President Triet begins visit to Italy; PM urges increasing high-quality lawyers for integration; Vietnam supports reconstruction process in Cote d’Ivoire; President meets with Amway Corp. chairman

President Nguyen Minh Triet left Hanoi on December 9, beginning his four-day official visit to Italy at the invitation of Italian President Giorgio Napolitano.

During his stay, Mr Triet is scheduled to meet with Pope Benedict XVI.

Relations between Vietnam and the Vatican have progressed for the nearly past 20 years. The two sides have increased the exchange of delegations, alongside visits to the Vatican by the Vietnam Catholic Church. They held the first meeting of the joint Vietnam-Vatican working group in Hanoi in February.

After Italy, Mr Triet will visit Spain on December 13-16 and Slovakia on December 17-18.

PM urges increasing high-quality lawyers for integration

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has expressed his wish that the lawyers circle will continue to safeguard the legitimate rights of the country and people and rapidly expand in terms of number and quality to meet the demand of the industrialization and modernization process.

Mr Dung also praised the lawyers’ contributions to the nation’s revolutionary cause and socio-economic development while he addressed a dialogue held in Hanoi on December 8.

He said that Vietnam now lacks a mechanism for lawyers to help build complete legal systems and that the lawmaking process needs feedback from people as well as lawyers who have practical experiences in the field.

The Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Justice and the Vietnam Lawyers Federation to work together on a set of statutes that pave a legal corridor for the country’s lawyers to assist the legislation.

He emphasized the need to ‘renovate’ the course books and curricula for training lawyers with the aim of churning out 20,000 lawyers by 2020, who are capable of meeting the country’s international integration.

The government leader told the lawyers that the implementation of the Complaint and Denunciation Law has exposed problems, especially those related to citizens. Therefore, he said, the government is going on with the building of a separate law for administrative complaints and an administrative procedural law in order to ensure legitimate rights for citizens.

Mr Dung and other participants discussed issues such as Vietnamese lawyers’ capacity in international proceedings, management of the lawyers’ profession, and policies for those practising in remote and disadvantaged areas.

Vietnam supports reconstruction process in Cote d’Ivoire

Vietnam supports joint effort by UN agencies, the AU, the ECOWAS, the Facilitator, President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso, and the international community to help Cote d’Ivoire boost its national agenda on post-conflict stabilisation and reconstruction.

The statement was made by Ambassador Bui The Giang, Vietnamese Deputy Representative to the UN Security Council at a debate on the situation in Cote d’Ivoire in New York on December 7.

The Vietnamese diplomat expressed concern about the postponement of the first round of the presidential election scheduled for November 29 to late February or early March 2010. He said this delay, if continuously repeated, may exert complicated impact on the political process in Cote d’Ivoire.

Recognising the importance of overcoming technical and financial constraints and fulfilling the remaining electoral tasks, Ambassador Giang urged all parties in Cote d’Ivoire to renew commitments to promoting dialogue and reconciliation towards open, free, fair and transparent presidential elections in accordance with the agreed timeframe.

Speaking at the UNSC’s urgent consultative meeting on the Darfur situation and UN and African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) on the same day, the Vietnamese diplomat strongly condemned the recent attacks targeting UNAMID peacekeepers in Darfur.

Ambassador Giang expressed his support for an early and full investigation to bring the perpetrators to justice and recognised the efforts of the Sudanese Government which have led to the swift identification and arrest of a number of suspected perpetrators.

President meets with Amway Corp. chairman

State President Nguyen Minh Triet on December 8 received a delegation from the US-based Amway Corporation led by its chairman Steven Van Andel in Hanoi.

At the reception, the President praised Amway’s investment and business activities in Vietnam with famous cosmetic and nutrition products. Mr. Triet also called on Amway to take part in charity activities and speed up its investment in Vietnam. He said that Vietnam is now creating favourable conditions for foreign investors operating in the country.

Amway’s chairman expressed his delight at Vietnam’s steady recovery from the global economic downturn. He said that although Amway has been in Vietnam for only two years, it has achieved much thanks to support from the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Health.

Mr. Andel also affirmed that Amway will expand their business in Vietnam and take part in more charity activities for the benefit of economic and commercial cooperation between the two countries.

Vietnam attends East Asia conference in Malaysia

More than 250 policy makers, academics and corporate representatives gathered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from December 7-8 for the seventh East Asia Conference on the theme “Positioning East Asia in a Post-Crisis World”.

Nguyen Vu Tung, Deputy Director of the Institute for Strategic Research and External Relations Policy under the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam is present at the conference.

The delegates discussed financial cooperation to make East Asian economies stronger, the future of the US dollar in Asia, democracy, the free market and ethnic conflicts.

The conference is an important forum for them to examine the changes in international trade in ASEAN and East Asia, initiatives such as the One Vision Asia Pacific proposed by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and the idea of establishing an East Asia Community put forward by Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.

In his speech, Malaysian Crown Prince Raja Azrin said that East Asian nations need to promote socio-political ties, otherwise they will fail to help this region to make achievements in the future.

