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Hanoi (VNA) -
Current events
Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Truong Tan Sang receives the Japanese Minister of Finance and President of Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) (All dailies, page 1). Japan continues granting ODA to committed projects with Vietnam .
Vietnam wants UNESCO to continue providing support to preserve and promote values of natural and cultural heritages (Nhan dan, page 8).
· A ceremony held to rebury 32 sets of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and specialists who died during the war in Laos (Nhan dan, page 8).
· Vietnam opposes terrorism and condemns terrorist acts in any form (Nhan dan, page 8). The Foreign Ministry Spokesperson answered reporters’ questions on Vietnam ’s response to the death of Osama Bin Laden.
· Vietnam is an example in development, says ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda at a press conference on May 3 during the ABD’s annual meeting in Hanoi (Quan doi Nhan dan, page 8).
· Vietnam Business Summit : top priority given to inflation control (All dailies, page 1).
· Cambodian People’s Party leader receives President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour Dang Ngoc Tung (Lao dong, page 4).
· Hanoi Confederation of Labour delegation attends meeting marking the International Labour Day (May 1) in Oslo , Norway (Lao dong, page 4).
· Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung to attend 18 th ASEAN Summit in Indonesia (All dailies on May 3).
· Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan pays official visit to South Africa from May 1 (Nhan dan on May 3, page 1).
Socio-economic Affairs
· Ao dai (Vietnamese traditional long dress) fashion show in France from May 5-27 (Nhan dan, page 5).
· Bolondo multinational circus troupe gives charitable performances in Vietnam (Nhan dan, page 5).
· Work to start on National Museum of History in May 2012 (Quan doi Nhan dan, page 8).
· Visitors to central region surge (Saigon Giai phong, page 2). Around 9,000 tourists visit Hoi An ancient town between April 30 and May 2.
· Vietnam Rubber Industry Group invests in planting 40,000 ha of rubber in Laos and Cambodia (Lao dong, page 3).
· Gold transactions to be tightened as of May 1 (Lao dong, Monetary and Investment page).
· 400 billion VND for development coffee trademark (Lao dong, Monetary and Investment page). The sum will be provided for coffee growers in Lam Dong, Quang Tri, Son La and Dien Bien provinces.
· Fruit exports to choosy markets (Hanoi Moi, page 7). Vietnam ’s fresh fruit exports to choosy markets like the US , Japan and the Republic of Korea see many advantages. In the first four months of the year, dragon fruit exports to the US reach 600 tonnes, equivalent to 70 percent of the product’s total export volume in 2010.
· Nearly 478,000 people get jobs in four months (Quan doi Nhan dan, page 1).
· The 4 th Hue Traditional Craft Festival closes: food pavilion attracts visitors (Lao dong, page 2).
International Affairs
· Fire exchanges continue at Cambodia-Thailand border (Quan doi Nhan dan, page 8).
· RoK holds manoeuvers near border with DPRK (Quan doi Nhan dan, page 8).
· Two black boxes of the aircraft in Air France ’s most tragic accident (Quan doi Nhan dan, page 8).
· Japan approves an emergency budget of 49 billion USD for rebuilding activities after earthquake and tsunami disaster (Lao dong, Monetary and Investment page).
· Russia and China call for ceasefire in Libya (Nhan dan on May 3)./.
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Vietnamese bank presents televisions to Laos
Vientiane (VNA) – The Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) has presented the Lao government with 1,000 televisions to help the poor in the Lao capital, Vientiane .
Attending the handover ceremony on May 2 were Lao Deputy Permanent Prime Minister Somsavad Lengsavath, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Ta Minh Chau, Tran Bac Ha, Chairman of the BIDV Management Council and many Lao government officials.
Deputy Permanent PM Somsavad Lengsavath spoke highly of the sentiment that BIDV gives to Laos , especially people in remote and impoverished areas.
He also hailed Vietnamese investors operating in Laos and hoped the two sides will further boost bilateral special and multifaceted cooperation in the future.
Since 2005 up to now, BIDV has contributed around 1.1 million USD to social welfare programmes in Laos. /.
