Vice President wraps up India visit; ASEAN approves anti-drug action initiated by Vietnam; Vietnam discusses Cambodia, Myanmar situations; Dong Nai province urged to tap potential for development

The visit demonstrated Vietnam ’s consistent policy of strengthening and developing its traditional friendship and comprehensive partnership with India.

While in India, Ms Doan received Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna, President of the Indian National Congress and Leader of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Sonia Gandhi, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) A.B. Bardhan, politburo member of the Communist Party of India-Marxist M.K. Pandhe, and Leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Shri L.K Advani.

At a reception for Foreign Minister Krishna, she urged India to sign a memorandum of understanding on its recognition of Vietnam as a market economy and cooperate more closely with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The Vietnamese Vice President voiced support for India’s bid to run for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council.

Having affirmed India ’s wish to step up cooperative ties with Vietnam in various fields, Foreign Minister Krishna said the Indian cabinet will soon approve the granting of a market economy status to Vietnam.

In her talks with Doan, Mrs Gandhi recalled the warm sentiments the Indian people and the Gandhi family have extended to President Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnamese people.

Ms Gandhi asked Ms Doan to convey her invitation to the leadersip of the Communist Party of Vietnam to attend celebrations of the 125th anniversary of the Indian National Congress.

Earlier, the Vietnamese Vice President held talks with her Indian counterpart, Mohamed Hamid Ansari, to discuss ways of furthering cooperation in all fields.

She attended the Vietnam-India Business Forum to introduce Vietnam ’s socio-economic achievements as well as its renewal successes over the recent years.

Ms Doan said Vietnam-India economic relations have grown rapidly, with two-way trade surging 67 percent last year to reach US$2.47 billion.

By the end of June 2009, India had invested a total of US$195.6 million in 30 projects, ranking 27 among 76 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.

However, Ms Doan said, economic and commercial ties are yet to match the potential and aspirations of both nations. She expressed her hope that the forum would help the two sides explore cooperation opportunities to boost two-way trade.

The Vietnamese Vice President also pledged to continue improving the investment environment and create equal business conditions for foreign investors.

During her visit, she laid wreaths at the monument to Mahatma Gandhi and called at staff of the Vietnamese embassy and representative agencies in India.

ASEAN approves anti-drug action initiated by Vietnam

A conference of ASEAN Senior Officials on Drug Matters (ASOD) has adopted an action plan initiated by Vietnam to achieve a drug-free ASEAN by 2015.

The action-oriented ASEAN Plan for Combating Illicit Drug Production, Trafficking and Use (2009-2015) was agreed to by more than 100 ASEAN senior officials and dialogue partners during their 30th meeting held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, from Sept. 29-Oct. 2.

The plan comprises three parts and details activities to fight illicit drug production, trafficking and use from 2009 to 2015.

Addressing the meeting, head of the Vietnam delegation Hoang Anh Tuyen stressed that the plan represents a strong commitment by ASEAN members in the fight against drugs, creating a basis for cooperation among ASEAN members and with their dialogue partners.

The ASOD is an annual meeting and forum for member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to discuss drug crime prevention as well as implement recommendations and projects ratified at the previous meeting.

A greater effort needed to ride out crisis

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung has called on governments and international organisations to get together and address regional and global challenges arising from the global economic recession.

Addressing a high-level Asia-Pacific forum in Hanoi on September 28, Mr Hung said that the recession has taken its toll on all aspects of life, especially in rural areas. High unemployment and poverty rates have adversely affected social welfare, people’s standards of living and the stability of every country and region, preventing some from implementing their UN Millennium Development Goals.

He said that despite the initial success in reversing the economic slowdown, the crisis still poses imminent risks to regional countries, requiring them to deal with urgent issues, including generating jobs, seeking sustainable finance for health care, education, rural infrastructure and social welfare, and improving people’s physical and spiritual lives.

Thanks to several synchronous and appropriate solutions, Vietnam has stabilised its macro-economy, maintained a steady economic growth and ensured social welfare for all, said Mr Hung. Vulnerable groups have benefited from programmes such as the one to invest in the 62 poorest districts across the country, build houses for low-income earners and provide vocational training for farmers.

He expressed his hope that the delegates would put forward initiatives and measures to minimise the negative effects of the crisis on rural development and poverty reduction. He said that countries should make stronger commitments and take more appropriate steps to reach their targets for rural development and poverty reduction, while expanding cooperation and pooling more resources to bridge the development gap, maintain social stability and ensure sustainable development in every country and region as a whole.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Haruhiko Kuroda said that when Asia recovers, regional governments should expand their social welfare services to support the poor and revamp the economy. He said the crisis is viewed as an opportunity for these governments to introduce ways of sustaining development in the future.

He said that to cope with any future crisis and achieve sustainable development, these countries should continue to restructure their economies, increase regional trade, stimulate consumption, and allocate a budget for social welfare, medical insurance, education and allowances for the poor.

ASEAN Deputy General Secretary Misran Bin Karmain acknowledged the efforts regional countries have made to cushion the impact of the crisis and called on them to work closer together to overcome the challenges, develop in a sustainable manner and fulfil the UN Millennium Development Goals.

About 350 delegates from 28 countries in Asia and the Pacific and various international organisations are attending the three-day forum, which was co-hosted by the ADB, Vietnam, China and the ASEAN Secretariat.

Russia ready to help Vietnam overcome the aftermath of natural disasters

Hearing news about the serious damage caused by tropical storm Ketsana to Vietnam’s central provinces, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sent a message of condolence on October 2 to Vietnam’s State President Nguyen Minh Triet, according to the Press and Information Department under the Vietnam Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In the message, the Russian President said “ I would like to send my deep condolences to families of the storm victims and wish the injured will get well soon. Russia is ready to support Vietnam in dealing with the consequences of this natural disaster.

