Political Headlines December 20 President names 22 new ambassadors President Truong Tan Sang announced his decision to promote 22 diplomats to the rank of ambassador at a ceremony in Hanoi on December 19. President Sang congratulated the newly promoted ambassadors and praised their contributions to external affairs and the country’s development. He expressed his belief that they would continue to utilise their capabilities and ethics in the service of the nation. Representatives of the ambassadors thanked the Party and State for recognising their performances, saying that they would do their best to complete entrusted tasks and to contribute to the industrialisation and modernisation processes, promoting international integration and improving the country’s position in the international arena. RoK President reiterates strong ties with Vietnam President of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Park Geun-hye has reiterated her Government’s strong will to intensify the strategic cooperative partnership with Vietnam, pushing bilateral cooperation to a new high with growing strategic trust. President Park Geun-hye made the remark at a reception in Seoul on December 18 given to newly-appointed Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Huu Chi who came to present his credentials. Recalling fond memories during her visit to Vietnam in September, President Park Geun-hye asked Chi to convey her thanks to General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong, President Truong Tan Sang, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Sinh Hung for warm and hospitable reception. The RoK President said she wishes the ambassador fulfil assigned tasks during his tenure. Ambassador Chi said he will do his utmost to enhance Vietnam-RoK strategic cooperative partnership in all fields, particularly economics and trade. He thanked the President for propelling all-sided ties with Vietnam, including labour cooperation. Chi also sought her support for the early signing of an agreement on the return of Vietnamese guest workers to the RoK. President hails diplomatic sector’s role in national defence The diplomatic sector has made important contributions to protecting the country’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and ensuring nations interests, President Truong Tan Sang has said. The State leader made the affirmation while attending the 28th Diplomatic Conference in Hanoi on December 19, which focused discussions on the role played by the sector in performing the national defence task. He stressed under the leadership of the Party, the sector has helped maintain political stability and consolidate a peaceful environment that facilitates national construction while taking advantage of international support to increase the country’s combined strength and position in the international arena. President Sang analysed complicated developments of international and regional situations as well as advantages and challenges and future tasks for diplomatic work. He asked ambassadors and heads of Vietnamese representative agencies abroad to actively implement the resolutions of the 11th National Party Congress and flexibly put diplomatic policies into reality. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was requested to continue increasing research and giving strategic advices, deepening ties between Vietnam and its partners, and making effective contributions to regional and international forums countries. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh required the Ministry’s units, ambassadors and heads of Vietnamese representative agencies abroad to strictly follow the President’s instructions in the coming time. He urged the sector to work closely with other relevant ministries and agencies to successfully perform tasks assigned by the Party and State. Vietnam, Chinese Parties target further cooperation Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has laid emphasis on the need for Vietnam and China to boost exchanges and cooperation between the two Parties’ agencies, especially in theoretical work, personnel training, Party building and national management. He made the appeal at a December 19 meeting with visiting Wang Jiarui, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and head of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee’s International Department. The Party chief considered the guest’s visit as a step to concretise and develop the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. Highlighting new and active developments in the bilateral relationship over the past time, he commented on regular meetings between the two countries’ leaders as allowing common perceptions to be reached and important orientations to be rolled out for comprehensive and effective developments in relations between the two Parties and the two countries as well. Party General Secretary Trong highly valued the outcomes of the talks between the CPCCC’s International Department and the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations as well as their contributions to the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. He used the occasion to congratulate the Chinese people on their great achievements they have attained under the leadership of the CPC over the past time, especially after the 13 th National CPC Congress. The Party leader asked Wang to convey his greetings to Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping and other Party and State leaders of China. For his part, Wang briefed his host on the results of his visit to Vietnam, China’s performance in various areas as well as the fruitful cooperation between the two external relations commissions. Speaking highly of the cooperation outcomes between the two Parties and countries over the past time, he stressed that the Party, Government and people of China have always given importance to developing the traditional friendly neighbourliness with Vietnam. China vows to do its utmost, together with the Party, State and people of Vietnam, to materialise common perceptions and signed documents reached by the two Parties’ leaders and both States, thus bringing more depth and width to the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, for the sake of each country’s people, he said. Earlier, Wang met with head of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan, during which they had an in-depth discussion on the relations between the two Parties and countries. They also compared notes on regional and international issues of common concern. The same day, he was received by President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan. While staying in Vietnam, the CPC delegation is scheduled to visit Ho Chi Minh City and the southern city of Can Tho.- Fatherland Front leader receives Chinese guest President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan on December 19 hosted a reception for Wang Jiarui, Vice Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, in Hanoi. Wang is leading a Communist Party of China (CPC) delegation visiting Vietnam from December 18-22. He is head of the CPC Central Committee’s International Department. At the meeting, Nhan described the visit as a chance for the two sides to exchange operational experience, contributing to consolidating and enhancing the friendship and cooperation between the two Parties and the two countries in line with the spirit and guidelines reached by their leaders. The leader voiced his hope that the two countries’ relationship will prosper in the future and the two committees’ activities will inject vigour into political institutions of both Vietnam and China. In reply, Wang said the Party, State and people of China attach importance to the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with Vietnam. He stressed the need for the two countries to enhance solidarity to cope with hostile forces, reasoning that both are facing a range of challenges and difficulties along with opportunities. He expressed his hope for more regular, pragmatic and comprehensive cooperation in various areas between the two committees, thus contributing to enriching the Vietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.- Vietnam learns from Mexico’s public procurement A delegation from the Department of Public Asset Management under the Finance Ministry of Vietnam had a working visit to Mexico from December 14 – 19. At a reception given to the Vietnamese officials in Mexico City on December 18, Mexican Undersecretary of Administrative Responsibilities and Public Procurement Alfonso Olivas Ugalde highlighted the importance of public asset management and experience exchange between both countries. He shared the country’s expertise in government procurement via electronic systems, adding that this is a transparent method to effectively prevent corruption. Deputy Director of the Vietnamese department Nguyen Tan Thinh considered Mexico’s knowledge in this field as valuable experience as Vietnam’s economy is in its transitional period. He informed the host that the Vietnamese Government is piloting centralised and e-procurement while reiterating its resolve to reform public procurement. During their stay in Mexico, the Vietnamese officials had working sessions with the country’s agencies on related issues. They also laid a wreath at the Ho Chi Minh Memorial in Mexico City and visited the Vietnamese Embassy.- India fosters stronger partnership with Vietnam India will do its utmost to elevate its strategic partnership with Vietnam to a new level, ambassador Preeti Saran assured Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc at a meeting in Hanoi on December 19. The newly accredited diplomat said during her working term in Vietnam, she will work closely together with relevant agencies of the two countries to effectively implement signed agreements and draw up new cooperation programmes. Deputy PM Phuc expressed elation at the fine development of Vietnam-India relations in all areas, from politics and diplomacy to economics, trade, investment, culture, and education. He recalled the result of the recent India visit by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, which he believed will foster bilateral relationship in the near future. Phuc proposed both countries increase visit exchanges at all levels, support each other at regional and international forums, and strengthen cooperation in economics, trade, investment, energy, tourism, science-technology, pharmaceuticals, education-training, and national defence. Source: VNA/VNS/VOV