ASEAN Senior Officials meet in Hanoi; Vietnam condemns terrorist attacks in Iran; Vietnam makes laws to take care of people’s health; Sports Minister keen on S African experience

Vietnam-US diplomatic relations celebrated in Houston

The 15th anniversary of the normalisation of Vietnam-US relations was celebrated by Vietnam Consulate General in Houston, Texas with the participation of representatives from the Houston administration, US organisations and businesses and overseas Vietnamese living in the US.

Consul General in Houston Le Dung reviewed major landmarks in Vietnam-US relations since the two countries normalised their relations in 1995. After 15 years, the US has become Vietnam’s biggest export market and biggest investor, Mr Dung said.

The number of Vietnamese students in the US has increased sharply, from 800 in 1995 to 1,300 today. Many universities from both countries have carried out numerous training cooperation projects.

Vietnam’s opening of its Consulate General in Houston in 2009 presented a great landmark in the development of relations between the two countries, helping to promote and expand bilateral cooperation in economics, education, science, technology, culture and tourism.

Earlier on July 14, the anniversary was also celebrated by the Vietnam Embassy in the US and the US Department of State in the presence of former US President Bill Clinton, snators John Kerry and John McCain and congressman Eni Faleomavagea along with many senior US officials.

ASEAN Senior Officials meet in Hanoi

The ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) opened in Hanoi on July 17 under the chairmanship of the Assistant Foreign Minister and Head of Vietnam’s SOM ASEAN delegation Pham Quang Vinh.

The officials discussed coordination within the bloc to deal with pressing regional and international issues.

The meeting aimed to prepare for the 43rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting (AMM-43), the post ministerial meetings including ASEAN+1 and ASEAN+3, the East Asia Ministerial Meeting and the 17th ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF-17) scheduled to take place in Hanoi from July 20-23.

During the two-day meeting, working programmes, agendas and documents on the AMM-43 and related meetings will be discussed and the third revised protocol draft of the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation (TAC) which will pave the way for non-bloc partners to join the treaty will be finalized for submission to the AMM 43 for approval.

The meeting will also touch upon proposals to accelerate the building of an ASEAN community, promote cooperation and inner-bloc links, raise regional capacity to cope with emerging challenges and discuss ways to expand cooperation between ASEAN and its partners.

Nation proud of those who served in revolution

The nation is proud of its people who served during the revolution, said State President Nguyen Minh Triet.

“These people are worthy of being honoured as they set a good example for the community,” stated President Triet at a meeting with people who had made outstanding contributors to the nation, in the central province of Nghe An on July 16.

The meeting was attended by 300 Vietnamese heroic mothers, revolutionary veterans, pre-revolution officials, heroes of the people’s armed forces, war invalids, disabled soldiers and families of fallen combatants.

President Triet underlined that they are not only honoured because they sacrificed themselves for the nation’s revolutionary cause, but also for the contributions they made in spurring on the country’s development.

He stressed that the Party and State always care about the policies and treatment they introduce to ensure they safeguard those who have served the nation.

“Though meeting with a lot of difficulties, the Party, the State and the people spare no effort to do whatever they can as a way of expressing their respect and to honour fallen combatants and their families, invalids, disabled soldiers and heroic mothers, for the devotion and sacrifices they made for the nation,” said the President.

He noted that it is the responsibility of the current Vietnamese generation and future ones, to maintain and defend the nation’s independence for what so many people sacrificed their lives for.

The President called on the entire Party, army and the people to continue to care for those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the nation, including the families of war fallen combatants.

The meeting, co-organised by the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids, and Social Affairs, the Defence Ministry, the Nhan Dan (People) newspaper, and the Nghe An provincial People’s Committee, was part of a series of activities to mark the 63rd anniversary of Ward Invalids and Fallen War Combatants Day (July 27)./.

Lao newspaper praises Vietnam-Laos friendship

The Pasason daily, the organ of the Laos People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), has published out an article highlighting the Laos-Vietnam traditional friendship on the 33rd anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Cooperation and Friendship Treaty (July 18).

The article said the friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam, fostered by late Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Kaysone Phomvihane, are thriving.

According to the newspaper, the two countries’ political and economic relations have developed well with the fast increase in two-way trade. Both countries have targeted US$1 billion in two-way trade in 2010 and that figure will be doubled in 2015.

New successes have been recorded in bilateral investment cooperation as well as in defence, security, education, healthcare, agriculture and rural development, the paper said.

It noted that the two countries’ Parties and Governments are paying due attention to Laos Week in Vietnam and Vietnam Week in Laos.

The traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations will be further consolidated and developed for mutual benefits and for regional and world peace, stability and development, confirmed the LPRP newspaper.

Vietnam condemns terrorist attacks in Iran

Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nguyen Phuong Nga on July 16 condemned the recent bomb attacks in Iran.

“Vietnam strongly condemns the terrorist attacks on July 15 in Iran that left many people dead and injured,” Nga said in response to correspondents’ query on Vietnam’s reaction to the incident.

