Vietnam, China enhance people-to-people diplomacy

A delegation from the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) paid a working visit to China from October 22-26 at the invitation of President of the China Association for International Friendly Contact Li Zhaoxing to seek ways to strengthen people-to-people diplomacy.

At talks and meetings with the host officials, the two sides agreed on measures to intensify friendship and mutual understanding between the two peoples.

The delegation head Don Tuan Phong, who is VUFO Vice President and General Secretary, affirmed that on the basis of common views reached by the two countries’ high-ranking leaders, the VUFO will continue working closely with Chinese partners to promote people-to-people diplomacy.

He said the VUFO will organise more exchanges between the two peoples to enhance their friendship and mutual trust and understanding, thus contributing to deepening the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.

The Vietnamese delegation also held talks with the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, during which the two sides discussed plans to co-organise activities in 2014-2015, including the 6th Vietnam-China People’s Forum scheduled for early December in China.

In addition, the delegation had working sessions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Commerce to gain information about two way trade and the Vietnam-China Friendship Palace project.

Vietnam, Argentina enjoy fruitful relations

The Vietnam-Argentina traditional friendship and the strong development of bilateral cooperation over recent year were highlighted at an event marking the 41st anniversary diplomatic ties between the two countries in Buenos Aires on October 25.

The event was co-organised by the Argentinean parliamentarians’ friendship group with Vietnam (GPAV), the Argentina-Vietnam Cultural Institute (ICAV) and the Vietnamese Embassy in Argentina.

Speakers at the event emphasised that parliamentary and people-to-people diplomacy and cultural exchange have contributed greatly to enhancing the mutual understanding and friendship and cooperation between the two nations.

On the occasion, more than 30 primary pupils from Santisimo Sacramento School drew their own pictures on Vietnam-Argentina relations. These pictures will be presented to Trong Diem School in Ha Long City, northern Quang Ninh province, during the upcoming visit to Vietnam by ICAV Chairperson Poldi Sosa.

Additionally, a talk on Vietnam’s achievements in the renewal process and its geo-strategic position was also co-held by the Vietnamese Embassy in coordination with ICAV and AsiaTV on October 23 as part of activities to mark the day in the country.

NA seeks tougher deterrents for crime

Top lawmakers discussed law dissemination and education activities to prevent crimes during a working session last Saturday and agreed that inspection and supervision of public officials should be enhanced.

At the session, National Assembly (NA) deputies sought heavier penalties to deter crimes such as corruption, bribery and harassment of the people by public officials and servants.

Truong Thi Hue of northern Thai Nguyen province expressed concern over recent cases in which State officials fought each other because of excessive drinking of alcohol or hatred.

"There have been cases where officials involved were not properly punished or mentioned in reports," she said.

Hue urged the NA to craft a law on People's Council supervision to enhance the supervision and inspection of public officials' and servants' work and lifestyle.

She also asked the Government to boost measures to enhance the public officials' and servants' ethics and impose strict punishments on violations.

The deputies also said the number of files of corruption cases archived pending further investigation had increased while court proceedings on cases at various levels remained few. Some serious cases had been prolonged for years and remained unresolved, they added.

Vu Chi Thuc of northern Quang Ninh Province revealed that cases of injustice where the guilty were freed and the innocent punished still happened.

Thuc cited State management loopholes as one of the reasons for recurring crimes and noted that people's awareness and reporting of the commission of crimes remained low.

Thuc asked the NA to issue legal documents that would create conditions for law enforcement teams to solve the problems, enhance work to ensure social security and safety and fix State management loopholes to deter crimes.

Pham Truong Dan of central Quang Nam Province said the campaign against corruption remained weak and fallen below people's expectations.

He also expressed concern over the increase in crimes involving young people which had yet to be thoroughly resolved.

Earlier last Saturday, NA deputies listened to reports from the Supreme People's Procuracy and the Supreme People's Court on the results of activities against crime and law enforcement work.

This year, the number of newly-prosecuted cases reached nearly 78,000, a two-per cent year-on-year increase, and the number of arrested culprits reached more than 121,000, a 2.19-per cent year-on-year decrease.

Investigators nationwide have begun investigations on more than 25,900 cases of social order violations involving 55,900 suspects.

The police have cracked down on more than 4,900 criminal gangs, of which 161 were extremely dangerous.