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Hanoi trade unionists join May Day meeting in Norway
Hanoi (VNA) – A delegation from the Hanoi Confederation of Labour (HCL) attended a meeting marking the 125 th International Labour Day in Oslo , Norway at the invitation of the trade union organisation of the Norwegian capital city.
The meeting, themed “preventing the privatisation of social security system and opposing seasonal work”, drew the participation of more than 750,000 representatives from trade unions in Norway and members of the Communist Party and Workers’ Party of Norway. The four-member HCL delegation was the only international delegation at the meeting.
Speaking at the event, HCL President Tran Van Thuc expressed the Hanoi trade union’s solidarity with the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions in Oslo (LO-Oslo) and thanked the Norwegian trade unions and people for their fine sentiments towards Vietnam .
The Oslo Mayor and the LO-Oslo board of leaders promised to stand side by side with the HCL for the common goal of protecting the interests of workers.
During their stay in Oslo , the HCL delegation worked with the Norwegian Institute for Labour and Social Research (FAFO) and the LO-Oslo./.
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Cambodia seeks Vietnam’s help in training trade unionists
Phnom Penh (VNA) – Cambodia wants Vietnam to continue providing assistance in training trade union activists for the country.
The statement was made by Say Chhum, head of the Permanent Committee of the Central Committee of the Cambodia People’s Party (CPP), while receiving a Vietnamese trade union delegation led by President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) Dang Ngoc Tung in Phnom Penh on April 27.
At the reception, Say Chhum applauded the Vietnamese delegation’s visit, saying that it reflected the fine friendship and solidarity between the two Parties, two States and two peoples.
He spoke highly of the results of working sessions between the Vietnamese delegation and Cambodian trade union organisations as well as the VGCL’s provision of office equipment for the Cambodia trade union.
He expressed Cambodia ’s gratitude to the Vietnamese Party, Government and people for their help to Cambodia to escape from genocide and rebuild the country./.
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US Ballroom Dance expected in Hanoi soon
Hanoi (VNA) - The Ballroom Dance Company from the Brigham Young University, a leading art troupe from the US, is due to perform in Hanoi and Da Nang city from May 12-14.
Deputy Director of the Vietnam Opera and Ballet Theatre Pham Hong Hai said the 50-strong troupe is expected to leave great impressions on local audiences for creative and lively performances of different dances, from waltz to samba, foxtrot and hustle.
The troupe brings along tonnes of equipment and over 300 sets of colourful costumes in service of its performances on a tour of eight cities of Vietnam and Thailand in April and May.
Since its foundation in 1982, the Ballroom Dance has won 27 US championships and 12 international titles.
Since 1970, the troupe has paid performance trips to 35 nations worldwide, marked with its performance at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic-2008./.
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People flock to tourist sites during holiday
Hanoi (VNA) – People across the country flocked to popular tourist sites during the four-day holiday to celebrate the country’s Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day.
Over 55,000 tourists visited the world heritage Ha Long Bay between April 29-May 2 as the locality hosted a tourism week with a wide range of activities.
On this occasion, the site received an additional 1,500 online votes for Ha Long Bay to become one of the new 7 wonders of the world. It needs to have 60 million votes to win the title.
Meanwhile, the resort town of Sa Pa in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai welcomed nearly 11,000 holiday makers during the holiday.
The ancient imperial city of Hue in Thua Thien-Hue central province welcomed nearly 50,000 people as it held the traditional craft festival.
Hosting the international fireworks competition, the central city of Da Nang were visited by about 300,000 travellers over the past days, tripling the figure of the same period last year.
Also in the central region, Hoi An ancient quarter in Quang Nam province, a world cultural heritage site received 9,000 visitors and a world biosphere reserve also in Quang Nam welcomed over 4,000 tourists.
In the same period, over 26,000 people visited the world natural heritage Phong Nha Ke Bang in the central province of Quang Binh . /.
ASEAN embassies raise funds for Japanese victims
Berlin (VNA) – The embassies of ASEAN member countries in Germany hosted a culinary festival on May 3 to raise money for Japanese victims of the March 11 earthquake and subsequent tsunami.
