Vietnam’s public security delegation visits Cambodia

A high-ranking delegation from the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security (MPS), led by Minister General Le Hong Anh is on a two-day visit to Cambodia from February 18-19.

The delegation was received by Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Cambodia.

After informing each other of the socio-economic situation of each countries, the two ministers signed a co-operation plan for 2011 which aims to strengthen effectiveness in combating crime and ensuring social order and security as well as support each other in training staff and using technical equipment.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Minister Le Hong Anh said that co-operative ties between Vietnam’s MPS and Cambodia’s relevant agencies have made important progress which contributed greatly to the political and socio-economic development of both countries.

He also said he hoped the co-operation plan for 2011 would be effectively carried out, contributing to the national construction and development process of each country.

Speaking highly of the outcomes in co-operation between the two public security forces, Deputy PM Sar Kheng also expressed his belief in the successes of bilateral co-operation in the future.

In the afternoon the same day, the Vietnamese delegation paid a courtesy visit to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Vietnam addresses session on UNHRC review

Vietnam supports the rationale, principles and targets of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism introduced by the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC), reported a Vietnamese diplomat.

The country is also flexible about the schedule for the UPR sessions to help other nations have more time to implement previously agreed proposals, said Ambassador Vu Dung, Vietnam’s Permanent Representative to the UN, the WTO and other international organisations in Geneva, at the Inter-governmental Working Group’s second session on the Council’s review on February 17.

He stressed on the need to focus on carrying out the agreed proposals as well as new developments on the state of human rights at the UPR session as well as during following sessions.

The Ambassador suggested that UPR documents need to have clear guidelines approved by the Council.

He also stressed that it was essential to have detailed regulations on the governance and disbursement of the Voluntary Trusts Funds as well as the Voluntary Fund for Financial and Technical Assistance, saying they need to be developed in time to ensure the effectiveness of the operations whilst also being transparent.

The Council review would help to increase understanding between countries and pointed out what needs to be done at present and in the future as well as what cannot be done, said the ambassador.

He said he believed that co-operation and constructive dialogue are vital for the Council, adding that although there are many differences, countries can still work together based on the spirit of mutual understanding and respect.

Also during the session, the Vietnamese diplomat expressed his support for the speeches delivered by representatives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Non-Aligned Movement.

Cuba publishes book on President Ho Chi Minh

A book entitled “Ho Chi Minh – a patriot, 60 years of revolutionary struggling” was launched by the Cuban Science and Society Publishing House on February 16 within the framework of the 2011 Havana International Book Fair.

The 250-page book, written by former Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Julio Garcia Oliveras, is about the life and work of President Ho Chi Minh and the heroic struggles against foreign invaders of the Vietnamese people.

Julio Garcia Oliveras finished the book in 2010 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Cuba and Vietnam and the 80th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

The same day, the Cuban Science and Society Publishing House made public the Spanish version of “The Diary of Dang Thuy Tram”.

Dang Thuy Tram was a Vietnamese enthusiastic girl who was willing to sacrifice herself for her motherland during the US war in Vietnam.

Vietnam follows developments in Sudan and Egypt

Vietnam respects the Sudanese people’s decision on the creation of an independent south and desires to continue friendship and co-operation with both regions of Sudan.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nguyen Phuong Nga affirmed that stance at the ministry’s regular meeting in Hanoi on February 17, while answering reporters’ questions on Vietnam’s response to the results of the referendum in Sudan from January 9-15 on the independence of the country’s southern region.

On Vietnam’s response to recent developments in Egypt, sspokesperson Nga said that Vietnam was closely following the situation in Egypt and hoped that with efforts made by the Egyptian authorities and people, the country would stabilise and continue to develop.

“We believe that the friendship and co-operation between Vietnam and Egypt will continue to flourish in the future,” she said.

Vietnam moves to enhance Internet development

The Internet is developing strongly in Vietnam and the country always creates favourable conditions for Internet activities, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nguyen Phuong Nga.