Cao Bang celebrates its 510th anniversary

On October 3, the Party Committee, the People’s Committee and the Fatherland Front of the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang celebrated the 510th anniversary of its establishment, the 59th anniversary of its liberation and receiving the Ho Chi Minh Order.

The celebration was attended by Truong Tan Sang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee, and Tong Thi Phong, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly (NA) along with representatives from China’s Quangxi province.

In her speech, Secretary of the Cao Bang provincial Party Committee Nguyen Thi Nuong reviewed Cao Bang people’s glorious struggle for national construction over the past 500 years, particularly under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Nuong also praised the significant achievements of Cao Bang in the Doi Moi (Renovation) process in recent years and stressed that the provincial Party Committee and the people of Cao Bang will continue to uphold the revolutionary tradition, pursue the goal of national independence and socialism, reinforce solidarity to overcome difficulties and challenges amd study and follow President Ho Chi Minh’s moral example.

Cao Bang was the first stopover of late President Ho Chi Minh after 30 years of traveling abroad in search of a way to save the country. Cao Bang was also the place where the Vietnam Propaganda and Liberation Army, precursor of the Vietnam People’s Army, was founded.

On behalf of the Party and State, Mrs Phong pinned the Ho Chi Minh Order to the traditional flag of Cao Bang province.

Vietnam discusses Cambodia, Myanmar situations

A Vietnamese representative to the UN talked about situations in Cambodia and Myanmar at the 12th session of the UN Human Rights Council that closed on October 2.

In regard to the council’s technical assistance and capacity building for Cambodia, Vietnamese Ambassador Vu Dung hailed recent achievements in politics, economics, society and culture recorded by the Cambodian government and people as well as progress in implementing basic and free human rights in the country.

Ambassador Dung, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations Office, WTO and other international organisations in Geneva, mentioned outstanding issues and challenges the Cambodian government is facing and called on the international community and the Council to further provide technical assistance in order to help the country overcome its difficulties and challenges.
Regarding Myanmar’s opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other political prisons, the Vietnamese diplomat noted that adoption of a resolution on people is a violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries.

Vietnam claimed that only periodic review mechanism is the most suitable one of the Council to discuss human rights situation in countries. Therefore, the international community’s continued cooperation and assistance for Myanmar are very important and will be effective once they base on cooperation with the government and people of Myanmar, Ambassador Dung said.

The 12 th session of the UN Human Rights Council adopted 28 resolutions and three decisions and reports of a series of countries, including Vietnam, under the periodic review mechanism.

The next session will take place from March 1-29 next year.

Dong Nai province urged to tap potential for development

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has urged southern Dong Nai province to make full use of its advantages to fulfil the 2009 socio-economic development plan with an annual growth rate of 9 percent.

Talking with local authorities in Bien Hoa town on October 3, PM Dung said the province with its location in the southern key economic region and a large acreage, that represents one-fourth of the area of the eastern part of southern Vietnam, should make full use of these advantages to develop high-quality industries, services and agriculture.

He praised the province for contributing 4 percent to the country’s GDP and standing fifth in State budget remittance.

In the context of economic slowdown, the province recorded high economic growth rates and increased the proportion of industries and services, with industry making up 50 percent, services (30 percent) and agriculture (10 percent).

In the first nine months of 2009, the province’s GDP reached VND23.6 trillion, posting a year-on-year increase of 8 percent. More than 85,000 labours were provided with jobs, the average income per capita reached US$1,403 per year, and the number of poor families dropped to 6.9 percent.
Sharing Dong Nai’s difficulties in infrastructure, the PM said the Government will assist it in investing in infrastructure for industrial zones, and conducting major transport projects such as the Long Thanh-Dau Giay and the Long Thanh airport.

He asked the province to pay attention to training human resource, improving management efficiency, renewing regulations in order to facilitate production, exports and investment, and protecting the environment, especially on Dong Nai and Thi Vai rivers.

The PM asked relevant ministries and agencies to coordinate with the province in building the Hoa An bridge, establishing a high-tech biological zone, and developing the Bien Hoa Industrial Zone 1 into an urban trade and service centre.

Netherlands helps HCM City deal with effects of climate change

The Dutch Deputy Minister of Transport, Public Works and Water Management, Tineke Huizinga, is paying her official visit to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from October 5-10.

Mrs Huizinga is accompanied by the representatives of more than 30 businesses, universities and research institutes who want to seek out business opportunities in Vietnam. The visit underlines co-operation between Vietnam and the Netherlands in managing water resources growing and coping with climate change.

The Netherlands chose Vietnam as one of their five priority countries where it will focus on water management and climate change issues. Mrs Huizina said that the Netherlands is a delta country, and most of land is below sea level and it wants to share its experience with Vietnam.

On October 5, the Netherland delegation signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Vietnam and the Netherlands will draw up a plan to cope with climate change for the whole region.

On October 6, Mrs Huizinga will witness the signing of a co-operative programme on flood management between the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee and the Dutch Embassy. The programme will help to deal with floods and tidal waves in HCM City and its surrounding areas.

A seminar on climate change and water management in the Mekong Delta region will be held in HCM City on October 8. The seminar will discuss ways of boosting long-term co-operation between Vietnam and the Netherlands as well as a strategic vision for water management and how to cope with climate change in the region.

During the visit, Mrs Huizinga will launch an initiative to establish an institute for climate change response and water management in Vietnam.

PV