GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 14/2 VN, Indonesia bolster defence ties Deputy Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Do Ba Ty said yesterday, Feb 13, that Indonesia was one of the top priorities in Viet Nam's external relations. Ty, who is also chief of General Staff of the Viet Nam People's Army, made the remarks while meeting with Indonesian Military Commander General Moeldoko, who has been in Ha Noi for an official visit from February 12-15.   Overview of the February 13 talks between Deputy of Defence Minister Senior Lieutenant General Do Ba Ty and Indonesian Military Commander General Moeldoko in Hanoi. (Source: qdnd.vn) Ty said that Viet Nam and Indonesia had shared a long-standing friendship, adding that the elevation of bilateral ties to a strategic partnership in June last year created momentum and opened up new chances for developing the relationship. In recent months, the two sides had organised visits by six high-ranking delegations to enhance their co-operation, especially between naval forces. They have also maintained information sharing and co-ordination at multilateral forums. In particular, a memorandum of understanding on strengthening co-ordination between defence officials signed in October, 2010, had beefed up the development of bilateral defence ties. General Moeldoko paid a courtesy call to Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh. Sympathy over Algeria air crash President Truong Tan Sang sent his condolences to his Algerian counterpart, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, yesterday following the recent plane crash in Algeria. An Algerian military transport plane slammed into a mountain on Tuesday in the country's eastern region, causing 77 deaths. Vietnam Year in France to drive two-way bond The Vietnam Year in France, which will open in Paris on February 14 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties, is expected to bring the two nations closer together than ever before, Vietnamese Ambassador Duong Chi Dung told the Vietnam News Agency in a recent interview. The cultural year will begin at the Chatelet Theatre Hall, where 2,000 high-profile guests will be entertained by a repertoire of colourful performances. According to Dung, the event will introduce Vietnam as an Asian country with a rich history, distinct culture and close-knit attachment with France, evidenced by the strategic partnership deal they signed last year. “I highly hope that the Vietnam Year in France will further push relations between the two states and their localities, thereby allowing Vietnam to publicise its image further,” he said. Reviewing the past activities, Dung said a string of cultural, music, economic, trade and exhibition events across major French cities were a big draw for visitors in the second half of 2013. This year, both sides are particularly gearing up for their biggest-ever joint exhibition, themed “Dragons on artefacts” at the Guimet Museum of Asian Arts this September. Meanwhile, France will host an international workshop themed “Vietnamese art, a new approach” and various Vietnamese movies will be screened during film festivals like Cannes and Vesoul. Circus acts, water puppetry, ceremonial music and contemporary dance performances will also paint a vivid picture of Vietnamese culture. For cuisine lovers, a wide selection of Vietnamese specialities will be available in hotels and public places. In political-diplomatic terms, the Ambassador said Vietnam and France will facilitate all-level delegation exchanges with the first 2014 French visits by Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh and Minister of Justice Ha Hung Cuong and upcoming visits to Vietnam by French Minister for Higher Education and Research Genevieve Fioraso, Minister of Defence Jean Yves Ledrian, and President Francois Hollande. Referring to the economic side, Dung mentioned the second Vietnam - France High-Level Economic Dialogue slated for April in Paris, which will be co-chaired by Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh and French Minister for Foreign Trade Nicle Bricq. Vietnam, Australia’s Northern Territory step up cooperation The Vietnamese Consulate General in Perth organised an array of activities from February 9-12 to strengthen economic, trade and cultural ties between Vietnam and Australia’s Northern Territory. Consul General Le Viet Duyen held a working session with leaders of relevant ministries and branches in the territory. At the meeting, Governor Adam Giles noted with pleasure the cooperation achievements in various areas that Vietnam and Northern Australia attained last year. He voiced his wish to step up cooperation with Vietnam, especially in education, agricultural development, construction, investment and mining. Noting his upcoming visit to Vietnam, the Governor called for further twinned relationships between the Northern Territory and Vietnamese localities, particularly Ho Chi Minh City, the northern port city of Hai Phong and the southern coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, in the fields of mutual concern. At a working session with the organising board of the Darwin Festival, Duyen suggested coordination between the two sides in introducing Vietnamese culture at the festival. He also proposed a cultural connection be forged between Vietnam’s Central Highlands people and Australia’s indigenous people during local annual festivals to be held in the time ahead. The Northern Territory is one of the localities that generates the highest economic growth in the country, with nearly 20 billion AUD (17.9 billion USD) recorded in 2013. Vietnam has become its increasingly important partner in such realms as trade and seafood. The Vietnamese Consulate General on February 9 also held a get-together for overseas Vietnamese (OVs) in the Northern Territory on the occasion of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival. Duyen briefed the OVs on the country’s socio-economic and diplomatic situation as well as major developments in the relationship between Vietnam and the Australian locality in 2013. Most worth of note is the 40 th anniversary of Vietnam-Australia diplomatic ties, which was marked by a broad range of economic, cultural and political activities co-organised by the Vietnamese Consulate General and local authorities. Stressing the Vietnamese Party and State’s persistent policy of considering OVs an integral part of the Vietnamese nation, the Consul General called on those in Northern Territory to continue contributing to the host country’s socio-economic development and their homeland’s national construction. On this occasion, Duyen thanked local authorities and people for their support given to the Vietnamese community, helping stabilise their lives and integrate in the host country. In response, representatives of the local authorities spoke highly of significant contributions made by the Vietnamese community to the locality’s socio-economic development. Vietnam has become the territory’s second important partner in animal trading, they said, adding that Vietnamese’s mango farms have become the pride of the locality. At the gathering, participants had a chance to enjoy Vietnam’s traditional lion dances and sampled dishes popular during the Tet holiday. Polish President vows support to Vietnamese Ambassador Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski has vowed all possible support to newly-accredited Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Kien Thiet, after officially welcoming him to Warsaw on February 11. The President said he is happy that both nations have advanced together on the basis of traditional friendship and all-around cooperation. He also asked Thiet to convey his best regards to Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang and other Party, State and Government leaders, as well as the Vietnamese people. Thiet, for his part, updated his host on Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements and its development strategy for the future. He promised to exert himself to foster bilateral ties, especially in economics-trade, culture, education-training and science-technology. The diplomat later laid a wreath to unknown Polish martyrs at the city’s Victory Square. VNS/VNA/VOV