Government News 17/11 Public Security Minister extols growing ties with Singapore Minister of Public Security General Tran Dai Quang has applauded the vigorous development of the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Singapore over the past four decades. At a November 16 reception for Permanent Secretary at the Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs Tan Tee How in Hanoi, Quang said since the two countries established a strategic partnership in 2013, relations between the two governments, the two peoples as well as between the Vietnam Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Home Affairs of Singapore have grown considerably, delivering practical benefit. Minister Quang spoke highly of Tan Tee How’s positive contributions to promoting cooperative relations between the two ministries over the years and thanked him for   his invaluable assistance. For his part, the Singaporean official hailed the fruitful cooperation between the two ministries in recent years, believing that his delegation’s Vietnam visit would achieve good results, helping boost broader cooperation. Secretary Tan Tee How pledged his best effort to elevate the friendship and cooperation between the two ministries to a higher level in the future. On the occasion, the Vietnam Ministry of Public Security awarded “National Security Defence” insignia to Mr. Tan Tee How for his contributions to promoting ties between the two ministries. Vietnam attends international communist parties’ meeting A Vietnamese delegation, led by deputy head of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Commission for External Affairs Tran Dac Loi, participated in the 16th International Meeting of Communists and Workers’ Parties held in Ecuador from November 13 to 15. In the meeting, 85 representatives from 53 parties in 42 countries analysed the international situation and underlined the gravity of the on-going financial-economic-social-environmental-cultural-political crisis, with the main cause lying in the profit-oriented capitalist growth model. The participants also approved the guidelines for their joint activities in 2015, including the commemorations of the 70th anniversary of Victory over Fascism and 40 th anniversary of Vietnam’s reunification. On behalf of the Vietnamese delegation, Tran Dac Loi delivered a speech at the meeting and held several working sessions with other international delegations to inform them of the current situation in Vietnam and the region and to discuss ways to boost bilateral ties. The Vietnamese delegation was also received by Secretary General of the Communist Party of Ecuador Winston Alarcon. Public Security Minister extols growing ties with Singapore Minister of Public Security General Tran Dai Quang has applauded the vigorous development of the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Singapore over the past four decades. At a November 16 reception for Permanent Secretary at the Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs Tan Tee How in Hanoi, Quang said since the two countries established a strategic partnership in 2013, relations between the two governments, the two peoples as well as between the Vietnam Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Home Affairs of Singapore have grown considerably, delivering practical benefit. Minister Quang spoke highly of Tan Tee How’s positive contributions to promoting cooperative relations between the two ministries over the years and thanked him for   his invaluable assistance. For his part, the Singaporean official hailed the fruitful cooperation between the two ministries in recent years, believing that his delegation’s Vietnam visit would achieve good results, helping boost broader cooperation. Secretary Tan Tee How pledged his best effort to elevate the friendship and cooperation between the two ministries to a higher level in the future. On the occasion, the Vietnam Ministry of Public Security awarded “National Security Defence” insignia to Mr. Tan Tee How for his contributions to promoting ties between the two ministries. RoK, Vietnamese experts discuss solutions to territorial disputes A workshop on peaceful solutions of territorial disputes in the East Sea was organised by the Youngsan University in the Republic of Korea’s city Busan on November 14. The fourth workshop on the East Sea issue organised by the university was attended by researchers from the university’s Institute of Vietnam and the Institute of Maritime Law, the RoK’s Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, and Vietnam’s Hanoi University of Law. The event focussed on the international legal issues regarding China’s so-called “cow tongue line” (or “nine-dash line”) in the East Sea; Vietnam’s stance and viewpoints on China’s claim in the waters; and legal matters in the implementation of the law of the sea in the East Sea. Participants also examined legal and historical documents that testify Vietnam’s sovereignty in the East Sea, and articles by international researchers and scholars that point out how China’s claim is unsubstantiated. Dr Chu Manh Hung from the Hanoi University of Law told Vietnam News Agency correspondents that Korean experts at the workshop agreed that China’s so-called “cow tongue line” was unilateral, and legally, historically and practically unfounded. It violates international law and the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), to which China is a signatory, he noted, adding that such a move triggered East Sea tensions, threatening regional and international peace and security. Jeong Gap Yong from the Institute of Maritime Law said since 1947, China had declared the “nine-dash line”, which claimed its sovereignty over most of the East Sea. That move was illegal and flouted the UNCLOS of 1982, he said, adding that China must therefore immediately back down from its stance and seek satisfactory measures to settle the problem with its neighbours. Meanwhile, Prof. Kim Hyun Jae said peaceful measures to solve East Sea disputes would set an example for the RoK to settle its dispute with China in the waters off the coast of the RoK, adding that more workshops on the matter would be held in future. Vietnam, Cyprus vow to boost economic ties Cyprus pledged to expand economic cooperation with Vietnam and accelerate the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Partnership and the Cooperation Agreement (PCA). The country also affirmed its support for Vietnam in bringing about an early signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the EU. Representatives of the Cyprian government made these commitments in meetings with the visiting Vietnamese delegation headed by Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung on November 13-14. During the meetings, the two sides discussed measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation in prioritised areas, such as the economy, trade, investment, tourism and labour. They agreed to jointly organise seminars and talks on promoting investment, trade and tourism, and to facilitate business exchanges as part of the celebrations of the 40 th anniversary of diplomatic ties next year. The two sides also consented to boost collaboration and provide mutual support at multilateral and international forums. Cyprus pledged to back Vietnam’s bid to be elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 term. The Republic of Cyprus and Vietnam officially established diplomatic ties in December 1975. Since then, bilateral ties have grown continuously. The two countries have conducted regular exchange visits and provided mutual support for issues of shared concern. Vietnamese party delegation visit Cuba A Vietnamese delegation led by Tran Quoc Vuong, Secretary of t he Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee paid an official visit to Cuba from November 12-15 after attending the second theory seminar between the two countries’ Communist Parties in Havana. During talks between Vuong and his Cuban counterpart Jose Ramon Balaguer, the two sides hailed the theory seminar as a good opportunity for the two parties to learn from each other’s experience in implementing policies on economic development and socialism-building in their respective country. Balaguer congratulated the Vietnamese Party, Government and people on the achievements they have made in the renewal process, national construction and development in recent years. He also briefed the guest on his country’s roadmap for updating socio-economic development models, saying that initial results in this process have given Cuba valuable lessons in order to implement more drastic policies in the building of prosperous and sustainable socialism. For his part, Vuong reiterated the consistent stance of the Vietnamese Party, State and people to support Cuba’s righteous struggle cause, adding that Vietnam hopes the US will soon lift its over 50 year embargo against Cuba. During their stay, the Vietnamese guests had a meeting with representatives from the Cuban Communist Youth Union and visit several localities in the country. Ho Chi Minh City leader welcomes Russia’s Deputy FM Chairman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Le Hoang Quan told Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Igor Morgulov that the city will do its utmost to enhance its relations with Russian localities and partners. At a meeting with the Russian guest on November 15, Chairman Quan stressed that the Vietnamese people, including those living in Ho Chi Minh City, always bear in mind the valuable support that the Soviet Union in the past and Russia at present has given to Vietnam during its struggle for liberation as well as national construction and defence. He noted with pleasure that bilateral ties are developing continuously today and being lifted to a new height. According to the official, two-way trade between Ho Chi Minh City and Russia has reached over 250 million USD so far this year, of which 150 million USD are from the city’s exports. Vietnam’s largest city has also welcomed more than 200,000 Russian tourist arrivals. However, he noted that the cooperation results have yet to match both sides’ potential, adding that Ho Chi Minh City wishes to further its ties with Russian localities and partners in economics, trade, culture, and people-to-people diplomacy. Igor Morgulov, in turn, spoke highly of Ho Chi Minh City’s role in Vietnam’s socio-economic development. Russia always attaches importance to enhancing ties with its traditional partners, with Vietnam being a priority, he said, affirming that his country is willing to boost its all-round relations with Vietnam. National Assembly debates Long Thanh Airport project The multi-billion US dollar Long Thanh Airport project in southern Dong Nai province was the focus of discussion at the National Assembly on the afternoon of November 14. Many deputies expressed approval of the policy to build a modern international airport, saying that such an airport is necessary to meet the growing demand of aviation transport, contributing to national development and defence-security. Deputy Hoang Thi To Nga from northern Nam Dinh province was of the opinion that once operational, the Long Thanh Airport will stimulate the development of many related sectors such as services, tourism, trade and industry, particularly the aviation industry. She said the airport will work as a driving force for socio-economic development in the southern key economic region in general and the south eastern region in particular. According to the Government’s proposal, the Long Thanh International Airport is located in the centre of the country’s largest economic hub, in Dong Nai province and just 45km from Ho Chi Minh City. Existing land and railway transport development plans for the southern key economic region fully meet the connection needs of the future airport. However, there were concerns about the pressure of such a large-scale project on the national economy in the context of low growth quality, instable public debt payment and unclear investment effectiveness. Some questioned the urgency of the Long Thanh project, asking the Government to explain further on this question in order to decide an appropriate time for implementing it. Deputy Nguyen Ngoc Phuong (Quang Binh central province) said in the current difficult economic conditions, it is necessary to consider carefully the time to implement the project. According to him, the project can be started in 2018 when the economic situation becomes stable. Deputy Huynh Nghia (Da Nang central city) proposed that the Government makes further reports on the operation of Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City in the coming years. The funding for the project attracted the most interest from lawmakers. Many agreed to the government’s proposal to mobilize capital from different economic sectors for the airport construction. The Government’s report said total investment for the airport construction’s first phase will be around 164.589 trillion VND (7.8 billion USD). The government plans to source 84.624 trillion VND from the State budget, government bonds and ODA, and the remaining 79.965 trillion VND from the non-State sectors. Deputies also debated the socio-economic effects of the project and issues related to land clearance and relocation of local residents.