Japan-Vietnam Friendship Society celebrates 55th anniversary; NA delegation studies Japan’s experience in policy making; PM meets with Palestinian, Sudanese ambassadors; Int’l Francophone Day marked in Hanoi

The large quilt made by French volunteers will be transported to Vietnam to mark Hanoi’s 1,000th anniversary in October.

Among them were French linguist Alexandre Rhodes, translator Nguyen Van Vinh, French doctor and explorer Alexandre Yersin and Indochinese general governor Paul Doumer.

French and foreign scholars delivered reports acknowledging Alexandre Rhodes’s efforts to disseminate the Roman alphabet across Vietnam, and Nguyen Van Vinh’s efforts to translate well-known French literature into Vietnamese.

They commemorated doctor Yersin for his devotion to Vietnamese medicine and the founding of the tourist resort city of Da Lat. They also honoured governor Paul Doumer who developed the French-style architecture in Vietnam, especially in Hanoi.

The event organiser - the Association of Da Lat’s Friends in the Footprints of Dr Yersin (AD@IY) - displayed a large woollen quilt made by French volunteers over two years. The quilt will be transported to Vietnam and connected to another made by the residents of Da Lat in October 2010 to mark capital Hanoi’s 1,000th anniversary.

The final-product will then be auctioned to raise funds for Vietnamese victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin.

Established in 1994, AD@IY gathers Vietnamese nationals and French friends who love Vietnam. It aims to promote cooperation in culture, education and science-technology between France and Vietnam, and particularly between Da Lat and Montpellier.

Andorra co-prince praises Vietnam’s achievements

Co-prince of Andorra Joan Enric Vives I Sicilia has praised Vietnam’s Renewal achievements and hoped that both countries would increase cooperation in various areas, especially tourism.

While receiving the Vietnamese ambassador to France and Andorra, Le Kinh Tai, on March 18, the co-prince said Andorra will continue to support and work closely with Vietnam in international forum.

Mr Tai briefed his host on Vietnam’s recent development achievements and its efforts to cushion the impact of the global economic recession.

He said he was impressed by the growth of Andorra, which represents a high income per capita and high life expectancy (83.5 years on average). Every year, the small nation, with a population of just 71,000, attracts up to more than 10 million visitors.

Mr Tai conveyed State President Nguyen Minh Triet’s invitation to visit Vietnam to the co-prince, who accepted the invitation and said the visit will be arranged at an appropriate time.

Vietnam and Andorra established diplomatic ties in June 2007.

President hails construction of ethanol plant

State President Nguyen Minh Triet on March 20 attended a groundbreaking ceremony of a 100 million littre ethanol plant in Minh Hung commune, the southern province of Binh Phuoc.

Mr Triet hailed the plant’s construction by the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group, saying it will help stabilise the life of local people including ethnic minority groups. He asked project investors and operators to pay due attention to environment protection during construction and operation of the plant, avoiding adverse impact on the residents’ living environment.

The US$81 million plant has a design capacity of 100 million littres of ethanol per year, consuming 240,000 tonnes of dried cassava a year. It is expected to create stable incomes for about 15,000 households planting cassava in the province.

On this occasion, the investor and contractors presented VND500 million to Minh Hung commune to build schools and purchase health equipment.

The same day, Mr Triet attended a ceremony to inaugurate the Hoa Lu international border checkpoint in Binh Phuoc.

Japan-Vietnam Friendship Society celebrates 55th anniversary

The Japan-Vietnam Friendship Society held a meeting in Tokyo on March 20 to mark its 55th anniversary.

Society President Prof. Motoo Furuta reviewed major developments of the organisation and its support for the Vietnamese people’s war of resistance against US imperialists in the 20th century.

He also highlighted people-to-people diplomatic exchanges the organisation has conducted to promote mutual understanding between the two countries.

He said his society has launched campaigns to raise funds for Vietnamese Agent Orange/Dioxin victims and to preserve Hoi An Ancient City to be recognised as World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO.

Prof. Furuta said the Japan-Japan Friendship Society has established many chapters in big prefectures and cities of Japan, and is working closely with relevant agencies to strengthen bilateral friendship.

Nghiem Vu Khai, President of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Society, thanked Japanese people for providing valuable assistance to Vietnamese people in their past struggle for national liberation and the current process of national development and international integration.

