Russian books on display in Hanoi

– An exhibition showcasing more than a hundred Russian books opened in Hanoi on November 26.

The exhibits on display include literary books, dictionaries, children’s books, textbooks and reference volumes published by 28 Russian publishers.

Philimonov, Director of the Russian Association of Book Publishers (ASKY), said that the one-day exhibition caters for those who love the Russian language and the country’s rich culture.

He also expressed his desire to cooperate with Vietnamese organisations to advertise and market books by Russian authors in the 86-million-strong country and translating them into Vietnamese.-

US Embassy helps to empower local women

The US embassy in Vietnam announced two projects worth more than 38,000 USD on November 26, designed to help boost democracy at a grassroots level and increase the involvement of women in the policy-making process.

These grants have been provided as part of the US Department of State’s Small Grants Programme.

The first project, worth 18,750 USD will be executed by the Centre Development Assistance (CDA), with the aim of strengthening the Grassroots Democracy Ordinance in the Nam Bung and Nghia Tam communes in Van Chan district, in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai .

CDA will organise training workshops and carry out marketing and communication campaigns to raise help raise the awareness of both local authorities and the public of the Ordinance’s work. The funding will also be used to promote local residents’ participation in the local decision making process and to develop the information exchange mechanisms between the regional authorities and local residents.

The other project, worth close to 20,000 USD has been awarded to the Centre for the Education, Promotion and Empowerment of Women (CEPEW) to fund a project aimed at increasing female participation in the policy-making process.

CEPEW will conduct training courses, group discussions and information programmes to raise the awareness of gender equality issues, women’s rights and the implementation of grassroots democracy for both local authorities and residents in the area.

The project will also help to raise local leaders’ capacity to further the incorporation of democratic principles in the policy-making process, and increasing the capacities for participation and advocacy of members of the communal Women’s Union’s standing and executive committees.-

Vietnam applauds Israel-Palestine talks

New York (VNA) – A Vietnamese ambassador has welcomed the commitment voiced by Israel and Palestine at the Nov. 9 Quartet meeting to continue their bilateral negotiations to conclude a peace treaty.

The Deputy Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN, Hoang Chi Trung made this statement at the UN Security Council’s consultations on The Middle East and Palestine in New York on Nov. 25.

“ Vietnam urges all parties concerned to refrain from any confidence-eroding action or statement, thereby nurturing the best possible environment conducive to the peaceful resolution of disputes,” he said.

The ambassador called upon the parties concerned to show restraint and renounce violence in respect for the truce in Gaza that has been in effect since June 2008.

He also urged the Israeli authorities to take urgent and practical steps to implement its obligations in accordance with international law, humanitarian and human rights laws, the roadmap for peace and other relevant UNSC resolutions to facilitate a peace negotiation for an equitable and comprehensive solution to the Middle East conflict.

Trung noted a number of positive developments in the peace process, partially reflected by the continued intensive negotiations between Israel and Palestine , their cooperation in ensuring continued security in Jenin and Hebron , and the further efforts of the Palestinian authorities in promoting national reconciliation and socio-economic development.

However, the ambassador voiced his concerns over the recent attacks against both Israeli and Palestinian civilians, Israel ’s continued illegal settlement expansion, its ongoing military incursions into the West Bank and its building of the separation wall, as well as its forced imposition of closures and restrictions in Gaza.-

Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia discuss triangular growth

– The Prime Ministers of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia attending the fifth Development Triangle Summit, held in Vientiane, Laos, on Nov. 26 agreed to work together to accelerate socio-economic development in the triangle, covering the three countries’ ten provinces.

The host PM, Bouasone Bouphavanh, making his opening speech, said that the Development Triangle is a zone of great importance for the three countries and is currently facing numerous difficulties.

The three countries should intensify their cooperation and complete a number of mechanisms and policies in order to facilitate the flow of investment and maximise their potential to develop the area, he stated.

Sharing this opinion, Cambodian PM Hun Sen said that addressing the development in the area would help to effectively narrow the development gap between the three countries.

