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Party General Secretary visits Laos
Hanoi (VNA) – Party General Secretary and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong on June 20 left Hanoi for an official visit to Laos.
The visit is made at the invitation of General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President Choummaly Sayasone.
Trong is also accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung, National Assembly Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu and other senior officials./.
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Press Highlights
Hanoi (VNA) -
Current events
· General Secretary and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong leaves for Laos on an official visit (All dailies, p1).
· Hoa Hao Buddhists mark 72 nd anniversary of founding day (Nhan dan, p8).
· Activities mark Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21): An art exchange titled “Journalist – Event and Witness” held (All dailies, p1).
· Impossible to distort and deny the right to freedom of press in Vietnam (Editorial, Quan doi Nhan dan, p8).
· Vietnam determined to build the East Sea into an area of peace (Hanoi Moi, p8 and Lao dong, p6). Deputy Foreign Minister, Head of the Vietnamese mission to the UN, Ambassador Le Luong Minh affirms at the 21st meeting of UNCLOS states parties in New York from June 13-17.
· Vietnam , US start a join plan to clean up Agent Orange/dioxin that the US sprayed during the war in Vietnam (Quan doi Nhan dan, p8).
· President Nguyen Minh Triet receives President of the World Chess Federation (Sunday Quan doi Nhan dan, p1).
· Vietnamese and Chinese naval forces hold joint patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin (Sunday Quan doi Nhan dan, p8).
· Vietnam-US dialogue focuses on bilateral issues and regional security (Sunday Nhan dan, p8).
Socio-economic Affairs
· Quang Ngai province to have the first private-invested hospital equipped with 200 beds (Quan doi Nhan dan, p1).
· Export, processing, industrial zones in Ho Chi Minh City : attracting high-technology (Saigon Giai phong, p7). HCM City ’s export processing and industrial zones have turned abandoned lands into areas with high added values.
· Vietnam builds offshore platform by itself (Lao dong, p3).
· Over 3.4 trillion VND to build an airport in An Giang province (Lao dong, p3).
· Tightened monetary policy: lower pressure (Lao dong, Monetary and Investment page). Inflation showing sign of cooling down in June together with positive signs from the foreign exchange market will be an important foundation to lower the pressure of the tightened monetary policy.
· Vietnam ’s first co-pay drug detoxification centre using Methadone launched (Sunday Hanoi Moi, p1).
· Martial arts instructor Ngo Xuan Binh recognised as Academician of the European Academy of Natural Sciences (Sunday Hanoi Moi, p4).
· RoK group keen on solar energy investment in Ho Chi Minh City (Sunday Quan doi Nhan dan, p1).
· RoK helps Vietnam establish assessment system of skill certificates (Sunday Quan doi Nhan dan, p8).
· Largest traditional Rong house (communal house on stilts) in the Central Highlands inaugurated (Lao dong, p1).
· Vietnam ’s oldest person dies (Lao dong, p1).
· Vietnam 2011 summer camp to be held in July (Hanoi Moi, p8). The event expects to attract 150 overseas Vietnamese young people.
· Investors believe in Vietnam (Hanoi Moi, p6). An interview with Tai Hui, Head of Southeast Asian research department, Standard Chartered Bank, on Vietnam ’s inflation and currency tendency in the second half of the year.
International Affairs
· UN prioritises to seek political solutions for Libya (Nhan dan, p8).
· RoK , US to discuss the resumption of six-party talks (Hanoi Moi, p8).
· Japan : Tokyo power company opens nuclear reactor number 2 (Hanoi Moi, p8).
· IMG warns of world economy’s risks (Sunday Hanoi Moi, p8).
· Germany discovers E.coli bacterium transmitted among human./.
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Vietnam Summer Camp 2011 to be held next month
Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Summer Camp 2011 (VSC 2011) will take place from July 7-24, according to the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The VSC 2011, themed “Following Ly Tu Trong”, is expected to attract around 150 young Overseas Vietnamese delegates who will join various activities held in all the three regions of the country, especially those in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hue city, Quang Ninh, Nghe An and Dong Nai provinces.
The annual event aims to create conditions for overseas Vietnamese youths and students to meet and exchange with their peers in the home country as well as study the guidelines and policies of the Party and State, and the development of the country.
This is also a chance for overseas Vietnamese young people to improve their Vietnamese and learn the nation’s history and culture./.
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Central Highlands’ biggest communal house inaugurated
Kon Tum (VNA) – A jubilant ceremony was held on June 19 to inaugurate a Rong house in Kon Klor village in Kon Tum city, one of the biggest traditional communal houses of ethnic minority people in the Central Highlands .
The house was rebuilt on the foundation of an old one, which was burnt down in May 2010.
The house is measured at 22 metres in height, 17 metres in length, and 6.5 metres in width, on a total area of 100 sq.m. It is built using traditional materials such as iron wood, bamboo and leaves.
Local people contributed materials and working days to build the house which is expected to be an attractive destination for visitors./.
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Art programme marks Vietnamese Press Day
Hanoi (VNA) – A charity and art programme entitled “Journalists – Events and Witnesses” took place in Hanoi on June 20 to celebrate the 86th Vietnamese Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925-2011).
Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan and Standing Vice President of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association Ha Minh Hue attended the event, which was jointly held by the Journalist & Public Opinion newspaper, the Labour and Social Affairs newspaper, Vietnam Digital Television VTC and the Capital Media Joint Stock Company.
The programme, the fifth of its kind organised so far, provided an opportunity for the public to exchange and share moving memories with Vietnamese journalists as well as honour and pay tribute to more than 400 journalists who sacrificed their lives for national independence.
On the occasion, the Organising Board presented 60 savings books, each worth 5 million VND, to Agent Orange victims and wheelchairs to 50 war invalids.
Two houses of gratitude, each worth 50 million VND, will be built for families of fallen soldiers.
The audience listened to writer-cum-journalist Minh Chuyen, who has authored many articles stirring public opinions, such as “Cha con nguoi linh” (Solider Father and Son) and “Linh hon Viet Cong” (Vietnamese Communist Soul).
Chuyen said a journalist must stand firm against any difficulty.
After four times of organising, the programme built 10 houses of gratitude and presented 200 savings books, 100 wheelchairs and gifts worth over 2 billion VND in total to martyrs’ relatives, AO victims and war invalids with special difficulties./.
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Asian women's volleyball clubs champs kick off in VN
Vinh Phuc (VNA) - The Asian Volleyball Women's Clubs Championships kicked off in the northern province of Vinh Phuc on June 19.
The event draws eight teams from China , Indonesia , Iran , Japan , Kazakhstan , the Philippines , Thailand and Vietnam .
Iran , Japan , the Philippines and Vietnam are competing in Division A, while China , Indonesia , Kazakhstan and Thailand are in Division B.
They will compete in a round robin format to select two teams for the final match on June 25./.
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Skill evaluation system gets lift
Hanoi (VNA) — The Korean International Co-operation Agency (KOICA) has granted 1.5million USD to the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs for improving the national professional skills evaluation system.
"Improving the national system for professional skills evaluation would greatly contribute to Vietnam 's socio-economic development," said the KOICA Chief Representative in Vietnam , Lee Wook Heon.
Project activities will focus on helping Vietnam implement better legal policies for training human resources in professional skills evaluation.
The project is aimed at helping Vietnam effectively evaluate the professional skills of around 8 million people by 2020, using 200 sets of criteria. /.
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GIS to help manage underground works
HCM City (VNA) - The HCM City University of Technology is developing Geographic Information System (GIS) applications towards improving construction and management of underground infrastructure.
Dr Le Van Trung, director of the university's Centre for Developing Information Technology and Geographic Information Systems (DITAGIS), said the new 3D GIS software, expected to be completed in August, would be able to display detailed status of the underground utilities such as drainage, electricity and water systems.
It will also help track down areas with potential subsidence or leaking pipes, he said.
The GIS 2D applications, now being used by some water and electricity companies, can only show images of the surface of constructions, he said.
A shortage of data on underground infrastructure and an overlapping of responsibilities in the management of urban infrastructure are responsible for unsystematic planning and poor quality of public work construction in the city, said Nguyen Van Hiep, deputy director of HCM City 's Department of Construction.
There are six departments and agencies in charge of urban infrastructure management in the city, Hiep said.
They fail to share data on urban infrastructure with each other, leading to repeated digging up of the same road for different works, he said.
Many incidences of road surfaces subsiding suddenly without warning had taken place in the city late last year, he added.
Officials are hoping that the new system will help streamline the planning and execution of underground works and spare residents the difficulties caused by haphazard execution of such projects. /.
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Documentaries lose favour with audiences
HCM City (VNA) — In recent years, Vietnamese documentaries, considered to be a strong point in the country's cinematography industry, have not advanced as well as expected.
Although some films have been honoured at domestic and international cinematographic awards ceremonies, many audiences expressed disappointment when they saw Dat Lanh (Cold Land) of director Nguyen Thuoc, Khoang Cach (Distance) of director Tran Phi, Loi Ru Thi Buon (The Lullaby Is Sad) of Nguyen Quy Manh Minh and Mac Van Chung at the third International Festival of Documentary Films last week.
"It's not the voice-over which should be blamed, but the viewpoint of the film-maker," said the director and artist Dao Trong Khanh.
The monotonous, incessant voice-overs have become the weak point of Vietnamese documentaries.
Khanh said if the director found it difficult to make attractive real stories about real people, he would be unable to lure an audience.
"The creation and innovation must lie in the thoughts of the film-maker," Khanh added.
According to Nguoi Lao Dong (The Labourer) newspaper, the absence of famous directors like Le Manh Thich, Ngoc Quynh and Tran Van Thuy hurt documentaries.
The new generation, for many reasons, cannot "escape the shade of the older generation, and shine".
Some people disagree, however, citing as examples the young director Phan Huyen Thu and Dao Thanh Tung as evidence.
Their 26-minute work – Dites-le or Hay Noi (Let's Talk) – was chosen to be screened with Stephane Gillot's Pietragalla: Sur la pointe des pieds or Mua Pietragalla: Tren Dau Mui Chan (Dancing on the Top of Foot).
Tung is a name connected closely to many documentaries, which have appeared in recent award seasons.
