Vietnam expresses concern over Egypt’s situation

Vietnam closely follows recent developments in Egypt and wishes that the Egyptian situation would be stable soon.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nguyen Phuong Nga made this statement while answering reporters’ questions on Vietnam’s response to the recent situation in Egypt on February 8.

The unstable situation in Egypt began on January 25 with a series of demonstrations, acts of civil disobedience, riots and violent clashes over the lack of work, rising cooking prices and the regime of President Hosni Mubarak.

Politburo announces top posts

Truong Tan Sang, a Politburo member and Standing member of the Secretariat of the Party Central Committee, this morning announced the Politburo’s decision to assign Politburo member To Huy Rua as Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Organization, to replace Mr. Ho Duc Viet.

Mr. Dinh The Huynh, Politburo member and Editor-in-Chief of the Nhan Dan (People) newspaper, was appointed to the post of Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission of Propaganda and Education, to replace Mr. Rua.

Later the same day, Mr. Thuan Huu, Standing Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan Newspaper, was promoted to the post of the newspaper’s Editor-in-Chief, in replacement of Mr. Dinh The Huynh, according to a Politburo decision announced by Mr. Rua.

Ambassador to Vietnam becomes 1st vice FM

New vice foreign minister Park Suk-hwan President Lee Myung-bak on Tuesday named Korea’s Ambassador to Vietnam Park Suk-hwan as the first vice foreign minister in a reshuffle that also replaced four other vice-ministerial posts and three presidential secretaries.

Park, 56, a career diplomat, entered the foreign ministry in 1979 and has since worked mostly in Asian affairs. His previous posts overseas were mainly in Japan and China.

Park also served as chief of protocol before becoming ambassador to Vietnam last year.

Park will replace Shin Kak-soo, who offered to resign last year amid a corruption scandal that mired the ministry.

In other replacements of vice-ministerial jobs, Seoul National University professor Lee Don-koo, 65, was named as head of the Korea Forest Service; former weather journalist Cho Seok-joon, 57, as head of the Korea Meteorological Administration; and former National Museum of Korea chief Choe Kwang-shik, 58, as head of the Cultural Heritage Administration.

Seoul National University professor Kim Young-na, 60, was also appointed head of the National Museum.

President Lee also replaced three presidential secretaries, including land and maritime affairs secretary Shin Jong-ho, 51, who was transferred to the post of secretary for regional development.

Presidential spokeswoman Kim Hee-jung said there would be an additional smaller-scale reshuffling of presidential aides later this month.

Vietnam to create best conditions for RoK businesses

Vietnam will create the most favourable conditions for the Republic of Korean (RoK) businesses to invest in Vietnam, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at a meeting with outgoing RoK Ambassador to Vietnam Park Suk Hwan.

At the farewell meeting on February 8, PM Dung expressed his appreciation of the Ambassador’s contributions to the development of Vietnam-Rok strategic partnership.

Vietnam is happy with the development of the two countries’ relations in various fields such as politics, diplomacy, economics, trade, investment, tourism, culture, and education and training, he said.

However, PM Dung said, the achievements are not on a par with the two countries’ potential. He asked the RoK to work closely with Vietnam and continue providing Vietnam with official development assistance (ODA) as well as create better conditions for Vietnamese workers in the RoK.

Ambassador Park Suk Hwan conveyed his best wishes for PM Dung and Vietnamese people on the occasion of the Tet holiday and congratulated the country on its socio-economic achievements in 2010, especially on its fulfillment of the 2010 ASEAN chairmanship.

On behalf of the RoK Government, he expressed thanks for Vietnam’s policies as ASEAN chair on the denuclearization in the Korean Peninsula. He also promised to make more effort to contribute to promoting the RoK-Vietnam relationships.

The RoK is now the second biggest foreign investor in Vietnam with a total capital of US$23 billion.

Vietnam calls for peace negotiation over temple dispute

Vietnam has called on Cambodia and Thailand to deal with a conflict along the shared border near Preah Vihear temple through peaceful negotiations on the basis of fundamental principles of the international law and the UN Charter.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nguyen Phuong Nga made this statement on February 7 while answering a query regarding the recent conflict at the area near the Preah Vihear temple, situated along the Thailand-Cambodia border.

The negotiations should also be based on ASEAN friendship and solidarity, for the interest of the two countries’ people, and for peace, stability and cooperation in the region and the world at large, Nga said.

“As an ASEAN member, Vietnam shows its deep concern about the conflict and calls on the two countries to exercise self refrain so as not to make the situation more complicated,” said the spokesperson.

Military Zone No 7 High Command meets

The High Command of Military Zone No 7, the Military Commission of the Party Central Committee and the Ministry of Defense held a get-together of retired commanders on February 7 to celebrate the Lunar New Year festival.

The meeting was attended by Phung Thanh Quang, Politburo member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, General, Minister of National Defence, leaders from Ho Chi Minh City’s High Command, and over 400 senior officials from nine provinces and cities in the military zone.

At the meeting, commanders heard reports on the success of the 11th National Party Congress, and the country’s achievements in security and national defense. They also expressed delight at the country’s socio-economic development last year and believed that the success of the 11th National Party Congress will raise Vietnam to new heights.

General Phung Thanh Quang highlighted the contributions of retired commanders to the cause of national construction and defense in the past. He expressed belief that the commanders will uphold the good virtues of Uncle Ho’s soldiers and play an important part in building the political system of the locality.

Mr Quang also spoke highly of active contributions made by war veterans and hoped that they will take care of their health, promote the tradition of Uncle’s Ho’s soldiers, and continue to contribute to the Party and State in building socialism in Vietnam.

President visits HCM City’s top businesses over Tet

State President Nguyen Minh Triet said he was extremely pleased at the development of the Asia Commercial Bank (ACB) while visiting the bank on February 8, the sixth day of the Lunar New Year.

The bank has become the fifth largest bank in Vietnam’s banking network and is one of the largest commercial banks in Ho Chi Minh City.

The President said he believed that with its advantages in capital and its professionalism, the bank would develop faster and stronger and gradually expand to penetrate regional and global markets.

In the context that producers are facing difficulties raising capital, President Triet asked the banks to ensure enough capital for production and business at reasonable interest rates, which will contribute to the country’s development.

ACB President Tran Xuan Gia and General Director Ly Xuan Hai promised to turn ACB into the fourth largest bank in Vietnam in the next five years.

When visiting the Saigon Trade Cooperative, President Triet asked the business to open more new supermarkets, not only in urban areas but also in mountainous and remote areas, providing high quality goods at reasonable and stable prices.

The President also visited the Saigon Jewellery Holding Company and the Vietnam Export-Import Commercial Joint Stock Bank, wishing them a strong and sustainable future.

Later the same day, Deputy Permanent Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung visited the Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry in Hanoi.

On behalf of workers in the agricultural sector, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat thanked the Deputy PM, saying the sector will do its best to achieve a yearly growth of 4.5-5 percent in production value with an output of 39 million tonnes of rice, while ensuring enough rice for domestic use and 6 million tonnes for export.