Vietnam, Singapore to expand bilateral cooperation; Vietnam considers preventing war best way to protect population; Party emphasizes boosting investment in mountainous regions; Vietnam values UN mission’ role in Chad, Central Africa; Cambodian, Vietnamese inspectorates step up cooperation

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai hopes that cooperation in economics, trade and investment between Vietnam and Singapore will grow and flourish in the future.

A Vietnamese Government delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai began an official visit to Singapore on July 29 and met with Singaporean President S.R. Nathan at the Presidential Palace.

At the meeting, Mr Hai conveyed best regards from State President Nguyen Minh Triet to Singaporean President S.R.Nathan and briefed him on recent events in Vietnam while expressing his delight at the positive development of bilateral cooperation in all fields.

Mr Hai said he hoped cooperation in economics, trade and investment between Vietnam and Singapore would continue to expand through mechanisms based on agreements to link the two economies closer and to develop Vietnam-Singapore industrial parks.

Under the agreements, both sides will work out ways of encouraging Singaporean investors to increase their investments in Vietnam’s potential areas such as electronics, science and technology, hotel service, tourism and real estate.

For his part, the Singaporean President acknowledged Vietnam’s achievements in socio-economic development, in particular the Vietnamese Government’s effective measures to stem the economic downturn, ensure social welfare, stabilise the national economy and implement flexible financial and monetary policies.

He also appreciated Vietnam’s ideas for boosting bilateral cooperation in various fields in the future.

Singapore will also help Vietnam to encourage investment from third countries, promote trade links with other markets and expand education and training programmes by increasing scholarships for Vietnamese students.

Singapore will also share its experience in the management and development of urban areas and planning of industrial and tourism sectors with Vietnam, said the Singaporean President.

Later the same day, the Deputy PM met the Chairman of the Asian Competition Institute, Majorie Yang to discuss issues on Vietnam’s competitive capacity and Vietnam-Singapore cooperation in studying economic development and increasing national competitive capacity.

They also compared notes on a number of research projects and plans to strengthen ties between the Asian Competition Institute, the Central Institute for Economic Management and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Vietnam considers preventing war best way to protect population

Vietnam has reiterated its viewpoint that the best way to protect the population is to prevent wars and conflicts and address the root causes of conflicts and social tensions, which lie in poverty and economic underdevelopment.

This statement was made by Vietnam’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Bui The Giang, at the UN General Assembly’s plenary meeting on the responsibility to protect, held on July 23, 24 and 28 in New York, the US.

“Cultural and religious tensions must also receive adequate attention and be tactfully dealt with in order to avoid their potential to flare into conflicts and wars,” Ambassador Giang noted, saying that “The UN, being the world’s largest pool of experience and expertise, can and should contribute to this process.”

He emphasized the responsibility for each individual State to protect its population from four crimes - genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity – as stated in the UN Summit’s Outcome Document in 2005.

The Vietnamese diplomat confirmed that the international community has a critical role to play in helping countries in turmoil to exercise this responsibility through political mediation, peacekeeping operations, and the provision of assistance and capacity building, adding that “International assistance can be most effective if it is based on engagement and cooperation with related States.”

Regarding the diverse interpretations of paragraph 139 of the Outcome Document, Ambassador Giang stressed the need to equally emphasize all the five components, i.e. the voluntary engagement of States, the application of timely and decisive collective action, the ‘case by case basis’, the conformity with the Charter, and the cooperation with relevant regional organizations as appropriate.

He noted that “timely and decisive collective action” requires a clear and rational definition to avoid using coercive military force as the only alternative.

Similarly, he said, measures like economic sanctions and reference to the International Criminal Court should be carefully considered on a case-by-case basis, free from politicization, selectivity and double standards, before a decision is made on their enforcement. Mr Giang stressed that the impact of such actions on populations should be a top priority consideration.

Party emphasizes boosting investment in mountainous regions

Social development programs have brought about important changes to mountainous regions, as they not only help local people escape starvation and poverty but also enhance their living and educational standards, said Truong Tan Sang, a Politburo member and Standing Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee in Hanoi Wednesday.

