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Home  Vietnam Daily Brief Vietnam Brief, 2010 July 9 |
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Vietnam Brief, 2010 July 9 |
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Friday, 09 July 2010 |
US pianist brings music gift to Da Nang AO victims
New York (VNA) –Quentin Fielding, a US pianist and composer, performed at the Church for All Nations in New York city on July 7 to raise funds for a charity project in the Vietnamese central city of Da Nang.
The event was jointly held by the Japan’s Human Security Association (HSA) and the Vietnamese preservative mission to the United Nations
All proceeds collected from the programme will be used to buy a piano as gift for Agent Orange (AO)/Dioxin victims in Da Nang city with the hope that the power of music would help ease the pain of the AO victims, foster their hope and bring peace of mind for them.
Da Nang city is a “hotspot” where many people and their offspring still suffer from deadly dioxin contained in defoliants sprayed by US troops during the war.
HSA plans to organise a charity concert in Da Nang city on August 29, using donated musical instruments, to mark the 35 th anniversary of the end of the US War in Vietnam.
HSA, a Tokyo and New York based non-profit organisation founded in 2009 by Tomo Nomura, aims to advance human security through the promotion of musical performances and events.-Enditem
Itar-Tass hails Vietnamese Party chief’s upcoming visit
Moscow (VNA) - Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh’s visit to Russia aims to discuss ‘the expansion of Russian-Vietnamese economic and political interaction,” said Russia ’s Itar-Tass news agency.
Itar-Tass also said that the visit is being made at the invitation of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and a high-level Russian-Vietnamese talks will be held on July 9 at the Kremlin.
The Vietnamese Party leader will also meet other Russian leaders, said the news agency.
Both parties expect to sign four cooperation agreements in the oil and gas sector which is a highlight in bilateral cooperation, said Itar-Tass, adding the Vietnamese-Russian joint venture “Vietsovpetro”, has emerged as one of the world’s leading oil companies.
Both parties will also discuss the construction of Vietnam ’s first nuclear power plant in the central province of Ninh Thuan which is expected to begin in 2014 and be commissioned in 2020 as well as tourism.
Itar-Tass said that bilateral trade relations are also rising with reciprocal trade earning 1.7 billion USD in 2009 and expected to reach 3 billion USD this year.
The construction of the Hanoi cultural and business centre in Moscow and the House of Moscow building in Hanoi will also further Russia-Vietnam cooperative ties, it concluded.-Enditem
VN reaffirms determination to fulfill MDGsHanoi (VNA) – Vietnam considers fulfilment of the United Nations’ millenium development goals (MDGs) its own development targets and prioritises disadvantaged regions and poor people, said a ranking government official.
Speaking at a meeting in Hanoi on July 8, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Bich Dat laid stress on the commitments and determination of Vietnam in integrating MDGs into its socio-economic plans.
The meeting was held to gather advice for an MDG draft, planned to be named “ Vietnam on the way to fulfilling MDGs.”
By 2010, Vietnam has completed a majority of MDGs ahead of time compared to its commitments with the international community. Many goals set for 2015 were fulfilled in 2008, including elimination of extreme poverty and hunger, completion of primary education universalisation, promotion of gender equality and women empowerment, reduction of the fatality rate among children and improvement of maternal health.
“ Vietnam have reached and will reach MDGs on the national scale,” said Tran Quoc Phuong, Director of the National MDG Project.
However, Phuong said, challenges facing Vietnam in the coming time are to ensure that MDGs will be fulfilled equally from region to region and people from all walks of life, particularly from disadvantaged groups, will enjoy equivalent benefits.
At present, there is still a significant disparity among regions and areas in the implementation of MDGs. People from ethnic minority groups and rural to urban migrants tend to enjoy less benefits than the national average.
Meeting discusses connection with overseas Vietnamese
HCM City (VNA) – Measures to strengthen the connection between overseas Vietnamese and the home country to tap their expertise in science, technology, education, culture and society, were discussed at a meeting in HCM City on July 8.
