Chủ Nhật, 31 tháng 5, 2015

Pentagon chief pledges $18 million for Hanoi to buy patrol boats

Pentagon chief pledges $18 million for Hanoi to buy patrol boats
 "We need to modernize our partnership. After 20 years, there is more we could do together."

US Defense Secretary Ash Carter pledged $18 million on Sunday to help Vietnam buy US patrol boats, shortly after touring a Vietnamese coast guard vessel that was hit by a Chinese ship during a skirmish in the South China Sea.
Carter, who has been focusing on maritime security during an 11-day trip to the Asia-Pacific, visited the Vietnamese navy headquarters and coast guard headquarters before boarding the ship.
Carter is on his second visit to Asia since becoming defense secretary earlier this year. He said he planned to sign a "vision statement" on Monday with his Vietnamese counterpart to guide the expansion of bilateral military ties.
"We need to modernize our partnership," Carter told reporters during a visit to the northern city of Hai Phong. "After 20 years, there is more we could do together."
As part of that effort, he said Washington would provide $18 million to help Vietnam buy US-made Metal Shark patrol boats to help Hanoi improve its maritime defense capabilities.
US and Vietnamese navies had been "building habits of cooperation" by working together, he said. In April they conducted exercises under rules laid out in the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea, a set of regulations approved by multiple maritime nations last year at a meeting in China.
Carter opened his trip to the Asia-Pacific by calling for all countries to stop island-building efforts in disputed, resource-rich regions of the South China Sea. He reiterated that call at the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference on Saturday.

 
Dredging work being done along the shore of Mischief Reef, located 216 km (135 miles) west of the Philippine island of Palawan, is shown in this Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative satellite image taken on March 17, 2015 and released to Reuters on April 9, 2015.
Carter recognized that several countries had conducted land reclamation projects in the region but said Chinese activity, covering some 2,000 acres, had outstripped the others and raised questions about Beijing's long-term intentions.
"I will be discussing further with Vietnam the proposal that I was talking about in Singapore, namely for all of the claimants to these disputed areas of the South China Sea ... permanently to halt reclamations," he said.
The Vietnamese coast guard vessel toured by Carter was targeted with Chinese water cannons and rammed by a Chinese ship during a confrontation last year.
The incident occurred after China moved an oil drilling rig into waters claimed by Vietnam. The rig remained for about two months protected by Chinese navy vessels, which were repeatedly challenged by Vietnamese ships.
Reuters

Why Vietnam struggles to attract tourists


As countries in the ASEAN region step up efforts to attract inbound tourists, Vietnam is also trying to woo travellers – albeit unsuccessfully.
The number of inbound tourists to Vietnam have fallen 12.8% year-on-year in the four months leading up to May of this year, data from the General Statistics Office (GSO) show.
The downtrend began 10 months ago and is likely to continue, according to Vu The Binh, vice president of the Vietnam Tourism Association (VTA).
Last year inbound tourism to Malaysia and Thailand shot up more than 20% to 27.4 million and 24.7 million visitors respectively, Binh said— while Vietnam welcomed only 7.8 million foreign arrivals.
Tourism in Vietnam actually experienced a negative growth rate in terms of both volume and value for 2014 and lagged miserably far behind other ASEAN member countries, Binh stressed.
 
To add insult to injury, the increasing numbers of outbound tourists suggest that even Vietnamese tourists prefer to travel to countries other than Vietnam, Binh added.
“Last year only 136,000 Laotians visited Vietnam while more than 900,000 Vietnamese visited Laos.”
“We are failing on our home playing field in attracting holidaymakers as Vietnamese have turned their back on domestic travel and prefer to spend their holidays abroad,” Binh underscored.
Limiting factors
A combination of global and domestic factors have diminished Vietnam’s attractiveness as a tourist destination recently, making the government’s aim of establishing tourism as a strategic economic pillar more difficult.
International visitors have routinely reported that unseemly environmental pollution and traffic problems in major cities like Hanoi and HCM City have been major concerns hindering the inbound tourism market.
In addition, Vietnam has failed to step up to the competition from regional countries, Binh stressed— as both Malaysia and Thailand have similar product offerings competing on cultural tours and Vietnam has failed to differentiate itself.
Going against the world’s common trend
Most notably, the Vice President of the VTA said more should be done to loosen visa regulations as the country needs to roll out measures to boost tourism with fast visa free policies for international travellers.
Currently 95% of the world needs a visa to enter Vietnam and that goes against the grain of the rest of top tourist countries around the globe. The government needs to make the nation more readily accessible.
Nguyen Thi Van Anh, director of Hanoi Red Tours, said Vietnam has been moving contrary to the direction the rest of the developed world’s tourism industry is moving.