He affirmed that bilateral relations have developed well in recent times, especially after Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh’s visit to Japan in 2009, to promote the strategic partnership for peace and prosperity in Asia. He pointed to the fact that Japan is the largest ODA donor and one of the leading investment and trade partners for Vietnam.

Mr Khai expressed his belief that the two friendship organisations will continue to serve as a bridge to boost all-round cooperation between the two countries.

NA delegation studies Japan’s experience in policy making

A National Assembly delegation visited Japan from March 13-19 to gain its experience in formulating and implementing policies on social affairs.

During its stay, the delegation, led by Luong Phan Cu, Vice Chairman of the NA Committee for Social Affairs, studied labour policies, especially for women, and people with disabilities in an effort to finalise the Labour Code (revised) and the Law for the disabled. The delegation also worked with the Democratic Party of Japan’s Committee for Gender Equality towards the implementation of laws on gender equality and the prevention of domestic violence.

The delegation made a fact-finding tour of businesses employing a large number of Vietnamese workers and visited the Vietnamese Embassy and the Vietnamese labour management board in Japan.

The visit was part of a cooperation programme between the NA and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) through the Policy Implementation Assistance Project (PIAP), and a 2010 NA foreign exchange programme.

PM meets with Palestinian, Sudanese ambassadors

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received the newly appointed Palestinian and Sudanese ambassadors to Vietnam at separate meetings in Hanoi on March 19.

Meeting with the Palestinian diplomat, PM Dung said Vietnam welcomes the Palestinian President’s upcoming visit to Vietnam to further diplomatic ties and friendship between the two countries. He affirmed that Vietnam pursues the consistent policy of supporting the Palestinian people’s just struggle for national independence.

Ambassador Saadi M.H Salama Altumaizi hailed Vietnam’s increasing role in the international community, attributing that to victories of the past two wars of resistance for national liberation and the achievements in the current national construction and development.

He pledged to work closely with relevant Vietnamese agencies and ministries to boost bilateral cooperation.

At the reception for Sudanese Ambassador Adil Ibrahim Mustafa Ahmed, PM Dung affirmed that the Vietnamese Government always to increase cooperation with Sudan. He proposed that the Ambassador lend a helping hand to facilitate the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group’s investment and cooperation with its Sudanese partners.

The Sudanese diplomat said his country wants to cooperate with Vietnam, especially in agriculture, and expressed hope that Vietnam would soon establish its embassy in Sudan.

Int’l Francophone Day marked in Hanoi

A ceremony was held at Van Mieu (the Temple of Literature) in Hanoi on March 19 to mark International Francophone Day (March 20).

Addressing the event, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem expressed his pleasure at the constant development of the International Francophone Organisation (OIF) over the past 40 years with its steadily rising membership, now totalling 70 countries.

He also praised the OIF’s activities in politics, economics, culture and education, and its increasing role in addressing global issues concerning peace, security, sustainable development and cultural diversity.

Vietnam always attaches great importance to relations with the OIF and has made active contributions to the development of the organisation, said Mr Ninh.

He stressed that with its Renewal achievements over the past 20 years, Vietnam is ready to share experiences in national development with other member countries, especially in the fields of its strengths like cooking security.

Patrice Burel, Director of the Regional Bureau of Asia Pacific (BRAP) in Hanoi, under the OIF, praised close cooperation between the organisation and Vietnam, one of its first members, and affirmed that the OIF will continue to support the teaching of the French language in Vietnam.

On this occasion, Phan Thanh Binh, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City National University was presented with an insignia for his contributions to French teaching by the community of Embassies and delegation of Francophone countries and the OIF in Hanoi.

Party and State always pay special attention to the youth

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan held a dialogue with the capital’s young people in Hanoi on March 19.

The young people were invited to share their ideas, expectations and worries with Mrs. Doan and leaders of ministries and departments. Mrs. Doan noted that the process of international integration creates big opportunities for Vietnam’s younger generations to become global citizens. But they should also be aware of their role and duties in the cause of national defence and construction, she said.

She expressed her pleasure at their serious and constructive attitudes towards local and national issues. These issues can motivate them to develop their youthful creativity and contribute their energy and enthusiasm to the cause of renovation, she said.

Mrs. Doan insisted that the Party and State place a very high value on the younger generations and hope they will make headway towards building a more powerful and prosperous country.

During the dialogue, the Vice President gave presents to 30 poor young people who have made valuable contributions to society.