The large number of overseas Vietnamese intellectuals who are trained in developed countries is a great treasure that can help the country shorten its industrialisation process and integration into the market economy, said President of the HCM City Chapter of the Association for Liaison with Overseas Vietnamese Luong Bach Van.
Deputy Head of the HCM City Institute of Physics Duong Minh Tri, an overseas Vietnamese intellectual who has made contributions to the country over the past 25 years, said young overseas Vietnamese should gather valuable experiences and maintain good contacts in their host countries before returning to Vietnam as they will be useful for their activities in the homeland.
Participants also pointed to hindrances that prevent foreign intellectuals from taking part in the homeland’s development.
Professor Vu Duc Vuong, an OV from the US said administrative procedures should be further simplified and more efforts taken to boost trust and connection with OVs.
Hanoi-Vientiane-Paris TV link presents Hanoi’s anniversary
Vientiane (VNA) – A live television programme linking Hanoi, Vientiane and Paris will be held on July 31, presenting images of the thousand-year history and culture of Thang Long-Hanoi to the world.
A Vietnamese delegation of the Foreign Ministry and the Vietnam multimedia corporation (VTC) is on a trip to Laos to prepare for the event.
Lao Minister of Information and Culture Mounkeo Oraboune was pleased as Vietnam has chosen his country as a place of the programme.
Receiving the delegation in Vientiane on July 7, the minister affirmed Laos will create favourable conditions for the event, helping the Lao people, particularly the young generation, better understand the millennium anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and the 450 th anniversary of Vientiane capital as well as the special solidarity, friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two country.
Tran Ngoc Diep, VTC Vice Director, said the live TV programme aims to promote Hanoi ’s thousand-year-old history to the world on the occasion of its millennium anniversary and turn the celebration into a festive day of the national great unity bloc.
It also honours the contributions of other countries to Hanoi’s culture and marks the 450 th anniversary of Vientiane capital.
RoK helps make Hue’s traditional music instruments
Thua Thien-Hue (VNA) – The Republic of Korea (RoK) will help the Hue Imperial Relics Preservation Centre (HIRPC) produce percussion instruments of Nha Nhac (Royal Court Music) as locals no longer know the techniques to make and play them.
The assistance is part of the cooperation between HIRPC and the RoK, especially with the RoK national institute of traditional art performance.
The sets of Bien Khanh (gongs) and Bien Chung (brass bells), are expected to be completed by the end of 2010 and put into test performance on the occasion of the Xa Tac Ceremony, which is to be held by early 2011, and the Nam Giao Ceremony in Hue Festival 2012.
The RoK experts also transfer the production techniques to the HIRPC.
Bien Chung and Bien Khanh percussion instruments were used in Hue royal orchestra under the Nguyen dynasty but the techniques for making them have been lost in Vietnam since early the 20 th century. However, the instruments are sill preserved in the RoK.
Poland helps conserve Hue’s historical stele
Thua Thien-Hue (VNA)- Poland is to share the 37,000 USD cost of preserving a stele engraved with King Tu Duc’s teachings that sits in front of the old national university in Hue City with a donation of 18,700 USD.
An agreement to this regard was recently signed by the Polish Embassy and the Centre for Conservation of Former Imperial Hue City Relics, which will make up the rest.
Hue ’s National University in the central coastal province of Thua Thien-Hue was founded in August 1803, under the reign of King Gia Long. The original university was located 5 km west of Hue City and was considered one of the 20 renowned beauty spots in the former capital city.
During a visit to the university in 1854, King Tu Duc composed two writings, including a poem, to encourage students to focus on education, which was later engraved on a big stele erected in the university’s campus.
In 1908 under the reign of King Duy Tan, the university was relocated to the inner city and the stele was moved in front of the university’s gate.
Over the years the stele has suffered from serious damage.
