Le Quang Thung, acting Chairman of the VRG’s Board of Members has said that the price of rubber on the world market has increased continuously from the start of this year, averaging 2,767 USD per tonne in the first nine months of the year.

In the two remaining months of this year, rubber prices are forecast to remain high or even rises further as the global economy recovers and the demand for natural rubber for the automobile industry increases. Meanwhile, the world’s major rubber producers such as Thailand , Indonesia and Malaysia have experienced inclement weather conditions.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam shipped 603,000 tonnes of rubber, earning 1.67 billion USD, in the first ten months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 7.7 percent in volume and 92.5 percent in value.

With this growth, Vietnam is predicted to earn 2 billion USD from rubber exports by the end of this year, 500 million USD more than the targeted figure.-Enditem

 



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PM wants stronger economic ties with Singapore

 


Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam and Singapore need to step up bilateral cooperation, especially in economy, trade and investment, as their relations are blossoming in many areas.

This was suggested by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at a meeting on October 28 with his Singaporean counterpart, Lee Hsien Loong, who is in Hanoi to attend the 17 th ASEAN Summit and other related meetings later the same day.

Having applauded ongoing deals between businesses from the two nations during Lee’s ongoing visit, PM Dung requested that they increase the exchange of information and boost cooperation in training military officers and postgraduates.

The Vietnamese leader warmly welcomed Lee to the 17 th ASEAN Summit, stressing that his presence would contribute to the event’s success.

Lee congratulated Vietnam on the achievements it has made in many fields and confirmed his support for boosting bilateral ties as well as closer coordination at regional and international forums.

Both leaders noted the recent positive developments in bilateral ties, including the active implementation of the Vietnam-Singapore Connectivity Framework Agreement as well as the effective operation of the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIP).

They went on to discuss a broad range of measures to expand bilateral cooperation to other spheres such as education, training, culture, science, technology, security and defence.

Both host and guest agreed that peace and stability in the East Sea are in the region’s best interests and stated they would continue to work together to promote the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the drawing up of a regional Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Following their meeting, both leaders witnessed the signing of four investment projects, worth 290 million USD, between Vietnamese and Singaporean companies.-Enditem

 



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President promises closer relations with Laos

 


Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam is determined to preserve and uphold its traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation with Laos , considering these a valuable asset transferable to younger generations.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet stated this during a reception he hosted on October 28 for Laotian Prime Minister Bouasone Buaphavanh, who is in Hanoi to attend the 17 th ASEAN Summit and related meetings later the same day.

Triet congratulated Laos on the achievements it has recorded in maintaining GDP growth, stabilising the socio-economy and improving the people’s living conditions.

The president took this occasion to thank Laos for awarding the National Golden Order to Hanoi on its 1,000 th anniversary.

For his part, Buaphavanh said the Laotian Party, State and people applauded Triet’s visit to Laos in August, which reflected the president’s care to the neighbouring nation and greatly contributed to the sustainable development of bilateral relations.

The PM extended his best regards and deep sympathy to residents in central provinces who have suffered huge losses in life and property due to floods. He also expressed his belief that, with the care of the Vietnamese Party and State, the affected people will soon overcome the consequences and stabilise their lives.

Buaphavanh congratulated Vietnam on the successes the nation has reaped in its capacity as Chair of ASEAN in 2010, stressing that this shows the international community’s confidence in Vietnam and will help to improve its position in regional and international forums.

The leader also stated that Laos will continue to work closely with Vietnam and contribute to the success of the 17 th ASEAN Summit and other related meetings.-Enditem

 



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Seminar on Vietnamese AO victims held in UK

 


London (VNA) – A seminar on Vietnamese Agent Orange (AO) victims has been held in Coventry in England , the UK , to help local residents understand more about the effects of the toxic chemical and call for support for the victims.

Speaking at the event, Professor Phung Tuu Boi, a representative from the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange dioxin (VAVA), said that Vietnam has about 3 million AO victims, who face a lot of difficulties in their lives.

The Vietnamese government and people have implemented many programmes to help AO victims, both materially and spiritually, but they still need more support from the international community, he added.

The Honorary President of Medical and Scientific Aid for Vietnam , Laos and Cambodia (MSAVLC) Madeline Sharp, who has contributed greatly to Vietnam over the years, expressed her hope that through the seminar, people in Coventry would raise more funds for Vietnamese AO victims.

Coventry is renowned for its activities promoting peace and reconciliation, which take place from October to the end of November annually.-Enditem

 



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PM Dung receives Sultan of Brunei in Hanoi

 


Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam and Brunei should work together to sign a treaty on protecting investments, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

The Vietnamese PM made the suggestion while receiving the Sultan of Brunei Haji Hassanal Bolkiah in Hanoi on October 28. The Sultan is in Vietnam to attend the 17th ASEAN Summit and other related meetings.

PM Dung also suggested that the two countries sign a memorandum of understanding on fisheries and step up cooperation in labour and agriculture, adding that Vietnam is keen to export rice to Brunei .

The Vietnamese leader appreciated the support Brunei has given Vietnam in its position as ASEAN Chair, especially Vietnam’s initiative to organise the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus and a meeting of leaders of security agencies in ASEAN countries.

He said the Sultan’s presence would contribute to a successful summit and said he was pleased to see bilateral relations developing in all fields, particularly economics and trade. He said he hoped the Sultan and his wife would soon make an official visit to Vietnam .

The Sultan expressed his sympathy for victims of the flood-ravaged central Vietnam . He also praised Vietnam ’s role as ASEAN Chair in 2010 and said that both countries should continue negotiations to boost ties in commerce, investment, fisheries and agriculture and continue to work together at regional and international forums.

