APEC officials discuss measures to cope with natural calamities; PM Dung begins visit to Denmark; Defence Academy to become leading national centre; Hanoi hosts reception for diplomats in Paris

The two-day event offered an opportunity for APEC members to share experiences in coping with natural calamities and strengthen co-ordination among countries in case of emergency.

Speaking at the forum, deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Bui Ba Bong affirmed the importance of the forum in strengthening cooperation among countries and addressing the impact of natural calamities on APEC economies.

Mr Bong also emphasised that it is difficult to predict these global challenges.

Vietnam is considered one of the countries that hardest hit by climate change. According to statistics, Vietnam’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has dropped by 1.5 percent due to natural calamities. It is estimated that if sea levels rise by 7.5 cm, 25 percent of the land area in the Mekong Delta will be lost. This will negatively impact

Vietnam’s sustainable development and its implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MMG).

The deputy minister said that all countries should exchange information regularly in coping with natural calamities, especially those countries, which are most affected by climate change.

According to statistics, the Asia-Pacific region suffers 40 percent of all natural calamities in the world.

PM Dung begins visit to Denmark

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung left Kazakhstan’s capital Astana on the evening of September 15 for Copenhagen, beginning an official visit to Denmark at the invitation of PM Lokle Rasmussen.

Denmark is Mr Dung’s second stopover during his tour of three European countries which will end in Hungary.

Defence Academy to become leading national centre

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong has called for continued efforts to build the Academy of National Assembly into a leading national centre for military science research and military art training on par with other countries’ counterparts.

The senior official said at the ceremony to start its new academic year on September 15 that the institution needs to continually revise its teaching programmes and methods, combine theory with practice, and closely coordinate economic affairs with issues of national defence, security and diplomacy.

Mr Trong expressed his wish that the academy will build on its history of more than 32 years of constructing Vietnam’s revolutionary military theory and provide the Party and State with consultancy on defence and security policies and help in foiling the sabotage plots of hostile forces.

To achieve these targets, he recommended the academy upgrade its technical facilities, attract more experts, consolidate political quality and follow the moral example of President Ho Chi Minh.

Hanoi hosts reception for diplomats in Paris

The Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi City People’s Committee, Ngo Thi Thanh Hang, and Vietnamese Ambassador to UNESCO Van Nghia Dung held a reception for foreign diplomats in Paris on September 14.

The reception marking the 999th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and the 182nd session of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), drew the participation of UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for External Relations Ahmed Sayyad and Assistant Director-General for Culture Francoise Riviere as well as Vietnamese Ambassador to France Le Kinh Tai.

Addressing the event, the Hanoi vice mayor briefed the guests on Thang Long-Hanoi and emphasized the city’s role as a political, cultural and economic centre for Vietnam over the past decades.

Hanoi is now Vietnam’s largest city covering 3,300km2 with a second largest population of more than 6 million, she said.

Hanoi was awarded the title “The City for Peace” by UNESCO ten years ago.

Vietnam raises voice at UNHRC session

The twelfth regular session of the Human Rights Council of the United Nations (UN) starting in Geneva, Switzerland, on September 14 will consider Vietnam’s report on its protection and promotion of human rights.

The consideration is abided by the UN’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR), which appraises the human rights practices of all member countries.

At the session, the Council will also hear and consider a series of reports by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Office of the High Commissioner (OHCHR) and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Most of the reports will cover the fight against religious defamation, efforts to protect human rights while countering terrorism as well as those on the promotion and protection of all human, civil, political, socio-economic and cultural rights.

Reports by South Africa , Monaco , Congo , Malta , New Zealand , Afghanistan , Chile , Uruguay , Yemen , Slovakia , Vanuatu , and the Republic of Macedonia will also be considered at the session.

The session is expected to last through October 2.

PV