The festival introduced a wide range of traditional specialties originated from the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Vietnam Ambassador to Germany Do Hoa Binh said the event was a chance for the ASEAN nations to show off their culinary cultures as well as to express their sentiments and close relations with Japan .
Organisers handed over more than 12,000 EUR collected at the festival to the Japanese Ambassador in Germany , Takahiro Shinyo.
ASEAN groups Brunei , Cambodia , Indonesia , Laos , Malaysia , Myanmar , the Philippines , Singapore , Thailand and Vietnam . /.
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OPEC fund helps Vietnam better health services
Hanoi (VNA) – The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) will provide Vietnam with a 22.5 million USD loan to help the country enhance capacity and quality of local healthcare services.
An agreement to this effect was signed in Hanoi on May 4 by Finance Minister Vu Van Ninh and OFID General Director Suleiman Jasir Al-Herbish, who is currently on a working visit to Vietnam .
Finance Minister Ninh said that the signing of the funding agreement for the Vietnam Healthcare Project marks an important milestone for a new phase of increased cooperation between the Vietnamese government and OFID.
The 20-year loan, with a five-year grace period and an annual interest rate of 1.75 percent, is the largest of its kind OFID has given Vietnam so far.
It will be used to upgrade the general hospital in Trung Son district, the northern mountainous province of Tuyen Quang , and the Hanoi-based central transport general hospital in the 2011-2015 period.
According to the Finance Ministry, OFID has provided loans with 161 million USD in total for 17 projects and programmes engaged in transport, irrigation, poverty reduction, health and education in Vietnam./.
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350 firms to join in int’l medi-pharm expo
Hanoi (VNA) – As many as 350 domestic and foreign companies will showcase their products at the 18 th Vietnam International Medical and Pharmaceutical Expo in Hanoi from May 11-14.
With more than 450 booths, Vietnam Medi-Pharm 2011 will display a wide range of medical products, equipment, devices, materials, technologies and production lines.
Organisers said the event is expected to serve as a chance for companies both in and outside the country to seek cooperation, business and investment opportunities and promote their products, brand names and technologies.
Within the framework of the expo, there will be seminars spotlighting Vietnam ’s pharmaceutical and medical equipment market as well as new regulations on medicine registration, tax and trade policies and incentives to attract foreign investment in the healthcare sector.
Participating foreign businesses will be also enabled to make a fact-finding trip to hospitals, and pharmaceutical and medical equipment factories in the capital city of Hanoi. /.
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Australian Governor-General to visit Vietnam
Hanoi (VNA) – The Governor-General of Australia, Ms Quentin Bryce, and her husband will pay a State visit to Vietnam from May 8 – 14, 2011.
The visit will be made at the invitation of State President Nguyen Minh Triet and his wife, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on May 4./.
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Dien Bien needs to boost NA election dissemination
Dien Bien (VNA) – Northern Dien Bien province has been told to speed up dissemination of information on the upcoming NA election in ethnic minority languages to help local people understand the significance of the event and exercise their rights.
National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong told Dien Bien, where H’Mong, Dao and Thai ethnic minorities live, while inspecting its preparations for the elections to the 13 th National Assembly and the People’s Council at all levels for the 2011-2016 term on May 3 and 4.
She urged the province to place importance to the training of the staff in service of the elections, especially those in remote and extremely disadvantaged areas, and ensure social security during the elections.
Also the Permanent Vice Chairwoman of the Election Council, Phong praised Dien Bien for proactively carrying out necessary works for the elections in accordance with law, underlining its proficient preparation of personnel for these people-elected organs.
Dien Bien has 10 candidates to run for seats at the National Assembly, including two nominated by central agencies, and 77 candidates for the provincial People’s Council./.
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Vietnam pledges further ties with Japan, India
Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has expressed his delight at the growing strategic partnership in all fields between Vietnam and Japan, and Vietnam and India.
“Vietnam attaches special importance to cooperating with Japan and expects the two sides to effectively implement deals agreed on by the two countries’ leaders, especially promoting cooperation in the fields of infrastructure and energy,” PM Dung said at a meeting with Yoshihiko Noda, Japanese Finance Minister on May 4 in Hanoi.
