ADB President to visit Hanoi, attend conference on crisis; 2nd national study encouragement congress opens in Hanoi; Algerian ambassador honored with Friendship insignia; Vietnam elected to WIPO Coordination Committee

Speaking at the congress, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan said that since its establishment 13 years ago, the Vietnam Study Encouragement Association has become a popular organization to give a helping hand to many people, especially those who are living in poor conditions.

Mr Nhan, who is also the Minister of Education and Training, asked the Association to step up its activities to help more young people go to school and promote a model of “friendly schools and active students”.

He also urged the Vietnam Study Encouragement Association to work closely with the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to increase people’s awareness of the importance of education and vocational training and make study encouragement a priority of every Vietnamese family.

The Deputy PM promised that the State will continue to invest in study encouragement movements and do all it can to support the Association in its important work.

So far, the study encouragement funds at all levels have mobilised nearly VND500 billion for 2,5 million poor students and built or upgraded many schools in poor rural areas.

This year the Vietnam Study Encouragement Association has awarded 248 individuals and 156 organizations for their significant contributions to the study encouragement movements at all levels.

Vietnam, US boost sci-tech cooperation

Nearly 200 scientists from Vietnam and the US attended a workshop in Ho Chi Minh City on September 24 to discuss the possibility of scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries.

They said that both Vietnam and the US have considerable potential for cooperation in such areas as green energy, new materials, nano technology, electronics, bio-technology, production of solar panels, and communications.

The US Consul General in HCM City, Kenneth Fairfax, said Vietnam has achieved rapid growth in science and technology in recent years and many US companies have successfully invested in hi-tech industries in the city.

He suggested that the two countries’ scientists establish “new and long-term” relations to share information and increase cooperation in science and technology.

Algerian ambassador honored with Friendship insignia

Tran Dac Loi, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) on September 24 presented the “For Peace and Friendship among Nations” insignia to Algeria’s ambassador to Vietnam, Naceur Boucherit, as he had ended his term of office in Hanoi.

During his 5-year term in Vietnam, the ambassador made a great contribution to promoting the friendship and economic cooperation between Vietnam and Algeria. Partially owing to his efforts, trade turnover steadily increased to US$77 million in 2008, up 90 percent from 2007. Bilateral investment co-operation also saw great achievements, notably a recent project on oil exploration worth US$208 million.

At the awards ceremony, Mr. Loi praised the ambassador’s contribution to the building of the Vietnam Fund for Peace and Development, the Vietnam-Algeria Friendship Association, and the Vietnam-Algeria secondary school.

Activities to celebrate China’s 60th National Day

To mark the 60th National Day of China People’s Republic (October 1), Hai Phong University will open a photo exhibition on China’s achievements and its traditional friendship with Vietnam.

Exhibition visitors will gain first hand information about economy, culture, society, the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the educational cooperation between Hai Phong university and Chinese universities.

Hai Phong university has opened Vietnamese classes for foreign students, including many from China.

Vietnam elected to WIPO Coordination Committee

Vietnam was elected to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Coordination Committee at the 47th session of the WIPO General Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

Speaking at the session on Sept. 23, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan highlighted WIPO’s achievements in intellectual property (IP) protection.

Vietnam has paid due attention to IP protection, considering it a key part of the nation’s strategy on socio-economic and scientific-technological development, said Quan, adding that its National Assembly passed a new civil code on June 14, 2005 and amended the Law on IP on Nov. 29, 2005 to comply with international standards, particularly the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs).

The Deputy Minister also took the occasion to thank WIPO for its technical assistance to Vietnam. He said he hoped WIPO would complete its mission in developing a balanced and accessible IP system.

At the nine-day session, which will wrap up on Sept. 30, 47 ministers and deputy ministers from WIPO member nations elected four deputy general directors and three assistants to the general director.

Border guard officers visit Cambodia

A delegation of the High Command of the Border Guard of Vietnam, headed by its Deputy Commander Nguyen Phuoc Loi, is paying a friendship visit to Cambodia from September 22-25.

On September 23, the officers visited the Supreme Command Headquarters of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF), where they met with General Pol Saroeun.

The General warmly welcomed the Vietnamese delegation, describing their visit as proof of the friendship between the armies of the two fraternal nations.

Both sides reviewed the results of cooperation between the border guard forces of Vietnam and Cambodia, and shared experiences in maintaining security along their common borderline.

Saroeun emphasised bilateral cooperation in training military officers, saying that hundreds of Cambodian officers were trained in Vietnam and have served effectively in the RCAF in recent years.

Loi said the Vietnamese side has worked closely with their Cambodian counterparts, particularly in the exchange of information and in combating cross-border crimes.

These cooperative ties form a firm foundation for Vietnam and Cambodia to build their shared borderline into an area of peace, friendship, cooperation and development, he said.

The same day, the Vietnamese delegates paid a courtesy visit to leaders of the Cambodian Ministry of National Defence and met with Director General of National Police Neth Savoeun.

