Development Triangle gets a boost; Vietnam and the UK strengthen bilateral co-operation; Vietnam, Angola to increase ties in all areas

Lawmakers from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam are gathering in the Central Highland province of Kon Tum to examine the National Assembly’s role in developing the triangle.

Addressing the conference which opened on July 20, Nguyen Van Son, head of the Vietnam National Assembly Committee for External Relations, noted that the conference is the first step towards developing new ways of cooperating between the three countries. He said that the forum creates a chance for lawmakers to share information and experiences and put forward initiatives aimed at effectively implementing bilateral and multilateral cooperation agreements in the triangle.

During the three-day event, delegates will discuss special preferential policies, the investment environment and the allocation of capital to poverty reduction programmes. They will also look at policies to help farmers develop commodity-based economies and small- and medium-sized enterprises, train human resources and boost cooperation in tourism, health care, culture and environmental protection.

This is the first time the committee has hosted a conference to put into action cooperation agreements between the governments of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. These projects focus on poverty reduction, human resources development, health care and socio-economic infrastructure development, as well as on the development of power, transport and services for ethnic groups in the Development Triangle.

The Development Triangle comprising of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia was established 10 years ago. Since the three countries approved a joint plan on socio-economic development in the area, Vietnam has carried out many key projects to generate hydro-electricity, exploit mineral ores and grow cooking and cash crops of high economic value. The three countries have handed over a list of 12 priority projects to Japan, calling for US$300 million to be invested in these projects, mostly in transport, education and health care.

Recently, Japan agreed to provide US$20 million and 2 billion Yen for the triangle to carry out 16 projects on education, training, health care, public welfare and rural development.

Vietnam and the UK strengthen bilateral co-operation

A delegation from the Vietnam National Assembly led by its Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu has paid a four-day visit to the UK.

During the visit from July 16-19, Mr Luu discussed the country’s socio-economic development in recent years and fields that the two sides can boost co-operation in the future. Vietnam wants to learn about judicial and executive reform and to strengthen bilateral co-operation between the two countries, as well as the two parliaments, he said.

In the UK, the Vietnamese delegation met with Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercow and worked with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the UK-Vietnam Parliamentarians’ Friendship Group, the parliamentarians group in the Parliamentary Union (IPU) and other chambers of the UK government. They exchanged their experiences in organising parliamentary activities, especially the Judicial Committee and the parliament’s executive process.

Mr Luu conveyed congratulation from NA chairman Nguyen Phu Trong to John Bercow who has elected as Speaker of the House of Commons and invited him to visit Vietnam.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s officials and parliamentarians praised Vietnam’s development in recent years and said they will strengthen co-operation with Vietnam.

Vietnam, Angola to increase ties in all areas

Vietnam and Angola have vowed to increase cooperation between the two parties and two states in socio-politic and science and technology areas.

The agreement was reached at a reception for the delegation of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) at the headquarters of the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) on July 19.

During talks, MPLA Vice President D. Al meida spoke high of Vietnam’s prestige and status in the Southeast Asian region and in the world.

He thanked the party, the state and the people of Vietnam for sending health and education experts to the country.

He confirmed that Angola wishes to further boost and accelerate cooperative relations between the two parties and states in all areas, socio-political, economic, cultural, healthcare, scientific and educational and training.

Head of the CPV’s delegation Truong Tan Sang, who is Politburo member and standing member of the CPV’s Central Committee Secretariat, affirmed Vietnam’s determination to promote the implementation of high-level agreements reached between the two parties and states in the areas of health, education, trade, oil and petroleum, agriculture and hunger elimination.

He expressed his wish that the government and people of Angola continue to improve the living and working conditions for the Vietnamese community in Angola as, he said, they act as a bridge of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

During the stay in Angola from July 16-19, the Vietnamese party delegation had held talks with the MPLA’s counterparts and the Angolan government’s high-ranking delegation.

Both sides compared notes on the results of implementing bilateral agreements, particularly those signed during the 2008 visit to Angola by the CPV’s General Secretary Nong Duc Manh.

The Vietnamese delegation had also paid visits to several economic and cultural institutes in the capital city of Luanda and joined field trips to some joint agriculture project sites.

VietNamNet/VNA/VOV