Defence Minister pays pre-Tet visit to General Giap; Vietnam’s achievements highlighted at UN forum; Spring Newspaper Festival opens in Hanoi; Czech investment encouraged in Vietnam

The country to celebrate General Vo Nguyen Giap’s 100th birthday this year.

Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh on February 4 visited and extended lunar New Year Greetings to 100-year-old General Vo Nguyen Giap.

Minister Thanh wished General Giap good health and longevity and hoped that the legendary general would make further contributions to national development and the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).

General Giap shook hands with Mr Thanh and asked the VPA to embrace revolutionary ethics, continue training and keep up its combative spirit to fulfil all tasks entrusted to it by the Party, State and people.

The same day, Minister Thanh visited the Vietnam War Veterans Association and presented Tet gifts to war veterans exposed to Agent Orange/Dioxin and their children at the Huu Nghi (Friendship) Village.

Vietnam’s achievements highlighted at UN forum

The Vietnamese government will continue to take bold measures in 2010 to boost socio-economic development in the post-slowdown period, with a focus on social integration, says a Vietnamese representative to the UN.

Bui The Giang, Deputy Representative of the Vietnamese Mission to the UN, made the statement at the 48th session of the Commission on Social Development under the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in New York on February 3.

Giang said the government will support training, the transfer of technology and infrastructure construction in agriculture and rural development. It will speed up poverty reduction projects, improve the social welfare system, particularly in health care and education, and encourage the empowerment of women, first and foremost in the labour market.

He went on to say that the government will adopt measures to minimise the impact of natural disasters and build a ‘green’ economy.

Mr Giang highlighted Vietnam’s successful results in cushioning the impact of the global economic meltdown in 2009, saying the country kept inflation at a single figure and the poverty rate at 12.3 percent while creating jobs for more than 1.6 million people.

He said the government re-trained employees of all economic sectors and provided free medical insurance and housing programmes for vulnerable groups in society, such as the poor, the elderly, people with disabilities and people in remote areas.

He called on East Asian countries and dialogue partners to support Vietnam’s initiative to establish an East Asian fund on climate change put forward by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at the recent World Economic Forum in Switzerland.

Vietnam is ready to join hands with the international community to fulfil government-level commitments made at the 1995 World Summit for Social Development, said Mr Giang.

Poland, Vietnam exchange anniversary congratulations

State President Nguyen Minh Triet on February 4 sent a message of congratulation to his Polish counterpart Lech Kaczynski on the 60th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Poland diplomatic ties.

On the same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung conveyed greetings to his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk.

On the occasion, Deputy PM-cum-Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem also congratulated Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski.

Spring Newspaper Festival opens in Hanoi

Media plays an increasingly important role in boosting the revolutionary cause of the Party and Vietnamese people, said National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong at the opening ceremony of the 2010 Spring Newspaper Festival in Hanoi on February 4.

Mr Trong said Vietnam’s press agencies have grown rapidly and made remarkable contributions to improving the people’s political, cultural and spiritual lives. This reflects the promotion of democracy in the country.

Under the theme “welcoming the national renewal, the Party’s 80th anniversary and the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi”, the festival has drawn 66 press agencies with their publications displayed at 114 booths.

Dinh The Huynh, Member of the Party Central Committee, Editor-in-chief of the Nhan Dan Newspaper and Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association, said this year’s Spring Newspaper Festival is taking place at a special time when the nation is celebrating many significant events, such as the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the late President Ho Chi Minh’s 120th birthday, the 35th anniversary of Southern Liberation Day and National Unification, the 65th anniversary of the August Revolution, the 85th anniversary of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day, and the capital city’s millennium anniversary.

The festival aims to highlight the achievements of Vietnam’s press agencies in recent years and promote an exchange between journalists and readers. It will last until February 7.

Czech investment encouraged in Vietnam

Vietnam is making every effort to improve its investment environment and finalise its legal system to attract more foreign investors, including those from the Czech Republic, says President Nguyen Minh Triet.

The State President made the statement at a reception in Hanoi on February 4 for Karel Pleva, Chairman and CEO of the Export Guarantee and Insurance Corporation (EGAP) of the Czech Republic.

Mr Triet praised EGAP for its efficient operation in Vietnam and hoped that its successful projects would lure more Czech businesses to Vietnam.

Coming to our country, Czech businesses are welcomed as not only investors but also friends of Vietnamese people, said Mr Triet.

He affirmed that both Vietnam and the Czech Republic have treasured the long-standing friendship, saying the former Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic) provided its heart-felt support to Vietnamese people in their past struggle for national liberation and the current process of national development.

Vietnam wants to increase comprehensive cooperation with this European Union member, especially in economics, trade and investment, said Mr Triet.

CEO Pleva briefed Mr Triet on a number of projects that EGAP has guaranteed in Vietnam, including Phu Son Cement Plant, Hanoi-Hai Phong Expressway and Quang Binh Clay Production Plant. He assured Mr Triet that his corporation is interested in cooperation projects between the two countries and will do its best to make these projects efficient.

PV