Both leaders agreed that peace and stability in the East Sea are in the best interests of all regional countries and affirmed bilateral coordination to promote the enforcement of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and work toward a Code of Conduct for the East Sea (COC).-Enditem

 



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HSBC survey: climate change top concern for Vietnamese

 


HCM City (VNA)- The HSBC's fourth Climate Confidence Monitor reveals that climate change is one of the top three concerns globally, following economic stability and terrorism and the top concern for people in Vietnam and Hong Kong ( China ).
The survey, which was carried out in Vietnam for the first time, reveals that one in three Vietnamese knows about climate change and its impacts on his/ her daily life. 43 percent of respondents rank climate change as their top concern.
They also expressed their strong commitment to help reduce climate change by specific actions including using energy more efficiently , reducing the use of heating and air-conditioner appliances, and practising recycling. The report finds that 43 percent are ready to spend more on energy- saving products, compared to the global average of 40 percent.
On the subject of tackling climate change, 53 percent of respondents hope that the Government will invest more in big-scale initiatives in order to deal with the problem.-Enditem

 



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Nippon foundation supports Hanoi’s disabled

 


Hanoi (VNA)- The Hanoi Teacher Training College will launch a class for the hearing-impaired in Hanoi funded by Nippon Foundation on October 29.

Shuichi Ohno, Executive Director of the Nippon Foundation (NF) said at a press briefing on October 28 that this is the second class for disabled Vietnamese people that has been funded by the foundation. Earlier in 1999, the first education project for the disabled was carried out in the southern province of Dong Nai.

According to Ohno, the project aims to offer opportunities for the hearing-impaired to take junior and senior high school level classes. After the first project 15 handicapped people graduated from university so far.

Yohei Sasakawa, Chairman of the NF said that the foundation has carried out many humanitarian activities in Vietnam since 1999 such as building a Centre for Independent Living (CIL) for the disabled, promoting the drawing up of a law on the disabled, donating artificial limbs for almost 45,000 war victims and disabled persons and supporting the building of schools.

The head of Hanoi CIL, Nguyen Hong Ha said that the law on the disabled which was approved by the National Assembly and will come into effect in January 2011, will help the disabled to integrate better into the community.

Since 2009, the NF has donated one million USD to the Hanoi CIL where serious disabled people benefit from many services such as personal coaching, learning independent living skills and joining in efforts to protect disabled people’s interests.

Ha said that at present, there are about 574,000 disabled people in Vietnam, accounting for about 0.7 percent of the over five-year-old population.-Enditem

 



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17th ASEAN Summit opens

 


Hanoi (VNA) – The 17 th ASEAN Summit and related Summits opened in Hanoi on Oct. 28 in the presence of leaders of ASEAN’s ten members and ASEAN General Secretary Surin Pitsuwan.

In his opening speech, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, the Chairman of ASEAN 2010 said, “Our meetings take place at a time when we are entering the final months of the year 2010, an important year for ASEAN in its advance towards a Community and its operation on the legal basis of the ASEAN Charter”.

Under the overarching theme of, “Towards the ASEAN Community: from vision to action,” ASEAN has in the past year been undertaking many concrete activities that bring about significant outcomes in the realisation of the set goals and plans, including the decisions of the 16 th ASEAN Summit in Hanoi this April, the Vietnamese leader said.

He highlighted important achievements made in the implementation of the Charter and the Roadmap for an ASEAN Community by 2015.

PM Dung noted that the ASEAN Charter has truly been brought to life with the smooth operation of the new organizational structure as well as the finalisation of related legal documents, thus creating the legal basis and institutional framework for the ASEAN Community and deeper regional integration.

He also highlighted the significance of the implementation of programmes and plans for building the ASEAN Community in all three pillars, saying these tasks were undertaken expeditiously along the defined priorities and roadmaps and brought important outcomes.

“The building of the ASEAN Political-Security Community, particularly in the 14 prioritised areas, has made significant progress,” PM Dung said.

He emphasised that regular dialogue and cooperation at all levels on issues of mutual concern have enhanced mutual understanding and trust among countries, contributing to the maintenance of peace and security in the region.

“The mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation in regional security have been strengthened and broadened through the adoption of the Plan of Action to implement the Vision Statement of the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) as well as the formation of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus), the Meeting of ASEAN Chiefs of Security Agencies (MACOSA) and the ASEAN Maritime Forum (AMF),” the leader said.

“The instruments to ensure regional security are becoming more useful in term of its importance and value, particularly the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), the Southeast Asian Nuclear-Free-Zone Treaty (SEANFWZ), the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), the ASEAN Convention on Counter Terrorism as well as the joint statements between ASEAN and its partners on this issue.”

PM Dung also underscored good results in the process of building the ASEAN Economic Community, with the firm establishment of the ASEAN Free Trade Area encouraging trade in goods, services and investment as well as the implementation of a number of cooperation programmes in key areas like the ASEAN single window and trade facilitation programme.

In particular, he noted that the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity that ASEAN Leaders would adopt at this Summit as well as the establishment of the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund would strongly support ASEAN integration and create a platform for connectivity in the wider region of East Asia .

“Economic cooperation between ASEAN and its partners is also progressing well,” the PM said, referring especially to the conclusion of the Free Trade agreements between ASEAN and each of six partners in East Asia as well as the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation in the framework of ASEAN+3.

He affirmed that the Association had also made efforts to narrow the development gap and move towards the goal of sustainable development as set forth in the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on Sustainable Recovery and Development adopted at the 16 th ASEAN Summit.

“The course of building the ASEAN Social-Cultural Community towards a people-oriented, caring and sharing Community is making considerable steps forward, particularly in human development and addressing global challenges,” PM Dung stressed.

