June’s Consultative Group meeting to focus on macro-economic stability

The World Bank-chaired mid-year Consultative Group meeting of Vietnam donors is set for June 9, 2011 in Ha Tinh City, Ha Tinh Province, to focus on stabilizing the macro-economy and protecting the poor from economic instability, WB said Friday.

Topics for discussions include re-establishing and maintaining macroeconomic stability, protecting the poor from macroeconomic instability, counter corruption and aid effectiveness, WB said in a statement.

Ahead of the meeting, a separate Vietnam Business Forum - a structured and on-going dialogue between the Vietnamese Government and the business community – will be held on Friday, May 27, 2011 in Hanoi, by the World Bank Group’s member - the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in coordination with the Vietnamese Ministry of Planning and Investment.

WB said the business forum would be dedicated to perception of the local investment climate, banking and capital markets, infrastructure, education, manufacturing, distribution, mining and tourism.

OVs in UK honoured for sovereignty protection

Two overseas Vietnamese in the UK have received the “For the Cause of Protecting Sovereignty over the Sea and Islands of Vietnam” insignia for their great contributions to raising help for soldiers on the Truong Sa archipelago.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Thanh Son, Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (COVA), presented the Navy High Command’s insignia to Chung Va Chuan, member of the Executive Board of the Vietnamese Association in the UK, and Pham Minh Nam, President of the Vietnamese Business Association in the UK, at the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK and North Ireland on May 13.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Chung Va Chuan promised to work harder to raise funds for Vietnamese soldiers, especially those who are day and night protecting the fatherland’s sea and islands sovereignty.

On the occasion, Deputy FM Son informed about the Party and State’s new policies, including a policy to allow OVs to buy houses in Vietnam or visa exemption for OVs when returning home.

At present, around 40,000 Vietnamese people are living and working in the UK.

US declassifies war-era ‘Pentagon Papers’

The US government on Thursday announced that it would declassify the famed “Pentagon Papers” relating to its war with Viet Nam.

The papers will be accessible from next month at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library in Yorba Linda, California.

Declassification came 40 years after the leakage of the top secret papers which resulted in massive waves of protest against the war in 1971.

Officially titled “United States-Viet Nam Relations, 1945-1967: A Study Prepared by the Department of Defense,” the report detailed US political and military involvement in Viet Nam from 1945 to 1967. It revealed a greater level of US military involvement in Viet Nam than had been officially made public.

The papers, first published on the front page of the New York Times in 1971, created a major scandal and were deemed instrumental in the decision by then-president Lyndon Johnson to not stand for re-election.

The Times received the document from Daniel Ellsberg, a military analyst employed by the Pentagon at the time.

Indian Lower House Chairwoman visits HCM City

Chairwoman of the Lower House of the Indian Parliament Meira Kumar arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on May 14, beginning a four-day official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong.

In HCM City, the Indian guest met with Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Council Pham Phuong Thao, who expressed her belief that the visit will help strengthen and deepen the long-lasting friendship and strategic cooperation between Vietnam and India .

The visit will not only help tighten the friendship between the two countries and the two parliaments, but also open up cooperation programmes in training legislative officials, as well as boost cooperation between HCM City and Indian localities, she said.

Both host and guest stressed that the long-lasting friendship between Vietnam and India, which was initiated by President Ho Chi Minh and Prime Minister Nehru and fostered by many generations of the two countries’ leaders, has been continuously maintained, consolidated and developed over time, through the ups and downs in the world situation.

They said that the cooperation between HCM City and Kolkta city as well as other Indian localities will be strengthened with more regular cultural and trade exchanges.

The Indian Lower House Chairwoman said she admired Vietnam’s efforts during its national construction and development, especially in poverty reduction. She affirmed that as an ASEAN member, Vietnam, with its strongly developing economy, will always be a top priority in India’s “Look East” policy.

During her stay in HCM City from May 14-15, the Indian Lower House Chairwoman will meet with representatives of the Indian Business Association and the Indian community in the city. She will also visit the Vietnam History Museum , the War Remnants Museum and the Thong Nhat Conference Hall.

Congratulations sent to Singapore’s ruling party

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong yesterday congratulated Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore’s Prime Minister and leader of the People’s Action Party (PAP) for his party’s triumph during parliamentary elections held on May 7.

VN attends UN conference on least-developed countries

A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Doan Xuan Hung attended the 4th United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), held in the Turkish city of Istanbul from May 9-13.