Dung also thanked Japan for its assistance to Vietnam and said he hoped the two sides would soon sign an agreement on building the nuclear power plant No 2 and exploiting rare earth minerals in Vietnam.
He conveyed his deep condolences for the great loss caused by the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan, stressing that Vietnam would spare no efforts to help Japan overcome the challenges for the country’s rapid stabilisation and development.
Finance Minister Noda affirmed that Japan will fully answer requests from Vietnam, especially realising its commitments to ODA assistance for Vietnam’s major projects agreed by the two sides.
At a separate meeting with Pranab Mukerjee, Indian Finance Minister, PM Dung said that the two countries should make greater efforts to raise bilateral cooperative ties to a new height, which is growing but still unmatched with the potential of each side.
The PM affirmed that Vietnam would create favourable conditions for Indian businesses investing in the country, especially Tata Group and Bank of India’s opening of a branch in Vietnam.
Speaking highly of India’s role in the region and the world, Dung affirmed that Vietnam supports India’s further cooperation with ASEAN and its policy toward the bloc.
Mukerjee said that the traditional relationship fostered by the two countries’ leaders and peoples should be strengthened, adding that the two sides should strongly promote trade ties, and the successful project of Tata Group would be a model for Indian businesses investing in Vietnam.
The Japanese Finance Minister and his counterpart from India are currently in Hanoi for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) 44th Annual Meeting./.
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Europe Days 2011 to open in May
Hanoi (VNA) – The Europe Days 2011 programme will open in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on May 6, with a series of diverse intellectual and cultural activities.
A highlight of the annual programme will be a selection of 13 inspiring films, and a new short film, offering a variety of enchanting short works by European film makers.
The diversity of European cultures will manifest itself in the European Literature Day – a joint initiative between the Goethe Institute, L’Espace and the Wallonia-Brussels Delegation, together with the embassies of Italy and Denmark – through a wide selection of European books that have recently been translated into Vietnamese.
Global issues such as gender equality and climate change will be featured at events to raise awareness of young people in an ever-changing world, creating a bridge for cultural exchanges and promoting the 20-year relationship between the EU and Vietnam.
Since its inception in 2004, the programme has attracted about 22,000 Vietnamese visitors.
“We are truly delighted to witness the growing public attention in Vietnam for the Europe Days programme,” said Sean Doyle, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the EU. “Offering a wide choice among diverse and stimulating cultural events, we hope that Europe Days 2011 will continue its attraction to many people across the spectrum of Vietnamese society.”/.
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Key central cadres grasp Party Resolution
Da Nang (VNA) – More than 200 key cadres from 16 Central Highlands and central city and provincial Party committees and popularisation and education commissions attended a conference in Da Nang city on May 4 which was aimed at helping them to thoroughly grasp the Resolution of the 11th National Party Congress.
Politburo member and Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC) Dinh The Huynh affirmed the significance of the 11th Congress in the political activity of the entire Party, people and army.
Huynh, who is also Head of the CPVCC Commission for Popularisation and Education, proposed local authorities thoroughly grasp the Party’s revolutionary process over the past 80 years, main tasks to improve the State’s management efficiency and effectiveness, the Party building work and guidelines, the enhancement of the Party leadership and upholding the people’s right to mastery as well as major solutions to economics, education, science-technology and environment.
The Politburo member asked the participants to thoroughly grasp the fundamental contents of the Resolution to bring it into life.
During the three-day conference, the participants will discuss important documents adopted at the 11th Congress, including the Platform for National Construction during the transitional period towards socialism (supplemented and developed in 2011), the Socio-economic Development Strategy for the 2011-20 period, the Political Report of the CPVCC (the 10th tenure) and the Party Statute (the 11th tenure).
The conference will focus on new points and theoretical and ideological foundations of the documents and combining practical examples with the current ideological and political struggle./.
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PM Dung receives guests to ADB meeting
Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on May 4 separately received French Minister of Economy, Finance and Industry Christine Lagarde and Director General of the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) Suleiman Jasir Al Herbish, who are attending the 44th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Hanoi .