- Vietnam-Europe cooperation on education improves workforce Vietnam values its cooperation on training and education with international partners, including the European Union, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Bui Van Ga said in his speech at the EU–Vietnam higher education policy forum in Hanoi on November 14. With a population of over 90 million, Vietnam has 21 million students and 1.2 million teachers. The Government spends 20 percent of the total annual budget on education and training, Ga said. The deputy minister highlighted the significance of international integration for education in Vietnam, making it easier to transfer technology and expertise. By August 2014, more than 400 joint training programmes with international partners had been approved and launched at Vietnamese universities. The number of Vietnamese students studying overseas jumped from 60,000 in 2008 to 100,000 in 2012, with around 80 percent enrolled in Bachelor degrees. Talking points during the forum included the internationalisation of university education, the new model of the premium university, and linking education with socio-economic development. Following the policy forum, the European Higher Education Fair Vietnam takes place in Hanoi on November 15-16, bringing together 80 universities and educational institutions from 23 EU member states. Head of the EU delegation in Vietnam, Ambassador Franz Jessen, said the fair will provide an opportunity for Vietnamese students to find out about scholarships and suitable universities. Vietnam, Cambodia provinces review border management Officials from Vietnam’s Central Highlands Dak Lak province and its sharing Cambodian locality of Mondulkiri met in Buon Don district on November 14 reviewing the management of the shared border over the past four years. The meeting was co-organised by the provincial chapter of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and Mondulkiri province’s Solidarity Front for the Development of the Motherland. During 2011-2014, the two sides have actively coordinated their relevant forces in communication activities to raise local people’s awareness of protecting the common border of peace and friendship as agreed by the two countries’ leaders. The two localities have conducted cultural exchanges as well as economic development and cultural, healthcare and educational projects to bolster the solidarity and friendship between their residents. They reached a consensus on works needed to do in 2014-2016, stating that the two fronts will play a key role in further strengthening the friendly relationship and multi-dimensional cooperation between the two provinces and countries.  Catholics solidarity committee reviews activities The Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics (CSVC) held a meeting in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on November 14 to review the operation of its chapters in the south western cities and provinces over the past year. Vietnamese Catholics raise fund for Truong Sa Phan Dinh Son, CSVC Deputy Chairman, said catholic organisations and religious dignitaries in the region implemented practical measures to promote economic development, reduce poverty, and ensure social order and safety in residential areas. Representatives from the chapters reported on their achievements so far and shared their experiences in implementing a number of campaigns and programmes over the course of 2014. Accordingly, the chapters encouraged Catholics to participate in social programmes such as the “Building a cultural lifestyle in residential areas” campaign or adopt new farming models, contributing to the improvement of living standards and boosting community coherence. During the meeting, participants also pointed out a number of difficulties in implementing campaigns and put forward points of action for the future. VFF Vice President receives young American political leaders Vice President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Nguyen Van Pha met with representatives of the American Council of Young Political Leaders (ACYPL) in Hanoi on November 14. Pha said over the past time Vietnam and the US have seen fine development in their multifaceted cooperation, especially since the two countries established comprehensive strategic partnership more than a year ago. He hoped both sides will take practical measures to effectively implement their comprehensive strategic partnership and make thorough preparation for the 20th anniversary of the normalization of Vietnam-US relations in 2015. Pha urged the ACYPL to strengthen its ties with the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), the Vietnam-US Friendship Association, and the VFF. He suggested the Council promote visit exchange to boost mutual understanding between Vietnamese and American peoples, particularly among young generations in order to lift up Vietnam-US ties. Representing ACYPL, Peter Newell, Democratic Party member and Vice President at Sandbox Industries said the ACYPL includes young politicians from different political parties. The Council will act as a bridge linking US organizations with the VFF and promoting people-to-people exchange, he noted. Phu Quoc asked to further develop maritime economy, tourism Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has urged Phu Quoc island district in southern Kien Giang province to bring into play its advantages and potential to develop the maritime economy and tourism. The Deputy PM made the call when he announced the Prime Minister’s decision recognising Phu Quoc as a second-tier city at a November 15 ceremony in the island district. He said the local authorities to pay attention to building a green-clean-beautiful-friendly city while preserving the natural environment to keep the reputation as the Pearl Island. Vietnam’s rating system classifies cities into tiers based on political, economic and demographic factors representing their current stage of development. The island’s promotion follows its recent transport and tourism infrastructure development. The local government has made strides in urban planning, consolidating more than 70 percent of urban housing, and constructing a 60.72km transport network. An international airport and a seaport have been put into operation, and the district has been linked to the national power grid by an undersea cable line. Located on the Vienam-Cambodia-Thailand marine economic corridor, Phu Quoc island district covers more than 593sq.km with a population of over 100,000. It comprises 27 islands with Phu Quoc being the largest and dubbed the Pearl Island. Its average annual economic growth is 25 percent with per capita income reaching 3,416 USD per year. Kien Giang is also working on procedures to recognise Phu Quoc Island a provincially-run city in the time to come, which is a step in turning the island district into a special economic-administrative zone. In the long term, the island district is envisioned to become an economic and political hub, a crucial frontier in national defence and security, and a crucial transit point for international travelers.- VNA/VOV/VNS