Prime Minister inspects hydro-power projects in Son La; Singaporean minister of defence concludes visit to Vietnam; Vietnam calls on Int’l community to support Haiti; Vietnam calls for reconciliation, dialogue in Liberia

The PM said Son La should take advantage of its potential in agriculture and forestry to expand the growing of maize, the breeding of cattle and the cultivation of grass, tea and rubber in addition to strengthening its processing industry to produce farm and forestry products for both local consumption and export.

Coupled with that, the province is also urged to focus on making the best use of its available resources for hydropower development. The locality is currently investing in 54 hydropower plants, which are expected to generate 3,718 MW.

However, the PM asked Son La province to pay special attention to relocating local people who have given up land for the construction of the Son La hydro-electric power plant and facilitate their resettlement to ensure the plant will run its first turbine group in late 2010. Once completed, the Son La power plant will be the largest in Southeast Asia.

The Government leader also reminded the provincial authorities of the urgency of eliminating poverty in the province’s five poorest districts, along with addressing the scourge of drug addiction, to ensure social order and security, and to further strengthen Vietnam ’s special friendship and all-round cooperation with the northern provinces of Laos.

He instructed relevant ministries and agencies to coordinate with Son La in projects to build boarding schools for ethnic minority children, as well as Na San airport and other infrastructure facilities essential to the province in its course to achieve sustainable growth.

PM Dung praised Son La for posting a GDP growth of 9.11 percent in the first half of this year, quickening the re-organisation of its economic structure, developing industries and services, concentrating investment on infrastructure and human resources and building a strong Party and political system despite numerous difficulties and challenges.

Son La still deals with a high poverty rate - 33 percent of its households live below the poverty line.

Singaporean minister of defence concludes visit to Vietnam

Singapore’s high-level military delegation, headed by the country’s deputy prime minister and minister of defence, Teo Chee Hean, left Vietnam on September 10.

During their stay in Vietnam, the delegates greeted Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and met with a high-level delegation of the Vietnam People’s Army, headed by General Phung Quang Thanh.

They also visited the Academy of National Defence, the Command of Naval Zone D, the Command of Military Zone No7, and the battle field of Dien Bien Phu in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien.

Vietnam, China enhance comprehensive strategic partnership

Both countries need to promote high-level visits, the role of the Inter-Governmental Cooperation Committee, trade links, and build border gate economic zones which help to broaden multilateral relations, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.

After the opening of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia, held in Dalian on September 10, Premier Wen Jiabao received Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai and a delegation from the Vietnamese Government.

The Chinese leader welcomed Mr Hai and his delegation to the WEF and expressed his delight at Vietnam’s successful efforts in coping with the global economic downturn and maintaining sustainable development.

Mr Jiabao stated that the Chinese Party and Government always attach great importance to developing relations with Vietnam and looking forward to the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties in 2010.

For his part, Mr Hai said that he was happy to meet with Premier Wen Jiabao at the World Economic Forum’s Community of Global Growth Companies (GGC) and was impressed with Mr Jiabao’s speech on solutions to surmount the difficulties caused by the global economic meltdown.

Deputy PM Hai said that relations between the two countries continue to flourish in every field. During Party leader Nong Duc Manh’s visit to China in May 2008, senior officials agreed to build a comprehensive strategic partnership to enable Vietnam-China relations to become more substantive and effective.

In addition, regular visits between leaders from both countries have not only helped to promote mutual trust but also added fresh impetus to developing bilateral ties and resolving pending issues, Mr Hai said.

On the occasion, Premier We Jiabao asked Mr Hai to convey his best regards to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and hoped that the Vietnamese government delegation’s trip to Dalian would be a great success.

Vietnam calls on Int’l community to support Haiti

Further efforts are needed to support the Haitian authorities to implement targeted social and economic programmes in a bid to address the extreme vulnerability of the country, said Ambassador Le Luong Minh, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the Untied Nations.

Speaking at an open debate among the UN Security Council on Haiti in New York on September 9, Ambassador Le Luong Minh said that the international community’s support will also aim to deal with cooking insecurity which is affecting nearly two million Haitians.

Ambassador Minh stressed the progress achieved in the five benchmark areas of Haiti’s Consolidation Plan as well as the vigorous efforts undertaken by Haitian President Préval for the national interest. However, he added that in spite of these positive developments, “we remain deeply concerned about the security environment and the lack of progress in the realisation of economic, social and cultural rights in Haiti ”.

“We are troubled by reports that children continue to suffer from criminal acts, with minors reported to be victims in numerous cases of rape, while child trafficking for the purpose of sexual or economic exploitation remains unchecked,” said Ambassador Minh.

The political and economic shocks coupled with the severe natural disasters that hit Haiti in 2008 have not only worsened the already dire economic conditions, but also hindered the full implementation of the Government’s strategy, he added.

The Ambassador affirmed that to ensure security and stability for Haiti, the international community’s strategy for Haiti should focus on enhancing the Haitian National Police (HNP), strengthening national and local governance and the rule of law, and placing the country on the path to recovery and sustainable development.

He also urged donors to fulfill the pledges made at the High-level Donor Conference hosted last April by the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington, D.C.

“We support the Secretary-General’s recommendation to extend the mandate of the MINUSTAH for an additional year, until October 15, 2010,” Ambassador Minh said.

Vietnam calls for reconciliation, dialogue in Liberia

Vietnam has called on every party in Liberia to work together to promote national reconciliation and hold constructive talks to find a long-term solution to its internal conflicts.

During a United Nations Security Council debate on the situation in Liberia and the operations of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) on September 9, Ambassador Bui The Giang, Vietnam’s permanent deputy representative at the UN, praised Liberia’s quest for peace, its economic stability and moderisation, improvements in social welfare and its solutions to humanitarian issues.

The Vietnamese official reaffirmed his support for the Liberian Government’s efforts to reduce poverty, increase security, eliminate its proliferation of weapons and reintegrate demobilised soldiers back to the community.

He highlighted the necessity to step up moves between Liberia and its neighbours to counter drug-trafficking and organised crime.

He also urged the UN’s agencies, the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States, the Mano River Union and the international community to assist Liberia with its reconstruction.

Ambassador Giang praised the UNMIL and UN agencies for their supporting role in preparing Liberia for its presidential elections in 2011.

He suggested that the UN’s plan to reduce the number of peacekeeping troops should be carried in a serious manner, based on regular assessments on Liberia ’s situation and closer links with the Liberian government, the UN’s agencies and other partners.

PV