Spokesperson Nga made this statement while answering reporters’ questions on Vietnam’s response to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s speech at the George Washington University on February 15 on Internet freedom, mentioning Vietnam, at the ministry’s regular meeting in Hanoi on February 17.

According to spokesperson Nga, by December 2010, the number of Internet users in Vietnam had reached nearly 26.8 million, accounting for 31.11% of the country’s population. More than 1.5 million had their own blogs.

However, like other countries, all information on the Internet must abide by the law so that it does not affect the country’s customs, social morality, public order and national security, said the spokesperson.

“In Vietnam, the freedom and democratic rights of all people, including freedom of information and speech, are clearly written in the constitution and law, and are assured to be carried out,” spokesperson Nga affirmed.

In Vietnam, all citizens are protected by the law but at the same time they must respect the law, she said, adding that any person who violates the law would be treated justly under the legal regulations.

“We believe that in relations among countries, every difference should be exchanged in a constructive spirit of mutual respect and understanding, with no intervention in each other’s internal affairs,” spokesperson Nga stressed.

PM meets Ambassadors of Singapore, Denmark

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung separately met with Ambassadors Simon Wong Wie Kuen of Singapore and John Nielsen of Denmark in Hanoi on February 16.

In a meeting with Ambassador Simon Wong Wie Kuen, PM Dung expressed thanks for contributions made by the Prime Minister of Singapore to success in 2010 when Vietnam held the ASEAN Chair.

PM Dung expressed his pleasure with development in the countries’ trade over the past year, hoping for more achievements in bilateral co-operation in the future.

The PM applauded the Singaporean leaders’ views for peace, stability in the region and on the East Sea, and asked both governments to continue maintaining a dialogue mechanism on security, politics and diplomacy.

He spoke highly of the Ambassador’s efforts to promote co-operation programmes and projects between the two countries.

He said he wanted the Ambassador and his Embassy to continue to work closely with Vietnamese agencies for the goal of boosting the nations’ ties in all areas, bringing benefits and prosperity for both peoples.

While in a meeting with Danish Ambassador John Nielsen, PM Dung said the year 2011 marks 40 years since the establishment of Vietnam-Denmark diplomatic ties.

He said he hoped the Danish government continues to provide Official Development Assistance (ODA) to Vietnam, especially capital to help the Southeast Asian nation respond to climate change.

He also said he hoped the ambassador, who recently took office in Vietnam, would make more contributions to the two countries’ relations, particularly on the occasion of both sides celebrating the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

PM Dung expressed his belief that with effort on both sides, bilateral co-operation would unceasingly develop in political, diplomatic and economic fields, bringing benefits to both nations and increasing understanding between the two peoples.

He reminded both sides of the need to boost co-operation in education, human resource training, culture and sea transport, along with existing projects.

Ambassador Nielsen pledged to do his best to increase bilateral co-operative relations in the political, diplomatic, educational, commercial and cultural fields.

The year 2011 is an important year in the two countries’ diplomatic history, he said, adding that the Crown Prince will lead a delegation of leading Danish companies to seek opportunities for co-operation, especially in clean technology, energy and seacooking, in Vietnam this year.

As a WTO member, Vietnam is attractive for Danish investors, he said, affirming the number of Danish businesses in Vietnam would increase in the future, from an existing 120 firms.

Site of second Party Congress to be preserved

The northern mountainous province of Tuyen Quang has put into action a project to preserve the relic area where took place the second National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s (CPV).

The second National Party Congress, which was held in Tuyen Quang forest from February 11-19, 1951, was the first Party congress ever held in the country. It was a huge move forward as it occurred during the war of resistance against the French colonialists. The first congress was held in Macau, China in 1935.

The 14-ha project covers a conference hall, houses where late President Ho Chi Minh and other leaders lived and worked, a memorial house of fallen combatants and houses for domestic and foreign participants to the meetings.

According to Nguyen Viet Thanh, Director of the province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the department will continue to preserve the relics, which are considered as a ‘red address’ for the education of the younger generation on the country’s revolutionary tradition.

