Party leader welcomes new school year in Hanoi; New Zealand, Norwegian ambassadors welcomed; Vietnam, Libya boost bilateral ties

Photo: VNA

New Zealand, Norwegian ambassadors welcomed

President Nguyen Minh Triet on Sept. 4 received the new ambassadors from New Zealand and Norway, following the presentation of their credentials.

During his reception for New Zealand Ambassador Heather Mhairi Riddell, President Triet remarked that Vietnam deeply values its cooperative ties with New Zealand and wishes to lift this relationship to a higher level. The President noted that the two countries have increased the exchange of visits at all levels, while two-way trade has seen steady growth.

The State leader stressed that the upcoming official visit to New Zealand by Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh would be of great significance, signifying a new stage of development in bilateral relations.

Sharing President Triet’s point of view, Riddell said he hoped that Party General Secretary Manh’s planned visit would help elevate the New Zealand-Vietnam relations to a comprehensive partnership.

The ambassador observed that both countries have common goals that serve as a foundation for the strengthening and development of cooperation and also to coordinate in regional organizations. He cited the ratification of the ASEAN- Australia -New Zealand Free Trade Agreement and the possibility of Vietnam joining the trans-Pacific partnership.

Riddell expressed his wish that Vietnam support New Zealand’s bid to run for a non-permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council for the 2015-2016 term.

In conversation with Norwegian Ambassador Stale Torstein Risa, President Triet said Vietnam wants to expand its cooperation with Norway on the basis of their current mutual understanding and trust. The president pointed to the active preparations by Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry to re-open an embassy in Oslo later this year.

Torstein Risa affirmed that Norway desires to become a strong partner of Vietnam through expanded cooperation in areas that will serve Vietnam’s long-term development.

The diplomat referenced President Triet’s state-level visit to Norway in June 2008 that promoted their relations and helped the Norwegian people and business community better understand Vietnam.

Vietnam, Libya boost bilateral ties

A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Dao Viet Trung visited Libya from August 31 to September 2 to boost relations between the two countries.

During the visit, made at the invitation of the Secretary of the General People’s Committee on Foreign Liaison and International Cooperation under Libya’s Foreign Ministry, the Vietnamese delegation attended a ceremony to mark the 40th anniversary of the Al-Fatah Revolution and Libya’s National Day.

The ceremony in Tripoli included more than 100 international delegations, including those from Asian, African, Latin American and Western European countries.

At a working session with the Secretary of State of the Libyan Foreign Ministry, the two sides discussed measures to boost multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries, especially in the areas of labor, trade, oil and gas.

They also agreed to prepare for the upcoming session of the Vietnam-Libya Joint Committee in Tripoli in November 2009.

VietNamNet/VNA

PM encourages Coca-Cola’s investment in Vietnam

Vietnam will continue to create favorable conditions for US businesses like Coca-Cola to operate efficiently in the country, says Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

While receiving Coca-Cola International Chairman of the Board and CEO Muhtar Kent in HCM City on September 4, Mr Dung welcomed the company’s decision to double its investment in Vietnam to US$400 million over the next three years.

He praised Coca-Cola’s business operations, its social welfare and environmental protection program and expressed his hope that the company would expand operations in Vietnam. The PM noted that trade ties between Vietnam and the US have flourished and hoped that the US would soon grant the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) to Vietnam.

The CEO of Coca-Cola congratulated Vietnam on its socio-economic achievements during the global economic crisis. He said that, with its great potential, Vietnam is expected to be one of Coca-Cola’s large markets in the future.

Over the past 15 years, the CEO commented, his company has invested a total of US$200 million, building three factories Vietnam and generating jobs for 1,500 local laborers. He predicted that the company will pour US$200 million into Vietnam in the next three years.

VietNamNet/VOV