Crimes involving guns and explosives were reportedly becoming more complicated while human trafficking increased by 10 per cent year-on-year with 220 cases filed so far, and 3,003 corruption cases have so far been filed and prosecuted.

PM marks UN founding anniversary

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung hosted a reception for the head of United Nations agencies in Viet Nam in Ha Noi yesterday to mark the 69th year of the founding of the world organisation .

The PM congratulated UN officials and thanked its agencies for the valuable assistance they have given Viet Nam in the 37 years since the country joined the global organisation in 1977.

He said Viet Nam would always be an active member of the UN and make responsible contributions to the common cause of the UN and the international community.

He updated the UN officials on the economic conditions in Viet Nam and the Government's efforts to stabilise the macro economy, control inflation and ensure social welfare.

Discussing the agenda for global development beyond 2015, the PM stressed the importance of developing a peaceful environment and regional and world security, including maintaining maritime security and safety. He reiterated the need to deal with disputes by peaceful measures on the basis of respect for international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

PM Dung welcomed the international community's endeavours to fulfil the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and highlighted the significance of the development agenda for the post-2015 period, which focuses on sustainable development, green growth, climate change response and enhancement of the efficiency of the UN's operations.

He praised the outcomes of the One UN Initiative in Viet Nam and asked UN agencies to continue with the initiative..

On behalf of UN agencies in Viet Nam, UN Resident Co-ordinator Pratibha Mehta spoke highly of the Vietnamese Government's efforts to maintain economic growth, promote poverty reduction and fulfil MDGs.

The coordinator also appreciated Viet Nam's contributions to the discussion on and building of the UN's post-2015 development agenda. She said the UN would continue to provide assistance to Viet Nam in its socio-economic development in the future.

NA Chairman welcomes UN official

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung has hailed the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) for its support for Vietnam’s fight against the pandemic over the years.

At a reception for UN Under-Secretary-General and UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibe in Hanoi on October 25, the top legislator said the Vietnam NA has built the Law on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control to create an important legal foundation for carrying out preventive measures against the disease and ensuring justice and equality for all Vietnamese people to have access to social welfare and HIV/AIDS preventive services.

“The NA and the Government of Vietnam are also pooling available resources to continue promoting HIV / AIDS prevention and support for HIV/AIDS people in community-based activities and treatment.

Vietnam welcomes and is actively implementing recommendations initiated by the UN in a bid to eliminate the pandemic by 2030 with priority given to preventive intervention measures and antiretroviral (ARV) drug and Methadone treatment.” Hung said.

Michel Sidibe, for his part, expressed his admiration for Vietnam, its land and people as well as the glorious traditional history which reflected the nation’s arduous struggles for national independence and its current national construction efforts.

Michel Sidibe applauded Vietnam's efforts in the battle against HIV/AIDS. Vietnam is the first country in the world to announce a target of 90% of HIV infected people knowing their HIV status; 90% of the people diagnosed with HIV infection are provided with continuous ARV treatment; 90% of the infected people receiving antiretroviral treatment have sustained viral suppression in 2020.

The UN official said he believes Vietnam will continue to succeed in coping with the pandemic in the future.

Party Popularisation Commission official greets Cuban journalists

Deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Education and Popularisation Nguyen The Ky described the visit to Vietnam by a delegation of the Cuban Journalists’ Association (CJA) as a vivid manifestation of the time-honoured relationship between the mass media of the two countries.

Ky made the statement in Hanoi on October 24 when receiving Barbara Virginia Doval Martinez, CJA Vice Chairperson, who is in Vietnam from October 21-26 for a working visit at the invitation of the Vietnamese Journalists’ Association.

He praised the newly-signed cooperation agreement between the two associations, which aims at boosting bilateral collaboration and promoting profession sharing.

The Cuban guest expressed hope that following the visit, the two associations will promptly launch operations mentioned in the agreement, as part of efforts to contribute to consolidating the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Cuba.

Slovakia hopes to foster cooperation with Vietnam

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic Miroslav Lajcak has said his country attaches importance to Vietnam’s strategic position in the region and hopes for close coordination between the two countries.

The Slovakian Deputy PM made the remark during his meeting with Vietnamese Ambassador to Slovakia Ho Dac Minh Nguyet on October 23.