Cooperation between the nations should be expanded, focusing on border economic zones as well as the tourism, trade, investment and training sectors.

Addressing the summit, Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dung viewed the meeting as opportunities to discuss measures to increase cooperation between the three countries’, review the triangle’s development following the fourth summit in Da Lat , Vietnam , in December 2006, and approve preferential mechanisms between the three countries and with other partners.

The PMs agreed that the close and effective cooperation in the development of the triangle has yielded important results in a number of fields, including improved infrastructure and busy trade-investment activities in the area, helping to increase socio-economic development and improve the living conditions of those living in the triangle.

They agreed to intensify their cooperation in the economy, trade and investment and pledged to provide more favourable conditions to the three countries’ investors in the area.

The leaders approved of the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding to issue special preferential policies for the development triangle in order to attract investors from within the three countries, as well as others to the area.

Highlighting the important role played by businesses in developing the area, the leaders supported the Lao PM’s idea of organising a business forum to increase government-business dialogue and encourage them to contribute further to the development triangle.

They agreed to hold a youth forum for the three countries’ younger generations to meet and exchange their views and experiences.

The three PMS praised the effective cooperation between the three countries and Japan in developing the triangle and hoped that Japan would further its cooperation and financial commitment to development in the triangle.

Concluding the summit, the PMs passed the summit’s joint statement, and signed the Vientiane declaration on cooperation within the development triangle and a memorandum of understanding governing a range of preferential policies for the area.-

Vietnam strengthens ties with Syria

– Vietnam wishes to consolidate and develop its friendship and cooperation with Syria in general and the ruling Baath Arab Syria Party (BASP) in particular.

This statement was made by Truong Tan Sang, Politburo Member and Standing Member of the Secretariat of the CPV Central Committee at a reception for a BASP delegation in Hanoi on Nov. 26.

He heaped praise upon Syria ’s active contributions to the peace process in the Middle East .

Yassin Damara, member of the BASP Central Committee, said that his party has always attached huge importance to the friendship and cooperation with the Vietnamese Party, State and people to and would like to further strengthen this relationship.

Earlier, the delegation held talks with a CPV delegation led by Nguyen Huy Cuong, Deputy Director of the Office of the Party Central Committee. The two sides exchanged views on several regional and international issues and discussed measures to boost their bilateral relationship in the future.

During their visit to Vietnam , the Syrian guests worked alongside the party committees of Hanoi , Ho Chi Minh City and the northeastern province of Quang Ninh.-

Vietnam, Brazil plan for future cooperation

– Vietnam and Brazil should look towards other countries to increase levels of cooperation between the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the South American Common Market (Mercosur).

Vietnam ’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem and Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorin were unanimous in this viewpoint during a meeting on the sidelines of the first ASEAN-Mercosur Foreign Ministerial Meeting that opened in the Brazilian capital, Brasilia on November 24.

After reviewing progress in the implementation of previous agreements signed between the two countries, particularly following Brazilian President Lula Da Silva’s visit to Vietnam in July, the two ministers expressed their pleasure at the dynamic recent developments in their bilateral relationship.

They said they believed that the cooperation between the two nations would develop rapidly in the future, particularly in the areas of economics and trade.

During the meeting, Deputy PM Khiem and the Brazilian foreign minister signed an agreement regarding visa exemption for citizens from the two countries’ who hold official passports.

During the ASEAN-Mercosur Ministerial Meeting, the nations’ ministers discussed a host of regional and international issues, such as the current financial crisis, energy and food security and the WTO’s Doha negotiations, as well as orientations and measures to boost ASEAN-Mercosur cooperation.

They agreed on areas of priority for cooperation, including economics and trade, finance, energy, agriculture, transport and a number of other trans-national challenges.

They also agreed to hold regular ministerial-level meetings to strengthen multilateral cooperation between the two blocs in the near future.

