PM meets with outgoing French ambassador; NA delegation visits Philippines; Egyptian TV channel helps bring Vietnam’s image to Arab world; Vietnam-China meeting opens in Hanoi

At the meeting, PM Dung praised the contribution Ambassador Bolot has made during his tenure, which, he said, had helped bring relations between Vietnam and France to a higher level.

Ambassador Herve Bolot expressed the beautiful impressions he has towards the nation and people of Vietnam. He thanked relevant state agencies for their close coordination and cooperation.

At present, no effort is spared by both sides to implement the high-level agreements on cooperation in education and training, defense and energy between the two countries.

PM Dung said Vietnam considers France a leading partner in Europe.

“Vietnam will do its utmost, together with France, to bring our bilateral relations to a new high in order to intensify mutual understanding between the two nations,” Mr. Dung said.

The Vietnamese PM said he believes bilateral relations will be further strengthened, especially in the economic, trade and investment areas.

Hai Duong urged to become nation’s motive force

State President Nguyen Minh Triet has praised the socio-economic developments of the northern province of Hai Duong, expressing his wish that it will soon make a breakthrough to become an engine for the country’s economy.

President Triet, who visited Hai Duong on January 18-19, analysed the quick growth of China and the Republic of Korea and highlighted the important role of advantaged provinces like Hai Duong in offsetting the slow development of mountainous provinces for the country’s overall high growth.

Hai Duong province has dramatically shifted its economic structure in an industrial-oriented way. Industries and construction now make up more than 44 percent of the province’s GDP. Its industrial zones have now attracted 117 domestic and foreign investment projects with a total capitalization of more than US$1.7 billion.

Meeting with the province’s leaders, Mr Triet said he supported the development of industrial clusters, which have provided 35,000 jobs for local people.

However, he requested that the province pay due attention to environmental issues and agriculture to ensure sustainable development and political stability.

Egyptian TV channel helps bring Vietnam’s image to Arab world

A two-hour programme to present Vietnam’s image in terms of politics, economy, international relations and culture has been broadcast on Egypt’s Nile TV channel.

The programme began with a clip on the Southeast Asia country’s emerging role in the world.

It covered the Vietnamese government’s reform policies aimed at developing the national economy and boosting exports.

Trade between the nations has been on the rise, from US$20 million in 2002 to US$200 million in 2009 and is expected to reach US$500 million in the next few years.

Many agreements on economic, cultural and educational cooperation have been signed.

In terms of communication, Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) and the Vietnam News Agency have set up their representative offices in the Egyptian capital city of Cairo. VOV and the Voice of Egypt have signed a bilateral agreement on sharing information.

10th meeting of Central Theoretical Council held

The Central Theoretical Council held its 10th meeting in Hanoi on Jan. 18 to review the Council’s activities over the past year.

Present at the event were To Huy Rua, a Politburo member and Head of the Commission for Propaganda and Education of the Party Central Committee, who is laso Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council, State Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan, and a large number of Council members.

Over the past year, the Central Theoretical Council has successfully completed all its assigned political and have contributed to drawing up various draft documents to be submitted to the forthcoming 11th National Party Congress. The Council mentioned key current theoretical issues, global concerns and the Party and State’s external policy.

Participants in the seminar stressed on the need to diversify the country’s economic sectors and forms of ownership to further develop a socialism-oriented market economy. They proposed a number of measures to develop a fusion of culture, politics and economics that can ensure social progress and environmental protection.

However, the delegates also pointed out some of the Council’s shortcomings over the past year, such as the quality of consultancies, the methods of operation and the slowness in carrying out several projects.

This year, the Council will focus on evaluating and reviewing the political studies project over the 2006-2010 period. It will also come up with ideas and provide a consultancy to the Party Political Bureau and the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee to finalise draft documents for the 11th National Party Congress.

NA delegation visits Philippines

The Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly’s Committee for External Affairs, Nguyen Van Son, and his entourage concluded a two-day working visit to the Philippines on Jan. 17.

While in the Philippines, the Vietnamese delegation was received by Deputy Speaker of the Philippines House of Representatives, Maria Amelita Vilarosa, and held working sessions with chairpersons of the Committees for Foreign Affairs, and Inter-Parliamentary Relations and Diplomacy, and the Secretary General of the Philippines House of Representatives.

Mr Son, who is also head of the Organizing Board of the 31st ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) General Assembly, conveyed Vietnamese NA Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong’s invitation to the Speaker of the Philippines House of Representatives to attend the 31st AIPA General Assembly in Vietnam.

The two sides pledged to strengthen relations between the two legislative bodies, especially the exchange of legislative experiences.

Vietnam-China meeting opens in Hanoi

Around 100 young people attended the Vietnam-China Youth Friendship Meeting that opened in Hanoi on January 17.

The Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee, Nguyen Dac Vinh, said the meeting offers a good chance for young people from the two nations to exchange information about youth affairs and movements.

The delegates will focus on issues of mutual concern and share experiences in doing youth union work, especially in educating young people and encouraging them to participate in socio-economic development, building the community and ensuring social security.

Vinh added that the participating delegates will also discuss measures to promote friendship and cooperation between young people.

The head of the Chinese delegation affirmed that the Parties and States of the two countries always treasure and support friendship meetings, considering them an important part of the bilateral friendship.

As part of the meeting, exchange activities will continue to take place in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, the central city of Da Nang and the north-eastern province of Quang Ninh until January 25.

During their stay in Vietnam, the Chinese youths will visit a number of landscapes and study Vietnam’s cultural and historical traditions as well as its strong development.

Japan increases cooperation with Vietnam

The Japanese government wants to promote cooperation and exchange with Vietnam as a strategic partner in various areas, said Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada.

Mr Okada made the statement at the third meeting of the Vietnam-Japan Cooperation Committee in Tokyo, Japan, on January 17.

He said at the two-day meeting both sides will discuss measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation in economics, culture, science-technology as well as within the multilateral framework, including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum.

They will also host a dialogue forum on Vietnam’s market regulations with the participation of the two countries’ trade officials and experts.

Established in November 2006, the Vietnam-Japan Cooperation Committee works as a forum for the two countries to work out cooperative measures in all areas.

Vietnam, Myanmar boost investment co-operation

A conference seeking solutions to boost Vietnam’s investment in Myanmar as well as bilateral trade cooperation was held in Nay Pyi Taw in Myanmar on January 15, according to the “New Light of Myanmar” newspaper.

The January 16 newspaper said that during the conference, attended by U Soe Tha and Thurein Zaw, Minister and deputy Minister of the Myanmar Economic Development and State Planning and Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Doan Xuan Hung, the two sides discussed bilateral economic cooperation prospects.

Also, on January 15, Myanmar’s Prime Minister Thein Sein received Deputy Foreign Minister Doan Xuan Hung and Deputy Defence Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh.

The Myanmar statistics showed that by the end of September 2009, Vietnam had invested US$23.4 million in Myanmar. Investment activities between the two countries started in late 1988.

Vietnam is Myanmar’s 16th largest export market. The country imports agro-forest, seacooking products and electronic components from Myanmar and exports steel, electronic items, pharmaceuticals, industrial goods, chemicals, computers and computer spare parts.

In the first nine months of 2009, Vietnam-Myanmar bilateral trade value reached US$60 million. The two countries are planning the launch of a direct air route to promote bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

PV