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Trade union development gets Danish support
Hanoi (VNA) – A programme supported by Denmark to assist the private business sector to strengthen capacity for trade unions, beginning in 2005, has brought remarkable results, said the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) on Oct. 26.
At a sum-up of the implementation of the programme’s second component, the VGCL assessed the programme after five years as having helped trade unions in Nghe An, Khanh Hoa and Lam Dong provinces attract more members and set up grassroots trade unions.
The programme also helped trade unionists improve capacity in negotiating, signing and supervising collective agreements on labour safety and hygiene, and settling disputes.
After five years, the three provinces’ trade unions admitted 30,500 members, set up 751 grassroots branches, and signed 238 new collective agreements.
The quality of these agreements was also improved, focusing on major issues such as salaries, working time, leave, welfare, bonuses and insurance.
The programme with financial support from the Danish International Development Cooperation Agency (DANIDA), aims to assist the Vietnamese Government, trade unions and employers to improve competitiveness in the business sector.-Enditem
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Indonesian President on his way to Vietnam
Hanoi (VNA)- Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will make a State visit to Vietnam on October 27 as the Islamic nation will take over the ASEAN chairmanship from Vietnam in 2011.
The two countries first established diplomatic relations in December 1955 and constantly developed them when Vietnam ’s first President Ho Chi Minh and President Suharto of Indonesia were both in power.
Two years later in 1957, the Vietnam-Indonesia Friendship Association was formed to promote relations between the peoples of both countries.
Bilateral relations witnessed a turning point when President Suharto visited Vietnam in November 1990. Ever since then, both countries have signed 23 treaties and agreements in various fields. The joint statement on the framework of friendship and comprehensive cooperation entering the 21 st century and the agreement on the continental shelf were milestones in the two countries relationship.
Two-way trade reached 2.3 billion USD in 2009 and 1.86 billion USD in the first eight months of this year. Vietnam ’s major exports included rice, crude oil and agricultural products while its imports were mainly fertiliser, machinery, fabrics, paper and confectionary.
Indonesia is Vietnam ’s sixth biggest ASEAN investor and 30 th out of the 89 foreign investors in Vietnam , with a total of 24 projects capitalised at 201 million USD.
Indonesian investments focus on oil and gas, coal, wood processing and textiles.
Indonesia has also provided scholarships for Vietnamese students in fields such as education, culture and languages.
Indonesia has given its full support to Vietnam in its role as chair of ASEAN and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Association-31 as well as the country’s taking part in G20 summit in its capacity as ASEAN President.
The forthcoming State visit is aimed at boosting friendship, cooperation and mutual support in regional and international forums.-Enditem
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ASEAN strengthens regional links
Jakarta (VNA) - “The deepening and widening of connectivity in the region would reinforce ASEAN’s position as the hub of East Asia,” reported Indonesia ’s Jakarta Post.
In an article on October 25 released before the 17 th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi , the Jakarta Post said that the leaders of the 10 ASEAN member countries will discuss new plans to enhance ties and upgrade the blocs infrastructure to allow the group to increase its competitiveness.
The master plan for ASEAN Connectivity would focus on the region’s long-term strategy to improve the blocs infrastructure, institutions and people-to-people relations, said the paper.
The master plan includes strategies to enhance roads, railways, maritime transport and air links between ASEAN members to reduce economic disparities in the region and help ASEAN achieve its goal of becoming an economic community by 2015.
The Jakarta Post cited the Indonesian Foreign Ministry’s Secretary-General for ASEAN, Djauhari Oratmangun, as saying that the plan calls for more effort to improve links in the region, including transport, institutions, trade and investment liberalisation as well as tourism and education.
According to the newspaper, experts have praised the plan, saying that it is necessary to improve economic integration and allow the region to compete with rising economic giants.
