Gov’t leaders meet with Indonesian FM; Chief ASEAN, Chinese prosecutors vow to increase cooperation; Argentina-Vietnam friendship parliamentarians group visits Hanoi

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on November 25 received the visiting Foreign Minister of Indonesia, Marty Natalegawa, at his government office.

During the talks, PM Dung proposed that Vietnam and Indonesia soon conduct negotiations on border demarcation to define the sea boundaries of each side’s special economic zones and sign a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in commercial fishing and joint sea patrols. He expressed delight at the development of Vietnam-Indonesia relations in all areas including politics, economics, investment and education.

He spoke highly of Indonesia’s coordination with Vietnam at regional and international forums such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Europe Meeting and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

He confirmed that Vietnam regards Indonesia as an important partner in the region and hopes that it will continue to support Vietnam when the country assumes the presidency of ASEAN in 2010.

FM Marty Natalegawa said he believes relations between the two countries will be further developed in future, and confirmed Indonesia ’s support for Vietnam as ASEAN chair next year.

Later the same day, Vietnamese FM Pham Gia Khiem met with his Indonesian counterpart. The two ministers agreed to hold the 3rd political consultative meeting between deputy foreign ministers of both countries in Jakarta.

The newly elected foreign minister of Indonesia will wrap up his two-day visit to Vietnam on November 26.

PM Dung praises Foreign Ministry’s advisory role

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has praised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) for its role as advisor to the Government and its efforts in conducting negotiations on the demarcation of land borders between Vietnam and China.

PM Dung held a working session with the MOFA in Hanoi on November 25 to review the diplomatic sector’s operations, its orientations and future tasks.

According to the Government leader, the MOFA has truly become a key advisory agency, assisting the Government in matters relating to external affairs and operating as a core force in implementing the Party and State’s foreign policy as well as enforcing State management in the foreign service.

Over the past three years, through external activities carried out on the fronts of politics, economics, culture and overseas Vietnamese-related work, the MOFA has made heading towards building up the diplomatic sector. It has made important contributions to the nation’s achievements, PM Dung stressed, citing the country’s political stability and social security, its growing prestige in the international arena, as well as its entering the World Trade Organisation and becoming a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.

For the coming time, PM Dung asked the diplomatic sector to continue its good work following the goals and duties set forth at the Party’s 10th Congress resolution and the 2001-2010 national strategy for socio-economic development.

The sector should undertake external activities via every channel, in diverse and flexible forms, to help the nation boost ties with its partners around the world, maintain a peaceful environment and create the most favourable conditions to spur the national growth, PM Dung said. He asked the ministry to boost its coordination with other ministries, sectors and localities in 2010, the year the country will mark such important events as its ASEAN Chairmanship, the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi, and the organisation of grassroots Party congresses in preparation for the Party’s 11th National Congress.

Cuban leader sends condolences to storm victims

Cuban leader Raul Castro Ruz has conveyed his condolences and sympathy to the Vietnamese victims of storm Mirinae, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.

Raul Castro, who is currently President of the Cuban Council of State and President of the Cuban Council of Ministers as well as Second Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba, sent a message of condolence to the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Nong Duc Manh.

Storm Mirinae caused large damage to property and many human deaths when it hit Vietnam on November 2.

Chief ASEAN, Chinese prosecutors vow to increase cooperation

Prosecutors general from ASEAN and China have agreed to promote cooperation in combating trans-national organised crime to maintain security, stability and harmonious development.

They showed their resolve in a joint statement released at the closing ceremony of their 6th annual conference in Hanoi on November 25.

The chief prosecutors agreed to complete criminal laws to meet the member countries’ requirements for mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. They underscored the need to boost cooperation in training specialists and procurators among their procuratorial agencies through bilateral and multilateral training programmes.

They proposed establishing an ASEAN-China procurators association to facilitate research and the exchange of information in the field, print conference publications in English and the language of the host country, and support the host country in drawing up an agenda for the event.

The two-day conference brought together nearly 200 Vietnamese and foreign delegates from ASEAN countries and China.

Argentina-Vietnam friendship parliamentarians group visits Hanoi

Tong Thi Phong, Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam National Assembly, received Julia Acgentina Perie, president of the Argentina-Vietnam friendship parliamentarians group, in Hanoi on November 25.

Ms Phong acknowledged the group’s contributions to strengthening friendly ties between the two countries and their legislative bodies. She said both Vietnam and Argentina have strongly supported each other at international organisations such as the United Nations and the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation.

She expressed her hope that Julia Acgentina Perie will lobby the Argentinean government to recognise Vietnam’s market economy status.

The two countries should increase the exchange of high-level visits to promote cooperation in energy and bio-technology development, investment and trade, said Ms Phong.
Ms Perie said she will do her best to expand relations between the legislative bodies and people of the two countries.

Vietnam raises concern over Middle-East unrest

Israel must put an end to all actions that have been deteriorating the peace process in the Middle East, said Vietnam’s deputy representative to the UNSC, at a UN Security Council consultative session on November 24.

