Vietnam requests China promptly release fishermen; Vietnam boosts legislative links with China, Canada; Party chief receives Lao Deputy PM; Female parliamentarians promote role of women; Host Vietnam expects high turnout at APEC meeting

FM Spokesman Le Dung made the statement in reply to correspondents’ queries about Vietnam’s reaction to China ’s August 1 seizure of the fishermen and their ship named QNg 95031 TS when they were trying to avoid a tropical low-pressure system in Vietnam’s Paracel archipelagoes.

Dung said that the FM also asked the Chinese side to provide information related to the fishermen’s condition as soon as possible.

Vietnam boosts legislative links with China, Canada

The Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam National Assembly, Tong Thi Phong, on August 5 had bilateral meetings with Chinese and Canadian delegations while attending the 30th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly in Thailand.

In a meeting with Zha Peixin, Vice Chairman of the China National People’s Congress’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Ms Phong praised China’s role and contributions to the regional legislative body as an observer in recent times.

She welcomed the exchange of visits between the legislative bodies of both Vietnam and China and said that the Vietnam National Assembly will do its utmost to strengthen traditional friendship between the two countries.

Zha Peixin congratulated Vietnam on its hosting the upcoming 31st General Assembly of AIPA in Hanoi in 2010 and said that China is looking forward to receiving a Vietnam National Assembly delegation led by its chairman Nguyen Phu Trong in Beijing at the earliest possible time.

He told Ms Phong that Vietnam and China have treasured the friendly relationship for years, which has developed strongly in all fields, including legislation.

In a separate meeting with MP Bryan Wilfert, deputy head of the National Security and Defence Committee of the Canadian House of Commons, Ms Phong thanked Canada for providing assistance to Vietnam, especially its victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin. She noted that Vietnam is one of Canada’s 20 aid recipients.

Ms Phong expressed her belief that Canada will increase cooperation with Vietnam in trade, education, science-technology and human resources development.

Bryan Wilfert praised Vietnam’s increasing role in AIPA as well as its initiatives introduced at the 30th General Assembly of AIPA. He affirmed that the Canadian parliament will pay more attention to issues related to Vietnamese Agent Orange victims and increase the exchange of visits to share experience.

Party chief receives Lao Deputy PM

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh received in Hanoi on Aug. 4 a Lao Government delegation led by Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad, who is visiting Vietnam for the mid-term meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee.

The Lao Deputy PM, who is Chairman of the Laos-Vietnam Cooperation Sub-Committee, briefed his host on the results of the meeting, and affirmed that the Lao Party, Government and people will do their utmost to strengthen and develop the traditional rapport between the two nations.

He applauded Vietnam’s achievements in the renewal process, and expressed his belief that his Vietnamese brothers will successfully implement the Resolution of the Tenth Party Congress to develop a socialist Vietnam with a rich people, a strong country, and an equal, democratic and civilised society.
Party leader Manh appreciated the meeting’s results and the recent efforts of the two sides’ cooperation sub-committees.

He wished that they would further tighten cooperation, exchange experiences and information, and assist each other in coping with the global financial and economic crisis.

He also urged them to coordinate in implementing the two countries’ cooperation agreements and drafting a strategy of cooperation for the 2011-2020 period.

The Vietnamese leader congratulated the Lao Party, Government and people on their achievements in national construction and defence and wished them more success in implementing the Resolution of the Lao Party’s Eighth Congress, building a peaceful, independent, democratic, united and prosperous Laos and raising the country’s position in the region and the world.

Female parliamentarians promote role of women

Vietnam’s National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong and other female parliamentarians confirmed the important role of women in economic development and poverty alleviation at a meeting in Pattaya City, Thailand on August 3.

Participants in the meeting which is part of the 30th ASEAN Inter-parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-30), asked the assembly to support female entrepreneurs in increasing their leadership role in small-and medium-sized enterprises, as well as in their families.

They agreed that it is necessary for women to have more political power by increasing the number of women in parliaments, in governments at central and local levels, as well as in enterprises.

They said parliaments in different countries should also create a legal basis for women to grasp real power and exert that power in society.

Governments were called on to ensure gender equality, create measures to protect women and children and help them overcome difficulties, especially in the face of the global economic downturn.

Female government leaders also confirmed the role of women as advocators for the ASEAN integration process. They said it is essential to strengthen the exchange of information, experience and knowledge between women in ASEAN countries.

Four draft resolutions were completed, showing the determination of AIPA parliament members in protecting women’s rights and promoting the important role of women in politics, economy, culture and society in respective countries. These resolutions are expected to be approved by the Assembly. VNS/VOVNews

Host Vietnam expects high turnout at APEC meeting

Almost 200 executives, researchers and officials from 21 members of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum have registered to attend a meeting of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) in Danang City from August 24-27.

ABAC Vietnam President Hoang Van Dung told reporters on July 31 that the meeting is expected to call for a more congenial business climate, a better circulation of goods, capital and labour and a transparent legal system to protect the environment. The participants are likely to call on regional leaders to promote images of sustainably-developing cities as well as a regional programme on cooking.
Also under discussion will be an energy programme, measures to improve procedures for strengthening regional connections and opening up markets.

The focus will be on assisting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to speed up globalisation and integration, which Dung said the ABAC has done well in the recent past.

The ABAC Vietnam, for example, has successfully brought US, Japanese and Chinese giants to major investment projects in Vietnam, Dung emphasised.

He added that Vietnamese business circles themselves have managed to take advantage of opportunities brought in by the ABAC to promote their own businesses as well as images of the Vietnamese economy and its business community.

As a result, the flow of capital investment into Vietnam from APEC members have risen dramatically. In 2009 alone, the Southeast Asian economy is expected to draw over US$10 billion in foreign direct investment from other APEC members, the national ABAC chief said.

The ABAC was founded in November 1995 to provide a consultancy for APEC leaders on issues of primary importance related to business and investment in the region.

PV