The Polish Ambassador Roman Iwaszjiewics said that the donation to the stele’s upgrade is the beginning of a programme of cooperation between the central coastal province of Thua Thien-Hue and its Polish partners.
It will also help larger bilateral projects, not only in culture but also in other areas that Poland is strong in such as mining, agriculture, shipbuilding, education and tourism.
Poland is a world leader in the conservation and restoration of historical sites. Since the late 20 th century, the European country has helped Vietnam , especially Hue , to conserve many major historical sites such as The Mieu - a temple dedicated to the Nguyen Kings in Hue , and the ancient towers in My Son, Quang Nam province.
Hue and My Son have both been recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as world cultural heritage sites.
Top legislator seeks stronger relations with US
Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam and the US need to enhance economic, commercial and investment ties to create an impetus for the development of the bilateral relationship, a Vietnamese legislative leader has said.
While receiving Senator James Webb in Hanoi on July 8, National Assembly Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Kien said he hoped that the US Congress and Government will facilitate the flow of Vietnamese commodities to the US market.
Kien told his guest that Vietnam attaches great importance to friendly and cooperative relations with the US , and wishes the bonds will be expanded both bilaterally and multilaterally.
The vice chairman spoke highly of Webb’s visit that is taking place at a time when the two nations are celebrating the 15 th anniversary of normalisation of diplomatic ties, as well as his support and assistance to Vietnam .
Kien called on Webb, who is Chairman of the East Asia and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee of the US Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, to contribute more to developing relations between the US and Vietnam in particular and other countries in the Asia-Pacific region in general.
He also urged the senator to continue to act as a bridge to increase mutual understanding, build up confidence and foster cooperation between the two nations.
The legislator went on to say that Vietnam and the US need to step up their cooperation in response to climate change and rising sea levels in the interest of both countries.
Kien applauded the US Congress and people’s cooperation and assistance to Vietnam in dealing with the consequences of Agent Orange/dioxin and clearing bombs and mines left from the war. He expressed his hope for more practical and effective assistance from the US in these fields.
Webb said he has witnessed rapid changes in Vietnam and believed that the US-Vietnam relations will further develop in the future. The two nations hold great potential for stronger cooperation in economic, trade and investment areas.
Webb said he was impressed by the scale and output of a catfish breeding farm in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho . The senator also promised to work harder to help address the consequences of Agent Orange/dioxin in Vietnam.
HCM City receives 6.8 mln USD foreign aid
HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City received a total of 6.8 million USD in grants from foreign non-governmental organisations, companies and individuals in the first half of the year.
Of the funding, 75 percent went to the Health Department and the city’s HIV/AIDS prevention committee of the city.
The achievements in social welfare, education, health, poverty reduction and job generation that the city has attained so far were attributable to the contributions of NGOs and international organisations, said Nguyen Thi My Tien, General Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations at a gathering on July 8.
During the meeting with representatives of NGOs currently operating in the city, Tien promised that the union will work with relevant agencies to streamline the current procedures concerning NGOs’ operations.
There are 141 NGOs licensed to operate in Ho Chi Minh City, of which 47 are from Europe, 36 from the Asia Pacific region and 58 from the US and Canada. Half of the NGOs work in the health, education and social fields.
The city is calling for aid totalling 713,000 USD for more than 20 projects, including legal advice and consultancy for people living with HIV and affected by HIV/AIDS; scholarships, teaching tools and equipment for poor students, students who are hearing-impaired or mentally retarded; protection and support for migrant children, street children and ethnic minority children.
Vietnam to open trade promotion centre in Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh (VNA)- The Vietnamese government has agreed to open a trade and business promotion centre in Cambodia’s capital city of Phnom Penh to boost trade ties between the two countries.
This was announced by Tu Minh Thien, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) after the press conference to introduce the Ho Chi Minh City Expo 2010, which is scheduled to run from July 15-19 in Phnom Penh.
Thien affirmed that the move is one of Vietnam’s efforts to reach the target of two billion USD in bilateral trade with Cambodia, especially at a time when Vietnam becomes the second largest importer of Cambodia.
Mao Thora, Cambodian Secretary of State for Commerce Ministry, also affirmed that the opening of trade promotion centre would help strengthen trade and investment relations between the two countries.
This decision would create favourable condition for the distribution of Vietnamese goods in Cambodia, helping Vietnamese businesses understand consumers’ requirements and provide suitable goods, he said, stressing that this is a good signal for Cambodian economy.
In 2009, over 500 businesses exported goods to Cambodia through ITPC.
HCM City targets 3.15 bln USD in tourism revenues by 2015
HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City sets a target of hosting four million of foreign arrivals, helping the country’s largest economic and commercial hub rake in 60,000 billion VND (3.15 billion USD) from the tourism by 2015, said a city official.
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the 50 th anniversary of the country’s tourism industry held in the city on July 8, Nguyen Thi Hong, Deputy Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Committee, said that tourism is one of the nine service sectors the city is focusing resources for development.
To achieve the target, Hong said that the city is taking measures to further spread its image, promote cooperation with other localities as well as with foreign countries and develop human resources for the non-smoke industry.
In addition, the city will speed up the implementation of tourism infrastructure projects and sharpen competitive edges of local travel firms, Hong said.
The city’s tourism sector has made great strides since the city was liberated from the US puppet regime 35 years ago, playing an important role in the city’s socio-economic development.
The city is expected to welcome 3 million of foreign arrivals this year and gross over 40 trillion VND (2.1 billion USD) in revenues.
Tough time for country’s garments in EU market
Hanoi (VNA) – Many Vietnamese products, including garments, find it hard to enter the EU market because of pressure from trade protection policies and the debt crisis in several EU countries.
According to the Vietnam Garments and Textiles Association (Vitas), in the first six months of this year, the turnover of Vietnam’s garments exported to the EU – one of Vietnam’s biggest export markets for garments– increased by only 1 percent to 680 million USD. However export turnover for April and May dropped by nearly 3 percent over the same period last year.
Meanwhile, the country’s garment exports to its two remaining major export markets have seen positive signs with a 15-percent growth and a 2.7 billion USD export turnover to the US and a 10 percent growth that earned 515 million USD to Japan.
This positive trend is also seen in the Republic of Korea and some ASEAN markets with respective growths of 40 percent and 20 percent.
In recent years, Vietnam’s garment exports to the US have enjoyed growth rates ranging from 17 percent to 30 percent while those to the EU increased by only 11-12 percent.
Tran Ngoc Quan, head of the EU desk under the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s EU Marketing Department, said that not only garments producers but all Vietnamese businesses that export goods to the EU are facing difficulties.
According to trade experts, it will be hard for Vietnam to increase its garments exports to the EU during the rest of this year as several regional economies like Greece and Portugal have yet to see signs of recovery due to a sharp decrease in consumer confidence after the debt crisis.
In addition, the EU is a select market with strict technical regulations to protect EU consumers and businesses. Therefore, goods exported to this region usually face more barriers than other large markets.
To overcome these obstacles, Vietnamese garments businesses are advised to create high-value products that can meet the EU market’s requirements and speed up the use of advanced production technologies to increase their productivity and competitiveness.
They should also form alliances with large retailers and global importers, say experts.
PM emphasises need to settle major corruption cases
Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has asked relevant agencies to focus on investigating, prosecuting and putting on trial 11 major complicated corruption cases.
Chairing the 13 th session of the Central Steering Committee on Corruption Prevention and Control (CSCCPC) in Hanoi on July 8, PM Dung said that despite good results achieved over the past time, there are still shortcomings and weaknesses in the committee’s work, including the slow settlement of major complicated cases.