VUSTA to strengthen cooperation with NA agencies

The Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations (VUSTA) held a workshop on “the consultative role of the VUSTA to National Assembly (NA) Committees” at the International Conference Centre in Hanoi on March 19.

The workshop involved representatives from NA agencies, the VUSTA and international organisations and scientists across the country.

They focused their discussions on the VUSTA’s capacity for providing consultancy, judgement and social expertise to NA committees, especially in policy making and planning.

In his opening speech, the VUSTA’s Acting President, Associate Professor Ho Uy Liem, reviewed the Union’s efforts in assisting NA committees over the years.

Vice Chairman of the NA office, Dr. Nguyen Sy Dung, emphasised the importance of the Union’s activities.

Other participants called for closer cooperation between the VUSTA and NA committees to encourage scientists to make further contributions to the country.

Vietnam attends FLN Party Congress in Algeria

A Vietnamese delegation led by Vuong Thua Phong, deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s External Relations Commission, is attending the 9th National Liberation Front (FLN) party congress in Algeria.

The congress, scheduled for March 19-23, has assembled 3,650 delegates, including 540 female delegates and 540 youth delegates.

This congress marks an about-face in the party’s development of new approaches, action programmes and external relations. It will appoint 9 committees and return to the model of “Standing Committee” and “Politburo” that existed before the 8th congress.

The Standing Committee will have 250-300 members and the role of women and youths will be clearly redefined.

Norwegian King lauds friendly ties with Vietnam

King Harald V spoke highly of the fine development of the friendly and cooperative relations between Norway and Vietnam at a reception for Vietnamese ambassador Ta Van Thong in capital Oslo on March 18.

The King welcomed the re-opening the Vietnamese Embassy in Oslo in December 2009, saying it will help strengthen bilateral cooperative relations in the coming years.

He praised Vietnam’s rapid economic development during the Doi Moi (Renewal) and integration process despite global complications.

He recalled his good impression on the Vietnamese land and people during a visit in 2004 and his meeting with Vietnamese State President Nguyen Minh Triet in Oslo in 2008.

Ambassador Thong thanked the government and people of Norway for providing support to Vietnamese people during their past struggle for national liberation and current international integration.

He vowed to try his best to bring high-level Vietnam-Norway agreements to life so as to promote multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.

The diplomat conveyed President Triet and his wife’s best regards to the King and the Queen.

Communist parties boost close bonds

The Communist Parties of Vietnam and Japan have agreed to increase cooperation to help bring relations between the two countries to new heights.

The agreement was reached during a meeting in Tokyo on March 18 between Shii Kazuo, Chairman of the Japan Communist Party (JCP) and Hoang Binh Quan, head of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Commission for External Relations.

Mr Quan congratulated the JCP on its recent successful organisation of its 25th congress which put forward new guidelines for future development.

Mr Quan said that the CPV and the JCP have developed close bonds over the years through regular exchanges of visits and affirmed that the CPV constantly supports the JCP’s objectives, ideology and development guidelines.

Mr Shii praised Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements during the Renewal process, especially its success in cushioning the blow of the recent global economic recession to secure a 5.3 percent GDP growth rate in 2009 - a relatively high level in the region.

He recalled the agreements reached by the two communist parties’ leaders during CPV General Secretary Nong Duc Manh’s visit to Japan last April. He said the two parties agreed to make a greater effort to strengthen their ties, embark on the path to socialism, and share theoretical and practical experiences to achieve their goals while supporting the elimination of nuclear weapons globally.

The same day, Mr Quan held a working session with leaders of the Japan Federation of Economic Organisations (Keidanren), and met with Deputy Speaker of the Upper House Akiko Santo and President of the Liberal Democratic Party Sadakazu Tanigaki.

The delegation left Tokyo for Fukuoka prefecture on March 19, continuing a five-day visit to Japan.

Vietnam firms need long-term plan in Cambodia

Vietnamese enterprises need to map out long-term strategies for deeper penetration into Cambodia, according to a HCM City trade seminar organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency on March 18.

Tran Van Thi, lecturer at the Marketing and Finance University, told the seminar that the Vietnamese enterprises should set up more factories in Cambodia.

This also suggested setting up franchises and more promotions at border gate economic zones as ways for Vietnam to improve its position as the third biggest exporter to the potentially lucrative market, after Thailand and China.

Currently, there are 97 markets located along the border gates and 37 others within border gate economic zones.

More border gate economic zones will be set up in Dak Nong, Gia Lai, and Kontum provinces for further business cooperation.