He has made a strong impression on the audience with Le Cai Tang (Digging up the Dead), a work with the Discovery channel, although the subject was not that unusual.
Tung said the channel asked his team to do field work and work with characters before the script was written.
Thu said she was "splashed with cold water on my face" at a conference on cinematography in Hanoi last year.
Several colleagues said she should be return to school, after seeing her first works.
But these are works that brought her very first awards and were used as reference materials at several schools.
"The new generation, people with the ability to rise and break through, have met with psychological barriers from their seniors," the report said.
Foreign works are made using money generally mobilised by the film-makers themselves, and if they want to have money, their film project must convince investors. To sell the work, film-makers' thoughts and energies are directed on it.
Because most Vietnamese documentaries are made with funds from the government budget, most directors view the film-making as just another job and are not interested in assuming serious responsibility for their films.
"They want the script to be approved easily, so they try to avoid thorny issues," the report said. /.
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Infrastructure improves Khmer standard of living
Tra Vinh (VNA) — Hundreds of Khmer farmers in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh are no longer poor as they have taken advantage of new roads, electrical systems and dredging of canals to earn higher incomes.
In the province's Tra Cu district, where 75 percent of the people are Khmer, 496 farmers have been recognised as having achieved good agricultural production, with annual turnover ranging from 50 million VND (2,400 USD) to 350 million VND (16,800 USD) per household.
Before 2000, 60 percent of the district's population was poor, according to Kim Ngoc Chau, deputy chairman of the district's Ethnic Minorities Division.
"There were several changes that created a solid base for the Khmer community, such as road construction, connection to the national power grid and dredging of canals," said Chau, who is Khmer.
"But the key was the change in mindset of the Khmer community. They were no longer contented with only rice production. People began to consider which crops would give them more income and paid attention to market demand so they could make adjustments in what they plant."
Thach Dan, 60, of the district's Ham Tan Commune earns an average income of 200 million VND (9,615 USD) a year from his sugarcane fields.
Before 2000, Dan had planted cabbage and chili peppers and raised ducks on a 10,000sq.m of land inherited from his parents.
"At that time, I earned enough for six children to go to school and university, so I didn't want to change anything," said Dan.
"But when my children graduated and got stable jobs in Government agencies, I started paying more attention to the demand from sugar factories."
The dredging of nearby Rach Ca Canal inspired Dan to buy more land to plant sugarcane. He now earns 2-3 million VND on each 1,000sq.m of his 16,000sq.m of sugarcane fields.
In Dai An, another commune in the district, Khmer farmer Ha Van Rem and 58 other farmers are expanding their taro fields as market demand is on the rise.
In the past, Rem and his neighbours only knew rice cultivation.
"In 1997, I found that taro could grow well on my land and brought me more income. I began to plant taro in a wide area and encourage my neighbours to work with me," he said.
Rem and his neighbours are cultivating taro, rice, sweet corn or vegetables on 161,000sq.m, earning an annual income of around 80 million VND each.
Giang Na Rong, deputy chairman of the district Farmers' Association, said the association will continue to support farmers with loans from the Bank for Social Policy.
It would also cooperate with the Agriculture Division to offer training on seedlings, cultivation and pesticide prevention so that farmers could expand production, Rong said.
The association has encouraged farmers to take part in handicraft cooperatives for more income and preserve traditional handicrafts as well.
A mat making cooperative of 50 families has brought jobs to female farmers when they are not occupied with farmwork.
Today, farmers in the province no longer want to move to industrial provinces like Binh Duong, where factories are recruiting more workers. The handicraft jobs and new crops are earning them more than enough money. /.
Hepatitis at alarming rate in VN, Asia-Pacific
HCM City (VNA) – Over 20 percent of Vietnamese population or 18 million people are suffering from hepatitis B and C.
This was announced by Prof. Pham Hoang Phiet, President of the Ho Chi Minh Liver and Gall Association at an Asia-Pacific conference on treatment of hepatitis B and C in Ho Chi Minh City on June 18 and 19.
Phiet added that one fifth of the infections are serious cases, which requires appropriate treatment.
A report at the conference also said that 75 percent of cases of hepatitis B in the world are in Asia-Pacific. This disease is the leading cause of cirrhosis, liver cancer and the 10th leading cause of death worldwide. About 15 percent to 25 percent of chronic Hepatitis B patients would die from liver diseases.
According to the Asia-Pacific Institute of Liver Diseases (APASL), hepatitis C is a large problem of public health in the region. The infection rate of hepatitis C in Japan , China , Taiwan and Vietnam is between 12 percent to 58 percent.
Organized for the first time on a regional scale, this conference brought together over 750 doctors and experts in hepatitis treatment from 16 countries and territories, including China, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Laos, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the US, the UK, Italy and Switzerland./.
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Irish President values ties with Vietnam
London (VNA) – President of Ireland Mary McAleese spoke highly of the fine development of the relationship between Ireland and Vietnam over the past time, especially after visits by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in 2008 and Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai in 2009.
While receiving newly-appointed Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK and Ireland Vu Quang Minh, who presented the credentials to her on June 16, President Mary McAleese said she is pleased with the success of cooperation programmes within the framework of Ireland’s official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam and wishes to further develop the bilateral ties to a level matching the two sides’ great potential.
Ambassador Minh expressed his wish that the Irish Government and people will continue to yield greater achievements in their national development.
On the occasion, the Vietnamese ambassador had meetings with the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, and the Chamber of Commerce of Ireland.
He also visited a fair themed “New Realities in Asia for Irish Businesses” co-organised by the Ireland Business Forum in Asia and the Pacific and the Ireland Chamber of Commerce.
The fair was one of the large trade promotion activities which drew the participation of over 200 Irish businesses operating in new technologies, financial services, pharmaceuticals, education, food and tourism.
The Vietnam Trade Promotion Department and the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK and Ireland jointly hosted a showroom of Vietnamese products at the fair.
In Dublin, Ambassador Minh worked with the Executive Board of the Vietnamese-Irish Association to discuss the association’s operation orientations in the coming time, including strengthening links with Irish adoptive parents of Vietnamese children and Vietnamese teaching in the community.
While meeting with overseas Vietnamese living and studying in Ireland, the ambassador highly valued their efforts in building a happy and wealthy life in the new land, while maintaining the national traditions and cultural identities as well as sentiments towards homeland.
Earlier, Ambassador Minh, who doubles as the Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK, presented the credentials to UK Queen Elizabeth II on June 8./.
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Vietnamese oldest woman passes away
Long An (VNA) – Vietnamese heroic mother Tran Thi Viet, who was recognised as the country’s oldest living person by Vietnam Guinness Book of Records, passed away on June 18, lived to be 119 years old.
Mother Tran Thi Viet has 10 children, seven of whom sacrificed their life to the fight for national independence. She was awarded the title Heroic Vietnamese Mother by the State.
According to Vice Chairman of Long An provincial People’s Committee Tran Huu Phuoc, a solemn memorial service for mother Viet and her burial service will be held on June 20 at a cemetery in her home village, in Tuyen Binh Tay commune, Vinh Hung district, in the Mekong Delta province of Long An./.
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Over 7.7 mln USD for Japan victims
Hanoi (VNA)- The Vietnam Red Cross (VRC) on June 20 handed over to the Japanese embassy the last segment of an aid donation worth 161 billion VND (roughly 7.78 million USD) for victims of natural disasters in Japan .
The VRC President Tran Ngoc Tang said the aid, which was raised from March 16 to June 10, had been transferred to Japan in six segments since March, in both cash and kind.
He added that the Red Cross originally intended to launch the fundraiser for just one month up to April 15, collecting over 66 billion VND. However, donors continued to come to its office with offers to aid after the closing date, prompting the organisation to extend the campaign to June 10.
Minister of the Japanese Embassy to Vietnam Koichi Aiboshi expressed thanks for the timely and effective aid by the Vietnamese people, especially shipments of essential goods, to Japanese victims in shelters.
The diplomat said Japan was working to control incidents at the nuclear power plant in Fukushima and doing its best to bring operations back to normal as soon as possible./.
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Vietnam-Laos special friendship highlighted
Vientiane (VNA) – All dailies in Laos on June 20 ran front-page news stories with photos and the biography of Nguyen Phu Trong, Party General Secretary and National Assembly Chairman of Vietnam, on the first day of his three-day official visit to the neighbouring country.
In its editorial, Pasason newspaper, the organ of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP), emphasised the unceasing development of the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, that brought practical benefit for both peoples.
The relationship was founded by President Ho Chi Minh of Vietnam and Presidents Kaysone Phomvihane and Souphanouvong, it said, adding that succeeding leaders and people of the two countries fostered the ties.
The Lao and Vietnamese people stood shoulder by shoulder and provided mutual support and help in their national liberation causes in the past and in national defence and construction at present.
The Laos-Vietnam relations have been developed in all areas. Leaders of the two Parties, States exchanged mutual visits, particularly a meeting between senior officials of the two Parties to discuss the situation of each country, along with international and regional issues as well as a review of bilateral cooperation.
In recent years, the two countries’ ties saw new steps of development and produced important results in many areas, especially economic ties and links in politics, defence, security and diplomacy as well as cultural and scientific-technological cooperation.
Vietnam ’s direct investment in Laos increased. The relations between the two Parties, national assemblies, governments, ministries, mass organisations, social organisations and localities also developed, the paper affirmed.
The Lao people expected fruitful results from the current visit to Laos by Party General Secretary and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong, contributing to strengthening and increasing the special friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam, for the benefit of both peoples and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world, the daily emphasised./.
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Central region expands private hospital system
Quang Ngai (VNA)- The central province of Quang Ngai broke ground for the construction of a general hospital on June 19.
The hospital, with investment estimated at 28.8 million USD to come from the Nhan Tam General Hospital joint-stock company, was designed to meet international standards. Its medical equipment and research facilities, to be partially provided by foreign non-governmental and not-for-profit organisations, will use the most advanced European and American technology.
The investor said it had shaken hands with the Singaporean Gammar Group to tap the group’s potential in tumour and cancer treatment equipment and relevant human resource development. Partnership had also been established with Chinese companies in treating kidney and urethral stones with modern technology.
Once completed by late 2012, the 200-bed hospital’s provision of medical treatment would help to ease the workload at State-run hospitals./.
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Party leader pays official visit to Laos
Vientiane (VNA) – Party General Secretary and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong arrived in Vientiane on June 20, beginning his three-day official, friendly visit to Laos.
After a welcoming ceremony broadcast live by Lao National Television and a reception given by General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and State President Choummaly Sayasone, talks were held.
Choummaly Sayasone welcomed the official friendly visit to Laos by the Vietnamese Party and legislative leader, saying that it was an honour for Laos to be the first country to welcome Trong in the early period of the new term of the two parties and right after the successful organisation of National Assembly elections in each country.
He affirmed Trong’s current visit to Laos was an encouragement for the entire Party, people and armies of both countries.
Trong said Vietnam was pleased with the great, historical and meaningful achievements that Laos recorded in its national defence and construction, and described Vietnam’s satisfaction with these results.
The leaders expressed gratitude for the wholehearted, valuable and effective support and help that both Parties, States and people provided each other during the revolutionary struggle, construction and development of each Party and country.
They agreed that renewal achievements and the development of Vietnam and Laos over the past 25 years had consolidated the independence and sovereignty of each nation, improved the people’s living conditions and strength of each country, tightened and deepened the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples, while contributing to peace, national independence, democracy and social progress in the world.
Both party leaders informed each other of issues about their respective Party and country and highly valued the strong development of the relations between the two Parties, States and peoples in recent years.
They resolved to maintain and promote the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos fostered by President Ho Chi Minh and President Kaysone Phomvihane and succeeding leaders of the two Parties, States and peoples, saying this represented the rule of existence and development, was an important element to ensure the victory of each country’s revolutionary cause and a invaluable treasure of both Parties and peoples to the younger generations.
Both sides also agreed to boost bilateral comprehensive cooperation on the basis of promoting the spirit of independence, self-reliance, equal cooperation and mutual benefit with the combination of the Vietnam-Laos special ties and international rule, unceasingly raising the quality and efficiency of bilateral cooperation for development and prosperity in each country, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in Southeast East Asia and the world.
The two sides said the two countries would increase meetings and contacts between the senior Party and State leaders through different forms, enhance exchanges of theories and expand exchange and cooperation between ministries, departments and committees of the national assemblies, mass organisations and localities of the two countries, as well as educate the people, especially the youth, about the Vietnam-Laos special solidarity.
They spoke highly of the outcomes of the 33 rd session of the Vietnam-Laos Inter-Governmental Committee, affirming to work closely to implement the Strategic agreement on economic, cultural, educational and scientific-technological cooperation for the 2011-2015 period, and the 2011 cooperation agreement.
Vietnam and Laos strive to bring their two-way trade to 2 billion USD by 2015, increase cooperation in building economic projects that will link the two countries’ economy and with the region and the world, and continue to expand and improve the quality of cooperation in education-training and human resource development, they said.
They were unanimous on measures to boost cooperation in defence and security and maintain social order and safety, to prevent and destroy all acts of sabotage from hostile forces, fight cross-border crime, continue cooperation in searching and returning remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts who sacrificed their lives in Laos, to complete the project on the upgrade of national land markers by 2014 and build the border line into peace, friendship, cooperation and development in a comprehensive, sustainable and long-lasting manner.
During their talks, the two sides also affirmed a common perception on regional and international issues of common concern, agreed to enhance exchange of information and coordination at international and regional organisations, in which both countries were members, especially in the ASEAN cooperation framework and sub-regional cooperation mechanisms in line with benefit of the two countries’ peoples, contributing to building a strong ASEAN Community, maintaining peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
They also agreed to promote cooperation in maintaining, protecting and using the Mekong River’s water in an effective and sustainable manner, to ensure harmony of benefits of people living along the river and effectively respond to impacts of climate change.
The two sides affirmed desires to join with concerned parties to solve the East Sea issue by peaceful measures in line with international law, the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC), in order to maintain peace, stability and cooperation in the region.
Vietnam fully backed and spared no effort to support Laos to soon join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and host the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Summit in 2012 as well as international events in Laos, Trong said.
He took this opportunity to unveil a present of a cultural house to Savannakhet province – the native land of President Kaysone Phomvihane.
The two sides reached consensus on naming 2012 as the “Year of Vietnam-Laos friendly solidarity” to celebrate the 50 th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties and the 35 th anniversary of signing the Vietnam-Laos friendship and cooperation agreement.
They also agreed that important outcomes to be reached during the visit to Laos by Party General Secretary and National Assembly Chairman Trong would create a strong drive for deep and strong development of the two countries’ traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive
cooperation.
The Vietnamese leader on this occasion invited General Secretary and President Choummaly Sayasone to visit Vietnam. The Lao leader accepted the invitation with pleasure./.
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Protestants mark centennial in Hanoi
Hanoi (VNA) - The Evangelical Church of Vietnam North (ECVN) on June 20 hosted a celebration of 100 years of Protestantism in Vietnam in Hanoi , drawing the participation of almost 3,500 domestic and foreign dignitaries and followers.
Ha Van Nui, Deputy Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee affirmed that since the establishment of ECVN 100 years ago with the motto of “Love nation, defend peace, do justice, humanity, freedom, equality and labour”, it had closely attached to the great national unity, striving to defend the homeland and fight for national independence with all the people.
ECVN also encouraged followers to participate in patriotic emulation movements, especially a campaign to build a cultural life in residential areas and the “Day for the Poor” campaign launched by the VFF, he said.
Nui underlined that the Vietnamese Party, State and Fatherland Front always highly valued active contributions of the Protestants and ECVN to the great national unity; concurrently taking care of lives of religious compatriots, including the Protestants, as well as consistently carrying out policies on respecting and ensuring religious freedom of the people.
He added that the promulgation and implementation of legal policies on religion and beliefs basically met the legitimate aspirations of followers and Protestants in particular, saying that the expansion of exchanges on religion, culture and social charity with regional and global partners contribute to raising Vietnam’s prestige and image to international friends.
He said he hoped the ECVN would make more active contributions to build an increasingly strong, great national unity as well as respond to patriotic emulation movements and campaigns launched by the VFF to promote democracy, build a socialist rule of law State of the people, by the people and for the people, raising the national spirit and civil responsibilities of each follower.
Pastor Phung Quang Huyen, ECVN Deputy Head said that Protestantism was introduced to Vietnam in the late 19 th century, however, its first foundation was based in the central city of Da Nang in 1911, which marks a milestone in the missionary history of Protestantism in Vietnam .
In 1958, ECVN was officially recognised by the Vietnamese State as a church organisation and a member of VFF, which operated in the guideline of “ Worship of God and Love of Nation”./.
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VN, China conduct joint patrol in Tonkin Gulf
Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam People’s Navy and the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) of China have conducted the 11th joint petrol in the Bac Bo (Tonkin) Gulf.
Two Vietnamese naval boats, the HQ375 and HQ376, led by Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff Colonel Nguyen Van Kiem, and two PLAN boats, 755 and 733, led by Nanhai Fleet Colonel Liang Shanguo, began the two-day joint petrol at 8am on June 19 (Hanoi time) with a journey of more than 300 nautical miles along the delimitated waters that border Vietnam and China in the Tonkin Gulf.
The patrol was intended to maintain security and order at sea, supervise fishing vessels’ activities and ensure that the Agreement on Fishing Cooperation in the Tokin Gulf and the Agreement on Delimitation of the Tonkin Gulf signed between the Vietnamese and Chinese Governments was being carried out.
The patrol also aimed to stabilise normal production activities of the two countries’ fishermen in the Tonkin Gulf, to share experiences between the two navies and promote the friendship between the two navies, armies and peoples.
Colonel Kiem affirmed that the 11th joint patrol reflected the development of the traditional neighbouring cooperative relationship, the enhancement of mutual understanding and trust between the two armies and navies.
Respecting previously signed agreements was one of the factors to promote the two countries’ friendly neighbouring relationship and ensure stability and security at sea./.
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Deputy PM praises VNA’s national growth role
Hanoi (VNA) – The Government always created favourable conditions for Vietnam News Agency (VNA) to enhance its role as a State news agency, bringing news to a number of people, including locals experiencing extreme difficulties.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan made this affirmation at his working visit to VNA in Hanoi on June 20, on the occasion of Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925 – June 21, 2011)
Nhan spoke highly of domestic press circle’s contributions, including VNA in the fight for national independence and unification, as well as the current national construction and development.
He said that with modern facilities and a large contingent of the staff, VNA’s media of all kinds reached out to every region of the country, as well as to Overseas Vietnamese and international friends, adding that along with other press agencies, VNA had competently performed its role as a State news agency, including provision of official information and orientation of social opinion.
Deputy PM said he hoped domestic news agencies and VNA would promote its role of raising intellectual standards, bringing news on guidelines and policies of the Party and State to people of all strata, especially people in poor and ethnic minority areas, in an increasingly effective manner, contributing to further strengthening the great national unity.
He proposed that with bureaux in 63 cities and provinces and 27 bureaux overseas, VNA should build and uphold its strength in information technology infrastructure to become the leading news agency, working on electronic platforms and ensuring network security, creating the political and economic power of a national media group.
General Director of VNA Tran Mai Huong said that VNA had effectively performed its role of providing information to domestic and foreign news agencies, especially about the country’s important events; correcting news that was not in line with the national interests and rejecting untrue and distorted information.
In the common development trend of modern press, VNA also attached importance to developing a system of multimedia news, including print newspapers, an electronic newspaper, news on mobile phones and a television channel, Huong said.
On the occasion, Deputy PM Nhan visited VNA television channel, which officially began broadcasting 10 months ago, and VNA News for Foreign Service Department./.
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VN, Lao NAs to further exchange expertise
Vientiane (VNA) – Party General Secretary and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Phu Trong said that he hoped the Vietnamese and Lao NAs and their legislative agencies would enhance exchanges of expertise in legislative, supreme supervision and other important issues of the country.
The Party and legislative leader expressed this wish at a meeting with Lao NA President Pany Yathortou in Vientiane , Laos , on June 20.
The two NAs should join in inspecting, supervising and prompting the two Governments to implement bilateral cooperation agreements, helping deepen the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos , Trong said.
The Vietnamese NA leader also proposed the two legislative bodies continue increasing exchange of information and close coordination at international forums, particularly the framework of cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and other related sub-regional cooperation mechanisms.
Lao NA President Pany Yathortou thanked the Vietnamese Party, State and NA for promoting the friendly cooperative ties between the two NAs, contributing to the two nations’ development and the two peoples’ better lives.
While meeting with Lao Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong the same day, Party General Secretary and NA Chairman Trong said he was happy at the constant development of the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos despite complicated regional and world situations.
The Lao PM affirmed that the Lao Party, Government and people would exert their best to actively implement agreements reached between the two Politburos and agreements reached during the current visit to Laos by Vietnamese Party General Secretary and NA Chairman Trong.
He said he hoped NA Chairman Trong would contribute to promoting the development of the two countries’ relationship.
At a reception given to Lao Deputy President of the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) Tong Yeutho on June 20, Party General Secretary and NA Chairman Trong highlighted the important role of the Front in the political system of each country, building the great national unity bloc and making unceasing contributions to developing the two countries’ special solidarity.
He said he hoped the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the LFNC would continue exchanging experience, mutual assistance and educating the fine traditions between the two peoples.
LFNC Lao Deputy President Tong Yeutho said that the LFNC will actively popularise the tradition of the Laos-Vietnam relations to all walks of life in Laos .
At a meeting with President of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Association (LVFA) Phankham Viphavan, Party General Secretary and NA Chairman Trong spoke highly of the association’s diversified and practical activities, which, he said, have contributed to strengthening multifaceted cooperative relations between the two countries as well as mutual understanding and close friendship between the people.
In 2012, the two countries will mark the 50 th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 35 th year of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship and Cooperation Agreement, he said, urging LVFA and the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association to work closely with each other in a bid to celebrate such important events.
For his part, LVFA President Phankham Viphavan said the 35-year-old association has promulgated and educated the entire population, especially the younger generation, to preserve and develop the traditional relations between the two countries while stepping up the implementation of agreements reached by the two sides.
The two associations have carried out an array of activities and will continue to partner with each other more closely in the future to contribute to prospering the Vietnam-Laos special relations, he said.
Also on the day, Lao General Secretary and President Choummaly Sayasone and his wife held a reception for Party General Secretary and NA Chairman Trong and his high-ranking delegation.
Both host and guest considered the Vietnam-Laos traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation a valuable asset of the two countries’ Parties, States and people, which was fostered by the late President Ho Chi Minh and his counterpart Kaysone Phomvihane.
During his stay in Laos , the Vietnamese Party and legislative chief visited the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos .
At a meeting with the embassy’s staff and Overseas Vietnamese, he praised the efforts of the Vietnamese representative agency in Laos and the Overseas Vietnamese community’s role in boosting the Vietnam-Laos special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.
On the same day, the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos held an inaugural ceremony for its head office in Vientiane .
Vietnamese Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Lao Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister Thoonglun Sisulit, with other Lao leaders, representatives from businesses and the Overseas Vietnamese community attended the event./.
BUSINESS
Indonesia’s imports of food, beverage from VN surge
Jakarta (VNA) – Indonesia ’s imports of food and beverage from Vietnam in the first six months of the year surged 43.14 percent over the same period last year.
The Indonesian Food and Beverage Association (Gapmmi) on June 19 released a report that the country spent 5.51 million USD on imports of food and beverage from Vietnam in the reviewed period.
The association said the country’s imports of food and beverage from other ASEAN nations continue increasing in recent months thanks to the lifting of taxation following the regional free trade agreement (AFTA) and efforts by the Indonesian government and relevant agencies in fighting smuggling.
Malaysia continues to be the largest exporter of the staples to Indonesia with an export value of 20.6 million USD, an increase of 76.17 percent, making up over 23 percent of Indonesia ’s food and beverage imports.
Indonesia also imported 7.48 million USD worth of foods and beverage from Singapore in the period, a year-on-year increase of 29.1 percent./.
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Around 1.52 million labourers to get jobs in 2011
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam expects to generate jobs for an estimated 1.52 million labourers in 2011, fulfilling 95 percent of the yearly target of 1.6 million.
The information was released by Deputy Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Ngoc Phi at a discussion on the sector’s plans in the last six months of the year in Hanoi on June 17.
According to localities’ reports, around 720,000 labourers nationwide were placed in the first six months of the year, of whom, 676,000 found jobs domestically while the remaining were sent overseas.
Reports by job placement centres showed that over 146,500 people registered as unemployed by May 20, a year-on-year increase of 131 percent. Of whom, 119,100 applied for unemployment benefits, up 179 percent compared to the same period last year.
The number of people who join in unemployment insurance in the year’s first months climbed to 7.4 million, exceeding the figure of 6.5 million forecast for 2011./.
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HCM City plans major housing boost
HCM City (VNA) — HCM City plans to develop 39 million sq. metres of housing and increase the average housing space per person to 17sq.m during the 2011-15 period.
In addition, the city aims to eliminate temporary housing and increase the rate of concrete houses to more than 75 percent by 2015.
It will also complete the task of relocating 13,000 households living on canals, rebuild 30 old apartment buildings with total new housing area of 350,000sq.m for 6,500 households, and build about 10,000 houses for low-income people.
By 2015, the city aims to meet the housing demand for city residents, improve housing quality and develop a housing fund for low-income earners, including State civil servants, State employees, workers and students.
These targets were announced by the city People's Committee at a June 17 seminar that reviewed the implementation of the city's housing policies and housing development programme in the 2006-10 period, and set tasks for the 2011-15 period.
In the 2006-10, the city built 33.34 million sq.m of housing, exceeding the target by 4 percent.
The average housing space per person also increased from 10.3sq.m in 2006 to 14.3sq.m in 2010.
As of the end of last year, the city had 1.35 million sq.m of boarding houses for workers, providing accommodation for 433,000 workers.
Of 257 trillion VND (12.2 billion USD) invested in housing over the past five years, the city's budget accounted for only 1.69 percent compared with households at 37.8 percent; and companies with 60.5 percent, according to the city Department of Construction.
Vu Van Hoa, head of the HCM City Industrial Parks and Export Processing Zones Authority, said the city's industrial parks (IPs) and export processing zones (EPZs) would have nine housing projects to accomodate 24,000 tenants by the end of this year.
Several companies in IPs and EPZs were investing $2-3 million each to build boarding houses for workers, Hoa said.
Participants at the seminar suggested that the city should have more preferential policies to support investment in boarding houses for workers, including providing soft loans with a longer term of up to 10-12 years, compared to the current term of seven years.
Nguyen Tan Ben, director of the Department of Construction, said since 2009 the price of houses has fallen slightly and is now stable, but still relatively high compared to the income of city residents.
Le Hoang Quan, chairman of the city People's Committee, said over the past five years the city has been placed on the list of 10 cities worldwide with the highest real estate prices.
Quan said the price of real estate in the city has risen far too much.
He asked relevant departments and agencies to redress the city real estate market imbalances and not allow prices of real estate to rise significantly.
For the next five years, the city's housing programme will continue to be considered a key, strategic programme, he said. /.
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Cassava exports increase as China prices surge
HCM City (VNA) — Vietnam exported 638 million USD of cassava in the first five months of the year, nearly equal to 110 percent of the entire export revenue of last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Although the domestic price has risen to 5,800 VND a kg, cassava is still exported to China in large quantities because it can fetch higher prices.
In recent years, exports to China accounted for about 5 million tonnes annually.
Vietnam has about 510,000 ha under cassava, with an annual output of nearly 9 million tonnes.
The ministry estimates the country's domestic demand for cassava this year will be 8.12 million tonnes.
Of that figure, 1.89 million tonnes are used for producing ethanol, and the remaining volume for animal feed and confectionary products.
Pham Duc Binh, deputy chairman of the Vietnam Animal Feed Association, said cassava accounted for 30-40 percent of input materials in animal feed production.
However, cassava is also exported so domestic animal feed plants have not been able to buy enough for production, Binh told Vietnam Economic Times.
Le Khac Triet, director of the Vietnam Cassava and Cassava Starch Club, said since 2009 cassava had become an agricultural plant with high economic value.
The price of cassava has increased to 5,700-6,000 VND a kg, compared to just 200-500 VND a kg in 2007-08 and 4,000 VND a kg in 2010.
Triet warned that cassava had become a hot product and when output exceeds demand, the price could drop as it did in 2007-08.
At that time, it would be difficult for farmers to switch to other crops because the fertility of the soil would be eroded after three to four years of growing cassava, he said.
To resolve the cassava material shortage, the cultivation area should not be increased, but measures should be taken to increase productivity, Triet said.
Farmers in some countries have harvested cassava output of 40 tonnes per ha a year while in Vietnam output is only 17.2 tonnes per ha.
Measures to increase cassava productivity include applying advanced farming techniques and finding high-yield cassava strains, he said.
He added that his club had found new cassava strains with a high yield of 40 tonnes per ha a year./.
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First made-in-Vietnam bus plant inaugurated
Quang Nam (VNA) – The Truong Hai Auto Joint Stock Company (THACO) on June 17 inaugurated a plant making buses bearing its brand name of Thaco – Vietnam .
The new plant will increase the rate of locally made products in the domestic automobile market. The company also looks to export to the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) in mid, helping reduce trade deficit, develop auxiliary industries for the domestic automobile industry.
Construction of the plant started in May last year in the Chu Lai Open Economic Zone, the central province of Quang Nam . The 600 billion VND plant has four major work shops with a capacity of 1,500 vehicles a year, creating jobs for more than 600 workers.
The Thaco bus plant will manufacture 18-51 seat vehicles branded Thaco Mobihome, Thaco County , Thaco Areo Town , Thaco Universe, as well as buses to serve in-city traveling 30-80 seats using technology transferred by the Huyndai-Kia Group of the Republic of Korea . The local contents of the products will range from 40-46 percent.
Since 2006 Thaco has made and supplied the market with 1,097 coaches, accounting for 95 percent of the product line’s market./.
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