PM Dung leaves for nuclear security summit in US; Remains of US personnel repatriated; President Triet’s Mid-east tour hits the headlines; Vietnam, Argentina boost energy cooperation

PM Dung leaves for nuclear security summit in US

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung left Hanoi on April 11 for the Nuclear Security Summit in the US at the invitation of President Barack Obama.

Mr Dung’s attendance demonstrates Vietnam’s policy of supporting all countries’ rights to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and international community’s efforts for disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. It will help strengthen relations between Vietnam and the US and between ASEAN and the US.

The three-day summit is due to begin on April 12.

After the summit, Mr Dung will pay an official visit to Argentina at the invitation of President Cristina Fernandez de Kitchner. The visit aims to promote political and economic ties between Vietnam and the Latin American nation.

Leaders determined to build stronger ASEAN

The 16th ASEAN Summit has shown member state’s determination to create a new impulse for stronger and more effective development of ASEAN to meet the a goal of building the ASEAN Community by 2015, affirmed Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem.

Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Khiem made the affirmation while answering domestic press’ questions on the freshly-ended summit in Hanoi.

The 16th ASEAN Summit was a success and achieved important results, Mr Khiem said.

Firstly, the bloc showed strong determination to effectively implement the roadmap for the ASEAN Community and bring the ASEAN Charter into reality. Secondly, the bloc proposed practical activities to boost cooperation in facing emerging challenges. Thirdly, the bloc was determined to maintain and enhance ASEAN’s central role in the region. Fourthly, ASEAN leaders reached consensus on the bloc’s priority orientations under the theme “Towards the ASEAN Community: from Vision to Action”, as Vietnam proposed for the summit.

Deputy PM Khiem said that Vietnam has actively consulted, exchanged and reached agreement with other ASEAN member countries on the priority focus as well as the action programme for ASEAN cooperation in 2010.

The contents of the agenda and Vietnam’s documents presented at this summit were built in conformity with the bloc’s top priorities, said the deputy PM, adding that Vietnam’s proposals have contributed to promoting the building of enforceable culture inside the bloc with concrete and practical measures.

The summit’s approval of ASEAN leaders’ statements has reflected ASEAN’s strong support for Vietnam’s initiatives, contributing to accelerating joint cooperation in facing challenges.

According to Vietnam’s proposals, ASEAN agreed to organise the first plenary session between ASEAN leaders and ministers and senior officials who are in charge of the ASEAN Community’s pillars, to speed up the ASEAN community roadmap.

Vietnam also successfully hosted the first official meeting between ASEAN leaders and representatives of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA).

Remains of US personnel repatriated

Vietnamese authorities on April 10 handed over to the US sets of remains of US soldiers believed missing in action during the American war in Vietnam.

Present at the hand-over ceremony at Da Nang International Airport were representatives of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) and the Vietnamese Office For Seeking Missing Persons (VNOSMP), and US Ambassador to Vietnam Michael Michalak.

The remains were found and excavated by joint working groups in the Central, Central Highland and southern regions.

US officers and the ambassador witnessed the escort of the coffins to aircraft C-130 that later transported the remains to the US.

This is the 113th hand-over of the remains to the US. Some 926 remains have been identified since 1973.

The US has appreciated Vietnam’s assistance in seeking and collecting the remains of its soldiers missing in action.

Conference on Vietnam-Russia ties held in Russia

The Russian Centre for ASEAN and Vietnamese Studies and the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association on April 8 jointly held a conference on Vietnamese studies and Russia-Vietnam relations.

Present at the event were Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies M. L. Titarenko , President of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association V. P. Buiyanov, Vietnamese Minister-Counsellor to Russia Pham Thi Ngoc Bich and numerous researchers involved in Vietnamese studies.

They discussed contemporary and traditional Vietnam , as well as its strategic partnership with Russia , in the present and as well as prospects for the future, and new trends in economic cooperation between the two countries.

Titarenko highlighted the development of Vietnam ’s revolution and its achievements in national renewal. He stressed the importance of promoting Vietnamese studies in Russia which contribute to boosting the traditional friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries.

Ms. Bich shared her deep appreciation of the warm sentiments about Vietnam expressed by Russian scientists. She said the embassy is ready to coordinate with the Russian Centre for ASEAN and Vietnamese Studies in scientific research for the benefit of the two countries and peoples.

President Triet’s Mid-east tour hits the headlines

Saudi Arabia’s media has given wide coverage of the Vietnamese State President Nguyen Minh Triet’s visit to this Middle East country, starting on April 10.

This is the first ever visit to Saudi Arabia by a Vietnamese head of State since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1999.

Riyad Online quotes Vietnamese Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dao Thanh Chung as saying leaders of the two countries will look at measures to increase bilateral cooperation, especially in energy, agriculture, trade, investment and labour.

Vietnam is ready to cooperate with Saudi Arabia in carrying out a cooking security programme through State agencies and private businesses, said Mr Chung, adding that it is encouraging Saudi Arabian businesses to investment in its territory.

He said a number of Saudi Arabian companies are operating efficiently in Vietnam, citing Zamil steel group as an example.

Cuban Vice President receives Vietnamese delegation

Esteban Lazo, Vice President of the Cuban State Council, received Ha Thi Khiet, Head of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation, in Havana on April 9.

Both sides briefed each other on the situation in their respective countries and discussed measures to foster the long-standing friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba.