Ambassador Bui The Giang raised deep concern over the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, unabated clashes between Israeli settlers and local Palestinians as well as Israel’s defiant pursuit of the Separation Wall and military incursions against the West Bank.

“We are particularly dismayed at Israel’s recent intolerable decision to expand Gilo settlement built on the occupied East Jerusalem”, said the Vietnamese diplomat. “Over the past month, despite continued international and regional diplomatic efforts, negotiations between the parties have not been resumed due to little progress on the ground.”

He called on Israel to put an end to the so-called natural growth of settlements, open all border crossings, release Palestinian prisoners from Israeli detention centres and refrain from any other unilateral policy or action that may undermine the peace process.

“We share the concerns about the possible postponement of the presidential and legislative elections in Palestine scheduled for next January,” Ambassador Giang said.

He urged the Palestinian parties to continue with the national reconciliation and unity process aimed at forming a national unity Government and preparing for future statehood.

“We call for concrete and sustained efforts by both Israel and Palestine to abide by international humanitarian and human rights laws, and follow up with national investigations on the violations as recommended by the Goldstone Report,” the Vietnamese diplomat said.

He noted that the Road Map, the Arab Peace Initiative, the Madrid terms of reference and relevant Security Council Resolutions remained the best possible framework for the parties to realize the common goal of a Middle East at peace and a two-State solution.

In regard to Lebanon , Ambassador Giang reiterated concerns over the resumption of fires between southern Lebanon and Israel and supported related investigations. He called on all Lebanese parties to rise above partisan interests and jointly shoulder the national agenda of peace consolidation, reconciliation and reconstruction.

“We demand that Israel immediately and unconditionally cease all violations of Lebanese independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” he said, adding that Vietnam supports the presence of the UN Interim Force in Lebanon and full implementation of Resolution 1701 (that aims to resolve the 2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict)”, concluded the Vietnamese ambassador.

Vietnam seeks educational partners

Vietnam wants to boost educational co-operation with other countries, including the US, says President Nguyen Minh Triet.

He made the statement while receiving the Provost of the US George Manson University, Peter N. Steams in Hanoi on November 24.

Mr. Triet suggested that the university boost its implementation of applicable research programmes at Vietnam’s universities.

Provost Steams expressed his hope that the university will strengthen its co-operation with Vietnam’s institutes and universities to improve applicable research among Vietnamese students.

George Manson University is currently working with the Saigon Tech College and other Vietnamese universities.

2010 Episcopalian Church Year gets underway

The Vietnam Catholic Church launched 2010 Episcopalian Church Year in Thanh Liem district, Ha Nam province on November 23, in the presence of Cardinal Rorge Etchegaray, Vice-Dean of the College of Cardinals of the Vatican and Archbishop Pham Minh Man, President of the 2010 Episcopal Church Year Committee.

Present at the opening ceremony were 60,000 catholic people from 26 dioceses across the country, representatives from various overseas Catholic organisations, the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, the Government Committee for Religious Affairs and the Ha Nam provincial People’s Committee.

In his opening speech, the Vice President of the VFF, Ha Van Nui, said that the Vietnamese Party, State and the VFF always acknowledge and praise the positive contributions made by catholic people to national unity and the struggle for national liberalization and unification while improving their living standards and respecting freedom of belief and religion and freedom of non-belief and non-religion.

During the Doi Moi (Renovation) process, the catholic population continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with people throughout the country to overcome any difficulties and challenges and contribute to boosting socio-economic development, maintaining political stability and raising Vietnam’s status in the international arena.

The Cardinal and Archbishop Pham Minh called on all catholic people to uphold the spirit of national unity and actively participate in social activities to contribute to the country’s development.

The 2010 Episcopalian Church Year runs until its closing ceremony, which will be held on January 6, 2011 in the diocese of La Vang, in Quang Tri province.

Argentina-Vietnam friendship parliamentarians group visits Hanoi

Tong Thi Phong, Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnam National Assembly, received Julia Acgentina Perie, president of the Argentina-Vietnam friendship parliamentarians group, in Hanoi on November 25.

Ms Phong acknowledged the group’s contributions to strengthening friendly ties between the two countries and their legislative bodies. She said both Vietnam and Argentina have strongly supported each other at international organisations such as the United Nations and the Forum for East Asia-Latin America Cooperation.

She expressed her hope that Julia Acgentina Perie will lobby the Argentinean government to recognise Vietnam’s market economy status.

The two countries should increase the exchange of high-level visits to promote cooperation in energy and bio-technology development, investment and trade, said Ms Phong.
Ms Perie said she will do her best to expand relations between the legislative bodies and people of the two countries.

VFF president congratulates Vietnam’s Muslim community

The President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF)’s Central Committee, Huynh Dam, on November 25 sent a letter of congratulations to the dignitaries and followers of the Islamic community in Vietnam on the occasion of their Raya Eidil Adha festival.

