Vietnam seeks more assistance from WB; Subordinate border gates between Tay Ninh and Prey Veng opens; Vietnam, South Africa step up legislative cooperation; Outstanding pupils and students honoured

While receiving the WB Country Director for Vietnam, Victoria Kwakwa, in Hanoi on September 14, Mr Hung assured that Vietnam has prevented its economic downturn but it needs more time to achieve its previous high growth.

He said that the Vietnamese government will continue to produce economic recovery packages while focusing on infrastructure construction, human resources development, and poverty reduction. He asked the WB to take notice of Vietnam as it, together with Bangladesh, will be seriously affected by climate change.

Vietnam is willing to work closely with the WB to study and seek specific solutions to minimise the negative effects of global warming, said Mr Hung.

Victoria Kwakwa congratulated Vietnam on its initial success in reversing its economic downturn and sustaining positive growth. She underlined the need to produce additional economic stimulus packages to achieve high growth and curb runaway inflation. She suggested that Vietnam take into account the results of the current packages and challenges ahead to approve more aid packages.

The WB country director affirmed that the WB is willing to provide information and consultations to Vietnam regarding a programme to address climate change.

Subordinate border gates between Tay Ninh and Prey Veng opens

The Chairman of the Tay Ninh Provincial People’s Committee, Nguyen Van Nen, on September 14 signed an agreement with the governor of Cambodia’s Prey Veng province, Ung-Sa Mi, to open a pair of subordinate border gates at Cra Bao and Kompong Roca in Komchaimia district, Prey Veng province.

The two sides agreed to co-operate in building infrastructure, including roads and bridges in the two areas to create conditions for people from the two countries to do business.

Tay Ninh province has so far opened two pairs of international border gates: Moc Bai-Ba Vet and Xa Mat-Trapaing Phlong, four main pairs of border gates and 10 pairs of subordinate border gates with Cambodian provinces.

Two-way trade value through these border gates is estimated at more than VND1,000 billion a year. Tay Ninh province is expected to open four more subordinate border gates and 7 paths in Ben Cau, Trang Bang, Tan Bien and Tan Chau districts to create the most favourable conditions for people of the two countries to transport and travel.

Vietnam, South Africa step up legislative cooperation

Further efforts are needed to boost the exchange of visits by parliamentary delegations between Vietnam and South Africa as well as the exchange of working experiences among the two legislative bodies, a Vietnamese legislator has said.

The Head of the Vietnam National Assembly’s Law Committee, Nguyen Van Thuan, made the remark at a meeting with the South African National Assembly’s Deputy Speaker Hon N Mfeketo in Pretoria before ending his eight-day working visit to South Africa on September 12.

He affirmed that efforts to share information and experiences by legislative agencies will help improve cooperation between the two national assemblies, thus paving the way for a further development of the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

For her part, Deputy Speaker of the South African National Assembly Hon N Mfeketo welcomed the Vietnamese delegation’s visit, considering it an opportunity for the two countries’ legislative bodies to share experiences in law making and supervision activities, and to map out orientations and priorities for bilateral cooperation in the future.

She also expressed her hope that the cooperation between the national assemblies will be further developed, thus contributing to boosting the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and South Africa.

During their stay in South Africa, the Vietnamese parliamentary delegation also worked with the Ministry of Justice and other legislative agencies of South Africa.

Outstanding pupils and students honoured

An awards ceremony for 852 top pupils and students from 27 northern provinces and cities was held in Hanoi on September 13 in the presence of State President Nguyen Minh Triet and Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Uong Chu Luu.

These outstanding pupils and students, some from remote and mountainous areas, were honoured for their excellent academic performance in 2009.

Addressing the ceremony, President Triet praised their academic achievements and called on them to surmount every challenge and difficulty to make a significant contribution to the country’s development.

Similar awards ceremonies for top pupils and students from southern and central regions will be held at the HCM City National University and the Da Nang University of Politechnique on September 19 and September 26 respectively.

Brandenburg wants to promote cooperation with Vietnam

The German state of Brandenburg wants to promote cooperation with Vietnam, not only in economics, but also in other areas, said Director General Reinhard Oehler from the Brandenburg Ministry of Economics.

He made the remark during a working session with the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade’s delegation, led by Deputy Minister Nguyen Thanh Bien, in Potsdam on September 11.

Oehler introduced his state’s potential and said the state’s authorities and economic missions will visit to Vietnam to seek opportunities for trade and economic cooperation.

Deputy Minister Bien highlighted Brandenburg’s strength of trade, science-technology, tourism and culture, saying that Vietnam wants Brandenburg to have more projects in Vietnam.

Germany is Vietnam’s most important economic-trading partner in the European Union, he stressed.

On this occasion, a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the Brandenburg Ministry of Economics and the Vietnam Ministry of Industry and Trade was signed.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Do Hoa Binh spoke highly of the German state’s potential as well as its intention to promote economic-trade ties with Vietnam.

The Ambassador unveiled a programme to mark the 35th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties, especially the organisation of “Vietnam year in Germany” and “Germany year in Vietnam”, with various activities to promote understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

Vietnam, Laos recall war-era experiences

Vietnamese and Lao politicians, war veterans and historians have recalled common hardship experiences during two major wars 60 years ago, when soldiers from the two neighbours shared “every grain of salt and every stalk of vegetables”.

A workshop held in Vientiane, Laos, from September 11-12 heard touching stories from Vietnamese and Lao war veterans who had stood shoulder by shoulder in the wars of resistance against common French and US aggressors on the Lao soil.

Their stories have sent a common message on a special military alliance between the two countries to younger generations, emphasising that such ties have always been vital to every victory gained by each and every country in their independence wars.

Among the participants were To Huy Rua, Politburo member and Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPV CC) and Head of the CPV CC Commission for Education and Training, who led a Vietnamese delegation to the workshop, and over 50 Vietnamese war veterans with special experiences in Central Lao battlefields.

Also present were Samane Vinhakhet, Politburo member of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) in charge of the Party theoretical, ideological and cultural work, and many other senior Lao officials.

Samane Vinhakhet said their stories were vivid documents that will contribute a considerable part to a collection of historic books on the Vietnam-Laos special combat alliance.

During their two-day stay in Laos, Rua and his entourage laid a wreath at the Monument to Fallen Soldiers of Laos and Vietnam, lit sticks of incense at the shrine and monument to the late President Kaysone Phomvihane of Laos and visited several Vietnam-Laos economic joint-ventures.

Workshop on President Ho Chi Minh held Japan

A workshop on President Ho Chi Minh and Doi moi (renewal) was held in Tokyo on September 12 by the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Association (JVFA).

Speaking to more than 40 JVFA members, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Phu Binh emphasised President Ho Chi Minh’s contributions to the Vietnamese people’s struggle for national liberation and reunification.

The diplomat said after 40 years of implementation of the President’s testament, Vietnam is proud of fulfilling almost all important goals set in the testament.

On this occasion, Ambassador Binh expressed his thanks to Japanese organisations and people, including the JVFA, for their valuable assistance to Vietnam during its struggle for national independence in the past and national construction and defence at present.

Prof. Motoo Furuta, JVFA President, delivered a report on President Ho Chi Minh and doi moi in Vietnam, highlighting the President’s revolutionary involvement and contributions to the Vietnamese people.

PV