He also spoke highly of Vietnam’s role and prestige at multilateral forums to which both countries are members, such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organisation and the Asia-Europe Meeting. He said the two countries should work more closely and support each others at those important cooperative mechanisms.

According to the Deputy PM, his upcoming visit to Vietnam on November 4-5 will provide a good opportunity to bolster the bilateral cooperation.

Ambassador Ho Dac Minh Nguyet said the firm political relationship and growing economic, trade and investment ties between the two countries would serve as a solid foundation for deepening bilateral cooperation in different areas.

The ambassador agreed with the host that the Slovakian Deputy PM’s upcoming visit will create a new impetus for mutually beneficial cooperation as the two countries prepare for the 65th anniversary of their diplomatic relationship.

Laos, Vietnam foster cooperative ties

Vietnam always gives top priority to strengthening cooperative relations with Laos, affirmed Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc while receiving a delegation from Vientiane, Laos, in Hanoi on October 24.

The Lao delegation was led by Lord Mayor of Vientiane capital Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune, who spoke highly of valuable support from the Vietnamese Party, State, Government and people for Laos’ past struggle for national liberation as well as its current socio-economic development process.

He wished that Vietnam will continue assisting Laos in human resource training, and called on both sides to promote exchange and effectively implement previously signed cooperation agreements.

Deputy PM Phuc highlighted fine development in multifaceted relations between Hanoi and Vientiane, particularly in visit exchange and cooperation in health care, education and agriculture.

Hanoi’s experience in development and integration will help Vientiane boost its urban development process, he hoped.

The same day, Lao delegates had a working session with Secretary of the Hanoi municipal Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi.

Nghi expressed his pleasure at fruitful relations in various areas between Vietnam and Laos in general and between Hanoi and Vientiane in particular.

Khoutphaythoune hoped to study Hanoi’s experience in building Party organization in businesses, its Law on the capital, the consumption of farm produce, and conversion of real estate into operation fund.

He proposed Hanoi send experts to Vientiane to conduct research and share management experience.

He also invited Hanoi leaders to visit the Lao capital in the coming year to attend key events in celebrations of the 60th founding anniversary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and the 40th anniversary of Vientiane liberation.

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan has expressed her gratitude to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) for its support of Vietnam’s fight against the pandemic.

Welcoming Michel Sidibé, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNAIDS Executive Director, in Hanoi on October 24, the Vice President emphasised that Vietnam has demonstrated its strong political commitment to speeding up HIV/AIDS prevention and carrying out a national strategy on the fight with the participation of the entire political system.

The country has also exerted efforts to ensure equal access by all people to social welfare, medical care as well as HIV/AIDS preventive services and treatment, which is highlighted in the revised Constitution 2013, she added.

The Vice President asked the UN Under-Secretary-General on HIV/AIDS to continue encouraging international organisations to assist Vietnam in eliminating the pandemic by 2030 with priority given to preventive intervention measures and antiretroviral (ARV) drug and Methadone treatment.

Michel Sidibé congratulated Vietnam on its achievements in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

He expressed his belief that Vietnam will play an active role at the UN General Assembly to ensure that HIV/AIDS pandemic remains in attention as one of sustainable development goals after 2015.

The UN Under-Secretary-General said that his visit’s objective is to strengthen HIV/AIDS prevention programmes in Vietnam as well as to seek both domestic and international resources to help the country achieve the goals launched by the UN.

Conference talks opportunities and challenges from RCEP

The opportunities and challenges from the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) were the focus of a recent conference held in Ho Chi Minh City.

The conference is a part of series of activities of the 2014 CLMV Action Plan with the aim of strengthening the cooperation among Cambodia , Laos , Myanmar and Vietnam.

At the event, the National Committee for International Economic Cooperation Chief Executive Officer An The Dung stressed the need for enterprises to understand the impacts of RCEP on ASEAN’s economy in general and the CLMV group in particular.

Participants at the conference also highlighted opportunities expected to emerge from the combination of the RCEP and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which they said will create a foundation for a free trade agreement for the entire Asian-Pacific region.

Meanwhile, an expert from the European Trade Policy and Investment Support Project (EU-MUTRAP) called on the four countries to enhance their competitiveness in order to fully take advantage of the RCEP, noting that they will have to compete against other developed member countries.

VNA/VOV/VNN