“ASEAN is expeditiously developing a plan of action to implement the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on Joint Response to Climate Change adopted at the 16 th ASEAN Summit, and also making positive contributions to the international community’s joint efforts in this field,” he said.

“At this Summit , we shall further adopt the ASEAN Leaders’ Statement on Human Resources and Skills Development for Economic Recovery and Sustainable Growth and the Hanoi Declaration on the Enhancement of Welfare and Development of ASEAN Women and Children. The ASEAN Declaration on Cooperation in Search and Rescue of Persons and Vessels in Distress at Sea was adopted by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers. The ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC) has been put into operation, enhancing ASEAN cooperation in the field of people’s rights.”

PM Dung told the participants that he was glad to see the strong development of relations between ASEAN and its partners this year, as manifested by the strengthening of regular dialogue at various levels and the important outcomes in carrying out the plans of action to implement joint statements on strategic or comprehensive partnerships.

He mentioned that on this occasion, apart from the annual ASEAN+1 Summits with China , Japan , the Republic of Korea and India , ASEAN will also have Summits with Australia , New Zealand , the Russian Federation and the United Nations.

“The 2 nd ASEAN – US Leaders’ Meeting was convened with the agreement to lift the partnership to a higher level. Along with the strategic partnerships with China and Japan , we will also consider the elevation of the ASEAN - Republic of Korea relationship into a strategic partnership as well,” PM Dung said.

“As a follow-up to the decision of the 16 th ASEAN Summit, we shall continue to discuss directions and measures to ensure ASEAN centrality in an evolving regional architecture, particularly those designed to enhance the effectiveness of existing regional forums where ASEAN is playing the key role as the driving force. These include, among others, the expansion of the East Asia Summit (EAS) to include Russia and the US while maintaining the objectives, principles, modalities and priorities of the forum. ASEAN’s role and position is rising by the day thanks to not only its centrality in the region but also to our important contributions to key international forums, including the G20.”

In his speech, PM Dung underscored that these meetings provided an opportunity for ASEAN leaders to take stock of the implementation of agreements and to find appropriate solutions to further accelerate the course of building the ASEAN Community, strengthen ASEAN’s external relations and enhance its international role and position, especially in ensuring peace, security and development in the region and effectively responding to global challenges.

Accordingly, he asked the leaders to focus on the following important issues:

“Firstly, we should continue to identify and carry out comprehensive measures to accelerate the implementation of programmes and plans to build the ASEAN Community in the most effective manner. In particular, we should make efforts to create a real improvement in the ‘culture of compliance’ through, among others, strengthening monitoring and assessment mechanisms for the materialisation of agreements. We should also need to complete the full legal framework in line with the ASEAN Charter, improve the operational efficiency of ASEAN bodies and modalities, strengthen coordination among executing agencies, enhance resources mobilization, and incorporate regional agreements into national development programmes and plans.

“Secondly, we need to further strengthen ASEAN’s external relations through concrete plans and measures to support the goal of building the ASEAN Community. Accordingly, we should proactively push up our relations with dialogue partners under the ASEAN+1 framework to a higher level, which should be more comprehensive, substantive and effective. It is important to increase regular dialogue at various levels, especially at the highest level, and promote the effective implementation of agreements between ASEAN and our partners, particularly on economic and trade cooperation, and to respond to the global challenges. We should actively put forth proposals and measures to improve the efficiency of the activities within wider cooperation frameworks where ASEAN plays the central role, such as ASEAN+3, East Asia Summit, ASEAN Regional Forum and the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus.

“Thirdly, we should undertake further comprehensive measures to ensure ASEAN centrality in an evolving regional architecture along the line of decisions made at the 16 th ASEAN Summit. ASEAN should continue to promote and facilitate our partners’ deeper engagement and more constructive contributions to the resolution of issues relating to peace, security and development in the region while ensuring ASEAN’s central role and the support for building the ASEAN Community. The Association needs to further bring into full play its unique role as an important factor to link and harmonise various interest groups in the region, to serve as a hub of connecting existing cooperation arrangements and frameworks while promoting an evolving regional architecture based on various intertwining, mutually supporting and complementing mechanisms.

“Fourthly, ASEAN needs to further enhance its role as an important force in the maintenance of peace and stability in Southeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific at large. We should make more efforts, especially by increasing dialogue and cooperation on political and security issues, to enhance mutual understanding and trust among nations. We further need to promote the development of common norms and codes of conduct in the relations among countries and further bring into full play the effective implementation of the above existing arrangements and instruments to ensure regional peace and stability. Moreover, we also need to strengthen cooperation to address security challenges, particularly non-traditional threats like international terrorism, transnational crime, maritime security and safety.

“Finally, ASEAN should act as a responsible member of the international community in responding to the current global challenges, especially the global financial crisis, climate change and natural disasters or pandemics. Accordingly, ASEAN should carry out concrete measures to enhance intra-ASEAN cooperation while at the same time promoting cooperation at a wider region and contributing positively to the common efforts of the international community, including UN-related activities.”

Emphasising the significant importance to the future development of ASEAN and the region, PM Dung expressed his confidence that with strong political determination and far-sighted vision as well as the active and valuable contributions from all Leaders of ASEAN and the group’s partner countries, the 17 th ASEAN Summit and related Summits would be a great success, finding practical solutions to the matters at hand for the common interest of peace, stability and development in the region.

Following the opening ceremony, PM Dung and Heads of ASEAN delegations held a closed-door session.-Enditem

 



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Deputy PM meets Myanmar’s FM

 


Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem met Myanmar Foreign Minister Nyan Win in Hanoi on Oct. 28 on the sidelines of the 17 th ASEAN Summit and related meetings.

Deputy PM Khiem spoke highly of Vietnam-Myanmar traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation, saying that bilateral ties began a new stage of development after Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit to Myanmar in April this year.