Organised every 10 years in order to discuss measures to promote development assistance to LDCs, the event drew the participation of around 10,000 delegates, including 50 state leaders and Prime Ministers, 10 Vice Presidents, 94 Ministers and leaders from international organisations.

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, President of the European Commission Manuel Barosso and Turkish President Abdullah Gul all stressed that supporting the development of LDCs contributed to creating a more stable, peaceful and prosperous world. They also reminded some developed countries about their indifference to joint international development efforts.

At the event, Deputy Foreign Minister Hung spoke of Viet Nam’s outstanding socio-economic achievements in achieving its Millennium Goals. He also highlighted Viet Nam’s experience in development cooperation.

The Joint Statement and Istanbul Action Programme were both adopted during the conference. The number of LDCs grew from 25 in 1971 to 48 in 2011. Three countries, including Botswana, Mauritius and Cape Verde, have managed to escape poverty to become developing countries.

Viet Nam acknowledges foreign veterans’ support

The people and armed forces of Viet Nam have always acknowledged support from international friends during wartime, especially in the case of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, a Vietnamese general said.

Deputy Defence Minister Lieut Gen Nguyen Chi Vinh received Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian veterans, who assisted Viet Nam during the American war, at a meeting in Ha Noi yesterday.

He said that the Vietnamese people and People’s Army had received wholehearted support from the former Soviet Union and these socialist countries in the fight for national liberation.

Vinh described the visit to Viet Nam as a chance for veterans to witness the war-hit country’s achievements in national defence and construction. He expressed his hopes that veterans would continue to share their combat experience with soldiers from the Viet Nam People’s Army, in order to further enhance mutual understanding, traditional friendship and cooperation between the countries’ people and armies.

Chinese ship violates Vietnam’s sovereignty

The Chinese fisheries administration ship patrolling in the territorial waters of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago is a violation of Vietnam’s sovereignty over the archipelago, representatives of Vietnam’s Foreign Ministry have said.

According to the Chinese Zhanjiang portal, the ship Leizhou 44261 is patrolling in the Hoang Sa archipelago waters from May 5 to 25.

In a recent meeting with the Chinese about this issue, the representatives also said the patrol was disrupting the normal activities of Vietnamese fishermen in their traditional fishing waters and making the situation at sea more complicated.

They also confirmed that Hoang Sa and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos were an inseparable part of Vietnam’s territory.

All unilateral activities by parties in the area without the permission of the Vietnamese State are illegal and worthless, they said.

PM kicks off construction of southern coastal road

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on May 14 issued an order to kick off construction of the Minh Luong-Thu Bay section and the Rach Gia bypass as part of the southern coastal corridor road project in Chau Thanh district, the southern province of Kien Giang.

Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony, PM Dung emphasised the extremely important significance of the project for Kien Giang province in its development.

As part of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) cooperation programme, the project aims to set up an international road linking important economic zones of Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand with other ASEAN countries. It will create conditions for the region’s economic development as well as security and defence, and help reduce poverty for border provinces in southwestern Vietnam.

The 950km-long route, which begins in Thailand’s capital city of Bangkok, runs through Cambodia and finishes in Ca Mau city, will be built at a cost of 398 million USD sourced from preferential loans of the Government of the Republic of Korea and the Asian Development Bank; non-refundable aid of the Australian government and reciprocal capital of the Vietnamese government.

Once operational, the road is expected to facilitate travels and goods circulation in the region and open up possibilities for exporting goods to Cambodia through the Ha Tien International Border Gate in Kien Giang province.

Together with the HCM City-Trung Luong expressway, Can Tho and Rach Mieu Bridges, Southern Hau River and Quan Lo-Phung Hiep routes, the southern coastal corridor route will form an extensive and uninterrupted road system that helps the Mekong Delta take off.

Leaders extend greetings on Buddha birth anniversary

A delegation led by Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, Vice Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee visited the southern office of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha Central Committee to meet with members of the Executive Board of the Sangha on May 13, to greet them on the 2555th birth anniversary of Lord Buddha.

The delegation consisted of representatives from the municipal Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee and the Fatherland Front.

At the meeting, the Most Venerable Thich Tu Nhon, Vice Chairman of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha said the Vietnamese Buddhists were thankful to the consideration shown towards their religious activities, both by the city as well as throughout the country.

The Vietnamese Buddhists monks, nuns and disciples always believed in doing good for society and standing shoulder to shoulder with the whole nation to boost socio-economic development.

Ms Ha extended her best wishes to Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns and disciples and expressed her appreciation of their participation in social activities, especially in cultural, healthcare and charitable programmes, which have significantly contributed to national development.