VN opposes China’s military exercise at Hoang Sa

The Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman has raised protest against the recent defence exercise conducted by China’s South Sea Fleet at the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago.

“The military exercise of the Chinese Navy’s South Sea Fleet at Hoang Sa archipelago seriously violated Vietnam’s sovereignty over the archipelago, went counter to the ASEAN-China Declaration of the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and negatively affected peace and stability in the region,” said spokeswoman Nguyen Phuong Nga.

Nga made this statement while answering reporters’ queries about Vietnam’s reaction to the February 3 defence exercise of China’s South Sea Fleet as reported by China Radio International two days later.

“Vietnam requests China to put an end to all actions that violate Vietnam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa archipelago, not to let similar affairs occur in the future and join concerned parties to strictly implement DOC, thus helping to maintain peace and stability in the East Sea,” the spokeswoman stressed.

Ethnic minority people return from Cambodia

Ten ethnic minority people from the Central Highlands region of Vietnam were repatriated from Cambodia through the Bavet-Moc Bai border gate Wednesday with UNHCR representatives as witnesses.

The handover of the ethnic minority people was conducted in line with the tripartite agreement previously signed by Vietnam , Cambodia and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), as well as laws of both Vietnam and Cambodia .

These people were then received and assisted by authorities of the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai to reintegrate into the community and stabilise their lives.

The same day, Cambodia officially closed its temporary camp in Phnom Penh on schedule with the previous Cambodian government announcement on December 7, 2010.

The decision was in accordance with the current situation and contributed to the enhancement of cooperation in the future.

Vietnam welcomes Cambodia’s camp closure

The Vietnamese Government highly values the Cambodian Government’s closure of its Phnom Penh temporary camp for ethnic minority people of the Central Highlands of Vietnam, in accordance with the schedule Cambodia had previously announced, said a spokesperson from the Vietnamese Foreign Ministry.

FM spokesperson Nguyen Phuong Nga told reporters Wednesday, “the Vietnamese State always prioritizes promoting socio-economic development in remote and mountainous areas in order to improve the life of ethnic minorities, including those in the Central Highlands, in all aspects.”

She went on to say, that “in reality, the Central Highlands has been one of the regions that have enjoyed a high economic growth rate and the life of ethnic minorities in all fields has been further improved over recent years.

“Ethnic minority people who returned from Cambodia were not discriminated against but have always been assisted to stabilise their life and reintegrate into the community,” she added.

“The Vietnamese Government highly values the Cambodian Government’s close collaboration with Vietnam and the United Nations Agency for Refugees (UNHCR) over the recent past in settling the number of people in the temporary camp on the basis of the tripartite Memorandum of Understanding signed on Jan. 25, 2005 and its closure of the temporary camp on schedule as it had announced,” said the Vietnamese spokesperson.

Wednesday, Vietnam received the remaining 10 ethnic minority people of the Central Highlands and returned them safely to their locality, where measures have been taken to reintegrate them, she added.

Celebrating second National Party Congress 60th anniversary

A ceremony was held in northern Tuyen Quang province on February 19 to mark the 60th anniversary of the second National Party Congress (February 1951-February 2011).

Former State President Tran Duc Luong, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) and Head of the CPVCC’s Mass Mobilisation Commission Ha Thi Khiet, and Politburo Member and CPVCC Secretary Dinh The Huynh, who is also Head of the CPVCC’s Information and Education Commission, as well as leaders and representatives from central ministries, agencies and neighbouring provinces attended the event.

Prior to the ceremony, the delegates offered incense to commemorate late President Ho Chi Minh at his relic site and visited a number of historical relics in Kim Binh.

Addressing the ceremony, Tuyen Quang provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Sang Vang stressed the significance of the second National Party Congress in February 1951, which adopted many important Party documents, including the Party’s declaration, political platform and new regulations.

President Ho’s political report and the report of former Party General Secretary Truong Chinh highlighted the goals and orientations of the Political Platform, with the aim of combating foreign invaders to bring back national independence and unification for Vietnam and protect the world peace.

