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Nam, Myanmar seek to expand multifaceted ties
Viet Nam
and Myanmar expressed their wish to expand co-operation and exchange in various
fields at the opening of the seventh meeting of the Viet Nam-Myanmar Joint
Committee on Sunday. During
the five-day meeting, the two sides aim to review the implementation of
high-ranking agreements, including those reached at the sixth meeting of the
joint committee in 2008. Major
co-operative fields between the two nations include economy, commerce,
investment, animal husbandry, forestry, mineral exploitation, fisheries, tourism
and post and telecommunications. Deputy
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu said Viet Nam
wished to promote exchanges with Myanmar by exempting entry visas to create
favourable conditions for further exchanges, particularly among business people
and investors. Viet Nam
proposed Myanmar to develop policies that would encourage Vietnamese businesses
to invest in Myanmar, particularly while Myanmar is in need of things such as
post and telecommunications, construction, agricultural mechanism and fertiliser,
which are some of Viet Nam’s strengths, she said. Myanmar
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs U Maung Myint said the potential co-operation
between the two countries remained high and the two sides should further develop
their co-operation more effectively, particularly in economy, commerce, and
investment. He asked
Viet Nam to send experts to Myanmar to help with aquaculture, and Deputy
Minister Thu responded by agreeing to send experts to help study aquaculture
exploitation and added that Viet Nam was also willing to receive experts from
Myanmar to learn about their experiences in this sector. Thu said
Viet Nam ranked third in the world in terms of fisheries exports and was
expected to reap US$4.8 billion from the industry this year. The two
sides said they expected this meeting would contribute to boosting the effective
co-operative relations between the two countries.
Vietnam leaders convey condolences to Cambodia on
disaster
Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh and State
President Nguyen Minh Triet on November 23 sent messages of condolence to
Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni over the recent disaster in the country that
killed hundreds of people.
The same day, PM Nguyen Tan Dung cabled a message of
condolence to his counterpart HunSen and National Assembly chairman Nguyen Phu
Trong extended sympathy to President of the Senate Chea Sim and President of
National Assembly Heng Samrin.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem also sent condolences
to Cambodian Deputy PM cum FM Hor Namhong.
In the messages, Vietnamese leaders expressed their deepest sympathies to
Cambodian leaders and victims’ families.
The accident took place at an annual water festival in the Cambodian capital
city of Phnom Penh, killing over 300 people and leaving hundreds of others
injured.
Vietnam concerned about artillery strike on Korean
peninsula
Vietnam is deeply concerned about an artillery
strike on the on November 23, a spokesperson for the Foreign
Ministry said.
Spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga expressed concern over
the situation the same day in reply to a reporter’s query on Vietnam’s reaction
to the firing.
She said, “Vietnam protests against all acts of violence or threats to use force
in international relations and all military actions that cause losses for
innocent civilians”.
“Vietnam hopes that the parties concerned will exert efforts for peace and
stability on the Korean peninsula and settle their disputes through peaceful
negotiations,” Nga said.
UAE wants to build strategic co-operative relations
with Vietnam
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) wants to establish
long-term co-operation with Vietnam, especially in agriculture.
State President Nguyen Minh Triet in
Hanoi on November 24 received the UAE Minister of Economy, Sultan bin Saeed al-Mansouri,
who is on-going visit to Vietnam to attend the first meeting of the joint
commission for bilateral co-operation between the two governments. Mr Triet affirmed Vietnam highly
valued the UAE’s role in the world and plans to expand co-operation with other
countries, including the UAE which possess great financial potential. He pointed out Vietnam has abundant
human resources which can meet the increasing demand for foreign investors. The
UAE’s strengths, such as infrastructure building, energy, industry and services,
match Vietnam’s requirements for development. Similarly, Mr Triet said Vietnam
was willing to help UAE ensure cooking security, therefore, the two countries
should step up exchange visits to seek cooperation and investment opportunities. Minister Mansouri said the UAE has
strengthened investments in Vietnam in industry, infrastructure building,
services, energy, seaport buildings, airports and human resources. One important
field that the UAE wants to boost co-operation in with Vietnam is agriculture
because the UAE faces difficulties in agricultural land. Minister Mansouri added
that the UAE was willing to offer scholarships to Vietnamese students.