The Executive Director of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Jakarta , Rizal Sukma, said that by enhancing links within the bloc, investors would see the grouping of 560 million people as one united market rather than as a number of separate countries.-Enditem
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Hanoi holds Party congress
Hanoi (VNA)- Vietnam ’s capital city saw the opening of the Hanoi Municipal Party congress for the 2010-15 term on October 26 in the presence of National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong, with 493 participants representing almost 330,000 Party members.
In his opening speech, Pham Quang Nghi, Politburo member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, urged the 15 th Party congress of Hanoi to consider key measures to speed up the renewal process in all fields and boost socio-economic development in the next five years to deserve the position and fully tap the potential of the capital city.
NA Chairman Trong praised Hanoi for overcoming numerous difficulties and challenges to obtain important achievements and make positive changes for the expanded city.
He also pointed at outstanding problems, including lower than expected levels of competitive economic activity and failure to uphold the role of “economic momentum” leader in the northern key economic zone.
He called on Hanoi to make greater efforts to gain a huge leap in the next five years and deserve the position of the nation’s political and administrative metropolis, a leader in culture, sciences and education and a national economic and international transaction hub, leading the nation in industrialisation and modernisation.
Nguyen The Thao, member of the Party Central Committee, Hanoi Party Committee’s Deputy Secretary and Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, highlighted the capital’s success in maintaining high economic growth rates of over 10.4 percent.
Hanoi has managed to achieve a per-capita income of almost 2,200 USD a year, or almost 1.7 times over the national average, reported the city mayor.
The three-day congress will vote for a new executive committee for the new term and elect representatives to attend the 11 th National Party Congress scheduled to open early next year.
The participants donated over 127 million VND (roughly 6,500 USD) in relief aid to flood victims in the central region.--Enditem
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Vietnam disburses 950 million USD of FDI in October
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam disbursed 950 million USD of FDI in October, higher than the 10-month period average level of 900 million USD per month, according to the Foreign Investment Agency of the Planning and Investment Ministry.
During the month, 39 projects worth 184 million USD were licensed while 57 valid projects registered a combined additional capital of 420 million USD.
According to the agency, Vietnam was struggling to fulfil its yearly target for FDI attraction of 22-25 billion USD, as it attracted 969 FDI projects with a combined registered capital of 12.8 billion USD in the first 10 months of 2010, a year-on-year decrease of 41.9 percenty.
Processing and manufacturing industries topped FDI attraction sectors with registered capital of 4.065 billion USD in the 10-month period, followed by production and electricity distribution with 2.943 billion USD and real estate, 2.854 billion USD.
During the period, the Netherlands topped 50 foreign countries and territories investing in Vietnam , registering 2.227 billion USD. It was followed by the Republic of Korea , the US and Japan .
The southern coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau was the country’s largest FDI attractor of 2.37 billion USD.
The northern province of Quang Ninh ranked second with 2.2 billion USD and Ho Chi Minh City came third with over 1.8 billion USD.-Enditem
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Tsunami leaves 40 dead, 380 missing in Indonesia
Hanoi (VNA) – A strong earthquake on October 25 triggered a tsunami in the remote province of West Sumatra , killing at least 40 people and leaving 380 others missing.
Private television station MetroTV reported that the search and rescue team was still searching for the missing people, while a tourist ship with 10 Australian citizens and five crew members aboard had lost contact following the earthquake.
The Indonesian Meteorology and Geophysics Agency acknowledged that small tsunamis occurred five minutes after the 7.2 magnitude quake struck at 9:42 p.m. local time on October 25 (1442 GMT), although it lifted the tsunami warning about half a hour later.
The epicentre of the quake was located 78 km southwest of Pagai Selatan Mentawai and at a depth of 10 km under the sea bed, according to the Metro TV.-Enditem
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SOM prepares for ASEAN Summit, related summits
Hanoi (VNA) – The ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting (SOM), the first activity among preparatory conferences for the 17 th ASEAN Summit and related summits, wrapped up in Hanoi on Oct. 26.
At the two-day conference, chaired by Head of SOM ASEAN-Vietnam and assistant to the Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh, ASEAN senior officials reviewed preparations for the 17 th ASEAN Summit and related summits slated for Oct. 28-30, 2010, in Hanoi .
They reached consensus on the planned agenda which includes a working lunch among leaders of ASEAN and the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ABAC), the opening ceremony of the 17 th ASEAN Summit and the ASEAN leaders’ unofficial retreat and dinner on Oct. 28.
Under the agenda, there will be the second Japan-Mekong Summit, the ASEAN+1 Summit (with China , Japan , the Republic of Korea (RoK), separately), the ASEAN+3 Summit and the third ASEAN-UN Summit on Oct. 29.
A musical banquet will be hosted by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on the evening of Oct. 29.
The fifth East Asia Summit, the ASEAN-India, the ASEAN-Australia, the ASEAN-New Zealand Commemorative and the second ASEAN-Russia Summits will take place on Oct. 30.
Leaders of ASEAN countries and partners will pay courtesy visits to and attend lunch hosted by State President Nguyen Minh Triet on Oct. 30 while the closing ceremony and a press briefing by PM Dung as ASEAN Chair will take place on the afternoon of Oct. 30.
ASEAN senior officials agreed on the content to be discussed at the conference, focusing on building the community and effectively implementing the ASEAN Charter, expanding and deepening ASEAN external relations and consolidating ASEAN centrality in the region, and enhancing cooperation to cope with rising challenges.
The leaders were expected to exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.
SOM also discussed and finalised draft documents to be presented to leaders and ministers for approval. They included seven chair statements on the summits’ results and more than 30 important documents.
The ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting, the ASEAN Coordinating Council and the ASEAN Economic Community Council will take place on Oct. 27 in preparation for the 17 th ASEAN Summit and related summits.-Enditem
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Export revenues to hit 70 billion USD
Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Thanh Bien has predicted that the country’s export revenues will reach around 70 billion USD this year, a year-on-year increase of 22.6 percent.
At a meeting in Hanoi on Oct. 26, Bien announced that the nation’s export turnover fetched 57.8 billion USD in the first 10 months of the year, an increase of 23.3 percent over the same period last year (far surpassing the National Assembly-set target of 6 percent).
In the reviewed period, the country earned almost 12 billion USD from exporting seafood and farm produce, a year-on-year increase of 18 percent. Rubber, cashew nuts and pepper were staples recording the highest growths in export volume and value.
Steel, chemicals and rubber products led the processing industries that grossed more than 39.4 billion USD.
The proportions of hi-tech and industrial manufacturing products in the country’s export goods increased while that of raw exports reduced.
Head of the ministry’s import-export department Phan Van Chinh said the production scale and technologies for a number of businesses remained small and backward, so they were not able to meet the demand of big contracts and their goods’ competitiveness was low.
Positive signs can also be seen in imports. Although trade deficit was recorded continuously in the first eight months of the year, the trend has been reversed since September with an export growth of 23.3 percent, compared to the 20.7 percent import growth, for the 10-month period.
Accordingly, the trade deficit rate has fallen from 23.4 percent for the first four months of the year to 16.45 percent for the past 10 months.
Chinh also forecast that import values will not increase sharply in the remaining two months of the year. The country’s import value is forecast to stand at 82.5 billion USD this year, a year-on-year increase of 17.9 percent and trade deficit at around 12.5 billion USD.-Enditem
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Garment exports sure to garner 11 billion USD
Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (Vitas) has predicted that the country’s garment export value would reach 11 billion USD in 2010, exceeding the planned target by 500 million USD.
An export value of 9.16 billion USD in the first ten months of this year, together with many signed orders valid until the first quarter of 2011, led to the positive prediction.
At a meeting hosted by the Ministry of Industry and Trade on Oct. 26, Vitas vice president Nguyen Son said in the 10-month period, export value to such major markets as Japan increased 14.7 percent and Russia , over 5 percent.
Notably, exports to the EU market recovered, up 7 percent after several months of slowdown due to the debt crisis in Greece .
The US remained Vietnam ’s biggest market. In October, garment exports to the US accounted for 55 percent of the sector’s export value.
In the meantime, Italian garment enterprises are expected to invest in garment and dyeing in Vietnam , offering chances for Vietnamese businesses to expand export markets in the future, Son said.
Targeting a garment export value of over 19 billion USD by 2015 and 25-27 billion USD by 2020, Vitas is implementing many programmes, including producing 1 billion metres of cloth for export, expanding areas for cotton plantations and developing human resources to meet the sector’s demand.-Enditem
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Vietnamese paper firm receives FSC certificate
Phu Tho (VNA) – The Vietnam Paper Corporation (Vinapaco) on October 26 was awarded with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certificate as a recognition for its sustainable forest management.
Vinapaco has become the first business in Vietnam to have 6,000 ha of forest and forest land – out of 125,000 ha the corporation manages nationwide – presented with a FSC certificate.
According to Vinapaco Director General Vo Sy Dong, the certification will encourage local people and businesses in production and generate jobs for millions of labours, contributing to hunger elimination and poverty reduction in mountainous regions, especially to reducing adverse impacts of forest exploitation and processing to the environment.
Established in 1993 as a response to concerns over global deforestation, FSC is a pioneer forum where the global consensus on responsible forest management convenes and through democratic process effects solutions to the pressures facing the world’s forests and forest-dependent communities.
FSC certification provides a credible link between responsible production and consumption of forest products, enabling consumers and businesses to make purchasing decisions that benefit people and the environment as well as providing ongoing business value.- Enditem
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More relief to central flood victims
Hanoi (VNA) – The Japanese government has donated emergency relief goods worth 20 million JPY (240,000 USD) to people in flood-hit central provinces.
Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Tanizaki Yasuaki handed over the relief goods, including 5,000 blankets, 5,000 mosquito nets, 30 electric generators, 30 coils of electric wires, 30 water purifiers and 1,800 water cans, to the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee (VFFCC) in Hanoi on October 26.
Talking with VFFCC President Huynh Dam, the Japanese ambassador extended his deep condolences to flood victims and affirmed that the Japanese government and people were ready to help people in flooded areas to overcome difficulties and normalise their lives.
VFFCC President Dam thanked the Japanese government and people for their relief, saying that it represented the Japanese government’s attention to Vietnam , helping affirm the developing friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
On the same day, the Central Relief Committee forwarded the Japanese government’s relief goods to the three hardest-hit provinces of Quang Binh, Ha Tinh and Nghe An.
Also on October 26, the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) held a meeting with international organisations, including UNICEF, UNESCO and Save the Children on rescue and support for teachers and pupils in flood-affected areas.
According to MoET Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Nghia, UNICEF supplied teaching equipment worth 100,000 USD and Save the Children donated boxes of facecloths, toothbrushes, toothpaste and learning equipment for pupils in flooded areas.-Enditem
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Vietnam, Philippines seek ways to boost ties
Hanoi (VNA) – State President Nguyen Minh Triet and his Philippine counterpart, Benigno S. Aquino III, have discussed directions and measures to develop bilateral cooperation more effectively, matching the two countries’ potentials.
During talks which took place after a solemn welcome ceremony for the Philippine President in Hanoi on October 26, the two leaders expressed their pleasure with fine developments in the friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.
Those developments were marked by a joint statement on Vietnam-Philippines bilateral cooperation framework in the first 25 years of the 21 st century and two-way trade exceeding the 2010 target of 2 billion USD two years earlier, they said.
The two leaders agreed to strengthen and expand mutually beneficial cooperation in other fields such as defence, agriculture, education and training, and maritime.
They also emphasised the importance of the Vietnam-Philippines Joint Committee and agreed to hold the sixth session of the committee as soon as possible.
Regarding the regional and international situation, the two leaders agreed to continue maintaining their close coordination and cooperation at regional and global forums, especially the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the East Asian Summit (EAS), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the United Nations (UN).
They shared views that peace and stability in the East Sea were common aspirations and interests of regional countries and highlighted the importance of the strict implementation of Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) towards a future Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
President Triet spoke highly of the Philippines ’ support and assistance for Vietnam in the year it assumed the ASEAN Chair. Meanwhile, the Philippine President thanked the Vietnamese government for its facilitation for the Philippines ’ investment projects in the country.
Concluding the talks, President Triet and his Philippine counterpart witnessed the signing of cooperative agreements in defence, academic study, response to oil spills as well as search and rescue work.-Enditem
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Gov’t leader meets with Philippine president
Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam-Philippines joint committee needed to convene its sixth meeting soon to effectively deploy the signed agreements and ink a new action plan for the 2011-2014 period, said PM Nguyen Tan Dung.
PM Dung made the suggestion during a meeting with Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III, who was on a State-level visit to Vietnam , in Hanoi on October 26.
The two countries should continue with rice trading contracts, cooperation in fisheries development, stepping up trade and investment relations, and developing science and technology in agriculture, education and training, the PM said.
Vietnam and the Philippines also needed to cooperate closely in international forums, especially in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and the United Nations, he said.
The government leader expressed his wish that Vietnam would receive more support from the Philippines and the President to successfully host the 17 th ASEAN Summit and related meetings.
PM Dung said the Philippine President’s ongoing visit would create a new momentum to further promote the bilateral relationship, as the two nations were celebrating 35 years of their diplomatic ties.
President Aquino congratulated Vietnam on its achievements in recent years, which have helped improve the country’s position and prestige in the international arena.
The president agreed with PM Dung’s proposal to soon hold the 6 th meeting of the joint committee to accelerate the already signed cooperation deals. He promised to make active contributions to the success of the 17 th ASEAN Summit and related meetings.
Aquino affirmed that the Philippines was willing to cooperate with Vietnam in mitigating natural disasters as well as in search and rescue activities.
The two leaders discussed a wide range of specific measures to ensure the success of the visit. They agreed that peace and stability in the East Sea were an interest and aspiration of the regional nations and pledged to work together to foster the implementation of the Declaration of the Conduct of the Parties in the East Sea (DOC) toward building a Regional Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).-Enditem
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World church delegation visits Vietnam
Hanoi (VNA) – A delegation from the World Council of Churches (WCC) headed by its vice chairman Lymouris Nikolaos met with representatives of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) in Hanoi on October 26.
During the meeting, VUFO’s vice president Tran Dac Loi welcomed the Vietnam visit by the WCC after many years, considering WCC a long-standing friend who provided Vietnamese people with both physical and spiritual supports in the past.
He briefed his guest on achievements Vietnam has recorded recently and expressed his belief that the WCC would continue its assistance for Vietnam , especially in areas regarding social welfare, hunger elimination and poverty reduction, and assisting victims of Agent Orange/dioxin.
Loi also extended his wishes that with its role and prestige, the WCC would serve as a bridge to further boost cooperative relations between the council’s member organisations with the VUFO.
For his part, WCC vice chairman Lymouris Nikolaos said he was pleased to visit Vietnam in the context where the country was celebrating major events. He spoke highly of Vietnam ’s achievements over the past 35 years as well as those recorded in the country’s current process of integration.
In the past, WCC and its member churches launched numerous activities in support for Vietnam , including conducting financial campaigns to protest wars in Vietnam and providing goods as relief aid to the country, he said.
Lymouris Nikolaos added that the fine relations would prosper in the future through people-to-people exchanges and the support of international non-government organisations, plus the important role of the VUFO.
Established in August, 1948, Dutch-based WCC is a worldwide fellowship of 349 churches in over 110 countries and territories. It aims to seek unity, a common witness and Christian services.-Enditem
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Deputy PM highlights importance of ASEAN summit
Hanoi (VNA) – The 17 th ASEAN Summit and related meetings are of extreme importance and key activities in 2010 as Vietnam holds the bloc’s chairmanship, said Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem.
Khiem, who doubles as Minister of Foreign Affairs, made the comment on the threshold of the 17 th ASEAN Summit and related meetings scheduled to take place in Hanoi from October 28-30.
The deputy PM said the 17 th ASEAN Summit would serve as a forum for ASEAN to evaluate the yearly cooperation results within the bloc and with its partners, and put forward prioritised directions for the next period.
The summit would also be the only chance in 2010 for ASEAN leaders to hold a meeting with leaders from most of the group’s important partners, where they will discuss and recommend directions and measures to further step up and deepen comprehensive cooperation for mutual benefit and development, as well as for peace and stability in the region, he said.
On the agenda of the summit, Khiem said, following this year’s theme “Towards the ASEAN Community: From vision to action”, the 17 th ASEAN Summit will focus on three major issues that the bloc has set out since the beginning of the year.
First, stepping up concerted efforts to build the ASEAN Community, strengthening regional connectivity and effectively implementing the ASEAN Charter. Accordingly, ASEAN leaders will review the results achieved since the 16 th ASEAN Summit and identify jobs to be done to effectively perform the Roadmap for the ASEAN Community on all three pillars, and boost ASEAN connectivity.
The ASEAN leaders were expected to adopt an Overall Plan on ASEAN Connectivity to create a framework for the enhancement of regional connectivity in all aspects, especially infrastructure, to support the bloc in building its community and strengthen its links with a broader region – East Asia .
The ASEAN leaders will highlight the improvement of working methods and the effective implementation of their decisions, considering these a decisive factor to successfully build the ASEAN Community by 2015. In addition, the ASEAN leaders will also accelerate efforts to strengthen the apparatus and supplementary legal documents for the ASEAN Charter.
Second, based on recent progress in relations between ASEAN and its partners, the leaders will debate and reach agreement on important decisions to beef up and elevate relations with the partners to a new level. Many plans of action between ASEAN and its partners for the 2011-2015 period will be approved.
Leaders from ASEAN and partner nations will also exchange views on how to maintain and effectively uphold dialogue mechanisms such as ASEAN+1 and regional cooperation frameworks initiated by ASEAN, including ASEAN+3 and the East Asia Summit (EAS), to further strengthen the bloc’s central role and bolster endeavours towards a regional architecture in the future.
Khiem noted that, at the upcoming EAS, leaders of the EAS member nations were planning to officially invite Russia and the US to participate in the EAS as of 2011. The EAS was also scheduled to adopt an important declaration to reinforce its future development direction on its 5 th founding anniversary.
According to Deputy PM Khiem, at the upcoming meetings, to continue implementing decisions made during the 16 th ASEAN Summit, leaders of ASEAN countries and partners would discuss and work out cooperation measures to improve the capacity to cope with emerging challenges such as sustainable recovery and development after the crisis, and responses to climate change, natural disasters, epidemics and environmental degradation.
“ASEAN leaders will approve two important documents, including a declaration on human resource development and skills for economic recovery and sustainable development, and the Hanoi declaration on increasing social welfare and women and children’s development,” Khiem said.
He added that ASEAN and its partners would adopt a number of other important documents such as the ASEAN-China statement on sustainable development, the action programme for ASEAN-Republic of Korea strategic partnership, the ASEAN-India cooperation programme in the new period and ASEAN joint statements with Russia , New Zealand and the UN.
About ASEAN’s contributions to building a regional architecture of cooperation, the deputy PM noted that the formation of an effective and suitable architecture of cooperation in the region is not only an opportunity but also a challenge for ASEAN.
“ASEAN’s view is to focus on building the community and regional connectivity while creating conditions for partners’ more active involvement and contributions in addressing regional issues,” he said.
Therefore, ASEAN considers that a regional architecture must be based on the bloc’s central role and existing cooperation processes, especially those initiated by ASEAN such as ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and most recently the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+).
These forums help to create multi-level and mutually-supportive architecture of cooperation which aims to boost dialogue, cooperation and trust building in various fields for peace, security and stability in the region.
Regarding Vietnam ’s preparations for the upcoming 17 th ASEAN Summit, Khiem said that under the steering of the National Committee on ASEAN 2010, all preparations for the summit have been substantially completed with the participation and close coordination of relevant ministries and agencies and the Hanoi authorities.
“As the ASEAN Chair, Vietnam has been responsible for compiling draft documents of the summit, including the Chairman’s Statement and joint statements on the results of the 17 th ASEAN Summit and related meetings,” he said.
The country has also instructed the ASEAN Ad-Hoc Experts Group to complete a masterplan on ASEAN connectivity that is expected to be submitted to this summit for approval, he added.
Vietnam put forward several initiatives that won support from other ASEAN countries, including the ASEAN leaders’ declaration on human resource development and skills for economic recovery and sustainable development, the Hanoi declaration on increasing social welfare and women and children’s development.
Vietnam had also proposed that a declaration on cooperation in search and rescue for people and vessels in distress at sea would be approved by ASEAN foreign ministers, according to the deputy PM.-Enditem
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Party official hails Vietnam-Laos history book
Vinh Phuc (VNA) - The compilation of a collection on the history of Vietnam-Laos special relations was of great importance, said a senior Vietnamese Party official.
Phung Huu Phu, member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) and deputy head of the steering committee for the project, made the remark at the closing session of a meeting which was held in Vinh Phuc province on Oct. 25-26 to review the work’s progress.
“This is both a major scientific work and a significant project in terms of politics, theory and education for the two nations and the Vietnamese and Lao people,” said Phu, who doubles as Deputy Head of the CPVCC’s Commission for Information and Education.
Phu told participants that the book was also aimed at welcoming the XIth National Congress of the CPV and the IXth National Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP).
Samane Vinhaket, Politburo member of the LPRP Central Committee and Head of the Lao steering committee for the project, said Vietnamese and Lao compilers had showed their resolve and successfully and objectively made a product that met the set targets and requirements.
Vinhaket, who is also Head of the LPRP Central Committee’s Steering Commission on Ideology, Theory and Culture, surged the work to be completed on schedule, helping to strengthen the friendship and solidarity between the two Parties and peoples of Laos and Vietnam .
The compilers have over the past four years compiled 820 pages of main documents and 2,570 pages of diaries by Vietnamese and Lao leaders. Vietnam Central Documentary and Scientific Films Studio has also finished shooting four movies as part of the project.--Enditem
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Vietnam, Indonesia strengthen defence cooperation
Jakarta (VNA) – A delegation from the Defence Ministry’s Political Academy led by its director Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Tien Quoc visited Indonesia from Oct. 19-26 to boost cooperation with Indonesian defence agencies, academies and schools.
During talks with a delegation from the Indonesian Defence Ministry (IDM) on October 20, Quoc affirmed his belief that relations between the two countries and defence ministries would continuously develop in the future.
The two sides had a frank and effective discussion on training work in military schools.
The Indonesian side also expressed a desire to receive Vietnamese students to study and research at Indonesia ’s defence academies and schools.
On the same day, the Vietnamese delegation paid a courtesy visit to IDM General Secretary Eris Herryanto, who stressed the importance of the first ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) for the process of building the ASEAN Community.
He expressed Indonesia ’s wish to learn from Vietnam ’s experiences in the organisation and preparation for 2011, when Indonesia assumes the ASEAN Chair.
Lieut. Gen. Quoc congratulated Indonesia and the IDM on their upcoming respective roles as the ASEAN and ADMM+ Chairs in 2011. He said he believed that ADMM+ would be fostered by Indonesia for the goal of building ASEAN into a peaceful, stable and prosperous community.-Enditem
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Japanese PM to visit Vietnam
Hanoi (VNA) – Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan will pay an official visit to Vietnam from October 30-31.
The visit is being made at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, announced the Foreign Ministry on October 26.-Enditem
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Deputy PM receives Japanese ambassador
Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem received newly-appointed Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Tanizaki Yasuaki in Hanoi on October 26.
At the reception, Deputy PM Khiem affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to the comprehensive and long-term strategic cooperation with Japan .
He said that the Vietnamese government and people are making every effort together with Japan to raise their strategic partnership to a new level of development.
He also expressed his belief that Ambassador Tanizaki Yasuaki will make active contributions to the friendship and cooperation between the two countries during his term of office.
For his part, the Japanese ambassador promised to do his utmost to beef up the Vietnam-Japan cooperation in all aspects, including politics, economics, trade, security and defence.-Enditem
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Vietnam places top priority on ties with Laos
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam always attaches importance and gives top priority to strengthening and stepping up special relations with Laos, said National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong.
Trong, who is also a Politburo member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC), made this statement while receiving a high-ranking delegation of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP)’s Commission for External Relations, led by Politburo member and Commission Head Thongloun Sisoulith.
The legislator noted with pleasure that the Vietnam-Laos special relationship is growing fruitfully in all fields, bringing practical benefits to the process of national construction and development in both countries.
Trong spoke highly of the results of the earlier talks between the External Relations Commissions of the CPVCC and LPRP and applauded their contributions to the enhancement of bilateral relations.
He also requested the two commissions to work together to accomplish their assigned tasks, increase the exchange of information, well coordinate in foreign affairs and effectively implement the already signed agreements.
Sisoulith, who also doubles as Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, informed his host of the recent situation in Laos and affirmed that Laos will do its utmost to bring the Laos-Vietnam friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation to a new level.
Earlier in the same day, Sisoulith held talks with Hoang Binh Quan, CPVCC member and Head of the CPVCC’s Commission for External Relations.-Enditem
More donations for flood victims
Hanoi (VNA) – More donations from foreign governments, international organisations, and the Vietnamese expatriate community have been coming in to flood victims in central Vietnam .
Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Vietnam Park Suk Hwan, on behalf the RoK government, handed over 100,000 USD to the Vietnam Red Cross on Oct. 25.
Latter the day, Katherin Bergmann from the German Red Cross presented the organisation’s initial relief aid worth 10,000 EUR to help the flood victims overcome their difficulties.
The German Red Cross wants to join in a working group to assess the needs of flood victims in order to promptly make appropriate help, she said.
Also the same day, Pan Noi Ma Ni, Party Secretary and Governor of the Lao province of Bolykhamxay visited the flood-hit Ha Tinh province and donated 10,000 USD to the victims.
Earlier, Palestinian Ambassador to Vietnam Saadi Salama made a field trip and handed over relief aid to flood victims in Ha Tinh province. The Palestinian embassy delegation presented 30 million VND, 87 gift packs, 500 T-shirts, five boxes of clothes, schooling aid, instant noodles, bottled water and plastic household appliances to the victims.
Besides, overseas Vietnamese in Thailand and Thai friends raised nearly 700,000 BAT (over 22,000 USD) to help the flood victims in Central Vietnam .
The Vietnamese Embassy and the Vietnamese community in Mongolia on Oct. 24 raised 3,300 USD to help the victims.-Enditem
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Japan's Mitsubishi to help VN reduce energy consumption
Tokyo (VNA)- Mitsubishi Corp. will conduct a feasibility study to help Vietnam cut energy consumption through the use of energy-saving home appliances, a local report said.
In cooperation with five electric appliance makers, including Panasonic Corp. and Sharp Corp., Mitsubishi will verify how much carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced between now through the end of March 2011, the Yomiuri daily reported, adding that the project aims to suppress growth in the country's energy consumption by promoting the use of products from Japan, including energy-efficient air conditioners, refrigerators and light bulbs.
The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), which is supporting projects that help Japanese companies to count their reductions of greenhouse gas emissions in emerging economies, designated Mitsubishi's plan as one of the 15 greenhouse reduction projects last week.
Among other METI-designated projects include a Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) proposal, under which the company will examine how much greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced if it wins a contract associated with a nuclear power station in Vietnam.
According to the daily, electricity shortages have become a serious problem in Vietnam as rapid industrialisation has seen demand for power increase by about 16 percent per year.-Enditem
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