He also congratulated Myanmar on its national reconciliation process and preparation for the upcoming general election on Nov. 7, expressing hope that the election would be successful and Myanmar would complete its 7-step roadmap to democracy.

Myanmar ’s FM spoke highly of Vietnam ’s support for Myanmar ’s general election, affirming that the Myanmar government would successfully organize the event.

The new government would learn from Vietnam ’s experience in economic development, he said, adding that Myanmar invited Vietnamese enterprises to expand cooperation and investment to the country.

The two sides agreed that huge potential existed in shared cooperation and pledged to further strengthen bilateral ties in the future, especially in sharing development experiences and increasing two-way trade and investment.-Enditem

 



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17th ASEAN Summit issues chairman’s statement

 


Hanoi (VNA) – The Chairman of the 17 th ASEAN Summit issued a Chairman’s statement on the outcome and decisions of the Summit on Oct. 28.

Followings are the excerpt of the document:

“The 17 th ASEAN Summit was officially opened in Hanoi on Oct. 28. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung chaired the Summit .

“ Brunei ’s Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh, Malaysian Prime Minister Dato Sri Mohd Najib, Myanmar ’s Prime Minister Thein Sein, Filipino President Benigno S. Aquino III, Singaporean Lee Hsien Loong, Thai Prime Minister Vejjajiva Abhisit, Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty M. Natalegawa, and ASEAN Secretary General Surin Pitsuwan attended the meeting.

“The leaders discussed importance issues on ASEAN’s internal cooperation and its external relations, which include accelerating the process of ASEAN Community Building and effectively implementing the ASEAN Charter, enhancing ASEAN Connectivity; further broadening and deeping ASEAN’s external relations, at the same time maintaining ASEAN’s centrality in the region, strengthening cooperating to effectively respond to emerging challenges, namely post-crisis recovery and sustainable development, climate change, disaster management and infectious diseases.

“Reviewing the implementation of the Roadmap for the ASEAN Community, the leaders were gratified with the significant achievements made and agreed to further promote the “culture of compliance” to effectively improve the implementation of agreements through systematic, efficient and creative measures, while paying due attention to proper supervision and evaluation mechanisms, enhancing coordination among ASEAN bodies together with promoting resources mobilisation, integrating regional agreements in national development plans. ASEAN leaders also underline the importance of completing the legal framework provided for under the ASEAN Charter as well as strengthening effective and smooth operation of the new organisational structure.

“ASEAN leaders adopted the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity submitted by the High Level Task Force on ASEAN Connectivity, and decided to establish an ASEAN Connectivity Coordinating Committee to coordinate and oversee the implementation of the Master Plan.

The leaders welcomed efforts by ASEAN Financial Ministers toward the establishment of the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund. These crucial decisions by the leaders will facilitate the enhancement of regional connectivity in every aspects, as well as paving the way for connectivity in a wider East Asia region.-Enditem

 



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ASEAN Economic Ministers sign two important documents

 


Hanoi (VNA) – ASEAN Economic Ministers on Oct. 28 signed the Protocol to Implement the Eighth Package of Commitments under the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services and the Amendment Protocol to the Protocol to Provide Special Consideration for Rice and Sugar in ASEAN.

The Eighth Package of Commitments put forward a roadmap for the liberalisation of 15 new sectors with the participation of foreign capital rate of up to 70 percent for priority sectors in ASEAN, namely healthcare, tourism, e-ASEAN and aviation transport and 51 percent for other services.

The signing of the Protocol to Implement the Eighth Package of Commitments under the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services reflected an important progress in liberalising services in ASEAN towards the establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015. It also confirmed ASEAN’s determination to liberalise intra-bloc services by eradicating the majority of service barriers with a commitment higher than that within the framework of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

On the amendments to the Protocol to Provide Special Consideration for Rice and Sugar, the Vietnamese Ministry of Trade and Industry said that due to the amendment protocol to provide special consideration for rice and sugar cited from the CEPT/CFTA agreement, ASEAN nations agreed to negotiate and sign the amendment protocol to change the citing source of regulations of the protocol from the CEPT/CFTA agreement to the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) following ATIGA taking effect on May 17, 2010.

Before the signing ceremony, the meeting of the ASEAN Economic Community Council (AECC) – an activity within the framework of the 17 th ASEAN Summit – was held under the chairmanship of AECC President and Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang.

The meeting said that on the way to the AEC, ASEAN had almost completed the implementation of measures from the first phase of 2008-2009, and has moved on to the second phase of implementation covering the period 2010-2011.

T o achieve a single market and common production base, ASEAN has made further progress, including ATIGA becoming a comprehensive legal instrument covering numerous measures impacting on the achievement of free flow of goods in the bloc.

On investment, ASEAN is working on an approach to reduce/eliminate investment restrictions. Easing these restrictions would attract more investment and increase the competitive edge of the economies in the region.

As for the financial sector, the ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) is tasked by the ASEAN Finance Ministers to take the surveillance role under the Chiang Mai Initiative Multilateralisation (CMIM) and is expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2011.

In terms of food security, ASEAN has established the ASEAN Integrated Food Security Framework and its medium-term Strategic Plan of Actions on ASEAN Food Security.

In the energy sector, the implementation of the 2010-2015 Plan of Actions for Energy Cooperation is making good progress. To achieve the aspirational goal of reducing regional energy intensity by at least 8 percent by 2015, ASEAN agreed to undertake an assessment and review of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C) target and develop a systematic plan of action and monitoring mechanism to achieve the target.

In the transport sector, the ASEAN Multilateral Agreement on Full Liberalisation of Passenger Air Services (MAFLPAS) has been finalised
for signing by the ASEAN Transport Ministers during their 16th Meeting in November 2010 in Bandar Seri Begawan .