The guests are scheduled to visit Cambodia ’s south-western-most province, Koh Kong, on September 24 and 25 before concluding their visit.

Vietnam, China to boost transport cooperation

Vietnam and China are set to increase transport cooperation not only bilaterally but also within the ASEAN-China framework, especially after a recent China visit by a delegation from the Vietnamese Transport Ministry.

In a working visit from September 16-21, Vietnamese Minister of Transport Ho Nghia Dung attended a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Li Shenglin to review cooperation in transport in the recent past and discuss measures to make the collaboration more comprehensive in the coming time.

The two ministers also discussed trends in transport cooperation within the ASEAN-China framework.
Minister Dung invited Minister Li Shenglin to join the ASEAN+3 Transport Ministers’ meeting which is slated for early December in Hanoi.

During the working visit, the Vietnamese Minister also met with China ’s Minister of Railways and the Deputy Governor of the Export-Import Bank of China.

He led the Vietnamese delegation on visits to some transport projects in Shanghai city and Shaanxi province. VOVNews/VNA

PM Dung meets with Spanish, Algerian ambassadors

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said he was pleased with the growing relationship between Vietnam and Spain while receiving the new Spanish ambassador to Vietnam in Hanoi on September 23.

The PM also pledged to do whatever he can to help Ambassador Fernando Curcio Ruigomez successfully fulfil his assigned tasks during his mission in Vietnam so as to contribute to strengthening bilateral cooperation.

PM Dung asked the new ambassador to coordinate with relevant Vietnamese ministries and agencies to prepare for State President Nguyen Minh Triet’s upcoming visit to Spain to make it a success for the benefit of both countries.

He thanked Spain for investing in the development of Ho Chi Minh City’s subway project and its active participation in programmes marking the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

PM Dung expressed his hope that the two countries will have an opportunity to boost their cooperation in particular and ASEAN-EU ties in general in 2010 when Vietnam will assume the ASEAN Chair and Spain will take the EU Chair.

The ambassador informed his host of Spain’s preparations along with those of Vietnam for President Nguyen Minh Triet’s visit to Spain.

He reiterated his country’s eagerness for cooperation with Vietnam in infrastructure construction, education and training, science and technology and development assistance.

Spain provided US$5 million for the construction of Ho Chi Minh City ’s subway system and will provide a credit worth US$200 million for the project, the diplomat said.

Appreciating Vietnam ’s support for the building of a UN house in Vietnam, the ambassador said his country is working with others to deploy this model and wants to take part in Vietnam’s social activities, especially the celebration of the 1,000th Thang Long-Hanoi anniversary.

The same day, PM Dung received the out-going Algerian Ambassador, Naceur Boucherit, who shared his deep impression made upon him by Vietnam ’s land and people and pledged to continue working to tighten the ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

The diplomat laid special stress on the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group’s investment in Algeria and described it as an example of the two countries’ bilateral cooperative model.

From the success of this investment, the Algerian Government wants to carry out cooperative projects in agriculture, aquaculture and infrastructure development with Vietnamese businesses in order to increase two-way trade to US$1 billion in the coming years, the diplomat said.
PM Dung praised the out-going Algerian ambassador for what he has done to boost the two countries’ wide-ranging cooperation during his working term in Vietnam.

He stressed that the Vietnamese Government wants and will do its best to raise Vietnam-Algeria ties to a new height in a wide range of areas, particularly economics, trade, investment, and education and training.

He suggested the Vietnam-Algeria inter-governmental committee convene its meeting annually to push up cooperation and effectively implement Vietnam-invested projects in energy and infrastructure in Algeria.

On the occasion, PM Dung said he expected the Algerian Government to continue providing possible assistance for the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group to effectively carry out its investment project in Algeria to bring considerable benefits to both countries.

‘Vietnam Journalists’ urged to be truly democratic

Further efforts are needed to turn the Vietnam Journalists’ Association (VJA) into a truly democratic and united organization for the sake of the country’s development, said Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan.

The call was made at his working session with the VJA’s Standing Committee in Hanoi on September 23 to increase the role and the effective operation of the VJA’s chapters.

The VJA should cooperate with relevant agencies at home to build and deploy a project to invite international journalists to come to Vietnam to work and learn more about the Southeast Asian nation, Deputy PM Nhan said, adding that this should be implemented in the remaining months of the year and continue thereafter through the ensuing years.

The Deputy PM stressed that the move will help Vietnam’s journalism integrate deeply into the world and enable international friends to fully and correctly understand Vietnam .

Mr Nhan suggested seminars be held to bring to light the experiences of journalists in writing features on typical examples of good people with good actions and drives to address wrong-doings.

The VJA now boasts a membership of 17,000, an increase of 3,000 from 2005, according to its Chairman Dinh The Huynh. The VJA always attaches great importance to the protection of the legal rights of its members and is determined to condemn and combat any actions that prevent its members from working legally.

PV