PM describes EU as Vietnam’s important partner; President receives Japanese, Slovakian foreign ministers; Congratulations on India’s new Government; Overseas donors informed of projects in need

Photo: VNA

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on May 25 sent congratulations to his Indian counterpart, Dr Manmohan Singh, on the establishment of India ’s new Government.

Also on this occasion, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem cabled greetings to Foreign Minister S. M. Krishna of India.

Overseas donors informed of projects in need

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) met with international donors on May 25 to inform them of its major objectives and targets for 2008-13 to help them make accurate assessments for future aid.

The Permanent Deputy President of the VGCL, Nguyen Hoa Binh, said he expected the information, including progress reports on internationally funded projects, will help foreign donors to get a true idea of how their aid is working, to improve the VGCL as well as the capacity of its employees to protect workers’ rights and benefits more efficiently.

The VGCL has over the past few years received enormous assistance from UN agencies such as the UN Development Programme, the UN Population’s fund and the International Labour Organisation as well as from trade unions in other countries, including Norway , Sweden , Denmark and France .

Effective assistance has also come from foreign non-governmental organisations such as the Union Network International, the German FES Hanoi office and Oxfam Belgium .

Their projects have focused on improving the capacity of Union activists by conducting research, field-trips, conferences, workshops and training courses.

Foreign participants, including the Danish Ambassador Peter Hansen and representatives from the International Labour Organisation, the FES Hanoi office and the EC mission in Hanoi were all satisfied with the information released at the meeting.

They said the meeting’s outcome would serve as a foundation for the community of donors to consider more aid and cooperation programmes with the VGCL in more effective ways.

The ASEM Initiative for the Rapid Containment of Pandemic Influenza was launched in Hanoi on May 25 in the presence of participants at the 9 th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM9).

The launching ceremony was jointly organised by the Japanese Government in collaboration with the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and hosted by the Vietnamese government.

The Japanese Government proposed a project to stockpile 500,000 doses of antiviral drugs and personal protective equipment sets in Singapore , under the ASEF’s supervision, pending its distribution on the instructions of the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The project will also establish an “ASEF Network for Public Health” which will serve as a platform for enhanced collaboration on health-related issues between Asia and Europe . The network will support multi-stakeholder partnerships to meet the challenges of global health security and promote experience-sharing between main players in both regions.

In his remarks welcoming the initiative, ASEF Executive Director Dominique Girard said that this project will in the future be seen as an important milestone for the ASEM process, as it combines the stockpiling of antiviral drugs with the creation of the first platform between Asia and Europe to deal with public health issues.

Starting right away, the “ASEF Network for Public Health” will work with its partners and key health stakeholders, including the private sector, to put into place an action plan for the 5-year project, which is expected to run from 2009-2013.

VN, Poland expect further cooperation in education

Vietnam and Poland wish to boost cooperation in education and training as well as culture.

The message was jointly delivered by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski, who is on a Vietnam visit, and his Vietnamese counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem, on May 25 in Hanoi.

The two sides exchanged views on bilateral cooperation and coordination in international issues of mutual concern and agreed upon measures to boost the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

They highly appreciated the 2008 two-way trade turnover, which hit 640 million USD, 500 million USD higher than the set 2010 target.

They also agreed to adopt practical solutions to materialise the 280 million USD preferential credit loan that the Polish Government granted Vietnam.

The two FMs also discussed cooperation between the two foreign ministries and agreed to renew the cooperation protocol for more efficient bilateral cooperation and coordination at international forums.

Deputy PM Khiem stated that Vietnam always attached importance to strengthening relations with Poland, especially in the fields of shipbuilding, mining, oil and gas, cooking processing, education and training and preservation of relics.

Minister Radoslaw Sikorski affirmed Poland’s steady policy of constantly developing traditional friendship and long-term cooperation with Vietnam

Later the same day, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorsky was received by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, who stated that Vietnam would try its utmost, together with Poland, to take bilateral ties to a new level of development.

Vietnam and Poland should continue to foster their relationship, especially in economics, trade and tourism, said the Government’s leader, adding that both parties should also discuss areas of cooperation in education and science and technology.

He applauded Poland for doubling the amount of scholarships it provides to Vietnam and said he hoped that the European country will continue supporting the Vietnamese community there.

He also expressed his belief that the talks between the Polish and Vietnamese foreign ministers will help to boost the traditional friendship between the two countries.

Singapore keen to invest in Vietnam’s central region

Singapore is eager to invest in industry and tourism in Da Nang City and Quang Nam province and expects to receive support from the Vietnamese Government, said the Singaporean Foreign Minister.

At a reception given by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Hanoi on May 25, Foreign Minister George Yeo said that Singaporean invested projects in Vietnam benefit both countries.

PM Dung welcomed FM George Yeo and his presence at the ninth ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, noting that he will make an important contribution to the meetings success.

He expressed his pleasure with developments in the two countries’ multifaceted cooperation, saying that the agreement to enhance links between the two economies has resulted in practical outcomes for both countries.

In times of economic crises, Vietnam and Singapore have maximised the effectiveness of the two-way economic agreement, particularly in the continuation of investment into the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Zone in Binh Duong (VSIP 1 and VSIP 2), said PM Dung, adding he expects this model to be used in northern Bac Ninh and Hai Phong city.

The Vietnamese government leader showed his support for Singapore ’s intention to invest in the central provinces and suggested an increase in the number of direct flights and ferries from Singapore to Da Nang and Hue city cities in addition to promoting cooperation in education and training.

VietNamNet/VNA