More ethnic minority people will be employed thanks to vocational training programs and those to help restore and develop traditional trades (Photo: Dong Duc Minh)
The meeting, held as part of the Party’s national conference, was organized to assess the results of the five-year implementation of the Party’s 7th plenum (9th tenure)’s resolutions on ethnic affairs.

Addressing the conference, Mr Sang emphasized the strategic roles of ethnic issues and policies and asserted that they always hold an important position on the Party’s agendas.

In assessment of the results of five years implementing the Party’s resolutions, Mr. Sang said that the infrastructure in mountainous regions have now developed rapidly, meeting the demand for regional production development.

More and more ethnic people had received loans as starting funds for small businesses under social development programs and become good businesspeople and manufacturers, he added.

He, however, pointed out that the ratio of poor households in mountainous regions is still higher than that of the whole country. For further development in the coming future, said Mr Sang, it is necessary to invest more in upgrading essential infrastructure in the region, particularly in 61 of the poorest communes in the country.

Further policies will be drafted to assist ethnic people in developing household economic activities, including animal breeding and planting forests, Mr. Sang said.

Ethnic minority people can access vocational training so that they can get jobs in plantations, farms and factories. Programs to restore and develop traditional trades in the region will also be launched at the same time to create more jobs for people in the region, he said.

The Party will continually focus on programs to develop education, training, healthcare and promote cultural and social activities in mountainous areas, as well as regions where ethnic minorities live and at the same time strengthen political and security systems to ensure social order and safety for their daily living, Mr. Sang added.

Ms. Ha Thi Khiet, secretary of the committee and head of the committee’s Mass Mobilization Commission, reported that all the poorest communes in mountainous regions now have kindergartens, primary schools and semi-public schools. The ratio of school age children is between 90 and 95 percent.

Cultural houses and post offices have been built in almost every commune inhabited by ethnic people and nearly 90 percent of underdeveloped communes have been hooked up with the national telephone network.

The ratio of ethnic people working for the government offices at all levels has also improved.

Vietnam values UN mission’ role in Chad, Central Africa

Vietnam highly values the contribution of the UN mission in the Central Africa Republic (CAR) and Chad (MINURCAT) to the management and resolution of conflicts in Chad and the facilitation of humanitarian assistance in its areas of operations.

The statement was made by Vietnam’s Deputy representative to the UN Security Council, Ambassador Hoang Chi Trung at the council’s meeting on MINURCAT operation in New York on July 28. He called on the donor countries and troop contributing countries (TCCs) to extend necessary resources to expedite MINURCAT’s full deployment.

Hailing the close cooperation and consultation between the Governments of Chad and the CAR and MINURCAT, the Vietnamese ambassador said “We hope that MINURCAT and the Chad and the CAR Governments will work closely with each other to make further contributions to peace and stability in eastern Chad, the north-eastern CAR and the region as a whole”.

Ben Tre urged to focus on agricultural production

State President Nguyen Minh Triet has asked the southern province of Ben Tre to step up the development of agricultural and industrial production and exports.

While working with provincial authorities on July 29, he said that stable agricultural production produces materials for the processing industry and products for export, thus bringing home foreign currency to serve the province’s socio-economic development.

Stable agricultural production will also bring stable incomes to the local people. This, in turn, will help stabilize other small and medium-sized enterprises, ensuring jobs for tens of thousands of workers beyond the agricultural sector, President Triet emphasised the move is aimed at improving the province’s investment environment so as to attract investors both at home and abroad to exploit its agricultural potential more effectively.

President Triet urged Ben Tre to continue speeding up a project to grow 10,000 ha of cacao trees in coconut palm orchards to raise incomes for farmers. He also asked the province to encourage farmers to join hands to apply the model of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) in order to create products that meet export requirements and that are of high economic value.

While staying in Ben Tre, President Triet visited and presented gifts to several families of social welfare beneficiaries and called at a number of local companies and establishments.

Party leader urges top IZ province to reach higher

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and his delegation made a two-day working visit on July 28-29 to southern Binh Duong province, the shining star of the country’s economic development.

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh (2nd L) visits Minh Long 1 Ceramics Company in Binh Duong With 28 industrial zones, Binh Duong province, which is leading the country in the number of Industrial Zones (IZs), has so far attracted 940 foreign investment projects capitalized at nearly US$6 billion and 277 domestic investment projects valued at more than VND5.9 trillion.