Vietnam, Norway hold political consultations
State Secretary to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Erik Lahnstein and Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Thanh Son conducted
the fourth session of Vietnam-Norway political consultations for 2010 in Hanoi
on November 24.
This meeting is held every year to
discuss ways of promoting bilateral relations and international and regional
issues of common concern between the two countries. Deputy Foreign Minister Son briefed
Mr Lahnstein on Vietnam’s socio-economic status while saying the country
maintained a high growth rate of 6.7 percent in 2010. The Vietnamese Government
has devised six major solutions to ensure growth with a focus on improving the
investment environment, stabilising the macro economy and boosting agriculture
and rural development comprehensively and sustainably, he said. He said the focus was also on
increasing the efficiency of State management, enhancing administrative reform,
revamping market economy institutions, creating a stable business environment,
ensuring political stability and actively joining the international economic
integration. Vietnam attaches great importance to
its relations with Norway and praises its assistance and support to Vietnam at
bilateral and multilateral forums. These have provided a good foundation for
both countries to expand relations and also helped Vietnam fulfill its tasks as
a non-permanent member at the UN Security Council and ASEAN Chair. For his part, Mr Erik said his
country plans cooperation with Vietnam in various fields and applauded Vietnam’s
achievements in promoting socio-economic development and implementing Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs). Over the past years, relations
between Vietnam and Norway have grown and flourished in areas such as politics,
economics, culture and social affairs. Norway has actively assisted Vietnam in
poverty reduction, international integration and issues related to democracy,
human rights and religion in the spirit of cooperation and construction. The two
sides have cooperated effectively at international forums in the UN, the WTO and
the WB. At this session, they agreed to
maintain exchange visits by senior delegations and cooperation mechanisms
between the two foreign ministries. During the Vietnam visit, Mr
Lahnstein met with Vietnamese ministries and sectors and visited the Hanoi
National University and some historical sites.
Vietnam-Thailand relations see positive developments
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Ngo Duc Thang
presented his credentials to Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej on November 23 through
Crown Prince Maha Vajiralngkorn.
At a reception for Mr Thang, the
Thai Crown Prince conveyed King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s letter to him. The Thai
King praised the friendship between Vietnam and Thailand and believed that
bilateral cooperation in various fields at bilateral and regional levels will
bring current relations to a higher level. His majesty’s letter stated this will
bring stability, happiness and long-term peace to both countries and regional
neighbours as well as the international community. Ambassador Thang conveyed greetings
and best wishes from State President Nguyen Minh Triet to the Thai King and
Queen and other members of the Thai royal family. Mr Thang expressed his delight at
the strong and rapid developments of bilateral relations with two-way trade
turnover reaching US$ 6.2 billion in 2009 and an estimate of US$10 billion in
the future. On investment, Thailand has run 216
valid projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of US$5.7 billion. Ambassador Thang said Vietnam hopes
to receive valuable support and effective assistance from the Thai Government
and its people. He also said he wished neighbourliness and friendship will grow
further for the two peoples’ benefit, stability, stability and cooperation in
Southeast Asia.
HCM City set to train Lao students
HCM City is willing to train students from Laos’
Xieng Khouang province to develop its human resources, a municipal leader said.
Le Hoang Quan, Chairman of the HCM
City People’s Committee, made the statement while receiving Somkot Mangnomek,
Governor of the Xieng Khouang province on November 23.
He also expressed his willingness to share information and development
experiences with the Lao province.
“HCM City will do its utmost to cooperate and assist Lao localities”, said the
Chairman, who is also a Party Central Committee member and Vice Secretary of the
municipal Party Committee.
The Xieng Khouang official thanked HCM City for supplying of cow and goat
varieties and training human resources for his locality.
Since 2008, HCM City and the Saigon Invest Group have invested in Xieng Khouang
province.
Somkot Mangomek, who is also Secretary of the provincial Party Committee,
affirmed that the Lao locality is interested in investment cooperation with
Vietnam. So far, Xieng Khouang has
established sisterhood ties with the central province of Nghe An and the
northern mountainous province of Son La. It also plans to be paired with the
Mekong delta province of Vinh Long.
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