HCM City boost cooperation with German State

Ho Chi Minh City and the German State of Sachsen
want to lift bilateral cooperation to a new height that matches their potential.

This was announced by Chairman of HCM City People’s
Committee Le Hoang Quan and Sachsen Governor Stanislaw Tillich at a meeting in
HCM City on March 30.
They said the two localities have opportunities, potential and demand for
cooperation in many fields, especially in education and the environment.
Governor Stanislaw Tillich affirmed that his state is willing to help Vietnam,
particularly HCM City, develop in areas of its strength.
He spoke of the two localities’ plan to cooperate in opening a master degree
course on business management for small and medium-sized enterprises, and waste
treatment research in Vietnam.
The Governor said during his current visit, many Sachsen environmental companies
have offered their advanced technology and sought opportunities for cooperation
and business with partners in HCM City.
During the Sachsen Governor’s visit to the city, Saigon University and Germany’s
international association on environmental protection and technology (Saxutec)
signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation to study and apply solid
waste treatment technology.
Under the MoU, Saxutec will help train Vietnamese environmental lecturers in
Germany, transfer technology, cooperate in scientific research and invest in
research labs and treatment of solid waste.

Dutch ambassador honoured for contributions

Photo: Vietnam+

The Vietnamese ambassador to the Netherlands Huynh
Minh Chinh on March 29 presented the Friendship Order to Kitty van der Heijden,
former Head of the UN Resident Coordinator Office in Vietnam.

Speaking at the ceremony, ambassador Chinh
praised Ms. Heijden’s contribution to Vietnam’s socio-economic development
during her terms of service (2006-2010) in the country.

The diplomat said she took the initiative to
promote the “One UN” initiative in Vietnam and align the UN organisations in
supporting Vietnam.

She also worked very closely with Vietnamese
ministries and agencies to implement the Millennial Development Goals and boost
the integration of economic restructuring, poverty reduction, HIV/AIDS
prevention, and the solutions to newly-emerging problem in Vietnam.

Ms. Heijden, who is now a sustainable development
ambassador and Director of Department of Climate, Environment, Energy and Water
under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed thanks for
Vietnam’s recognition and her confidence in the country’s development prospects.

She is committed to making greater contributions
to the development of the Netherlands-Vietnam relationship.

Deputy Chief of the General Staff receives Cambodian
delegation

Lieutenant General Nguyen Song Phi, Deputy Chief of
the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, has received a delegation of
Cambodian citizens, headed by Khun Chin, former Minister of Public Works and
Transport of the Cambodian Government.

The Cambodian delegation is visiting Vietnam at
the invitation of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations.

General Phi said on March 30 that the Vietnamese
army and people always attach great importance to developing ties of unity and
friendship with Cambodia’s army and people.

Bilateral military cooperation has been
especially accelerated since 2005 under the annual protocol signed by the two
ministries of defence.

Khun Chin thanked General Phi for the reception
and extended his deep gratitude to the Vietnam People’s Army for helping
Cambodia escape from the Pol Pot genocide.

He also expressed his belief that the past
achievements of the Cambodian people and armed forces resulted from the
solidarity between the two nations and effective assistance from the Vietnamese
people and army.

Laos congratulated for successful Party congress

Politburo member and HCM City Party Committee
Secretary Le Thanh Hai has congratulated Laos on the successful completion of
the 9th National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP).

During a meeting
with visiting Lao Deputy Prime Minister Thoongloun Sisoulith in HCM City on
March 29, Mr Hai emphasized that the success will help the Party and Lao people
attain greater achievements in national construction and development, as well as
contribute to the special friendship between the two Parties, Governments and
peoples.
Mr Sisoulith, who is also head of the LPRP Central Committee’s Commission for
External Relations and Foreign Minister of Laos, expressed his belief that the
special Vietnam-Laos friendship and comprehensive cooperation will continue to
be nurtured and developed by generations of Vietnamese and Lao people. Laos is
expected to attract more investment from Vietnam in the future, he said.

VNN/VOV/VNS