The 2nd National Party Congress renamed the Party the Labour Party of Vietnam, and selected President Ho Chi Minh as the Party Chairman and Truong Chinh as Party General Secretary. It also decided to organise the Revolutionary Party in Laos and Cambodia to help these two countries in their struggle for national independence.

The 2nd Congress played a vital role in ensuring the success of the nation’s struggle against the French aggressors, building a people’s democratic administration, and laying the foundation for socialism.

Accordingly, infrastructure was developed, policies on socio-economic development and new rural areas were implemented, and people’s daily lives improved dramatically.

On behalf of the Party and State, Dinh The Huynh affirmed the historical significance of the second Congress and praised the great contributions by Tuyen Quang province’s Party members and people to protecting and serving the Party during the fiercest time of Vietnam’s revolutionary history.

He also praised Tuyen Quang’s efforts to implement poverty reduction programmes and build new rural areas, and called for the whole province to strive to achieve the targets of the socio-economic development plan in 2011 and over the next five years. Priority should be given to developing human resources and increasing the quality of education and training to contribute to the cause of national development, he added.

Vinh Long should focus on developing industry

Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat, Truong Tan Sang had a working session with Vinh Long provincial leaders on February 18.

At the meeting, he praised the province’s efforts to overcome difficulties and stressed that Vinh Long should transform its economic structure to focus primarily on developing industry as it currently only contributes 20 percent of the province’s total GDP.

Completing industrial zones will help generate jobs for the workers in the province and raise income and the industrial ratio, he added.

Resources should be mobilised to boost infrastructure development and give priority to key projects.

Vinh Long should also pay attention to urban planning and management and aim to become a modernised province by 2015.

It should enhance the capacity of its human resources to align with the provincial plan for socio-economic development and boost the macro-economy, by combining sustainable production and environmental protection.

The province should put the National Party Congress resolution into action and prepare well for the upcoming National Assembly and People’s Council election.

Vietnam’s public security delegation visits Cambodia

A high-ranking delegation from the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security (MPS), led by Minister Gen. Le Hong Anh is on a two-day visit to Cambodia from February 18-19.

The delegation was received by Sar Kheng, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior of Cambodia.

After informing each other of the socio-economic situation of each country, the two ministers signed a cooperation plan for 2011 which aims to strengthen effectiveness in combating crime and ensuring social order and security as well as support each other in training staff and using technical equipment.

Addressing the signing ceremony, Minister Le Hong Anh said that cooperative ties between Vietnam’s MPS and Cambodia’s relevant agencies have made important progress which contributed greatly to the political and socio-economic development of both countries.

He also said he hoped the cooperation plan for 2011 would be effectively carried out, contributing to the national construction and development process of each country.

Speaking highly of the outcomes in cooperation between the two public security forces, Deputy PM Sar Kheng also expressed his belief in the successes of bilateral cooperation in the future.

In the afternoon the same day, the Vietnamese delegation paid a courtesy visit to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Vietnam-Laos friendship enhanced

President of the Confederation of the Overseas Vietnamese Associations in Laos Hoang Dieu on February 17 handed over US$50,000 as a gift to the Lao National War Veteran Association.

The sum was contributed by Le Van Kiem, CEO of the Long Thanh Golf Investment and Business Joint Stock Company, who used to be a Vietnamese volunteer soldier in Laos during the past war.

The money will be used to buy equipment for the Lao National War Veteran Association’s sanatorium and build houses for some of its members.

Earlier, Kiem donated US$100,000 to the construction of a cemetery in Vientiane province for 24 Vietnamese and Lao martyrs, who died in 1946 in Laos. Construction of the cemetery worth US$160,000 is almost completed.

On February 16, Nguyen Trong Duc, Director of the 705 International Cooperation Company, handed over 33 billion Lao kips (over US$4 million) as non-refundable aid from Ho Chi Minh City to Houaphanh province of Laos.

The donation will be used to build new provincial headquarters.