At a reception for Christine Lagarde, PM Dung expressed his pleasure at the fruitful development of Vietnam-France relations in various areas, saying he believed that ties would continue to prosper in the future.
Vietnam wished the two sides would make every effort to lift their relations to the strategic partnership for mutual benefits and that France would continue its official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam , he said.
Although France is the leading European partner in Vietnam in terms of investment and trade, the two countries’ potential for cooperation remains greater, the PM noted.
His viewed was echoed by the French Minister, who said the two sides have boasted a lot of potential in trade, investment, training and education and culture.
Mentioning French-invested projects in Vietnam , especially energy and underground electric trains in Hanoi , PM Dung pledged to instruct relevant Vietnamese agencies to engage in discussion with French businesses while the French Minister affirmed that France will continue to assist Vietnam in such projects and suggested the two sides form a working group to boost their implementation.
At another reception, for OFID Director General, PM Dung thanked OFID for pouring 161 million USD into 17 projects in irrigation, transport and healthcare in Vietnam , contributing to the country’s hunger elimination and poverty reduction.
He proposed OFID continue its assistance for ongoing projects and provide non-refundable aid for health and education projects in poor localities.
He affirmed his support for the OFID programme, that gives loans to the private sector, and expressed his belief that the relations between Vietnam and OFID would develop further.
For his part, the OFID Director General said since its establishment 20 years ago, the fund had assisted 120 countries worldwide, and Vietnam was one of its priorities.
OFID-funded projects in Vietnam, especially in irrigation, health care and poverty reduction, have proved effective, he said, adding that OFID had also focused its support on other areas such as food security, energy and commercial and private loans./.
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Kuwait wants to promote ties with Vietnam
Cairo (VNA) – Kuwaiti Emir Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah told incoming Vietnamese Ambassador Bui Quoc Trung he was committed to promoting all-around bilateral cooperation with Vietnam.
In Kuwait on May 3, the Emir also said he would arrange a visit to Vietnam at an appropriate time, at the invitation of President Nguyen Minh Triet.
Ambassador Trung, who presented his credentials at the Bayan Palace, expressed his hope of receiving the assistance of the Kuwaiti Emir, Government and people to fulfil his assigned tasks and in developing the two countries’ friendly and cooperative relations.
He conveyed President Nguyen Minh Triet’s best regards to the Kuwaiti Emir and thanked Kuwait for its assistance and cooperation in Vietnam’s current national construction and development./.
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Vietnam, South Africa to increase two-way trade
Pretoria (VNA) – Vietnam wants to join South Africa in raising two-way trade to 1 billion USD in the next few years, said Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan.
Vice President Doan made the statement during her talks with her South African counterpart Kgalema Motlanthe in the capital city of Pretoria on May 4.
Vietnam always attaches importance to the development of the friendship and cooperation with South Africa and other African nations, Doan said, noting that bilateral trade value remains modest but is increasing rapidly.
South Africa is also Vietnam’s biggest trade partner in Africa with bilateral trade rising from 192 million USD in 2007 to 640.3 million USD last year, she added.
Vietnam highlighted South Africa’s role and position in the continent, in the Non-Aligned Movement and the United Nations, affirmed the Vietnamese Vice President.
Doan took the occasion to thank South Africa for its support to Vietnam’s full market economy and she congratulated South Africa on its re-election as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during the 2011-2012 term and its entry to the new emerging economies bloc, BRICS.
Deputy President Motlanthe described Vice President Doan’s visit as a vivid symbol of an enhanced bilateral relationship.
He suggested the two countries’ businesses promote investment cooperation in agriculture, the footwear industry and environment to increase bilateral trade.
Both host and guest agreed to instruct their ministries and branches to implement concrete measures to further develop multifaceted cooperation, particularly in security-defence, economics, trade, culture, tourism, agriculture, science-technology and environment.
Inter-governmental cooperation programmes will be organised at the end of the year to formalise issues that were agreed by both sides, they said.
They also affirmed coordination as well as continued mutual support at international and regional forums.
Earlier, Vice President Doan attended the Vietnam-South Africa Business Forum and toured a number of cultural and economic establishments in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria./.
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