Mercosur is a regional organisation which consists of five members; Brazil , Argentina , Venezuela , Paraguay and Uruguay.-

General Secretary Manh meets Mexican Party leader

– General Secretary Nong Duc Manh met his Mexican counter part, Senator Alberto Anaya Gutierrez of the Mexican Labour Party (MLP) in Hanoi on Nov. 26.

The Party leader thanked the MLP and the Mexican people for the support they have given to Vietnam , and stressed Vietnam ’s determination to intensify bilateral ties between the two parties and people.

He also informed his guest of Vietnam ’s recent achievements as well as summarizing the challenges facing his country.

The MLP General Secretary expressed his hope that the two countries’ future will be one of shared solidarity, friendship and cooperation.

Previously, the MLP delegation held talks with a delegation from the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), headed by Truong Tan Sang, Permanent member of the CPV Central Committee Secretariat to discuss concrete measures to encourage further development.-

Women Union welcomes Indian President

– Indian President Pratibha Devisigh Patil praised the role played by Vietnamese women in national defence and construction while working alongside the Vietnam Women Union (VWU) in Hanoi on Nov. 26.

Addressing the function, VWU Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh Hoa affirmed that the Vietnamese people would always remember the precious support of the its Indian government and people during the former’s processes of national construction and development.

It is pleasing to see the comprehensive development of traditional Vietnam-India ties and the mutual support between the women of the two countries, Hoa said.

On the issue of female empowerment and gender equality, Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Welfare Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan stressed that the Vietnamese Party and State attaches huge importance to the liberalisation and advancement of women in her country.

There are an increasing number of women involved in all aspects of life and many of them hold leadership positions, Ngan said.

The Indian President applauded the closer collaboration between the two countries’ women organisations.

On the same day, President Patil visited Hanoi ’s Birla orphan village.-

Vietnam, Lao leaders pleased with fine ties

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Lao President Choummaly Sayasone have both revelled in the fine development of bilateral relations as Vietnam tops the list of foreign investors in the neighbouring country.

The duo met in Vientiane on November 26 after the Vietnamese Government leader attended the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam summit on the development triangle.

Dung noted with satisfaction that the special relations and trust that exist between Vietnam and Laos have experienced broad and deep developments in recent times.

“2008 witnessed the effective deployment of a number of high-level commitments on cooperation projects regarding the economy, education and training, and security,” said the Government leader.

His view was shared by President Sayasone, who is also General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party. He said that PM Dung’s presence at the summit which took place in Laos has contributed massively to the traditional relationship between the two countries.

“ Vietnam and Laos have experienced excellent relations in all fields; political, diplomatic, economic and national defence,” the Lao leader emphasised.

He added that Vietnamese-funded projects stimulating communal development in Laos have helped to increase local production levels as well as living conditions, particularly in remote areas.

“The two Governments should further develop their cooperation in those fields where they have strength,” Sayasone concluded.

Vietnam and Laos are expected to post 450 million USD in trade revenues this year, representing an annual increase of 45 percent.

The two countries agreed upon three major investment projects worth hundreds of millions of USD in total on November 25.-

Hanoi, Moscow mayors meet for closer ties

Officials from Hanoi and Moscow signed a joint statement and an agreement of cooperation between their friendship associations in Hanoi on November 26, the first day of a three-day visit by a senior delegation from Moscow .

The delegation, led by Moscow ’s Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, paid a courtesy visit to the Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi, who described the mayor’s visit as one of great importance to future bilateral relations.

In the afternoon, Luzhkov attended talks with Hanoi People’s Committee Chairman Nguyen The Thao.

Both host and guest expressed their mutual satisfaction at recent developments in relations between the two capital cities. They pledged to strengthen ties in a number of areas, such as the economy, trade and investment, serving the interests of the two cities and the two nations as a whole.

Mayor Thao proposed a plan to host a Moscow Culture Week in Hanoi during 2009 and extended an invitation to a Moscow delegation to attend the Hanoi-Thang Long Millennium Anniversary in 2010.

In reply, Luzhkov agreed to send an delegation of artists to perform at the anniversary celebrations.

Marking the occasion, the two mayors were presented with insignia by the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association.-