 
Other countries in Southeast Asia such as Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines dole out visa exemptions to visitors from more than 150 countries. In contrast, Vietnam imposes strict visa requirements.
Moreover, Vietnam’s visa procedures are overly complicated requiring completion of in excess of 10 documents and papers that much to the chagrin of travellers need to be certified.
Tran Khang Thuy, director of EXO travel, says most tourists even have had to give money under the table to the staff at embassies and of the Vietnam government to procure visas.
Thuy affirmed the complex visa requirements and related corruption in Vietnam negatively impact the image of the nation and the domestic tourism industry in particular.
Finding solutions
With its natural splendour and ancient history, Vietnam has marketed itself as a hotspot for cultural tourism. However, to entice more visitors, Vietnam needs to rebrand itself and learn the lessons from European cities like London or Berlin.
The nation has modernized and foreigners need to know it can offer more than just blasé tours of ancient UNESCO historical sites.
According to Vu The Binh of the VTA the tourism industry has demonstrably lacked innovation, which has hardly provided any compelling rationale for foreign tourists to return.
In addition, there has been a definite lack of co-ordination among promotional activities at the national and local levels.
Most importantly, Vietnam needs to formulate a long-term strategy to promote the tourism industry, solving its pathetically sad environmental pollution track record and traffic safety issues for tourists if it is too have any chance of a revival.
VOV
Children health gets attention on Children Day


Some events have been held around the country on Children’s Day June 1 this year in an attempt to call on the community to better protect and care for children health. 

 
Children learn at a kindergarten

The Ministry of Labour, Veterans and Social Affairs held an event on May 30 in northern Hai Duong province’s Hai Duong city as a kick-off to the Month of Action for Children with the motto ‘Let’s Hear Children.’ 
Attending the event, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam called on people to listen to children to understand and have proper advice or timely actions, helping children to grow better. 
Worrying about the number of 1.5 million disadvantaged children and around 2.5 million children at risk of becoming disadvantaged ones, the Deputy PM urged adults to translate mottos into actions to better care for children. 
According to Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Thi Hai Chuyen, over the past years, many measures has been implemented at all levels to protect, care for and educate children, partly limiting negative impacts and risks caused by economic recession, climate change and environmental pollution on children. 
Many policies and programmes for children continue being maintained such as the National Action Programme for Children, the National Programme for Protecting Children and Free Medical Examinations for Children aged under six and many others. 
Vietnam approved the United Nations’ Convention on the Rights of the Child 25 years ago to ensure children to be under the protection of four groups of basic rights – the right of survival, the right of development, the right of being protected and the right of children’s participation, Chuyen said. 
But she said more efforts needed to be done. 
At the event, the Vietnam Children Sponsor Fund received 20 billion VND (920,000 USD) in donation from organisations, individuals to implement programmes and projects for impoverished and disabled children. 
The Fund also sponsored 30 impoverished students who have good performance in study, each 2 million VND, and presented 700 gift packages, worth 200,000 each, to impoverished children. 
The same day in HCM City at September 23 Park, the HCM City’s Health Department in collaboration with the city’s Community Health Association organised the third Care for Children Health Festival, which is expected to draw 10,000 children during May 30-31. 
During festive days, children are offered free medical examinations and advice by specialised doctors on backbone, eye and teeth. They are supplied Vitamin A for free as well. 
In addition, parents are equipped with basic and practical knowledge of caring for children health like how to prevent dangerous disease or how to handle accidents and injuries in summer days. 
The event is expected to raise awareness of the importance of caring for children health and call on organistions and individuals to contribute to the cause.
VNA
Female DJs overcome prejudices to play music, earn living in Vietnam



DJ Thuy Tien during her performance in a bar. Tuoi Tre

Since they wear sexy clothes to display more skin during performances and lead lives of ‘night working and day sleeping,’ female disc jockeys, or DJs, in Vietnam have to overcome social stigma which often leads to them being misunderstood as call girls.
Adding to the prejudice is their regular working environment at bars, beer clubs and sometimes coffee shops, which are considered ‘places of pleasure.’
In fact, this is a serious job that requires devotion, passion for music and performance skills.
A qualified DJ can earn an average salary of VND20 million (US$920) a month or more and travel abroad for contests and performances.
At midnight one day, the atmosphere inside J Bar on Le Duan Street in Hanoi was still excited since it is almost the peak time for most bars in Vietnam.

