mutual concern, the two sides committed to continuing their close coordination at international forums and organisations.

As the coordinator of the ASEAN-EU relations, Vietnam pledged to back Belgium’s efforts to boost ties with the ASEAN.

The Belgium side said it will assist Vietnam in developing its comprehensive cooperation with the EU by working to hasten the approval of the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Vietnam, and EU’s recognition of the market economy in Vietnam, as well as the early conclusion of negotiations for the Vietnam-EU free trade agreement.

The same day, the Belgian deputy foreign minister paid a cordial visit to Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

Lao Army delegations visit Vietnam

Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army Lieut. Gen. Vo Van Tuan warmly received Lao People’s Army delegations on October 15.

The Lao officers working in the training field suggested that Vietnamese forces continue sending experts to teach in military academies in Laos and improve curriculum materials in the time to come.

Meeting with officers of the Lao air force, Lieut. Gen. Tuan stated that he highly valued the delegation’s working achievements with the Air and Air Defence Force of the Vietnamese People’s Army.

He added the two sides should continue their cooperation in order to strengthen the traditional friendship between the two forces.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA