Friday, July 6, 2012

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 6/7

Dominican Republic to recognise Vietnam’s market economy

The Dominican Republic (DR) will consider recognising Vietnam’s market economy status, and encourage Vietnamese businesses to invest more in the country.

Photo: VOV
General Secretary of the DR’s United Left Movement (MIU) Party cum Minister of the DR Jose Miguel Mejia confirmed this on July 5 at a meeting with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh on the sidelines of the Vietnam-Latin America Ministerial Forum taking place in Hanoi.

Mejia praised Vietnam’s achievements during its renewal and integration process and said he hopes that the two countries will promote further cooperation in all fields.

For his part, Minh asserted that Vietnam attaches great importance to developing friendship and cooperative relations with the DR and hopes that the two sides will strengthen exchanges at all levels and sign agreements to promote economic and trade ties.

The two ministers briefed each other on the current situations in their respective countries and discussed ways to foster cooperative ties and support each other at regional and international forums, including the United Nations and the Forum for East Asia - Latin America Cooperation (FEALAC).

President offers condolences to India

President Truong Tan Sang yesterday, July 5, sent a message of condolences to his Indian counterpart, Pratibha Devisingh Patil, over recent floods in the northeastern state of Assam.

At least 27 people died in flood-related incidents, five drowning after their boat sank on a swollen river last week while 21 of 27 districts have been inundated by flood waters

Almost one million people have been forced to leave their homes because of the floods.

Viet Nam, North Korea foster ties

The Viet Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee yesterday held talks with a visiting delegation from the North Korean Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland in the capital.

The two sides agreed that they would closely work together in strengthening friendship and co-operation between the two fronts, contributing to developing the solidarity and traditional relations between both countries.

Along with promoting the involvement of both peoples in co-operation programmes, the two sides will also exchange information while co-ordinating with each other on common issues as well as regional and international matters of mutual concern.

At the same time, the two fronts will also step up delegation exchanges to share experience and strengthen co-operation among civilian organisations.

Earlier the same day, VFF Central Committee President Huynh Dam received Chairman of the DPRK's Democratic Front for the Reunification of the Fatherland Kim Wan Su.

VN, S. Korea boost military exchanges

Deputy Director of the General Politics Department of the Viet Nam People's Army (VPA) Lieut Gen Luong Cuong yesterday, July 5, received a South Korean delegation led by Defence Security Command Army Lieutenant General Bae Deag-sig.

During the meeting, Cuong reviewed the effective co-operation between Viet Nam and the Republic of Korea in the fields of delegation exchanges, human resources training and strategic dialogues, saying that such efforts have enhanced friendship between the two armies and peoples.

Vietnam - US cooperation bearing fruit

Vietnam and the US need to keep bringing bilateral ties to new heights, including maritime cooperation, search and rescue, humanitarian aid and disaster relief.

Prof. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong, Chairwoman of the Vietnam – US Friendship Association in HCM City, made the remark at a get-together on July 5 to mark the 236 th Independence Day of the US (July 4).

Phuong said 17 years after Vietnam and the US declared normal diplomatic relations, the two countries have witnessed practical and fruitful improvements in their cooperation in security and defence, economics, trade, investment, science-technology, education and training, climate change adaptation and infrastructure development in Vietnam .

The US now ranks sixth among the countries and territories investing in Vietnam with a total capital of 11.65 billion USD. Two-way trade hit 21.45 billion USD last year, up 19 percent from 2010.

At the event, a number of non-governmental organisations and businesses presented over 2.6 billion VND to charitable groups, plus War Veterans’ Association and the Vietnam Fatherland Front chapter in Can Gio district. The sum is intended to assist children with disabilities, offer wheelchairs to war veterans and build houses for the poor.

On the occasion, the Hong Bang International University also granted scholarships, each worth 20 million VND, to 20 poor and excellent students in the city.

Vietnam, Cambodia navies boost ties

The Royal Cambodian Army’s naval command headquarters, a friendship gift from the Vietnam Naval High Command, was inaugurated in Kampong Speu province, Cambodia on July 5.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Tea Banh thanked the Vietnamese Party, Government, army and people for their effective assistance to the Royal Cambodian Army.

For his part, Deputy Defence Minister Admiral Nguyen Van Hien said during Vietnam’s struggles for national independence and reunification and Cambodia’s fight for independence and escape from a genocidal regime, the two countries’ people and armed forces always stood side by side and assisted each other.

In each country’s current national construction and development, the tradition has been unceasingly consolidated for peace, stability, development and prosperity of each country as well as ASEAN.

Admiral Hien and General Tea Bank said the friendship project demonstrates the unceasing development of the traditional solidarity and fine cooperation between the two armies and people.

Cambodia’s Naval Commander Admiral Tea Vinh said the headquarters is a fully-equipped three-storey building which was built on 20,110 sq.m at a cost of more than US$1.1 million.

Since 2002, Vietnam Navy has helped train more than 280 people for Cambodia Navy. In addition, it also helped its Cambodian counterpart in repairing ships and has provided medical facilities. In particular, two sea patrol ships presented by Vietnam’s Navy have been involved in 27 joint sea patrols with Vietnam.

On this occasion, Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tea Banh presented the Friendship Order to Admiral Nguyen Van Hien and other members of the Vietnam Naval High Command for their contributions to developing Cambodia’s naval forces and the two countries’ friendship.

Politburo member hails Red Cross’ contributions

A Politburo member has hailed Vietnam’s Red Cross for organising many humanitarian and charitable and campaigns that have involved all strata of people.

Addressing the ninth National Congress of the VRC in Hanoi on July 5, Le Hong Anh, who is also permanent member of the Party’s Central Committee Secretariat, said as a humanitarian organisation founded by President Ho Chi Minh, the VRC has strongly developed and made great contributions to the Party and State’s humanitarian cause.

The VRC has also cared for people’s health, especially those in remote, mountainous and disaster-prone areas, Anh said.

In addition, it has mobilised organisations and individuals to help other countries’ people hit by natural calamities, which, Anh said, has demonstrated Vietnam’s traditional charity and implemented the country’s people-to-people diplomacy.

He said he hopes in the 2012-2017 term, the VRC will effectively carry out such activities as emergency relief, community-based people’s healthcare, coping with disasters, charitable blood donations and organising humanitarian social activities.

The VRC reported it has mobilised more than 7.3 trillion VND over the past five years to help millions of people with difficulties. In natural calamities, the VRC has always been one of the forces providing timely assistance to people to overcome the aftermaths of disasters and help them rebuild their life.

During the previous term, the organisation has provided more than 1.5 trillion VND in emergency relief activities. Its activities to care for wounded soldiers, contributors to the revolution, poor people and Agent Orange victims have been carried out apart from the community-based people’s healthcare. Positive developments have been recorded in voluntary blood, tissue, cornea and organ donations.

Additionally, the VRC carried out 30 international projects valued at more than 40 million USD in total.

At the congress, almost 500 delegates representing more than 8 million members elected the 134-member Executive Committee and Nguyen Hai Duong as VRC President for the 2012-2017 term.

VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA

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