This agreement, together with the Multilateral Agreement on Air Services (MAAS) and the Multilateral Agreement on Full Liberalisation of Air Freight Services (MAFLAFS) signed in 2009, will realise the ASEAN Open Skies policy, which will in turn form the backbone of the ASEAN Single Aviation Market (ASAM) that will be established by 2015.

The ASEAN Strategic Transport Plan (ASTP) 2011-2015 will also be endorsed by the ASEAN Transport Ministers in November 2010.

In the area of information communications technology (ICT), the ASEAN ICT Master Plan 2011-2015 will be launched by the Telecommunications and IT Ministers Meeting in November, 2010.

The ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan (ATSP) 2011-2015, which is the successor of the Roadmap for the Integration of the Tourism Sector 2005-2010, is also being developed with the target of endorsement by the ASEAN Tourism Ministers in January 2011.

Regarding the third AEC pillar on equitable economic development, the Strategic Plan of Action for ASEAN Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) Development 2010-2015 was developed to replace the ASEAN Policy Blueprint for SME Development 2004-2014. An SME Advisory Board will be established to provide a forum for networking as well as for deliberating and providing inputs on SME-related regional flagship projects and policy matters to the Ministers.

At the meeting, participants pointed out shortfalls in the implementation of plans.

Almost 20 percent of deliverables under the AEC Blueprint for 2008-2009 based on the AEC Scorecard still have not been achieved. These shortfalls are mainly the result of delays in the ratification of signed agreements and the alignment of ASEAN-wide agreements into ASEAN Member States’ domestic laws.

Therefore, at this meeting, ASEAN members countries shared the view that in the future, ASEAN should further accelerate the implementation of regional agreements and commitments of ASEAN plus. And in order to realise this task, it is necessary that ASEAN strengthens the coordinating role in the process of implementation of commitments at both national and regional level.-Enditem

 



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Nghi re-elected Hanoi Party Secretary

 


Hanoi (VNA)- The 15 th Party Congress of Hanoi closed on October 28, re-electing Pham Quang Nghi as Secretary for the 2010-15 term.

Nghi, also a Politburo member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee, pledged to uphold the civilisation and cultural tradition of Hanoi ’s millennium history as well as its titles as a heroic capital, a city for peace and the national heart.

He also called on the entire 75-strong line-up of the newly-elected executive city Party committee to embark on their work immediately in an effort to join the whole nation in speeding up the renewal process and advancing to socialism.

The four-day congress, the first of its kind since the capital city expanded its administrative border, also approved five major targets for the next five years, including a call for an annual average economic growth of between 12 and 13 percent.

Other targets include per-capita incomes of 4,100 USD-4,300 USD and an annual reduction of 1.5-1.8 percent in poverty rate.

The participants reached an overwhelming consensus on two remarkable goals, namely speeding up administrative reforms and intensifying investment in infrastructure to upgrade it to a well-organised and modernised system.

At a post-congress press briefing, newly-elected municipal Party Deputy Secretary Nguyen Cong Soai unveiled a project to train some 500 graduates with high academic records as the next generation of leaders for the municipal Party.

With the project, the next term would see more young talents in the municipal executive Party committee, which this term has just three members under 40 years of age, emphasised the Hanoi Party senior official.

Truong Tan Sang, Politburo member of the CPV Central Committee and Permanent member of the CPV Secretariat, also attended the closing session of the Hanoi Party Congress.--Enditem

 



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Vietnam backs UN anti-sanction resolution

 


Hanoi (VNA)- A Foreign Ministry spokesperson on October 28 reaffirmed Vietnam ’s unswerving stand to support UN resolutions that urge an end to the US embargo against Cuba .

Nguyen Phuong Nga made the statement in response to correspondents’ questions about the nation’s viewpoints on a resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on October 26, requesting the US to lift the multi-decade long economic embargo against Cuba .

The spokeswoman said, “As friends of Cubans, the Vietnamese people have always been standing by the fraternal Cuban people in their national construction and defence”.

“ Vietnam condemns any unilateral embargo imposed by a nation on another while backing resolutions passed by the UN General Assembly urging the US to end its embargo against Cuba .

“ Vietnam holds that differences between the US and Cuba should be solved through dialogues and negotiations in the spirit of mutual respect of independence and sovereignty.”--Enditem

 



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Condolences over disasters in Indonesia

 


Hanoi (VNA) – State President Nguyen Minh Triet on Oct. 27 extended condolences to his Indonesian counterpart Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono over losses of lives and property caused by earthquake, tsunami and volcanic eruption.

The same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem sent a message of sympathy to Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa.

The earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia 's West Sumatra on Oct. 25 claimed at least 343 lives while the volcanic eruption in Central Java left at least 33 dead, according to Indonesian newspaper, Jakarta Post.-Enditem

 



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Vietnam seeks ASEAN trade centre project

 


Hanoi (VNA)- While hosting a two-day ASEAN business meeting, Vietnam raised an initiative for the local construction of an ASEAN trade centre in support of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (BIS), which closed in Hanoi on October 28, was also told that the project should be designed as a venue for regional businesses to exchange views and seek partners for sustainable integration.

The initiative received strong support from participants, including ASEAN partners from Australia , New Zealand , China , India , Japan , the Republic of Korea and Russia .

If the plan comes to fruition, the Vietnam centre will become the second of its kind in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), after Malaysia .

The summit was attended by some 600 business executives and economists from host Vietnam and other ASEAN members, as well as partners.

They focused discussion on the economic prospects of the region and the globe and raised future solutions for businesses operating in ASEAN.

Participants highlighted the competitive advantages of ASEAN businesses in the service sector, which has contributed a considerable portion of ASEAN members’ GDP and has been constantly expanding.

Also high on the summit’s agenda were momentums for ASEAN growth, referring to the SMEs’ role in the regional economy, policies at the ASEAN level, competition capacity and preparations by regional businesses.

The previous day, the ASEAN Business Advisory Council held a ceremony to announce the ASEAN Business Awards, the third of its kind so far.

The BIS was one of related summits of the 17 th ASEAN Summit, which opened in Hanoi on October 28.--Enditem

 



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ASEAN-Russia summit to boost bilateral ties

 


Hanoi (VNA)- On the threshold of an ASEAN-Russia summit, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has declared Russian interest in tapping ASEAN potential to develop its Siberian and Far East economies.

The Russian leader’s statement was published by International Activities Magazine in Russia on October 28 before he departs for the summit scheduled to take place in Hanoi on October 30.

Medvedev described the upcoming summit as an important contribution to the comprehensive relations between the two sides.

“The effective dialogue partnership system between ASEAN and individual countries as well as international organisations is contributing to expanding cooperation and guaranteeing security in Asia and the Pacific,” emphasised the Russian President.

He was quoted by the Russian magazine as saying that Russia attached importance to relations with ASEAN in its external policy and its relations with ASEAN members over the past 15 years have constantly developed.

The Russian President pledged stronger relations with ASEAN, making greater efforts to boost trade, technology and investment into the grouping’s member economies.

“Economic trade and investment will play a key role in bilateral relations,” he said.

Medvedev was also quoted as saying that the upcoming summit would help boost bilateral relations in a series of fields, ranging from politics to economics, trade, transport and communications, energy, science and technology, culture, tourism, anti-terrorism and the battle against organised crime, responding to emergency situations and establishing a regional security mechanism and cooperation.

Cooperation between Russia and ASEAN benefits all countries, sparking confidence in a successful summit which would bring bilateral relations to a new height, concluded the Russian President.--Enditem

 



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HCM City wants to boost ties with New Zealand

 


HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City wants to further cooperation and enhance exchange with New Zealand in education and training and human resource development to serve the city’s development demand, said Chairman Le Hoang Quan of the municipal People’s Committee.

The city’s mayor made the statement while receiving visiting New Zealand Prime Minister John Key on Oct. 28.

The cooperative relations between Vietnam and New Zealand in trade, investment and education have unceasingly increased since the two countries established their diplomatic ties 35 years ago, said Quan.

However, there remains largely untapped cooperative potential, the mayor said.

New Zealand and Vietnam are enjoying fine cooperative ties, said PM Key, saying that Vietnam ’s abundant young population is a promising factor for the strong development of the all-around cooperation between the two countries.

The New Zealand PM hoped that the presence of New Zealand in Vietnam will be further increased not only in economics but also in education, training, food processing, tourism and other fields.

Quan took the occasion to thank the New Zealand Government for facilitating overseas Vietnamese and Vietnamese students, most of whom are from HCM City , to live, work and study in the country.

The city mayor held a banquet in honour of PM John Key and his entourage after the reception.-Enditem

 



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VN sees cooperation with China as vital

 


Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese Party, State and Government attach importance to the development of the friendly neighbouring relationship and comprehensive cooperation with China , which are considered consistent, long-term and top priorities in Vietnam ’s foreign policy, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

PM Dung made the confirmation while receiving Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his entourage in Hanoi on Oct. 28.

The Vietnamese PM proposed further enhancing the political trust between the two Parties, States and peoples.

Premier Wen, who is in Hanoi for the ASEAN-China Summit, the East Asia Summit and other related summits, confirmed a desire to closely coordinate with Vietnam for the success of these meetings.

Friendship and cooperation is a consistent policy in the two countries’ relationship, said the Chinese Premier, adding that China is ready to maintain the exchange of visits by high-ranking delegations and delegations of ministries, sectors and localities with Vietnam to solve rising issues.

Premier Wen said that China would soon establish a hotline between the two countries’ leaders, sign five-year economic and trade development scheme between the two countries and facilitate Vietnamese goods entering Chinese markets as well as Chinese business investment in Vietnam .

China attaches importance to cooperation with ASEAN nations and is willing to cooperate in all fields for the goals of regional peace, stability and development, confirmed the Chinese Premier.

Both PM Dung and Premier Wen agreed that further deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries is of great significance in the context of complicated regional and international situation and in line with the two peoples’ basic interests and aspirations.

The two leaders expressed their delight that the two sides have announced the effect of three land border documents and reached consensus on soon finalising remaining documents on tourism cooperation at the Ban Gioc Waterfall and the free movement of boats at the estuary of the Bac Luan river.

The two sides agreed through friendly negotiation to seek satisfactory solutions to existing issues relating to the East Sea , thus contributing to maintaining peace, stability and cooperation in the region and the world.

Both sides reached consensus on speeding up negotiations on basic principles to settle sea issues, and satisfactorily settling fishermen and fishing boat issues in accordance with the two countries’ friendship.-Enditem

 



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Vietnam wants UN help with climate change

 


Hanoi (VNA) – State President Nguyen Minh Triet has proposed the United Nations provide information and financial assistance to assist Vietnam in coping with climate change as Vietnam is among countries suffering the worst consequences of climate change.

The Vietnamese State leader made the proposal while receiving UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon following an official welcoming ceremony in Hanoi on Oct. 28.

Vietnam commits to implementing the UN Resolutions, particularly the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and highly values the UN’s contributions to peacekeeping, international security, economic development and ensuring human rights, said President Triet.

He emphasised Vietnam ’s support to Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s efforts to promote inter-governmental negotiations on the reform of the UN Security Council and enhance connectivity among member organisations of the UN system towards democratisation, improving its operational efficiency and caring for member countries’ interests.

