Vietnam, Laos sign new trade deal

Vietnam Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang and his Lao counterpart Khemmani Pholsena signed a new cooperation agreement on March 3 superseding the one that has been in effect since 1998.

The agreement provides for the abatement of trade tariffs for substantially all (more than 95%) of goods and services trade between the two nations.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Vientiane, Minister Hoang said it lays the foundation for a heightened trade between the two countries in line with their fullest potential.

Lao Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavat in turn echoed Hoang’s sentiments and expressed his pleasure with the agreement. He asked all of Laos’ relevant ministries to strictly give it effect.

Italy, Vietnam boost strategic partnership

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has spoken highly of positive progress in Vietnam and Italy relations, especially since the two countries established strategic partnership in January 2013.    

While receiving outgoing Italian Ambassador Lorenzo Angeloni in Hanoi on March 2, Minh said the two governments should further promote their strategic partnership in the coming time, focusing on politics, defence, security, economics, trade, investment, culture, education and training.

They need to closely coordinate at regional and international forums and strengthen exchanges and consultation on issues of mutual concern, Minh suggested.

Deputy PM Minh appreciated Ambassador Lorenzo Angeloni‘s contribution to bolstering bilateral relations during his working term in Vietnam.

Outgoing Ambassador Angeloni thanked Vietnam’s Foreign and other Ministries for their support and promised to do his utmost to develop cooperative ties between the two countries in the future.

Vietnam, UK boost cooperation relations

UK Minister of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Hugo Swire has highlighted opportunities for cooperation between Vietnam and the UK thanks to their already steadfast and long-term relationship.

He expressed his hope that cooperation in education, energy and financial infrastructure will deepen in the coming time at the Vietnam-UK Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO)’s eighth session held in London on March 2, aiming to seek new driving force in the two nations’ cooperative ties.

The meeting presents an important opportunity to review the eight-year strategic partnership between the two countries, Swire said.

The host voiced his country’s support to negotiations towards the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Union, and praised the education incentives Vietnam devised, emphasising that it lays the foundation for a prosperous future.

For her part, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Ho Thi Kim Thoa spoke highly of the achieved targets set at the seventh meeting in 2014, including combating smuggling, strengthening education programmes, and building capacity in the judicial sector.

Vietnam is building a legal framework allowing international pharmaceutical brands to exclusively distribute their products in Vietnam, Thoa said, expressing her hope that the UK will accelerate the implementation of the agreement on recognising certificates for Vietnamese sailors.

The Deputy Minister suggested the two countries improve information exchange and communication on methods of goods delivery and storage to enhance cooperation in goods trading.

According to Thoa, Vietnam recorded a gross domestic product (GDP) growth of 5.98 percent and per capita GDP of 2,000 USD in 2014.

Trade value exceeded 298 billion USD, up 12.9 percent from the same period of 2013, with export value posting at 150 billion USD.

The country housed more than 17,500 projects funded by more than 100 countries and territories, valued at more than 250 billion USD.

Lao Vice President welcomes Vietnamese delegation

Lao Vice State President Bounnhang Volachith received a Vietnamese delegation led by Industry and Trade Minister Vu Huy Hoang in Vientiane, Laos on March 3.

At the meeting, Hoang informed his host of the signing of a new trade agreement between his agency and its Lao counterpart, replacing the 1998 governmental trade agreement.

The Industry and Trade Minister highlighted the importance of the pact and called for additional support from both governments in facilitating its implementation.

Bounnhang Volachith said the agreement presents tremendous potential to advance the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, particularly in commerce and investment.

The Vice State President pledged to encourage close coordination between Laos and Vietnamese agencies to reap future benefits for both nations and people.

The Vietnamese delegation’s visit to Laos runs from March 2-4.

Security Minister meets Israeli Defence Ministry Director-General

Minister of Public Security General Tran Dai Quang hosted Director-General of the Israeli Ministry of Defence Dan Harel in Hanoi on March 3.

General Quang hailed the Israeli officer’s working session with the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security as a milestone that could cement and further the two countries’ defence and security cooperation as well as deepening the growing bilateral ties.

He expressed his delight with across-the-board expansions in bilateral ties, especially after his successful working visit made in 2014.

He delivered his hope that the two countries’ security and defence connection will reap new successes for the two countries’ benefits, as well as peace and security in the region and the world over.

Director-General Dan Harel, for his part, underscored the need for both sides to bolster collaboration in defence and security as part of efforts to maintain national security and safeguard social order in each country.

Earlier, the Israeli officer was received by Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh. Both discussed measures to further strengthen defence partnership in the future, while comparing their notes on regional and global issues of common concern

A memorandum of understanding on bilateral defence cooperation between Vietnam and Israeli was signed.

PM bids farewell to Italian Ambassador

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received outgoing Italian Ambassador Lorenzo Angeloni in Hanoi on March 3, during which he expressed his hopes that the Italian diplomat will continue contributing to the Vietnam-Italy relationship in any future roles.

Speaking of the diplomat’s positive contributions during his working term in Vietnam, the PM said that the two countries have seen significant growth in bilateral cooperation after the establishment of their strategic partnership.

He affirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of working with Italy to develop their strategic partnership in a practical and effective manner and for the interest and common development of both countries, helping to ensure peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and around the world.

For his part, the ambassador expressed his gratitude to the Vietnamese Government and offices for helping him fulfil his tasks in Vietnam.

Italy attaches great importance to boosting cooperation with Vietnam in economics, trade, investment, culture and education, he said, wishing that the Vietnamese Government will continue to create favourable conditions for Italian enterprises to conduct long-term business in Vietnam.