 
DJ Hai Yen. Photo: Tuoi Tre

The hands of DJ Thuy Tien moved fast on the keyboards and control panels of electronic music devices.
Her body moved to the rhythms of foreign electro songs. She was no different from a star artist who could command the attention of everyone there.
She could make the crowd become enthusiastic and cheerful with loud whistles and dances.
Tien worked continuously through 90 minutes of dancing with the musical rhythm and gesturing at the crowd to excite them.
“Thanks to their ability to attract crowds with musical rhythms and attractive bodies in sexy clothes, female DJs are among the favorites at bars,” said a male guest at J Bar.
In a brief chat with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper after her show at 1:00 am, when the street outside was deserted, Thuy Tien said she has DJed for seven years, performing at numerous bars.
“Today, I feel relaxed so I could burn myself like that,” Tien said, with sweat covering her bright face. “This job depends greatly on the state of mind.”
Tien lost her parents when she was 14 years old and had to learn music herself before being allowed to perform in a bar at a low salary.
Each DJ often selects their own style of performance in a certain rhythm of music.

 
DJ Max Cleo. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Nguyen Mai Anh, 23, who is the key DJ of the ‘upper class’ Q Bar on Ly Thuong Kiet Street in Hanoi, mainly performs EDM – or electronic dance music – which has recently been ‘imported’ into Vietnam.
Anh said she was able to buy a house and run a cosmetic shop in the Vietnamese capital thanks to the income from her performances as a DJ.
DJ Nguyen Thuy Linh, or Link Eva, 29, is often invited to join foreign performance trips.
Before, Linh had to agree to perform for free at some bars to build her name.
“Then, I made no money but was close to tears of happiness because I was given shows to perform,” Linh recounted her initial days of doing the job.
These young women and most other female DJs admit that they are often misunderstood as call girls by both family and neighbors because of their late working hours and sexy clothes.
Now, it takes a DJ two months and no more than VND15 million ($690) to learn music and performing skills to be able to work as a DJ.
So, it is lucky for newly-trained DJs to be allowed to perform at a bar.

 
The enthusiastic atmosphere in a bar thanks to the performance of a DJ (R). Photo: Tuoi Tre

A DJ admitted that, “It can be exciting when sitting in front of the keyboards to perform, but leaving it makes DJs feel dull and tired when it is late at night.”
In Ho Chi Minh City, DJs can perform not only at night at bars but also during the day at beer clubs, coffee shops and tea shops.
DJ Huong Tra confessed that she sometimes smiles and gestures at the crowd, but this is just crazy behavior because she is performing.
With some crowds, one may not be in the mood and just do the job for money, Tra added.
She recalled she was once given a cup of water with a VND500,000 bank note around it while performing. She thought it was a tip from guests and drank the cup.
Minutes later, she became crazy and performed and danced so wildly that she took off her shirt.
She said she later realized the water had been spiked with some sort of stimulant.
Tuoi Tre News
Dirty business: Hotels on Phu Quoc Island discharge waste into the sea

Plastic bags and styrofoam boxes that tourists left on the beach in Phu Quoc. Photo: Dinh Tuyen 
Plastic bags and styrofoam boxes that tourists left on the beach in Phu Quoc. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

Littering by tourists and waste discharges from hotels are taking away the appeal of Phu Quoc Island in southern Vietnam as a must-visit destination.
Beaches on the island are now full of plastic bags, food containers and food waste left by tourists. 
Nguyen Xuan Hien, a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City, said: “If one person eats and leaves their trash behind, others will just follow.”
Local media has reported about the issue for months.
But Hien said the beaches are still dirty and officials have not fixed the problem.
Some locals have also criticized small beachfront restaurants for discharging wastewater directly into the sea and letting diners urinate on the beach.
But those small restaurants are not alone. Luxury hotels have done the same.
Along Ba Keo, one of the most beautiful and popular beaches on the southern island, there are 28 hotels and resorts. Most of them discharge their wastewater straight into the sea through pipes.
Tourists who want to swim have to go far away from these hotels.
Phung Xuan Mai, general director of a resort on the island, reckoned that only five hotels and resorts on the island have waste treatment systems, but whether these system meet the required standards is a different question. 
By Dinh Tuyen, Thanh Nien News

