Viet Nam, Lao youths meet to preserve ties and culture

HA NOI — Sixty young delegates from Viet Nam’s Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union will arrive in Laos on Friday to attend the annual Viet Nam-Laos Youth Friendship Meeting.

During the meeting, delegates from the two countries will discuss and exchange experiences on mobilising youths and their roles in preserving and promoting cultural traditions.

They will also discuss strengthening the traditional friendship between Viet Nam and Laos.

Representatives from the two organisations will sign an agreement for 2010-11 to further strengthen traditional relations, unity and comprehensive co-operation of the two neighbouring countries.

Union central committee secretary Duong Van An said the two organisations, in co-operation with the Cambodian Youth Association, would participate in investment programmes to foster growth in the Development Triangle.

The two organisations would focus on the exchange of modern farming technology between young people in border areas to gain higher productivity to help alleviate poverty in the regions, An said at the meeting which ends on October 9. —

Source: vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn

Viet Nam ‘determined to boost ties with Mexico’

General Secretary Nong Duc Manh (right) with his Mexican counterpart Alberto Anaya. —VNA/VNS Photo Xuan Tuan

HA NOI — Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh said that Viet Nam is determined to boost friendship and co-operation with Mexico.

The Vietnamese Party leader made the statement yesterday while receiving visiting Mexican Labour Party (MLP) General Secretary Alberto Anaya Gutierrez in Ha Noi.

Manh congratulated Gutierrez on his re-election to the leading position at the Party’s 7th Congress.

Manh expressed his belief that the MLP would achieve greater success in the struggle for the benefit and happiness of the people.

He briefed his guest on achievements as well as challenges facing Viet Nam and expressed his thanks for the support given to Viet Nam by the Mexican Party and people.

For his part, the Mexican Party leader said he believed that under the sound leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV), the Vietnamese people would overcome difficulties to gain greater achievements in national construction and protection.

Gutierrez affirmed Mexico’s determination in fostering the solidarity, friendship and co-operation between the two parties and peoples.

Earlier, a delegation of the MLP held talks with a delegation of the CPV, led by Truong Tan Sang, Politburo member and permanent member of the Secretariat of the CPV Central Committee.

The two sides exchanged views on international issues of common concern, and discussed measures to enhance co-operation between the two parties and countries.

While in Viet Nam, the Mexican delegation visited the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and worked with the Commission for Foreign Relations of the Party Central Committee and the National Assembly Commission for Foreign Relations. —

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, 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.-

Moscow plans closer Ha Noi, City ties

MOSCOW — The Russian capital of Moscow foresees greater economic co-operation with Ha Noi and HCM City, particulary among small-and medium-sized enterprises and in such sectors as education and training, culture and science, tourism, and infrastructure.

At a press briefing in Moscow last Thursday, Vladimir Lebedev, deputy director of the Moscow Foreign Trade and International Relations Department, praised the progress Vietnamese businesses have already made in implementing major projects that have brought practical benefits to both Moscow and the two largest Vietnamese cities.

He also expressed optimism about the further prospects for growing economic ties among the cities, noting that Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov would visit Ha Noi and HCM City starting today to review projects for which Viet Nam has issued a call for investment. He will also consider additional major projects of mutual benefit, such as the urban railway in HCM City and other infrastructure and transportation projects.

Luzhkov plans to discuss with Ha Noi authorities possible co-operation in organising cultural and trade promotion events to coincide with the celebration of the upcoming 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Ha Noi.

Bilateral trade between Viet Nam and the city of Moscow reached US$600 million in 2007, accounting for 60 per cent of total trade between the two countries, the trade counselor of the Vietnamese Embassy in Moscow, Vu Trong Nghia, said at the press briefing.

Two-way trade between Viet Nam and Russia was projected to hit $1.5 billion in 2008, rise to $3 billion per year by 2010 and to as much as $10 billion per year by 2020, he added.

Moscow mainly exports metals, fertiliser and machinery to Viet Nam, while importing rice, seafood and food staples from Viet Nam. Food security was one of Russia’s primary concerns, Lebedev noted, particularly in the context of the current food crisis which has driven up food prices alarmingly. Viet Nam was considered to be a reliable food supplier for Russia, he added. —

Vietnam, Morocco intensify economic ties

Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi has called upon Vietnamese and Moroccan government officials and businesspeople to focus on boosting their economic and trade cooperation to make the most of their potential.

Addressing the Vietnam-Morocco Investment and Business Forum held in Hanoi on Nov. 25, the Moroccan PM suggested the two countries set up a business council to conduct joint investment projects and promote the partnership in all fields.

Morocco , one of the five largest economies in Africa, is seen as a key market and an important gateway for Vietnamese goods to North Africa, and Africa in general, said Vu Tien Loc, Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI).

Loc proposed that the two governments provide businesses of the two countries with preferential treatment to help boost bilateral investment and trade, particularly in aquaculture and fertiliser production.

Trade relations between Vietnam and Morocco have experienced a modest increase over recent years but have failed to match the two countries’ potential.