PM calls for joint effort to deal with climate change

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked media agencies to work harder to raise public people’s awareness of climate change and ways to respond and adapt to it.

He also asked ministries and sectors must regularly update their development planning in the context of climate change in order to work out effective response measures.

The Government leader chaired a meeting of the National Steering Committee for the National Climate Change Response Programme in Hanoi on December 7. The meeting reviewed the Committee’s performance this year and discussed its action plans for the coming years.

Participants pointed out that the unseasonal floods have ravaged the central and central highland regions and caused droughts in the Red river delta, resulting in lower water levels in the river than have been experienced in over a hundred years.

Since the adoption of Decision 158/2008/QD-TTg that details the National Climate Change Response Programme, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment has worked together with other ministries and sectors to come up with climate change and sea level rise scenarios for the country.

The ministry, which takes the lead in the fight against climate change, has issued guidelines to help other ministries and localities nationwide to formulate their own action plans to deal with the issue.

It is estimated that nearly VND2,000 billion will be needed for the implementation of the climate change response programme by 2015, with half of the amount provided by international organisations and donors.

The ministry has already proposed comprehensive measures to deploy the National Climate Change Response Programme for 2010 and the following years.

Training course for Lao officials starts in Hanoi

A training course on advanced political theory for Lao officials began at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Public Administration (HNAPPA) in Hanoi on December 7.

During the year-long course, trainees will study methods of social science research, the fundamental aspects of Vietnamese culture, the history and geography of Vietnam and the world, the history of socialist thought and the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV).

They will explore Marxist-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh thought, as well as the CPV’s leadership experiences during its renewal process. They will also undertake fact-finding tours of several localities.

Over the past years, HNAPPA has held a number of courses for Lao officials under the two countries’ cooperation agreement.

Bac Lieu urged to enhance Party building

Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Nguyen Phu Trong paid a working visit to the southern province of Bac Lieu from December 6-7 to examine its preparations for the 11th National Party Congress.

At the meeting with key provincial leaders, Mr Trong and his working delegation praised the achievements and efforts made by Bac Lieu in implementing socio-economic development tasks during the past few years.

The NA leader said that the province has properly implemented social policies for people credited with revolutionary services and ethnic minority people. It is worth noting that improvement has been made in the province’s Party building, leadership method and personnel re-orgnisation.

During his working visit to the Hung Hoi commune and Nha Mat ward, Mr Trong asked the communal Party committee to boost economic development while developing Party members to reinforce the Party’s strength. He also appreciated the model for the shell raising agricultural cooperative in Nha Mat ward, which attracts more than 1,800 poor households. It is imperative for Hung Hoi commune and Nha Mat ward to tap effectively into their agriculture and services industries to boost economic restructuring, Mr Trong stressed.

On the occasion, Mr Trong and his delegation also visited Minh Hai seacooking joint stock company, met heroic mothers and burnt incenses at the Temple of Ho Chi Minh in Vinh Loi district.

The results of the working visit to Bac Lieu and proposals by provincial leaders and people will be summarized in finalised documents given out at the 11th Party National Congress.

Vietnam, Myanmar boost cooperation in religious affairs

A Vietnam-Myanmar cooperative agreement on State management of religious affairs has been signed by the visiting Myanmar Minister for Religious Affairs Myint Maung and Deputy Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs Nguyen Xuan Thanh.

The signing took place in Hanoi on December 7. At the signing ceremony, both sides expressed their wish to share experience in implementing religious policies and hope that the cooperative agreement will further boost bilateral cooperation in State management of religious affairs.

The Vietnamese official said that Buddhism has been strongly developed in Vietnam, far 2,000 years. The country now has more than 10 million Buddhist followers and 45,000 monks and nuns practising religious activities at 15,500 pagodas. In addition, Vietnam also has 4 Buddhist Institutes and more than 30 Buddhology schools.

The Vietnamese State always persists in respecting people’s freedom of religion and belief and equality between religions and encouraging religious activities for the national benefit. But it is strongly determined to combat any acts of taking advantage of religion for political and individual purposes.

The Myanmar Minister said that Myanmar has different religions but a majority of people are Buddhists. The country has around 80,000 pagodas, including many world famous symbols of Buddhism. The Myanmar State ensures people’s rights of religious freedom by constitution and law.

Transport agreements among ASEAN countries to be early implemented

The 28th ASEAN Senior Transport Officials Meeting (STOM) was held in Hanoi on December 7.

At the meeting, Vietnam’s Minister of Transport, Ho Nghia Dung mentioned ASEAN leaders’ direction at the 15th ASEAN Summit in Thailand on the implementation of a ASEAN connection initiative towards the ASEAN Economic Community in 2015. He highlighted the importance of transport links by road, sea, railway and airway in building the ASEAN Economic Community.

Mr Dung called on ASEAN transport ministers to push for early implementation of transport agreements among their countries and close co-operation with partners, such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, and China to find effective formulas for infrastructure development. He asked the Transit Transport Coordinating Board to actively assist the implementation of transport agreements and create effective transport systems among ASEAN countries.