Thứ Bảy, 30 tháng 5, 2015

Prospects for the Vietnam-EAEU free trade agreement

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has signed a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Eurasia Economic Union (EAEU) in Kazakhstan that is expected to open up vast opportunities and challenges for the nation over the years to come. 
In the run up to the signing ceremony, Dang Hoang Hai, head of the Vietnam Technical Negotiation Delegation in Astana, sat down with a Radio Voice of Vietnam (VOV) reporter to provide his thoughts on the important trade pact.
Following are key translated excerpts from the interview.
Reporter: The negotiation process and preparations for the signing of the FTA between Vietnam and the EAEU are nearly complete. What is your assessment of how the process has gone?
Mr Hai: The negotiation process has transpired rather quickly. Initially, Vietnam was negotiating with only Russia and then over the span of two years the other nations of the EAEU joined in.
 
Dang Hoang Hai, head of the Vietnam Technical Negotiation Delegation in Astana
The agreement has the typical characteristics of other free trade pacts. All of the nations involved in the FTA, have a long standing traditional friendship with Vietnam including Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and new members like Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.
These countries have stood shoulder to shoulder with Vietnam in the process of national construction and in the war against US imperialism.
The negotiation process for the agreement was undertaken seriously and as a consequence, both sides have a hammered out a solid agreement that is mutually beneficial not only for Vietnam but all nations of the EAEU.
Reporter: What do you think about the significance of the agreement for Vietnam and member countries of the EAEU?
Mr Hai: I think that it has great significance for all concerned parties. For Vietnam, the EAEU is a great potential market with a consumer market of more than 170 million strong and GDP with purchasing power reaching US$17 trillion.
The figures unequivocally demonstrate this is a promising market. Notably, the agreement has fulfilled our fundamental targets in which all priority export items have achieved favourable conditions.
For example, nearly 100% of the nation’s commodities will be allowed entry into the EAEU free of any import duties. Regarding garments and textiles value added items, we have successfully negotiated for abatement of 80% of the import duties.
Vietnam is one of the first nations to sign a FTA with the EAEU and will enjoy substantial reductions in import tariffs. At the same time we have made significant progress in removing ‘technical barriers’ to trade.
In the negotiations, we placed great emphasis on opening up the EAEU markets for Vietnam’s top commodities such as iron, steel, industrial and agricultural goods. In return, Vietnam has opened its markets for import of beef, milk, cereal, meat and processed fish.
I think the overall impact of the agreement will be very positive as it should benefit all concerned parties.
Reporter: During the negotiation process, what are assessments of concerned parties towards Vietnamese market when implementing articles in the agreement?
Mr Hai: The EAEU member nations view Vietnam as a great potential market for exports and investment in addition to being a gateway to the ASEAN markets.
Reporter: What obstacles do you foresee in implementing the FTA?
Mr Hai: Although the FTA opens up a lot of opportunities, it poses a number of challenging obstacles. Geographical distance is the number one problem that must be overcome as nations in the EAEU are far from Vietnam.
Secondly, familiarity with the markets is a distinct problem. It is going to take some hard work on the part of the Vietnam business community to get up to speed on the EAEU markets and thoroughly understand them.
Thirdly, language barriers, differing laws, customs, all will create their own unique problems that will need to be dealt with effectively. Therefore, the Vietnam business community will have its hands full in manoeuvring in the market.
Furthermore, the FTA hasn’t broken down all trade barriers so Vietnam should expect some push back from specific industries in the EAEU member nations as they attempt to create their own technical barriers.
Vietnam has had some experience exporting to Russia. However, this will be the nation’s first experience with the markets of Armenia and Kyrgyzstan— so it is apt to be a very demanding and rewarding experience.
Reporter: Thank you very much.
VOV
Vietnam says reports of China artillery on reclaimed land "bad sign"