To overcome the situation, the PM asked for a strengthened coordination among agencies taking proceedings, adding that inspection and auditing work should focus on such areas as land management and use, public investment, corporate financial management, tax and customs.
In the first six months of 2010, the anti-corruption work continued to see positive developments. By June 20, 31 ministries and central agencies as well as 57 provinces and cities delivered their 2009 income reports.
Judicial agencies detected and took initial proceedings against 81 cases with 159 offenders, prosecuted 122 cases with 315 internees and put on trial 100 cases with 216 defendants on corruption-related crimes.
The detection and settlement of corruption cases have been continuously strengthened with 11 serious and complicated cases being strictly handled on right people and right crimes, including the case of Huynh Ngoc Sy, former Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport and Manager of the East-West Highway project, who was accused of abusing power in carrying out missions.
Investigations concluded on the case of Doan Tien Dung, former Deputy General Director of the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) and Le Thi Thanh Binh, Director of BIDV branch in Hai Phong city, who were in charge of taking bribes.
The CSCCPC is speeding up the settlement of 13 other serious and complicated cases, including a power abusing case at the Vietnam Air Petrol Company, a public property embezzlement at the Thi Vai LPG Port and Storage and the Vietinbank Securities Company’s illegal trading of 3 million shares of the Pha Lai Thermoelectricity Power Joint Stock Company.
Deputy Prime Minister Truong Vinh Trong asked the CSCCPC to thoroughly address the case of the Vietinbank Securities Company by the end of this year.
Regarding the role and function of press agencies in the fight against corruption, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Do Quy Doan emphasised the need to continue raising journalists’ responsibilities in giving information on corruption prevention.
He asked authorised agencies to actively provide timely and accurate information for the media, helping limit wrong information in public opinion. Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia boost parliamentary cooperation
Phnom Penh (VNA) – Delegations from external relations committees of the national assemblies of Vietnam , Laos and Cambodia met in Kratie , Cambodia , from July 6-8, discussing the role of parliament in boosting development at the border triangle area of the three countries.
Chairman of the Cambodian National Assembly Heng Samrin chaired the opening session of the conference, the second of its kind.
Participants reviewed the implementation of cooperation agreements between the three governments on the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV DTA).
They also exchanged views on cooperation forms between the legislative bodies of the three countries, especially external relations committees, in supervising and assisting their governments in implementing commitments in this region.
They agreed to enhance coordination between three external relations committees in supervision of issues of mutual concerns, particularly policies on the development triangle approved by their prime ministers.
The three parties also agreed to propose to governments and relevant agencies measures to speed up development of this area and plan to expand their discussions to other fields relating to the three countries in their next conferences.
The conference passed a joint communiqué on the role of parliaments in boosting and developing the development of border triangle area of Cambodia , Laos and Vietnam .
The communiqué hailed the three countries’ policies, which encourage development, investment and trade in the area.
They asked their governments to further boost trade and investment cooperation to narrow the development gaps within the area and other ones in each country, as well as give more priorities to build a favourable environment for rapid development in the area.
The three committees agreed to boost coordination in implementing cooperation agreements, and bilateral treaties on demarcation and planting markers along borderline of the three countries. They also agreed to encourage exchanges of local deputies to share experiences and information on legal issues.
The third conference of the three committees is scheduled to be held in Laos in 2011
Party General Secretary arrives in Moscow
Moscow (VNA) – Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh arrived in Moscow on July 8 to begin his official friendship visit to Russia .
He was welcomed by Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksey Borodavkin, Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrey Kovtun and other senior Russian officials.
Vietnamese ambassador to Russia Bui Dinh Dinh and ambassadors of ASEAN member countries in Russia were also present at the welcoming ceremony.
As scheduled, General Secretary Manh will hold talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on July 9.
The same day, he will meet with the Speakers of the State Duma (the lower house of the parliament) and the Federation Council (the upper house of the parliament).