President Triet took the occasion to thank the UN for its assistance and support to Vietnam in its international integration and implementation of MDGs.

He highlighted UN agencies’ activities in Vietnam and said he hoped the UN would continue helping Vietnam in its hunger eradication and poverty reduction programmes and in socio-economic development.

He expressed his hope that the UN would continue bringing into play its role in maintaining peace, stability and security in the world, promoting dialogue and peacefully settling disputes on the basis of respecting the principles of the UN Charter and international law.

Vietnam also proposed the UN support the South-South cooperation mechanism and expand the “One-UN” Initiative, said President Triet.

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon expressed his good impression of Vietnam ’s land and people and its socio-economic development achievements.

Vietnam is a typical nation with many good experiences in implementing MDGs and promoting the “One-UN” Initiative, said the UN leader.

He congratulated Vietnam on the success of important events during its capacity as ASEAN Chair, which he said proved Vietnam ’s increasing role and important influence in international and regional issues.

It is time to bring the ASEAN-UN partnership to a new height based on more solid foundations, stressed the UN chief.

He thanked Vietnam for its contributions to the success of the summit to review the 10-year implementation of the MDGs, expressing his belief that Vietnam would finalise eight MDGs in 2015.

Vietnam has made great progress in hunger eradication and poverty reduction and socio-economic development and its tripling of GDP, said Ban Ki-moon.

He went on to say that the international community admires and highly values Vietnam ’s achievements and hopes the country will share solutions in gaining successes.

The UN always assists Vietnam in implementing MDGs as well as minimising the impacts of climate change, confirmed the UN leader.

President Nguyen Minh Triet hosted a banquet in honour of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his wife on the evening of Oct. 28.-Enditem

 



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Indonesia hails Vietnam’s ASEAN initiatives

 


Hanoi (VNA) – Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa has spoken highly of Vietnam ’s initiatives and proposals in its capacity of ASEAN Chair in 2010.

During the year, Vietnam has made positive contributions to a number of programmes to increase ties among regional countries and proposed policy on assisting people in distress at sea, he told reporters on the sidelines of the 17 th ASEAN Summit and related meetings on Oct. 28.

Indonesia will take over the ASEAN Chairmanship from Vietnam next year, and the country will continue to deploy initiatives and proposals put forward at the 17 th Summit , the FM said.

As a result, the Indonesian government will create opportunities to enhance cooperation towards achieving ASEAN’s vision and successfully build an ASEAN Community by 2015, FM Natalegawa said.

The Indonesian diplomat described the participation of the US and Russia at the East Asia Summit (EAS) as “dynamic equilibrium” with ASEAN acting as the hub.

According to FM Natalegawa, “Connectivity in ASEAN is a prerequisite, a requirement before having a wider connectivity”.

There are more than 700 projects in ASEAN to promote internal connectivity as well as projects to boost regional connectivity within the EAS, he said.

He also emphasised that ASEAN must not lose its leadership amidst the participation of powerful countries in the region.-Enditem

 

‘Floating Lives' makes splash

 


HCM City (VNA) — Vietnamese film Canh Dong Bat Tan (Floating Lives), an adaptation from an award-winning short story by Nguyen Ngoc Tu, is poised to become a box-office hit in HCM City.

Tickets were sold out hours before the filmshows began at big cinemas like Megastar Hung Vuong, Galaxy Nguyen Du and Galaxy Nguyen Trai on Oct.27.

Several theatres increased the number of daily shows from two to three but many people were still unable to get tickets.

The film, produced by the BHD Company, has grossed nearly 4 billion VND (205,000 USD) in the first four days of screening.

"We're encouraged that Floating Lives are attracting big crowds at cinemas and many viewers have posted favourable comments on social networking sites," said Ngo Thi Bich Hien, BHD deputy director.

"The film tells an emotional story and audiences are curious about it, " Hien said.

"We enjoyed the film because its representation of human despair, suffering and love is lively and persuasive, " said a third-year HCM City university student. "The film's well-known actors and actresses also attract young people," he said.

Floating Lives, which premiered at the Vietnam International Film Festival in Hanoi last week, will also be screened in Bien Hoa, Da Nang and Hai Phong.

The film, directed by Nguyen Phan Quang Binh, tells the story of a family who leads a nomadic life on rivers in the Cuu Long ( Mekong ) Delta region. The main character is Vo (played by overseas Vietnamese actor Dustin Nguyen) whose wife left him for a cloth vendor. He seeks solace in other women, whom he jilts as soon as they have fallen in love with him.

When Suong (acted by Do Thi Hai Yen), a prostitute, joins the family, Vo's daughter and son welcome her and love her. Vo's affection for her also grows.

Canh Dong Bat Tan created a literary stir among Vietnamese readers when it was published five years ago. Released by the Tre (Youth) Publishing House, the story was a bestseller in Vietnam in 2005.

"We know how difficult it is to turn a work of literature appreciated by a great number of people into an equally popular film," the film makers said.

The story won an award of the Vietnam Writers Association in 2006. —Enditem

 



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HIV/AIDS exhibition to open in Hanoi

 


Hanoi (VNA)- An exhibition called “HIV/AIDS in Vietnam: 20 years of changes and challenges” will be held at the Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi on November 22 to mark HIV/AIDS prevention month (November 10-December 10).

The event will be jointly organised by the museum, the Centre for Community Health Research and Development (CCRD), the Ford Foundation and Columbia University in New York.

According to the CCRD, the event will spotlight the HIV/AIDS problem in Vietnam, past and present, with the recollections and experiences of HIV/AIDS victims as well as the difficulties faced by health staff, policy makers and researchers.

Since the first case of HIV was discovered in the country in 1990, the virus has quickly spread on a national scale and affected many aspects of Vietnamese society, it said.

It is just one of 10 events being held across the country to mark the 20 th year of Vietnam’s HIV prevention campaign.-Enditem

 



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Thai PM hails ties with Vietnam, prospects for ASEAN cooperation

 


Bangkok (VNA) - The Thai Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, has expressed his satisfaction at Vietnam-Thailand relations and stressed good prospects for cooperation among ASEAN.

“I am very pleased with the overall bilateral relations, as it has been progressing and expanding well in all fields, encompassing political and security, trade and investment, social and economic development, technical cooperation”, PM Abhisit said in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency’s Bangkok correspondent prior to his trip to Vietnam to attend the 17 th ASEAN Summit and related meetings on Oct. 28-30.

“Thailand and Vietnam are two of the largest economies in mainland Southeast Asia. Therefore, we could serve as growth catalysts to the region and help stimulate development in our neighbouring countries,” he said, adding Thailand looks forward to enhancing closer cooperation with Vietnam in this regard.

He quoted statistics figures that in the first six months of 2010 bilateral trade increased by 28.52 percent compared to that of the same period in 2009.

“Indeed, Vietnam has made remarkable economic achievement. Thailand is also pleased that her investment and development cooperation have played a part in Vietnam’s development success, as Thailand is the 10th main investor in Vietnam with about 5.7 billion USD accumulated investment value from 1988 to 2009,” Abhisit said.

He stressed the strategic partnership as well as cooperation between Thailand and Vietnam within various frameworks of ASEAN will also serve as their common resource in tackling the many challenges caused by globalisation and changing geopolitical landscape.

The Thai PM went on to say that “Closer cooperation will also generate wider benefits to both Mekong Sub-region as well as ASEAN at large. Thailand reiterates its support for Vietnam as the ASEAN representative at the G20 next month.”

Abhisit affirmed that prospects of bilateral cooperation are very promising saying that several meetings have been planned for 2011, all of which will serve as a driving force in bilateral cooperation, while people-to-people connectivity is vital and fundamental to an amicable and long-lasting relationship.

He congratulated Vietnam on the 1000th Anniversary of the establishment of Hanoi City and also on the recognition of Thang Long Royal Citadel as the World Heritage by UNESCO.

Discussing cooperation within the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations, the Thai PM said the ASEAN region is one of great potential and the potential would be further strengthened by its extra-regional connections, quoting estimations that by 2015, the population will reach 625 million and the GDP 2.69 trillion USD.

“Realising the ASEAN Community is no easy task, but despite these challenges, ASEAN has significantly advanced in its community-building agenda and there have been many concrete developments. So for ASEAN, the key challenge is to stay the course in community-building as a whole,” he said.

According to the Thai PM, in recent years, there has been a growing interest in the discussion on regional cooperation through a new regional architecture in East Asia and Asia-Pacific. Such interest is driven by the fact that the world’s economic centre is shifting from the Atlantic to the Pacific with East Asia as a hub. Regional integration in East Asia is, therefore, in a paramount interest not only to countries in East Asia, but also to the rest of the world.

“So for ASEAN, we stress our determination to maintain centrality in current ASEAN-led mechanisms and in the emerging regional architecture. ASEAN agreed to adopt a two-prong approach with priority given to the acceleration of ASEAN integration and community building while intensifying ASEAN external relations with its dialogue partners. ASEAN also agreed that any new regional framework or process should be complementary to and built upon existing regional mechanisms and respect the principle of ASEAN centrality,” he said.

He stressed that Thailand, like other ASEAN Member States, recognises and supports the mutually reinforcing roles of the existing regional mechanisms such as ASEAN+1, ASEAN+3, East Asia Summit (EAS), ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), Trilateral Cooperation and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), which would help promote East Asian cooperation and integration.

According to Abhisit, each mechanism has its own value and distinctive roles that have contributed so far to peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

“As we are gearing up towards the realisation of the ASEAN Community in 2015, our economic integration has advanced and become relatively strong. ASEAN will continue to do its job to ensure the relevancy of the existing mechanisms as well as further promote regional economic integration. I am certain that ASEAN centrality remains indispensable in future regional integration process,” said the Thai PM.-Enditem

 



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UN Secretary General visits Cambodia

 


Phnom Penh (VNA)- The United Nations’ Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on Oct. 27 had a working session with Prime Minister Hun Sen in the framework of his three-day visiting to Cambodia (Oct. 26-28).

Addressing the working session, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon praised the achievements that the Cambodian government and people have made in their process of country building and economic development.

He spoke highly of the Cambodian Royal Government’s efforts over the past two decades in maintaining peace and political securities within the two recent decades, improving the people’s living standards, reducing poverty as well as realising the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals.

On this occasion, the Secretary General visited the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia and the Tuol Sleng prison, a vivid proof of the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime.
He is scheduled to visit the Soviet-Cambodia Hospital on Oct. 28 before leaving Phnom Penh for Vietnam.-Enditem

 



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UN Secretary General visits Cambodia

 


Phnom Penh (VNA)- The United Nations’ Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on Oct. 27 had a working session with Prime Minister Hun Sen in the framework of his three-day visiting to Cambodia (Oct. 26-28).

Addressing the working session, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon praised the achievements that the Cambodian government and people have made in their process of country building and economic development.

He spoke highly of the Cambodian Royal Government’s efforts over the past two decades in maintaining peace and political securities within the two recent decades, improving the people’s living standards, reducing poverty as well as realising the United Nations’ Millennium Development Goals.

On this occasion, the Secretary General visited the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia and the Tuol Sleng prison, a vivid proof of the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime.
He is scheduled to visit the Soviet-Cambodia Hospital on Oct. 28 before leaving Phnom Penh for Vietnam.-Enditem