Vietnam's Deputy Defense Minister General Nguyen Chi Vinh (L) arrives for the opening of the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore May 29, 2015. Photo: Reuters/Edgar Su

Vietnam's deputy defense minister said on Saturday that reports China had placed mobile artillery weapons on a reclaimed island in the disputed South China Sea were, if true, a very worrying development.
"If it has actually happened it is a very bad sign for what is already a very complicated situation in the South China Sea," General Nguyen Chi Vinh told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of a security forum in Singapore.
The United States said on Friday that China had placed mobile artillery weapons on a reclaimed island in the disputed South China Sea. Analysts said the artillery could pose a threat to nearby Vietnamese bases, also on disputed territory.
The development was described by the Pentagon as one that creates more "uncertainty" in a situation that has grown increasingly tense over the past six months after satellite images showed significant land reclamation activities by China. The U.S. says the Chinese have added some 2,000 acres to five outposts in the resource-rich Spratly islands, including 1,500 acres this year.
China says the islands are in sovereign Chinese territory.
Vinh said he wanted all of the international community to work together to put a halt to China's reclamation activities.
"I always hope that the international community will always be responsible for the peace, stability and development of the region and not ignore that act of violating international law," he said.
On Friday, Vinh held a bilateral meeting with Admiral Sun Jianguo, a deputy chief of staff of China's People's Liberation Army, where he said he asked them to respect his country's sovereignty.
"We are military people so we are very clear and very frank unlike diplomatic people," he said.
"We were very clear of our position to maintain our sovereignty, to respect international law and to maintain responsibility between Vietnam and China".
Reuters
Northern, central Vietnam melt and wilt in extreme heat

A fish dies in an empty dry reservoir in the central province of Ninh Thuan. Photo credit: Tuoi Tre 
A fish dies in an empty dry reservoir in the central province of Ninh Thuan. Photo credit: Tuoi Tre

Northern Vietnam is going through the hottest summer since 2009 while the central region is drying up in the worst heat ever, according to experts who blame the scorcher on El Nino and climate change.
The temperature hit 41.5 degrees Celsius, or 106.7 degrees Fahrenheit, in some central provinces, local media reported.
The heat in Ha Tinh Province even melted a newly fixed road. Some travelers had their tires and shoes caught in the sticky asphalt Friday afternoon.

A road melts in Ha Tinh Province. Photo credit: VnExpress

The temperature in Hanoi surged to 40 degrees during the day. The heat eased only a little at night.
It was so hot that a video has gone viral on the Internet, showing a local man frying an egg and beef just by putting his pan on an outdoor brick floor.
A source from the Central Hydro-meteorological Forecasting Center said the heat will continue in the coming days and can increase to 42 degrees.
Tran Quang Tien, deputy director of the center, told Tuoi Tre newspaper there are similar heat waves every May, but El Nino and climate change are making the one this year much harsher.
Figures from the center showed that temperatures across Vietnam have been higher than the average of many years and the rainfall lower.

A man has a bath with water from a hole dug into a dry stream in Ninh Thuan. Photo credit: Tuoi Tre
The center said the weather in northern and central Vietnam will become milder during the weekend but the heat will return next week.
Ho Chi Minh City and other places in southern Vietnam have started to see thunderstorms the past weeks.
Experts said the heat can make many people sick, especially older people and children, those with cardiological, respiratory conditions, Parkinson's and mental illnesses.
Hospitals in Hanoi have received more patients the past week, with many children suffering from pneumonia and meningitis.
Doctors said parents should keep the children indoor around noon, keep them cool and hydrated.
Thanh Nien News
Banks still gain high profits despite increased NPLs


Though non-performing loans (NPLs) have increased significantly, which forced commercial banks to make higher provisions against risks, they still have reported an increase in profit in the first quarter of 2015 in comparison with the same period last year. 

 Vietnam, SBV, NPL, profit
The NPL ratio of some commercial banks by the end of Q1

The Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) is leading listed commercial banks in profit growth rate. The bank’s post-tax profit was VND1.854 trillion, an increase of 20.71 percent over the same period last year, attributed to deposit interest rate decreases and sharp cuts in other expenses, by VND640 billion. Meanwhile, the income from loan interests and other services increased slightly.