Bui Thi Thanh An, head of Viettrade said, it was vital to create more exports as Cambodia was the key gate to transport Vietnamese goods to other ASEAN countries.

Experts told the seminar that Vietnamese businesses need to capitalize on their strengths compared to Cambodia, for example, Vietnamese manufacturers are able to produce better quality goods for less money, and open more distribution channels.

Government delegation visits France

A delegation of the Government Office headed by Minister-Chairman Nguyen Xuan Phuc paid a visit to France on March 16-18.

Mr Phuc held working sessions with advisors for external relations from the offices of the French President and the Prime Minister. They examined the implementation of agreements, which were signed during a Vietnam visit by French PM Francois Fillon last November.

The minister emphasised France’s strengths and its orientations for future cooperation, especially in the fields of education-training, infrastructure and in coping with climate change.

Vietnam wants to get down to work on a project with France to build a sci-tech university so that it can enrol its first students this September, Mr Phuc said.

He called on big French groups to invest in Vietnam, notably to build a metro system and upgrade the Long Bien Bridge in capital Hanoi. He also expressed Vietnam’s desire to cooperate with France in mitigating the impact of natural disasters.

The advisors said France is looking forward to receiving a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation in Paris, possibly on the occasion of the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) due to take place in Brussels in October.

The two sides agreed to assign the two Foreign Ministries to prepare for the “Vietnam Year in France” and the “France Year in Vietnam” in 2013 when the two nations celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

During the visit, the Vietnamese delegates also worked with the Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to share experiences related to institutional and administrative reforms.

RoK, Vietnam boost cooperation in legal affairs

Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) should increase cooperation in legislation to bring practical results to the two countries.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made his recommendation at a reception in Hanoi on March 18 for RoK Minister of Justice Lee Scog Yeon.

Mr Dung said weaknesses in legal affairs are one of the causes barring Vietnam’s development, and the country is carrying out a legal reform programme to simplify administrative procedures and meet the requirements of a market economy and international economic integration.

He welcomed the RoK’s proposal to enhance the dissemination of legal affairs of the two countries amongst Korean workers in Vietnam and Vietnamese workers in the RoK, considering this a key area of cooperation between the two countries’ legislative agencies.

Mr Lee said the RoK-Vietnam cooperation in legislation has yet to match the fine development of their strategic partnership. He said his ministry will work closely with the Vietnamese Ministry of Justice to share experiences in the field and contribute to Vietnam’s administrative reform.

Party leader affirms close ties with France

Vietnam attaches great importance to promoting the friendship and comprehensive cooperation with France, says Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh.

Mr Manh made the statement while receiving France’s newly appointed ambassador to Vietnam Jean Francois Girault in Hanoi on March 18.

He spoke highly of the positive development of Vietnam-France relations in recent times and expressed his belief that the ambassador will work hard to strengthen ties between the two countries.

For his part, ambassador Girault praised Vietnam’s Renewal achievements and its increasing role in the region and the world, especially when the country is currently chairing ASEAN in 2010.

He vowed to try his best to realize cooperation agreements signed by French and Vietnamese leaders to raise the bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership in the near future.

ARF defence officials meet in Khanh Hoa

Defense officials of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) met in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa on March 18 to increase cooperation in national security and defence.

Delegates from 17 ARF member countries discussed measures to boost military-civil cooperation, produce regional response to natural disaster mitigation, and host national defence meetings within the group in the future. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

The officials visited the Vietnam Navy Academy and several tourist sites in Nha Trang city.

The meeting, co-hosted by Vietnam and India, is part of a meeting of the ARF Inter-Sessional Support Group on Confidence Building Measures and Preventive Diplomacy (ARF ISG-CBM/PD), which is taking place in Vietnam on March 17-20.

Vietnam is chairing ASEAN and ARF in 2010.

Defence Minister receives Russian guests

Minister of National Defence General Phung Quang Thanh welcomed a delegation from the Russia Division of the Russia-Vietnam Inter-governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (RVIC) in Hanoi on March 17.

General Thanh lauded the visit by the Russian delegation, led by Vyacheslav Dzirkaln, Deputy Director of the Federal Service for Military Technical Cooperation and President of the Russia Division, as a good chance for the RVIC to share experiences and study possible areas of cooperation.

He said over the past years, technical cooperation between the two countries has yielded good result and will continue developing in the future.

PV