The 28th STOM will run until December 9 with the participation of delegates from 10 ASEAN member countries.

Legislators visit Canada to seek experiences

A delegation from the National Assembly’s Legal Committee, led by its Vice Chairman Phan Trung Ly, is visiting Canada from Nov. 30 to Dec. 12.

The legislators met with members of the Parliament, the Ministry of Justice and a number of agencies in Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto to share their experiences in a range of issues related to legislation.

During the visit within the framework of the Canada-funded Policy Implementation Assistance Project (PIAP), the Vietnamese delegation was also received by the Speaker from the House of Commons Peter Milliken and the Canada-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians League.

At these meetings, the host country’s officials spoke highly of Vietnam’s achievements in its socio-economic development and international integration. They noted with pleasure that the traditional friendship and cooperation between Canada and Vietnam as well as between the two legislatures have developed well.

Both parties hoped to step up exchanges, mutual visits and the sharing of information and operation experiences between the two legislative bodies. The Vietnamese lawmakers said that the technical assistance provided by Canada has contributed a great deal to Vietnam’s legal and judicial reforms which will help the country in its efforts to create an advanced legal system.

Vietnam, Cuba agree to tap each other’s potential

Senior diplomats of Vietnam and Cuba pointed to a large range of industries in which the two countries can boost cooperation for mutual development at a meeting in Hanoi on December 5.

Vietnamese permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla cited agriculture, energy, processing industry and production of consumer goods, bio-technology, medical and pharmaceuticals, construction and telecommunication as potential fields for expanded cooperation.

The duo emphasised that “the two countries should speed up implementation of high-level agreements and accords of cooperation, especially in areas that the other has great potential, so as to boost cooperation in economy and trade as well as investment”.

Talks between the two diplomats were part of a current visit by Parrilla, who repeatedly confirmed Cuba’s unswerving policy towards relations with Vietnam during his meetings with Vietnamese leaders.

In his meeting with Communist Party of Vietnam General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, the Cuban top diplomat expressed thanks to Vietnam for its valuable assistance.

“Cuba is resolute to cultivate the traditional friendship with the Party, State and people of Vietnam,” he said.

He also reiterated Cuba’s determination to protect the revolutionary fruits as well as its policy to advance on the road towards socialism.

In return, the Cuban Foreign Minister received strong support from the host Party leader.

“Vietnamese Party and people, now as before, always stand by the Party and people of Cuba in their heroic struggle,” Manh said.

He said he believed that the Cuban people would certainly overcome all difficulties and challenges to win greater achievements in their revolutionary cause under the sound leadership of the Cuban Communist Party.

The same day, Parrilla was also received by State President Nguyen Minh Triet. During their meeting, President Triet described relations with the Cuban people as those of “best and exemplary friends and loyal comrades”.

“The solidarity between Vietnam and Cuba is a huge strength to lift the two peoples out of all difficulties and successfully build socialism in their respective countries”, said the State leader.

He expressed belief in the final victory of the just struggle by the Cuban people over the US embargo, thanks to strong support from progressive people the world over.

“Vietnam will make great efforts to help Cuba overcome difficulties,” he pledged.

For his part, the Cuban Foreign Minister said every Cuban citizen felt in his/her heart the solidarity from the Vietnamese and progressive people in the world.

He also emphasised the increasing confidence in the leadership of the party and state among the Cuban people.

“The Cuban Party and State would never make any mistake that might lead to the fall of the regime,” said the top diplomat.

Vietnam backs int’l criminal tribunals

The head of the Vietnamese mission to the United Nations, Ambassador Le Luong Minh has confirmed Vietnam’s stance to support the role and contributions of international criminal tribunals.

“Vietnam has always maintained that perpetrators of the most serious crimes, such as crimes of genocide, war crimes, crime of aggression and crimes against humanity, must be brought to justice,” Mr Minh said at a UN Security Council meeting, which was held in New York on December 3-4.

He said Vietnam considers that as these tribunals are courts of last resort, it is essential to respect the primary role of national jurisdictions and to render capacity building assistance to national judiciaries, as necessary, in order to enable them to take up their judicial responsibilities.

Regarding the situation in Darfur, Ambassador Minh said Vietnam supports the efforts of the African Union to engage with the Sudanese government in deploying the 7-track solution package to achieve peace, security and reconciliation in Darfur.

“We welcome the creation of the AU high-level panel of independent African individuals, whose mandate is to address the inter-linked issues of combating impunity and promoting peace and reconciliation,” the ambassador said.

He called for all parties to the armed conflicts in Darfur to implement the Security Council’s resolution 1593.

“Vietnam supports responsible actions by the Council which takes into account the concern and position of its important regional peace and security partner,” the ambassador added.

The UNSC discussion focused on activities of two international criminal tribunals on former Yugoslavia and Rwanda in the last six months of 2009 and report of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to the Security Council pursuant to the Council’s resolution 1593.

PV