“We send our heartfelt condolences to the government of Iran and families of the victims and hope that the terrorists will be properly punished,” she said.

According to Iran ’s IRNA news agency, at least 20 were killed and more than 100 injured in two explosions that hit a mosque in the southeastern city of Zahedan on July 15.

Khanh Hoa celebrates 80th anniversary of Revolutionary Traditional Day

On July 16, the Khanh Hoa provincial People’s Committee celebrated the 80th anniversary of the Revolutionary Traditional Day (1930-2010).

Secretary of the Khanh Hoa provincial Party Committee Nguyen Van Tu reviewed the resilient revolutionary tradition of the Khanh Hoa people over the past 80 years.

On July 16, 1930 farmers in Ninh Hoa district stood up to demonstrate against colonialism and feudalism. The victory shook the old ruling apparatus to its foundation and encouraged the revolutionary movement in the south-central provinces. Since then, July 16 has been observed as the Revolutionary Traditional Day of Khanh Hoa province.

To uphold the tradition, the Khanh Hoa Party Committee and local people are making efforts to boost local socio-economic development and ensure national security and defense with the aim of developing the province into a key economic centre in the south-central region.

Earlier on July 15, a photographic exhibition was held in Ninh Hoa district. More than 140 works from 30 photographers displayed at the exhibition reflect the achievements in socio-economic development as well as the historical sites and places of interest in Khanh Hoa.

Vietnam, China hold great potential for cooperation

Vietnam and China hold great potential and have many opportunities for further cooperation, Vietnam pledges to create favourable conditions for foreign businesses to invest in the country, said a ministry official.

Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang, delivered this message at a dialogue forum in Hanoi on July 16 between the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MoPI) and Chinese companies which are operating in Vietnam.

Hoang spoke highly of the role played by the business communities of both nations in fostering the strong development of economic, trade and investment relations in recent years.

The Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam, Sun Guoxiang, said the Government of China places great importance on developing economic and trade ties with its neighbours, especially Vietnam.

The Chinese Government also supports capable and prestigious companies in doing business in foreign markets on the basis of mutual trust and benefit, he said.

Sun said he hoped that via the dialogue, Vietnam’s concerned agencies and Chinese businesses would work together to deal with outstanding difficulties and obstacles, thereby boosting bilateral economic and commercial relations.

The forum was held as part of the Vietnam-China Friendship Year 2010 and celebrations to commemorate the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

PM pushes for increased trade ties with Australia

Vietnam spares no effort to boost cooperation with Australia, especially in trade and investment, bringing benefit to both sides, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

At his meeting with former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating in Hanoi on July 15, PM Dung expressed his pleasure at rapid developments in bilateral relations in recent times, praising contributions by Paul Keating in his capacity of Australia’s Prime Minister during the 1991-96 period to promoting bilateral cooperation in many areas.

PM Dung asked Paul Keating to hurry the Australian government into funding construction of Cao Lanh bridge in southern Vietnam and supporting the Thang Long royal citadel as UNESCO’s heritage site.

Regarding cooperation between ASEAN and its partners, PM Dung stressed that Vietnam, like other ASEAN countries, always wants to build a community of peace and development. Vietnam hails new mechanisms for building peace, stability and development in the region, the PM said.

The former Australian PM expressed his hope that Vietnam, as ASEAN Chair, would accelerate expansion of cooperation among regional countries, especially the building of new mechanisms for cooperation between ASEAN and non-bloc partners, including Australia.

He said Australian companies wished to cooperate in producing aluminium and constructing a railway for transportation and consumption of aluminium products.

Vietnam makes laws to take care of people’s health

Vietnam has been building laws to mobilise resources for the country’s heathcare sector to perform effectively.

Vice Chairperson of the National Assembly Tong Thi Phong made the statement at the 6 th annual conference of parliaments’ women leaders that took place in Berne , Switzerland for the first time on July 16.

The heath care sector has developed from local to central levels over the past decades, said Phong, while affirming Vietnam ’s consistent policies to develop the economy in line with social equality and people’s heath care is one of the issues given top priority.

The two-day conference was hosted by the Swiss Parliament and the International Parliamentary Union (IPU).

The conference that drew the participation of 25 women leaders of parliaments in Asia, Europe and Africa discussed issues related to the protection of mothers and infants and the role of parliaments’ leaders as well as women legislators in this issue.

Sports Minister keen on S African experience

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh held talks with high-profile officials in South Africa to learn experiences from a successful World Cup-2010 host during his visit from July 9-12.

During his meeting with Minister of Sport and Recreation Makhenkesi Stofile, Anh expressed wishes for stronger relations in sports after congratulating South Africa for successfully hosting the world’s biggest football event.

He invited the minister and a football team from South Africa to attend the Hanoi millennium anniversary in October.

Stofile assured Anh of South Africa’s willingness to share its rich experiences in sports training and management, which have led to numerous high achievements, with Vietnam as it did with other African countries.

During his four-day stay, the Vietnamese minister also met with Minister of Arts and Culture Lulu Xingwana to discuss measures for promoting bilateral relations in culture./.

PV