In his letter, Mr Dam acknowledged that the Vietnamese Muslim community has always believed in and tried to implement the policies of the Party and State.

He also praised the community for having participated actively in patriotic emulation movements launched by the VFF, including the movement Day for the Poor and another movement of mobilizing people to build cultural life in their residential areas.

Mr Dam concluded his letter by calling on the Islamic believers to further contribute to the building of a great national unity bloc for the sake of wealthy people, a powerful country, and an equitable, democratic and civilized society.

ASEAN, China Prosecutors General meet in Hanoi

Nearly 200 Vietnamese and foreign delegates attended the opening ceremony of the 6th ASEAN-China Prosecutors General Conference in Hanoi on November 24. The conference will discuss ways to strengthen the fight against trans-national organised crime.

In his speech of welcome, Vietnamese President Nguyen Minh Triet said the globalisation process and the global economic recession have had a negative impact on all countries and territories, especially poor and underdeveloped ones. They have caused an economic slowdown, increased unemployment, widened the gap between rich and poor, eroded cultural values and traditional morality, and complicated trans-national organised crime.

“These challenges require governments to work closely together to weather the economic storm, formulate effective social welfare policies and enhance the operational efficiency of judicial agencies so as to maintain national security, socio-economic development and cultural tradition, and safeguard their citizens’ freedom and democracy,” said Mr Triet.

He said the fine relationship between ASEAN and China has given a boost to cooperation in science, education, labour, environmental protection, law and the fight against trans-national organised crime.

“Vietnam applauds the effective cooperation between judicial agencies of ASEAN and China, including the initiative to host the ASEAN-China Prosecutors General Conference,” said Mr Triet.

He noted that Vietnam has been carrying out judicial reform and has achieved significant results. Criminal and civil laws and proceedings have been developed to build a law-governed state. The organisation and operation of Vietnamese judicial agencies have been renewed, the professional skills of judicial staff have been improved and international cooperation in the field has been broadened.

The Vietnam National Assembly recently issued the Legal Aid Law and a number of other important laws relating to judicial activities, laying a firm foundation for combating crime and expanding international cooperation while respecting the principles of national independence and sovereignty and non-intervention in each other’s internal affairs.

Mr Triet proposed that countries develop reliable mechanisms for sharing information, conducting research and making long-term forecasts about trans-national organised crime in line with international law and multilateral agreements.

According to Tran Quoc Vuong, head of the Vietnam Supreme People’s Procuracy, combating trans-national crime has been an important task of the national programme on crime prevention and control. Vietnam has cooperated closely with the United Nations and other countries in this field by signing a number of agreements, including the UN Conventions on drug control, the UN Convention against Trans-national Organised Crime, and the UN Convention against Corruption.

“Vietnam attaches great importance to legal assistance activity with other countries, considering this an effective way to combat trans-national organised crime,” said Mr Vuong. “Vietnam is committed to full and timely cooperation with other countries’ procuracy agencies and hopes to receive assistance from these organisations in return.”

The conference will end on November 25.

Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs’ contributions lauded

State Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan applauded the contributions of the Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (COVA) and its staff over the past 50 years during the celebration of the COVA’s 50th anniversary in Hanoi on November 23.

Vice President Doan said the Party and State have always attached importance to the mobilisation work of Vietnamese living overseas during the revolutionary process.

She went on to say that such work, as well as that of patriotic Vietnamese organisations worldwide, has contributed to the past two struggles for national independence.

The Party Politburo’s Resolution 36 affirms the importance of solid relations with overseas Vietnamese, she said, emphasising that Vietnamese countrymen abroad are an inseparable part of, and a human resource for, the Vietnamese nation. They are also a key factor in tightening the ties of friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and other countries.

The nation’s achievements in the renewal process have attracted more and more overseas Vietnamese to return to their homeland to invest in business operations, she noted.

For his part, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem said he was happy that COVA was awarded the Ho Chi Minh Order by the Party and State for its outstanding achievements over half a century.

Vietnam seeks continued assistance from WB

Vietnam wants to receive more assistance from the World Bank in training, communications and institutional capacity building, says Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai.

While receiving WB Country Director for Vietnam, Victoria Kwakwa, in Hanoi on November 23, Mr Hai thanked the WB for formulating policies on public-private partnership (PPP) to encourage more investments in infrastructure construction.

He said that as infrastructure construction projects are associated with many ministries, sectors and localities, it is necessary to boost personnel training, raise public awareness and simplify administrative procedures to attract more private investment in this area.

For her part, Ms Kwakwa affirmed that the WB is willing to provide continued assistance in policy making and institutional completion to Vietnam.

She said the WB and the Ministry of Planning and Investment will co-host a conference on PPP in infrastructure construction in Hanoi on November 24, where domestic and foreign investors, international experts and government agencies will offer recommendations to make PPP projects more effective in Vietnam.

Mr Hai and Ms Kwakwa discussed ways to increase cooperation and the efficiency of WB-funded projects in Vietnam.

PV