Esteban Lazo, who is a Politburo member of the Communist Party of Cuba, thanked Vietnam for its solidarity and heart-felt support for Cuba and congratulated the Southeast Asian nation on its tremendous achievements in the Renewal process. He spoke highly of Vietnam’s development experience and expressed Cuba’s resolve to bolster the brotherhood with Vietnam.

He briefed Ms Khiet on Cuba’s preparations for the upcoming 6th congress of the Communist Party of Cuba and condemned hostile forces for having carried out subversive schemes against the Caribbean nation.

Ms Khiet voiced the Communist Party of Vietnam’s solidarity and constant support for Cuba’s just revolutionary cause and said Vietnam wants to further promote comprehensive cooperation with Cuba for mutual benefit.

Vietnam, Russia boost traditional friendship

The Russian Centre for ASEAN and Vietnam Studies and the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association on April 8 jointly held a conference on Vietnam studies and Russia-Vietnam relations.

Present at the event were Director of the Institute of Oriental Studies M. L. Titarenko , President of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association V. P. Buiyanov, Vietnamese Minister-Counsellor to Russia Pham Thi Ngoc Bich and numerous researchers involved in Vietnam studies.

They discussed contemporary and traditional Vietnam, as well as its strategic partnership with Russia, in the present and as well as prospects for the future, and new trends in economic cooperation between the two countries.

Titarenko highlighted the development of Vietnam’s revolution and its achievements in national renewal. He stressed the importance of promoting Vietnam studies in Russia which contribute to boosting the traditional friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries.

Pham Thi Ngoc Bich said the embassy is ready to coordinate with the Russian Centre for ASEAN and Vietnam Studies in scientific research for the benefit of the two countries and peoples.

President Triet conveys Vietnam’s determination

Vietnam is determined to make the most of its ASEAN presidency in 2010, said President Nguyen Minh Triet at a reception on April 9 for the heads of delegations to the 16th ASEAN Summit.

Vietnam will focus on consolidating unity within the bloc and implementing the ASEAN charter and the roadmap for building an ASEAN community, he said, adding that greater effort will be made to strengthen cooperative ties with non-bloc partners and raise the international status of the association.

President Triet said that all ASEAN members need to build on the association’s traditional values and do their utmost to bolster solidarity, friendship and a sense of community within the organization. He proposed that each member country should make a stronger political commitment to forging links within the association and harmonizing national and regional interests.

In addition, the president said, ASEAN should take a leadership role in regional issues and take the initiative in promoting peace, security and development in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region.

Mr Triet told participants that as Vietnam has become a more integral part of ASEAN, ASEAN has been of greater strategic importance to Vietnam.

On behalf of all the ASEAN delegations, Bruneian Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah said he greatly appreciated the warm welcome provided by the Vietnamese state and people and congratulated Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on the successful hosting of the 16th ASEAN Summit. He also conveyed his best wishes to Vietnamese people for the celebration of the 1000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

Vietnam, Argentina boost energy cooperation

Argentina is willing to share experience with Vietnam in formulating policies on science and technology, and planning the effectively use of energy, said Graciela Maria Giannesttasio, head of the science and technology committee of Argentina’s lower house.

Ms Giannesttasio made the statement while receiving a Vietnamese delegation from the National Assembly Committee for Science, Technology and Environment, lead by its deputy head Nghiem Vu Khai.

Mr Khai emphasised Vietnam’s consistent policy to attach great importance to developing science and technology and exploring energy in a sustainable manner.

During their visit to Argentina from April 4-8, the Vietnamese delegation also met with Julia Argentina Perie, president of the Argentina-Vietnam friendship parliamentarians group.

Ms Perie expressed her admiration for Vietnam and its people during their past struggle against foreign aggressors and the current process of national construction and defence. Despite geographical distance, Argentina always strengthens friendship and cooperation with Vietnam for mutual benefit and a better world, she added.

Earlier, the Vietnamese delegates worked with a number of Argentinean ranking officials on the possibility of bilateral cooperation in developing clean and renewable energy.

They also visited Atucha II nuclear power plant, renewable energy plant and the National Institute of Applied Research of Argentina (INVAP).

After Argentina, the Vietnamese delegation will pay a seven-day working visit to Brazil.

Party leader inspects Party congress preparations in Hai Phong

Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh visited the northern port city of Hai Phong on April 7-8 to examine its preparations for grassroots level Party congresses.

Working with the municipal Party Committee, the Party leader stressed that all-level Party congresses leading up to the 11th National Party Congress are important political activities for the whole Party, people and the army.

He said preparations must be based on the spirit of strongly renovating methodology, improving the leadership capacity and combativeness power of Party organisations, promoting democracy and strengthening solidarity.

In 2010, Hai Phong city’s Party Committee must well perform two major tasks–successfully organising Party congresses at all levels and fulfilling its socio-economic development targets, he said.

Party leader Manh suggested that with its advantages, including seaports, Hai Phong should develop hi-tech and environmentally friendly industries. It needs to focus on developing services in order to turn it into the largest seaport service centre in the north as well as one of the biggest financial and banking service centres in the country, he added.

General Secretary Manh attended the 10th Party congress of the Hoang Van Thu Ward Party Committee for the 2010-2015 tenure.

During the visit, the Party leader visited the Hai Phong Cement and Thermoelectric Power Plants.

PV