Sweden offers Vietnam US$36 million in non-refundable aid; PM Dung receives new Thai ambassador; Sudanese State Minister visits Vietnam; Seminar asserts way to socialism

The deal was signed between Anders Nordstrom, Director General of the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA), and Cao Viet Sinh, Vice Minister of Planning and Investment.

The agreement aims to boost sustainable development in Vietnam and promote democratic governance and respect for human rights.

The Swedish government will also extend their support to the private sector by providing concessional credit and soft loans.

The existing regular development programme between the two countries will be phased out in 2009-2013, during which ‘Selective Cooperation’ will be introduced to broaden relations on a more equal level.

Phu Yen province urged to tap its economic potential

Phu Yen is experiencing rapid economic growth, and holds great potential for developing tourism and its economy, said Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung at a conference in Hanoi October 7 on tourism and investment promotion in 2009.

Mr Hung called on local and foreign businesses to invest more in the central region, including the south-central province of Phu Yen.

Chairman of the Phu Yen provincial People’s Committee, Pham Ngoc Chi, said that in recent years, Phu Yen has attracted more than 285 projects, with a total registered capital of VND16.645 billion and US$7.9 billion, including 33 foreign-invested projects. In addition, many large projects are expected to be got underway in the province this year, such as the Vung Ro oil refinery plant and a high-class tourism complex. Phu Yen currently ranks seventh out of the country’s top ten localities in terms of attracting foreign investment.

Over the past 10 years, Phu Yen has recorded an average economic growth rate of more than 10 percent per annum and the figure is expected to rise to 12.8 percent in 2010, he said.

Mr Chi called for more investment in the fields of petro-chemicals, seacooking processing, mineral exploration, aquaculture development, hydro-electricity, transport, healthcare and education. He also pledged to create the best possible conditions for investors and provide them with incentive policies.

Speaking at the conference, Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Aviation Corporation, Duong Tri Nhan, announced a plan to open a direct flight from Hanoi to Tuy Hoa-Hanoi from October 24 with three flights per week. Mr Thanh hopes that this will help Phu Yen to connect with the two largest socio-economic, political and cultural centres, namely Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

PM Dung receives new Thai ambassador

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received the newly-accredited Thai ambassador to Vietnam, Pisanu Chanvitan, in Hanoi on October 7.

Mr Dung noted that both Vietnam and Thailand are close neighbours and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), which have treasured traditional friendship and cooperative ties for a long time.

He said bilateral relationship has developed well in many areas, especially in economics, trade, investment, culture, security and national defence, bringing benefit to the two nations and making an active contribution to building an ASEAN community. The two countries have cooperated closely in building this community based on three pillars: security-politics, economics, and culture-social affairs, and the ASEAN Charter to establish a prosperous community by 2015.

However, Mr Dung pointed out that Vietnam and Thailand have huge potential for cooperation in investment, trade and tourism and that the ambassador should work closely with Vietnamese ministries and agencies to increase cooperation in these areas.

The Vietnamese government will create favourable conditions for the ambassador to fulfil his tasks during his office term in the country, said Mr Dung.

Ambassador Chanvitan said he will do his utmost to promote cooperation in trade, investment and tourism between Thailand and Vietnam. He also affirmed the Thai government’s strong support for Vietnam when this neighbouring country takes over the ASEAN Presidency in 2010.

Sudanese State Minister visits Vietnam

Vietnam and Sudan should increase bilateral cooperation in various areas, especially economics and trade, to fully tap their potential, says State Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan.

At a reception for the Sudanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ali Karti, in Hanoi on October 7, Ms Doan expressed elation at the fruitful development of the two countries’ relationship in recent times.

She said that despite the geological distance, both Vietnam and Sudan have many things in common. Their people cherish peace and want to build prosperous and beautiful nations.

Ms Doan thanked the Sudanese people for their assistance to Vietnam’s struggle for national independence in the past and the cause of national construction at present.

The Sudanese minister praised Vietnam’s Renewal achievements over the past 23 years as well as its increasing role in the region and the world. He expressed Sudan’s desire to promote all-round cooperation with Vietnam.

Dr Ali Karti, who began an official visit to Vietnam on October 5, held talks with Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Doan Xuan Hung and met with leaders of several ministries and agencies that have established cooperative ties with Sudan.

They discussed measures to step up bilateral cooperation in many areas, including agriculture, trade and oil and gas. They agreed that both countries should make a greater effort to strengthen economic-trade ties.

The Sudanese minister also attended a Vietnam-Sudan business forum and visited several economic and cultural establishments in Hanoi.

Seminar asserts way to socialism

A national seminar on the relationship between socialism construction and national defence was held in Hanoi on October 6.

Participants made suggestions for supplementing the Party’s platform and documents to be submitted to the Party’s 11th Congress.

Some 30 reports delivered at the seminar focused on the development of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s theory on the relationship, as well as an assessment of how it has been conducted since 1991, and ideas for improvement in this new phase of the nation’s history.

Several reports analysed the impact of socio-economic change on national defence, and the role of social consensus in managing the relationship between socialist construction and national defence in the new period.

PV