State announces new four laws
Hanoi (VNA) - The State President Office announced the promulgation of four laws on food safety, child adoption, trade arbitrator and enforcement of criminal verdicts at a press briefing in Hanoi on July 8.
The laws were adopted by the 12 th National Assembly at its seventh meeting.
The five-chapter, 52-article Law on Child Adoption provides for regulations to ensure adopted children enjoy the best benefits when they are raised, cared and educated in their adoptive family.
It details child adoption inside the country, child adoption involved foreign elements, and responsibilities of State agencies in the field.
In article 8, the law regulates that children below 16 years old are offered for adoption. Under current law, children up to 15 years old can be adopted.
The law will come into force on January 1 st , 2011.
The Law on Food Safety reserves the entire chapter III to prescribe conditions on food safety. This is a completely new chapter compared with the Ordinance on Food Safety and Hygiene.
Differing from the ordinance, the law has provisions for small-size food production establishments and businesses and a special item prescribing safety conditions for street food.
The Law on Enforcement of Criminal Verdicts consists of 15 chapters with 182 articles, providing for the operation, tasks, and authority of competent agencies in charge of executing criminal sentences, jail sentences, death penalty, suspension sentences, warnings, re-education without custody, and other contents.
Articles 44, 46, 47 and 48 regulate that the State is responsible for providing clothing and personal effects for prisoners and ensure prisoners take part in physical, sport and cultural activities, meet their relatives, receive gifts, and have communications and healthcare services, reflecting the humanity of law and lenient policy of the State.
Article 45 lays down special regulations on mechanisms to be applied for women prisoners who are pregnant or raising child under 36 months to assist them in protecting and raising their children.
Article 59 of the law, which will take effect from July 1, 2011, provides that death penalty will be carried out with lethal injection.
The Trade Arbitration Law provides for the definition of legal relations between trade arbitrators and court, the procuracy and the law enforcement force.
With clearly-defined regulations, the law will help judiciary agencies and the arbitrators’ council as well as concerned parties in dispute settle specific cases smoothly.
The Ministry of Justice is authorized to license the establishment of a trade arbitrators’ association.
The 13-chapter, 82-article law will come into force on January 1, 2011.
Workshop on Vietnam-US ties held in Hanoi
Hanoi (VNA) - More than 150 Vietnamese and American delegates are gathering in Hanoi on July 8-9 to review bilateral ties after the two countries established diplomatic ties 15 years ago.
Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh, visiting US Senator James Webb and US Ambassador to Vietnam Michael Michalak are attending the event.
Delegates exchanged views on the normalisation of Vietnam-US relations in 1995, achievements and outstanding problems in bilateral relations, as well as prospects for stronger cooperation in economics, education, health care, science-technology, national defence and in multilateral forums.
They are scheduled to hold a dialogue with students from the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and the Texas Tech University , focusing on education and cultural exchanges between the two countries’ institutions.
The workshop is being jointly held by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and the Texas Tech University of the US. Prime Minister meets Cambodian new ambassador
Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received Cambodia ’s newly-accredited Ambassador Hunn Phany in Hanoi on July 8.
PM Dung praised Cambodia ’s achievements over the recent past, which helped raise the country’s position at the international arena, as well as boost relations between the two countries.
He asked the ambassador to contribute to boosting comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, especially in trade and investment. He mentioned Vietnam ’s investment projects in aviation, telecom, mining and rubber in Cambodia , which bring practical benefits to both sides.
The PM also asked for the completion of border demarcation between the two countries in 2012 as agreed by the two countries’ leaders and make good preparations for conferences of Vietnamese and Cambodian provinces sharing common borders to be held in Cambodia .
He affirmed that the Vietnamese Government, ministries and agencies will create favourable conditions for the ambassador to fulfil his term of office well.
The Cambodian Ambassador expressed thanks to Vietnam for valuable assistance over the past years and affirmed that he will try his best to contribute to strengthening relations between the two countries.
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