She also hailed the contributions made by Buddhists towards municipal construction and expressed her thanks to the municipal Buddhist dignitaries who encouraged monks, nuns and followers to work harder towards municipal socio-economic development.

Governor-General of Australia visits RMIT in HCMC

Ms Quentin Bryce, Governor-General of Australia, paid a visit to the RMIT International University campus in district 7 while on her visit to HCMC on May 12.

Ms Bryce praised the “courageous and determined pioneers” who had created new opportunities for women through improved education, saying that as a woman who had grown up in an isolated rural area, she had “stood on the shoulders” of people who had worked to create new opportunities for better education and better lives for others who were traditionally less privileged.

She described her own education as a “gift of love” from her parents to help her achieve her dreams, engage with the world and understand her responsibilities.

Ms Bryce said RMIT Vietnam and other Australian universities were together ‘proud contributors’ in helping build skills of youth in Vietnam and giving positive support to the Vietnam Government’s education reform agenda.

During her visit, Ms Bryce met with students in an informal ‘Question and Answer’ session, in which she answered student questions on a wide range of topics – including the role of the Governor-General in the Australian political system.

The Governor-General said her visit ti RMIT was a wonderful opportunity to see firsthand the work of a great Australian institution.

RMIT Vietnam currently has more than 6,000 enrolled students and has produced more than 2500 graduates during its 10 years since establishing. It provides undergraduate programs in commerce, IT, business information systems, accountancy, multimedia design, professional communication, marketing and masters in MBA and Engineering programs. More programs are in the pipeline, all aimed towards the human resource development needed in Vietnam.

Party official greets former Soviet veterans

Truong Tan Sang, Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee Secretariat, received a delegation of veterans from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus in Hanoi on May 13.

He hailed the delegation’s visit to Vietnam, affirming it would strengthen and foster the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the people of Vietnam and Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

He expressed thanks from the Party, State and people of Vietnam for the valuable wholehearted support the former Soviet Union’s people, including those of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, gave to the Vietnamese people during their struggle for national liberation and reunification as well as the current national construction and defence.

Sang gave assurances of an unchanging friendship and shared faith between the people of Vietnam and the former Soviet Union, saying this is a valuable treasure that needs to be maintained and promoted for the long-term benefit of the people and the prosperity of each country.

The delegation of veterans praised Vietnam’s great achievements and recalled memories of comrades with whom they stood shoulder to shoulder as well as sentiments between former Soviet Union experts and advisors and the Vietnamese army and people during Vietnam’s struggle against the US aggressors.

The delegation informed Mr Sang about the activities of the war veterans associations in their countries that helped Vietnam during the war, including coordinating with Vietnamese agencies to introduce the Southeast Asian nation, thereby boosting friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam among the younger generations in countries that belonged to the former Soviet Union.

Ireland, Vietnam boost trade cooperation

The embassy of Ireland and the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam held a seminar entitled “Irish Businesses – Southeast Asia” in Ho Chi Minh City on May 13.

With the twin themes of “Ireland: Lessons Learned and The Road to Recovery” and “Doing Business in Southeast Asia”, the event introduced Ireland’s stable socio-economic situation, highly skilled workforce, strong corporate culture and effective public services to help Irish businesses seek cooperation with Vietnamese and Southeast Asian partners.

A representative from Ireland’s Glandore Systems software company said that with its positive investment environment, Vietnam has become a destination for Irish businesses to survey the market and seek investment and cooperation opportunities.

He said Glandore Systems had cooperated with TMA Solutions, Vietnam’s second-largest software company, to develop large-scale projects and attract European customers.

Nguyen Trung Tin, Deputy Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee said that Ho Chi Minh City has attracted investments from large corporations across the world such as Intel and First Solar, and leading European enterprises like HSBC, Philips, Robert Bosch and Unilever.

He said he hoped that through this event, Ho Chi Minh City would receive a number of Irish investors and Vietnam-Ireland trade will improve for the mutual benefit of both sides in the future.

Vietnam respects foreign war veterans’ assistance

The Vietnamese people and armed forces always respect the assistance of international friends, including those from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus during its national struggle for independence, said Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh.

General Vinh, who is also Deputy Minister of Defence, emphasised this at a reception for war veteran delegations from Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus who are on a visit to Vietnam at the invitation of the Ministry of National Defence.

Thousands of military experts and advisors from socialist countries had been sent to Vietnam to help the country in its resistance war against the US, he noted.

The General expressed his hope that the war veteran would further contribute to promoting the traditional relationship between Vietnam and their countries.