In recent years, the province recorded an annual economic growth rate of 15 percent. In the first six months of 2009, despite the global economic crisis, the province still kept its growth rate at 7.1 percent.

Working with local authorities, the Party chief asked them to re-check on-going projects in order to restrict environmental pollution and select new projects that are knowledge-based and friendly to the environment.

Besides investment in developing factories, he also asked the province to pay attention to building accommodation and social welfare facilities for workers. He appreciated the province’s plan to build modern residential areas with healthy ecological conditions.

He spoke of the province’s advantages in geographic location, being next to Ho Chi Minh City and near to Central Highlands provinces, and said the province in its development strategy should build up connections with key southern economic provinces as well as others.

To meet the increasing demand from IZs for human resources, the Party leader urged the province to focus more investment on education and training, and to have policies to attract resources in developing vocational training schools.

During the visit, Party General Secretary Manh visited some of the province’s IZs and companies, presented gifts to Heroic Vietnamese Mothers and paid tribute at the province’s Fallen Soldiers’ Cemetery.

Cambodian, Vietnamese inspectorates step up cooperation

Cambodia is seeking more cooperation with Vietnam in the field of inspections and investigations to upgrade its domestic system from central to local levels, said the Cambodian Minister of National Assembly-Senate Relations and Inspection Sam Kim Suor.

This will help the Cambodian government successfully carry out the second phase of its 2006-2010 strategy for economic development, Ms Kim Suor said while receiving a delegation from the Vietnamese Inspectorate General headed by Vice Inspector General Nguyen Van San.

The Cambodian minister spoke highly of the practical assistance that the Vietnamese Inspectorate General has given its Cambodian counterpart, especially in human resources training.

Both parties also briefed each other on their own country’s political and economic situation, exchanged information on the role inspectors play in helping the government to deal with complaints from citizens, and discussed measures to enhance bilateral cooperation between both countries’ inspectorates.

The Vietnamese delegation was also received by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An during their stay in Cambodia from July 25-29.

Vietnam supports peace in Mid-East

Vietnam has affirmed that it will continue to support the Road Map, the Madrid terms of reference, the Arab Peace Initiative and call for strict implementation of relevant Security Council resolutions in order to achieve peace in the Middle East region.

Vietnamese permanent representative to the United Nations Security Council Ambassador Le Luong Minh made the statement at the council’s open debate on the Mid-East situation in New York on July 27.

The Vietnamese diplomat took the occasion to “welcome the intensified diplomatic efforts and the broad consensus among the Quartet and Arab League members, regional countries and the international community at large on the pressing need for early resumption of a fully-fledged peace process on all tracks.

“We also welcome the undertakings of the Palestinian Government to consolidate progress in revitalizing the socio-economic infrastructure, developing an effective security structure and establishing functional institutions for a future State,” the ambassador added.

He stressed that violence and counter-violence will not help contribute to a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the region. “Peaceful settlement of disputes, constructive dialogue and good-faith negotiations could and should be the only option to help bridge the rift and cultivate the confidence between the parties,” Minh said.

He urged the new Israeli Government to stay the course of settling the crisis on the basis of the two-State solution, freeze illegal settlement activity, dismantle outposts erected since March 2001, allow unhindered access of humanitarian assistance, open all border crossings and resolve the fate of all Palestinian prisoners.

The Vietnamese ambassador also called on Palestinian factions to promote national reconciliation, rally behind the Palestinian National Authority in preparation for the establishment of a national unity Government and future statehood.

On the Lebanon issue, he welcomed the successful conduct of the parliamentary elections in Lebanon in early June and support the investigation process jointly carried out by the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and the Lebanese Armed Forces about the recent security incidents in south Lebanon.

The Vietnamese diplomat underlined the importance of maximum restraint among the parties and the assurance of safety and security for UN peacekeepers, humanitarian workers and the local population.

He also urged Israel to cease flights over Lebanese territory and withdraw from the northern part of Ghajar village and an adjacent area north of the Blue Line.

