GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 12/6 Russian Ambassador: Vietnam’s position in regional policy Vietnam holds a special position in Russia’s Asia-Pacific regional orientation policy, associating with the country through a special relationship that was elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2012. Russian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrey Kovtun made the remarks at a ceremony in Hanoi celebrating Russian National Day, which falls on June 12. Vietnam-Russia cooperation is continuing to flourish in all fields with cooperative methods covering politics, economics, and social affairs, well received by the two countries’ people, added the ambassador. On the occasion, Minister of Justice Ha Hung Cuong extended his best wishes to Russia’s leaders and people. He expressed his belief that with the special sentiment nurtured by the two countries’ leaders and people, the comprehensive strategic partnership will further develop for the sake of the two peoples towards peace, stability, cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large. Vietnam and Russia have been proactive in implementing agreements and cooperative projects in the strategic fields of energy, military and personnel training. The two sides are striving to raise bilateral trade turnover to 10 billion USD by 2020. Greetings extended to Russian leaders on National Day President Truong Tan Sang on June 11 extended his good wishes to Russian President V. Putin on the occasion of Russia’s National Day. The same day, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh also conveyed greetings to their counterparts, M. Medvedev and S. Lavrov respectively. Vietnam-Vatican Working Group to meet The 4th meeting of the Vietnam-Vatican Joint Working Group is expected to take place from June 13-14 in Vatican City in a bid to promote further relations between the two sides. The meeting will take place according to the agreement reached at the group’s 3rd meeting in Hanoi in February 2012. The Vietnamese delegation will be led by Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son and the Vatican delegation by Undersecretary for Relations with States Antoine Camilleri. US veterans welcomed in Vietnam Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Vu Xuan Hong on June 11 received a high-ranking delegation from the American Legion (AL), a US veteran organisation. James E. Koutz, National Commander of the American Legion said his delegation’s visit aims to grasp Vietnam’s situation, Vietnam-US relations and the results of bilateral cooperation in dealing with the Missing in Action (MIA) issue. Hong briefed the American guests on Vietnam’s current situation and VUFO’s activities regarding the promotion of people-to-people diplomacy between the two nations. Sharing Vietnam’s efforts in settling the consequences of war, the VUFO leader said he hopes the AL will continue to pay greater attention to humanitarian aid to help Vietnam overcome the consequences of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin, bombs and landmines left over from the war. During the visit, the AL delegation will conduct a fact finding tour of several sites where the remains of US soldiers missing in action were excavated in the central provinces of Quang Ngai and Thua Thien-Hue. El Salvador lawmakers’ visit a success The delegation from the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador led by Chairman Sigfrido Reyes left Ho Chi Minh City on June 11, successfully completing its official visit to Vietnam. During their five-day visit, the delegation visited President Truong Tan Sang, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung. At the talks and meetings, Reyes and the hosts agreed to do their utmost to foster cooperation and friendship ties between the two legislative bodies, as well as between the two peoples. They agreed to maintain regular all-level exchanges to enhance mutual understanding and boost the two countries’ relations in all fields. Reyes and his entourage also paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum and attended a meeting with Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Hoang Quan along with touring places of interest in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Quang Ninh Province. HCM City, Guangxi establish cooperative ties HCM City and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have agreed to establish ties of friendship and cooperation following the signing of a memorandum of understanding on June 11. Signatories to the MoU were Hua Ngoc Thuan, Vice Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee and Chen Zhangliang, Vice Governor of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Both sides will increase cooperation and exchanges in the areas of trade, science-technology, tourism, culture, education, environmental protection, sports, health care, and urban planning. Earlier the same day, Deputy Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee Le Hoang Quan received Peng Quinghua, Secretary of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region’s Party Committee, who is on a visit to Vietnam. Peng said Guangxi and HCM City should strengthen cooperation in urban planning, and share experience in addressing issues related to transport development environmental protection, and development cooperation in seaport services, education-training, tourism, finance, and exhibition organisation. Quan and Peng emphasised that the newly signed MoU will open up a new chapter of development for both sides, especially in economic, social and cultural exchanges. Senior Party officials active in Africa Head of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan led a CPV delegation to Morocco, Tanzania and South Africa from June 1-12. In Morocco, the delegation met with the country’s Prime Minister, Speakers of the House of Advisors and House of Representatives, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. The Vietnamese officials held talks with the Secretary General of the Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS), and a working session with Parties in ruling alliance and some ministries and departments. While in Tanzania, they met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Vice President of the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Party, and held talks with the CCM Secretary General. In South Africa, they worked with the Secretary of the South African Communist Party (SACP) responsible for external relations, the SACP Secretary in charge of youth and the Deputy Chairman of the Gauteng provincial SACP Committee. During the meetings and talks, the hosts described Hoang Binh Quan’s visit as an important milestone in cementing bilateral relations, bolstering ties between Vietnam and their home countries. The host leaders spoke highly of the socialism-oriented market economy under the leadership of the CPV, which according to them, serves as a precious example that they can refer to. The Vietnamese senior officials affirmed that Vietnam treasures and wants to strengthen friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Morocco, Tanzania and South Africa. The sides discussed ways to boost ties between the CPV and host Parties through the exchange of delegations, political dialogue and experience sharing. They agreed to work closely at regional and global forums, escalate cooperation in fields of their strength like agriculture, telecommunications and aquaculture, and lift two-way trade to match their potential and political ties. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, especially those in the Asia-Pacific. Vietnamese Ambassadors to Morocco and Tanzania Cao Xuan Than and Nguyen Duy Thien, respectively and Charge d’Affairs of the Vietnamese Embassy in South Africa Vu Thanh Nam also joined the delegation, which toured several localities to learn about their Parties’ activities. Source: VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA