Vietnam, Denmark boost education cooperation

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has proposed Denmark provide official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam to build vocational schools and assist the nation in green development.
The PM made the proposal at a reception given to visiting Danish Education Minister Troels Lund Poulsen in Hanoi on June 30.

PM Dung receives Danish Education Minister Troels Lund Poulsen. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam always considers education a top priority and a driving force for its fast and sustainable development, said Dung.
He said he hoped Denmark would reduce tuitions for Vietnamese students studying in Denmark , provide Vietnamese students with scholarships in the areas of environment and green development and train Vietnamese university teachers.
The PM expressed the belief that the Danish Education Minister’s visit will create a new development step in both countries’ education sector.
He expressed his delight at the fine development of the two countries’ relations in economics, trade, investment, education and training, with two-way trade reaching more than 300 million USD. Denmark is now the seventh largest European investor in Vietnam.
For his part, Minister Poulsen praised Vietnam ’s for its economic development and efforts for education and training, saying that Denmark will assist Vietnam in vocational training and green development.
The minister told the host that both sides agreed to set up a coordination committee to discuss specific cooperation plans, including providing scholarships to Vietnamese students to study in Denmark, building a number of vocational training establishments in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.
During a working session that took place in Hanoi the same day, Vietnamese Education Minister Pham Vu Luan and Poulsen discussed the memorandum of understanding on education and training cooperation signed between the two ministries in December 2010 and other documents on the two countries’ education cooperation.
They agreed that more attention should be paid by both to bring into play the effectiveness of the MoU.
To implement the MoU, Luan proposed the establishment of a joint working group which comprises representatives of both ministries’ relevant agencies and convenes every year.
Luan called for Danish assistance to Vietnam in energy, environment and climate change education through devising and implementing projects in the country.
He also proposed the Danish ministry supply materials and send experts to Vietnam to help in building education output standards and raising teachers’ knowledge.
Poulsen agreed with his Vietnamese counterpart in the establishment of the joint working group. He said Denmark is willing to send experts to assist Vietnam in doctoral training, improving teachers’ capability and vocational training as well as in implementing existing education cooperation projects.
Over the past years, Denmark has sponsored a project on environment education in Vietnam ’s schools, a project on cooperation in environment science between Can Tho University and Aarhus University and a primary fine arts education assistance project.
On this occasion, the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training presented the insignia “For the Cause of Education” to senior expert Joern Skovsgaard of the Danish Education Ministry’s International Secretariat and International Cooperation Director Arne Carlsen of Teachers Training University of Aarhus University.

National Assembly’s Standing Committee approves weapon use ordinance

The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on June 30 approved a draft ordinance on the management and use of weapons, explosives and supporting devices.

The move was made at the final meeting of the 41st session of the committee.

After it takes effect, all individuals and organisations not allowed to own or use weapons, explosives and supporting devices have to declare them and hand them over to authorities.

The NA’s National Defence and Security Committee presented the draft ordinance in six chapters and 38 articles.

The draft regulates the scope of the amendment, user responsibilities, weapons management and licences for military weapons.

It refers to sports weapon users, weapon production and the repair sector - and regulations on managing and using explosive material.

The draft focuses on weapons, explosives and supporting devices used in law enforcement, said chairman of the committee Le Quang Binh.

“In principle, those who are given these instruments should have rights that are closely linked to their obligations and responsibilities,” Binh said.

He also said heavy and modern weapons managed by the Ministry of National Defence should not be covered in the ordinance.

The draft makers also asked the NA Standing Committee to prohibit individuals from owning weapons and the Government would supply a list of prohibited weapons, Binh said.

According to the draft, the ministers of National Defence and Public Security are authorised to license, revoke, and suspend the licensing of transport for industrial explosives.

HCM City marks US Independence Day

A get-together was held in Ho Chi Minh City on June 30 to mark the 235th Independence Day anniversary of the US (July 4).
President of the Vietnam-US Friendship Association Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong said the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and the US continues to be promoted in various fields, including education-training, security-defence, economics, trade and culture.
At present, the US is one of the 10 biggest investors in Vietnam. Two-way trade has constantly increased, hitting 18.3 billion USD in 2010, the highest level since the two countries set up diplomatic ties in 1995.
US Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Le Thanh An praised the contributions of the Ho Chi Minh City Chapter of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations and the Vietnam-US Friendship Association to the development of the Vietnam-US relationship.

Vietnam, China strengthen cooperation in national defence

A delegation from the Vietnam National Defence, led by its director Lieutenant General Vo Tien Trung, is on a working visit to China from June 26 to July 2 at the invitation of the Director of the China National Defence University.

During their stay in Beijing, the Vietnamese delegates held talks with officials from the China National Defence University.

The two sides briefed each other of teaching and research work. They agreed to promote the exchange of visits by senior officials, teachers and researchers of both sides in order to increase mutual understanding and trust.

During their meeting with Senior Lieutenant General Ma Xiaotian, Deputy Chief of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Staff, the Vietnamese guests highlighted the Vietnam-China traditional friendship. The Vietnam People’s Army is willing to cooperate with the Chinese army for mutual benefits, they said.

Senior Lieutenant General Ma Xiaotian expressed hope that the armies of the two countries would boost practical exchanges and cooperation to deepen the national defense relations and contribute to peace, stability, cooperation and development in each country.

While in China, the Vietnamese delegation also visited Chinese artillery brigade No6 and a number of localities, including Shanghai and Xi An.

Vietnam, Venezuela ties see notable progress: Ambassador

Venezuelan Ambassador to Vietnam Jorge Rondon Uzcategui has affirmed that the bilateral relationship between Vietnam and Venezuela has considerably improved over the past five years.

On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Venezuela’s Independence Day (July 5), the Ambassador said the progress in the Venezuela-Vietnam relations can be seen clearly through various meetings between the two countries’ high-ranking leaders, their solidarity and mutual support at international forums and sharing of common views on issues of international community’s concern.
It is also manifested in the establishment of friendship associations, the outcomes of the Joint Committee and the signing of bilateral agreements on cooperation in energy, agriculture, technology, education and culture.
Worthy of note is the founding of the Petromacareo Joint Venture Company, to which the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) contributed 49 percent and the Venezuelan State Oil Group (PDVSA) contributed 51 percent of the capital.
Petromacareo is expected to product its first products in 2012 with an average output of 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day.

Hung Yen taps potential for national industrialisation and modernisation

The northern province of Hung Yen should fully tap its potential for the benefit of national industrialisation and modernisation, said Party Politburo Member Pham Quang Nghi.

Mr Nghi made the statement at a working session with provincial leaders in Hung Yen on June 30.

Hung Yen has plenty of advantages as it is located in the key economic Red River Delta region, next to Hanoi and the northern port city of Hai Phong, he said.

The Party Politburo Member praised Hung Yen’s significant achievements in terms of GDP growth rate, State budget collection, poverty reduction and employment.

He asked Hung Yen to focus on environment protection, job generation, and land management while narrowing the gap between rich and poor. The province should also promote human resource development, ensure cooking security and develop high technology to achieve sustainable growth and boost knowledge-based economy, he insisted.

Mr Nghi also pointed out some shortcomings relating to land acquisition and compensation that requires more transparency and suitable policy.

VNN/VOV/VNA