“We continue to support collective efforts aimed at ensuring full implementation of Resolution 1701 (2006),” the diplomat stressed.

Tra Vinh urged to develop hi-tech industries

President Nguyen Minh Triet has asked the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh to draw up long-term economic development strategies with priority given to hi-tech industries.

While working with provincial leaders on July 28, Mr Triet said that Tra Vinh should make the best of its potential available, including land and human resources, to serve key national projects to be undertaken in the province. These projects include the Quan Chanh Bo canal, the Duyen Hai Power Centre and the Dinh An economic zone.

“These are big projects worth tens of billions of US dollars, and if Tra Vinh seize this chance, it will help the province take off,” said Mr Triet. “The most important thing is that the province should pour more investment into training on-the-spot human resources to meet the requirements of hi-tech industries.”

The State President also asked Tra Vinh to improve the quality of aquatic products and cash crops of high economic value, as well as the existing number of cow herds.

He praised the provincial Party Committee and administration for their efforts to achieve an annual economic growth rate of 11 percent for the past consecutive years. The province has paid special attention to training ethnic Khmer officials, supporting the poor and developing the education and healthcare networks.

Vietnamese legislators visit Morocco, Mongolia

A Vietnamese National Assembly delegation led by Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu visited Morocco from July 11-14 and Mongolia from July 20-24 to boost multi-faceted relations with the two countries.

During its stay in Morocco, the delegation met with the Speaker of the House of Advisors, Maati Benkaddour, and Prime Minister Abass Al Fasi.

In Mongolia, the delegation had meetings with the Speaker of the Parliament, D. Demberel, and Standing Deputy Prime Minister N. Altanhuyag. It also worked with the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Justice and the Mayor of Ulan Bator City.

At the meetings, Moroccan and Mongolian parliamentary and governmental leaders praised Vietnam’s achievements in socio-economic development and expressed their wish that the two sides come up with specific measures to boost economic and trade cooperation.

They also emphasised the importance of developing their parliamentary ties with Vietnam, adding that the exchange of legislative experiences should be maintained in the framework of bilateral parliamentary cooperation agreements.

Laos presents awards to Da Nang officials

The Party Central Committee’s Commissions for External Relations of Vietnam and Laos held a ceremony in the central city of Da Nang on July 27 to present Laos’ Labour Order, Friendship Order and Medal to several local entities and individuals.

Attending the event were Hoang Binh Quan, a member of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Committee (CPVCC) and head of the CPVCC’s Commission for External Relations, along with Thongloun Sisoulith, a Politburo member of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), head of the LPRP’s Commission for External Relations as well as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Laos.

Laos’ first-class Labour Order was given to the Da Nang city Party and People’s Committees. The second-class Labour Order was given to Da Nang University, Tran Van Minh, Chairman of the Da Nang city People’s Committee and Phan Nhu Lam, former Vice Secretary of the Da Nang city Party Committee.

Nguyen Ba Thanh, a CPVCC member and Secretary of the Da Nang city Party Committee, received the neighbouring country’s Friendship Order and Luong Minh Sam, Director of the municipal Department for External Affairs, was presented with its Friendship Medal.

Speaking at the ceremony, Lao Deputy Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith affirmed that these distinguished awards were given in recognition of their great contributions to the cause of Vietnam-Laos solidarity and development.

Guangxi, Hanoi young people join exchange programme

The Hanoi chapter of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union launched a friendship exchange programme in Hanoi on July 27 with a youth union delegation from the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Hanoi’s youth union leader, Ngo Duy Hieu, and his Guangxi counterpart, Li Ze, affirmed at the opening ceremony that young people from the two regions will work hard to further develop the traditional friendship between the two countries’ Parties, States and people.

As many as 138 Guangxi youth union members attend the programme, which will last through July 30 in response to the “Vietnam-China Friendship Year - 2010”, the 60th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties and the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

The programme will include talks to exchange experiences, a tour of successful youth business models in Thuong Tin district, Hanoi, as well as visits to the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, a photo exhibit on Hanoi-Guangxi tourism, a cultural and art exchange and a musical gala.

On this occasion, the two parties are scheduled to sign a memorandum of understanding on bilateral cooperation for the 2009-2012 period.

PV