Morocco is Vietnam ’s largest trade partner in Africa , with two-way trade reaching 27 million USD in the first nine month of 2008. The figure is equal to the level recorded last year.

The Vietnam-Morocco investment and business forum attracted more than 100 businesses of both countries.

The Moroccan delegation included representatives from businesses in telecommunications, cosmetics, geological information, aquaculture, husbandry, insurance, real estate, electronics, refrigeration, civil engineering and communications.

VCCI and the Moroccan Embassy plan to organise a similar forum in Ho Chi Minh City on Nov. 26.-

Vietnam eager to boost ties with Central African Republic

Vietnam attaches importance to developing friendly and cooperative mutually-beneficial ties with African nations, including the Central African Republic, State President Nguyen Minh Triet has said.

President Triet made the statement while receiving the visiting Foreign Minister of the Central African Republic, Dieudonne Kombo Yaya, in Hanoi on Nov. 11.

Triet said that the working visit by the FM was a positive sign for the two countries’ relationship and that the issuing of a joint statement during the visit, regarding the establishment of diplomatic ties has created the opportunity for future cooperation between the two nations across various fields.

The State leader applauded the Central African Republic’s initiative to establish tripartite cooperation between Vietnam, the Central African Republic and the International Francophone Organization.

He stressed the fact that Vietnam is willing to boost bilateral cooperation with the Central African Republic, sharing its experiences in ensuring food security.

“Vietnam and Africa, including your country, have the ability to strengthen and expand multiform cooperation in various fields,” President Triet affirmed.

Minister D.K. Yaya said that the aim of his visit was to discuss the tripartite cooperation model and to demonstrate his country’s willingness and desire to enhance bilateral ties with Vietnam.

He said that, although his country is rich in natural resources, its people still lead difficult lives, thus it wished to cooperate with Vietnam, particularly in the fields of agriculture and health care, which are important issues that directly impact upon people’s lives.

According to the minister, his talks with Deputy Prime Minister – FM Pham Gia Khiem also touched on the signing of a framework agreement regarding cooperation between the two countries to form a foundation for future agreements in specific fields.

The President of the Central African Republic, Francois Bozize hopes to visit Vietnam soon, Minister Yaya added.-

State President pushes for stronger ties with Russia

Hanoi (VNA) – Practical and effective cooperation across all areas, particularly in politics, the economy, culture and education, will create better conditions for the sustained development of Vietnamese-Russian relations.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet made this statement while receiving the chairman of the Russian jewelry firm Etalon-Jenavi, Evgeny Protopopov, in Hanoi on Nov. 11.

Protopopov is in Vietnam to discuss cooperation plans with the Saigon Jewelry Holding Company (SJC) and other partners in the country.

President Triet applauded Etalon-Jenavi’s cooperation with SJC as well as its projects to expand cooperative ties in science, technology, culture and education with a number of Vietnamese partners.

The State leader said he hoped that, through its cooperation with SJC, Etalon-Jenavi will become an active factor in encouraging more Russian investors to flock to Vietnam.

Protopopov said that the recent strong economic development of both Russia and Vietnam has brought a wide range of cooperation opportunities to businesses from the two countries.

An increasing number of Russian investors are planning to channel their investment flow into Vietnam as they believe that Vietnam has spared no efforts in generating and maintaining favourable conditions for foreign investors, he said.

Protopopov informed his host of Etalon-Jenavi’s plans to expand its operations in Vietnam, including the establishment of an industrial zone in the south for Russian companies, a Russian cultural centre in Ho Chi Minh City and an additional centre for Russian science, technology and culture in the southern province of Binh Duong.-

Comprehensive ties with Egypt get refreshing

A number of accords, including those on oil and gas and tourism, between Vietnam and Egypt were signed at a business forum in Cairo on November 9.

The business forum attracted interest from hundreds of leading industrial companies, importers, exporters and goods distributors from the two countries. It was held on the sideline of a two-day meeting opened on the same day by the Vietnam-Egypt Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic, Trade-Investment, Cultural, Educational and Scientific-Technological Cooperation.

The meeting recognised major progress made in economic cooperation this year with bilateral trade revenues expected to almost double last year’s figure to 200 million USD.

Minister of Industry and Commerce Vu Huy Hoang and Egyptian Minister of International Cooperation Fayz Aboulnaga, who are heads of the respective national sections of the Inter-Governmental Committee, pledged to provide their partners with the best available conditions to fully tap each other’s potential and boost all-round cooperation between the two countries in the years to come.

During his stay in Egypt, Hoang, who was a co-chair of the Inter-Governmental meeting, paid a courtesy visit to Egyptian Prime Minister A. M Mohammed Nazif and handed over State President Nguyen Minh Triet’s personal letter to President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt.

He also met with senior Governmental officials such as the Ministers of International Cooperation, Oil and Gas and Investment, to discuss measures for stronger bilateral cooperation.

In all the meetings, the hosts reaffirmed their determination to promote comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam.–