Vietnam expects to strengthen ties with Singapore; Vietnam, Australia strengthen judicial co-operation; Vietnam seeks int’l support to deal with climate change; Vietnam, Laos promote bilateral relations

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the statement at a reception for Singaporean Deputy PM and Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean who is on an official visit to Vietnam as a guest of National Defence Minister Gen. Phung Quang Thanh.

PM Dung said the freshly-signed agreement on national defence cooperation will bring practical benefit to both sides and increase mutual understanding, and strengthen friendship and cooperation between the two countries. The Vietnamese government supports the two Defence Ministries’ efforts to effectively implement this agreement, the PM said.

He spoke highly of Singapore’s socio-economic development models and thanked Singaporean leaders Lee Kuan Yew, Lee Hsien Loong and Goh Chok Tong for sharing their experiences with Vietnam regarding management and socio-economic development.

Teo briefed his host on the results of his earlier talks with Minister Thanh, saying that the newly-inked agreement will lay a foundation for the two ministries to boost their bilateral ties.

The deputy PM affirmed that Singapore is willing to share its experiences in economic and social areas, especially in establishing social security funds.

Singapore will also help Vietnam with personnel training and projects aimed at enhancing the efficiency of administration and public management, he added.

The same day, Teo was received by Politburo member and Secretary of the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee Nguyen Van Chi, who described the visit as vivid evidence of the fruitfulness of the Vietnam-Singapore relationship.
Teo told Chi, who is also Head of the Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission, that Singapore wants to strengthen its multifaceted cooperation with and assistance to Vietnam in investment, trade and human resources development.

Germany grants honour to former Vietnamese ambassador

On September 7, Germany’s ambassador to Hanoi Rolf Schulze, awarded the Medal of Merit to the former Vietnamese ambassador to Germany, Tran Duc Mau, on the decision of German President Horst Koehler.

Speaking at the ceremony, Schulze praised Mau’s contribution to the development of multi-faceted relations and many joint projects between the two countries, including the building of Vietnamese-German University and an underground network in Ho Chi Minh City, as well as a center for tourism, investment, culture and trade promotion which opened in 2008.

Mau is not only a diplomat but also a translator who has made a great effort to bring home the German culture to promote mutual understanding among the people of both countries.

Tran Duc Mau finally ended his term as Vietnamese ambassador to Germany in November 2008 and is now the Vice chairman of the State Committee for overseas Vietnamese.

Vietnam, Australia strengthen judicial co-operation

Over the past few years, co-operative relations between Vietnam and Australia have been improving in many fields, including judiciary.

This was the view expressed by the chief judge of Vietnam’s Supreme People’s Court, Truong Hoa Binh, during talks with the Chief Justice of the Federal Court of Australia, Michel Black, in Hanoi on September 8.

Mr Binh thanked the Australian court for its effective support, especially in developing a “judge’s handbook” – an important document to improve the consistency of a judge’s performance. Australia has also helped Vietnam train and improve the qualifications of its court staff.

Mr Black expressed his delight at the fine development of the two countries’ court sectors and affirmed that these co-operative relations will bring a practical benefit for both sectors.

The two chief justices signed a memorandum of understanding on juridical co-operation to create a legal framework for co-operative activities based on the principles of respecting sovereignty and non-interference.

Party leader meets with Australian Governor General

Governor General of Australia Quentin Bryce received Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh in Canberra on September 8.

Both host and guest expressed their pleasure at the rapid and fruitful development of the relationship between the two countries in recent times. They shared the view that the establishment of a comprehensive partnership will offer more chances for the two countries to increase cooperation in various areas, meeting their people’s desires.

They agreed to measures to promote cooperation in economics, trade, investment, education, tourism and culture and in other potential areas.

The Governor General said that she will do her utmost to support the development of bilateral ties.

Mr Manh invited his host to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time and the invitation was accepted with pleasure.

Mr Manh began an official visit to Australia on September 6 at the invitation of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.

Vietnam seeks int’l support to deal with climate change

Vietnam wishes to receive international assistance to cope with global climate change and rising sea levels as it is forecast to be one of the five countries hardest hit by these phenomena.

United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), Kandeh Yumkella in Hanoi on September 7.

He stressed that as part of its sustainable development strategy Vietnam always pays due attention to applying green technologies in production and daily life during its economic development process.

Despite being a developing country, Vietnam looks towards a green, energy-saving and environmentally-friendly industrial economy, he said, adding that the country attaches importance to its cooperation with UNIDO and the international community in this field.

The PM highly valued the cooperation between the UNIDO and Vietnam, saying that it has brought about practical effectiveness in sustainable development.

For his part, the UNIDO General Director spoke highly of the Vietnamese government’s efforts to cope with the global financial crisis and develop green industry.

He said the dynamic development of Vietnam, especially after joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO), is an example for many countries to follow.

Regarding climate change and rising sea levels, the UNIDO leader noted that this is a global challenge that requires joint efforts by all countries. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung emphasised this while receiving the General Director of the Developed countries must support the hardest hit countries, including Vietnam, he added.

Vietnam, Laos promote bilateral relations

The constant development of special relationship between Vietnam and Laos over the years is a priceless asset and a resource for the two countries.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong made these remarks while receiving a delegation from the Lao National Assembly led by Vice Chairwoman Pany Yathotu in Hanoi on September 7.

“Therefore, both countries have responsibility for preserving and fostering such special ties, the top Vietnamese legislator stressed.

NA Chairman Trong expressed his wish that the two parliaments would further strengthen coordination at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums, especially within the framework of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).

He also said he hoped that the Lao NA would provide active support for Vietnam to help it fulfill its role as the AIPA Chair in the 2009-2010 term.

For her part, the Lao NA Vice Chairwoman said her visit aims to further strengthen exchange and cooperation between the two parliaments, helping to foster and develop the special solidarity and traditional friendship between the two nations.

She thanked the Vietnamese NA for its practical and effective assistance to the Lao NA, especially in human resource training, infrastructure improvement and the provision of equipment.

She also emphasised the important role of the two parliaments in boosting bilateral ties, particularly in economics, trade and investment.

On the same day, the Lao NA delegation held talks with a Vietnamese NA delegation led by Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong.

The two sides agreed to increase the exchange of delegations, information and experiences between the two parliaments as well as between their agencies in order to strengthen the capacity of the two countries’ legislative bodies and NA deputies.

They also agreed to continue their mutual coordination and assistance at regional and international inter-parliamentary forums, especially within the framework of the AIPA.

The Lao NA delegation was also received by President of the Vietnam Women’s Union (VWU) Central Committee Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa, who suggested NA Vice Chairwoman Pany Yathotu and other female Lao officials pay more attention to the women’s movements in the two countries and strengthen sharing of experience and mutual cooperation for peace and the advancement of women.

The Lao legislator expressed her wish that in the coming time, Vietnamese and Lao women would continue strengthening cooperation to protect women’s interests and affirm their position in society and their contributions to each country’s development.

During their stay in Vietnam from September 6-12, the Lao NA delegation will visit the northern port city of Hai Phong.

Vietnam facilitates investment in Laos

The Vietnamese Party and State encourage domestic businesses to invest in Laos, in the spirit of the two countries’ friendship and mutual assistance for their common development.

So said State President Nguyen Minh Triet while receiving the Lao National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Pany Yathotu in Hanoi on September 7.

The President affirmed that the Vietnamese Party, State and people are determined to preserve and foster their traditional and loyal friendship with Laos and are glad at the achievements recorded by their Laotian brothers during their national construction and development process.

He said the Vietnam visit by the Lao NA Vice Chairwoman is an occasion for the two NAs to discuss bilateral cooperation, thus tightening the ties between the two countries.
Lao NA Vice Chairman Yathotu said Laos-Vietnam economic, trade and investment cooperation, based on their fine political relations, has been developing well and proving effective.

He said Vietnam’s investment in Laos has helped improve living conditions for local people, and contributed to Laos’s GDP growth, thus helping the country firmly develop.

The Lao official briefed President Triet on her talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Tong Thi Phong.

She said the two sides agreed to promote join efforts, focusing on exchanging NA delegations at all levels, and providing information to each other, particularly in relation to Vietnam ’s investment in Laos.

Vietnam, China should boost exchange of visits between NAs

Vietnam and China should continue to exchange visits between the two countries’ national assemblies (NAs) in the coming time to learn from each others’ experience in a spirit of traditional friendship.

Vietnamese National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong made the remark in Hanoi on September 7 while receiving Vice Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chinese National People’s Congress (NPC) Jiang Futang.

She emphasised the progress made in relations between the two national assemblies as well as joint efforts to boost the exchange of visits in recent years, saying that the late President Ho Chi Minh and the late Chairman Mao Zedong, along with the two countries’ leaders and people have continuously built the traditional relationship of “comrades plus brothers” between Vietnam and China.

For his part, Vice Chairman Jiang Futang, who is leading a delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chinese NPC to visit Vietnam from September 6-10, sent his congratulations to Vietnam for its efforts to boost its economy over the past few years.

He affirmed that China will make more efforts to strengthen the bilateral friendship, mutual understanding and comprehensive cooperation for the benefit of the people of the two countries.

Also on September 7, a delegation of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Vietnam National Assembly held talks with Vice Chairman Jiang Futang and his staff with a focus on operations and measures to enhance all-around cooperation.

During their Vietnam visit, Vice Chairman Jiang Futang and his delegation are expected to pay a working visit to Ho Chi Minh City.

PV