Eximbank has reported satisfactory business results in the first quarter, which came after a bad fourth quarter of 2014. The bank’s post-tax profit in the first three months of the year reached VND415 billion, an increase of 20 percent over the same period last year. The reason was that the bank had to pay lower interest on bank deposits by roughly 20 percent.

The same reason has also been cited as explanation for the high profits gained by the big players – VietinBank, ACB, Sacombank and MBB.

Banks unanimously slashed deposit interest rates in the first months of the year. The interest rates hover around 4-5 percent for short-term deposits and 7-8 percent for long- term deposits.

Of the eight listed banks, only two, Vietcombank and SHB, have reported profit decreases.

The NPL ratio of seven listed commercial banks (except SHB), reached VND36.436 trillion by March 31, 2015, increasing by 20 percent compared with the beginning of the year. The banks’ NPL ratio had increased to 2.17 percent of outstanding loans from 1.86 percent earlier this year.

According to the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), the NPL ratio had reached 3.49 percent by the end of January, higher than the 3.25 percent at the end of 2014. Meanwhile, the latest report of SBV’s HCM City Branch said the NPL ratio of the local banks had increased to 5.53 percent by March 31, 2015 from 5.31 percent in late 2014.

The figures all showed that NPLs have increased again after unexpectedly decreasing in late 2014.

Vietcombank surprised everyone when it, considered the best bank in Vietnam, reported a NPL ratio of 2.67 percent, the highest ratio among the listed commercial banks. The bank has also reported a high provisioning rate of 94 percent against risks, the highest level among Vietnamese banks.

Its high NPL ratio and high provisioning have raised controversy. Some analysts said the figures do not mean Vietcombank credit quality is worse than other banks, but show that the bank strictly follows international standards in debt classification.

TBKTVN
Government News 30/5

Vietnam, Germany boost judicial collaboration
Judicial ties is one of the key contents of Vietnam-Germany cooperation in 2015, Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Nguyen Thi Hoang Anh announced during a recent meeting with the State of Brandenburg’s Minister of Justice Ronald Pienky in Berlin.
Pienkny said the positive outcomes of bilateral cooperation over recent years, reflecting the increasing level of mutual trust since the two countries became strategic partners in 2011.
He revealed that Brandenburg is currently studying Vietnam’s experience in making laws, with a focus on local administrative management, which is his State’s current restructuring priority.
On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, the Federal Minister presented two collections of legal texts, containing more than 200 books, to the German Law Centre at the Hanoi University of Law via the Vietnamese Ambassador.
Ambassador Nguyen Thi Hoang Anh expressed her wish for cooperation programmes between Vietnam and Brandenburg following the model of the partnership between Vietnam and the State of Hessen, which has produced good outcomes, particularly the project on establishing the Vietnam-Germany University.
Asia-Pacific expert group talks non-traditional security threats
The Expert Group on Security in the Asia-Pacific closed its annual workshop in the central city of Da Nang on May 29 after five days of sitting.
Deputy Commander of Military Zone 5 Maj. Gen Nguyen Dinh Tien and Managing Director of Strategic Studies at the Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies Carleton Cramer co-chaired the closing ceremony.
The workshop focused its discussions on possible ways to cope with non-traditional security threats and topics regarding humanitarian assistance and disaster search-and-rescue, maritime security and counter-terrorism.
It was also where Vietnam shared its stance and demonstrated the Vietnamese People’s Army’s role and responsibility for regional and global issues of shared concern, thereby fostering friendship and understanding among regional armies and raising Vietnam’s position in international scene.
Participants reached agreement on common principles of joint cooperation, including ensuring legitimate interests of each country based on equality, respect for each other’s territorial sovereignty and integrity, international law and regional commitments.
They voiced support for the settlement of disputes through peaceful dialogues, without using force or threatening to use force while refraining from making actions that can intensify tension.
The event, co-hosted by the Vietnamese Defence Ministry’s Foreign Relations Department and the Special Operations Command Pacific, attracted 80 delegates from 10 ASEAN member countries, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Mongolia.
The 2016 workshop of this kind will take place in Indonesia.
PM meets with President of Eurasia Economic Commission
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on May 29 met with Chairman of the Board of the Eurasia Economic Commission Viktor Khristenko, on the occasion of the signing of a free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Eurasia Economic Union (EAEU).
The Vietnamese leader underlined the significance of the agreement, which he said is a modern and comprehensive deal with necessary flexibilities and balanced benefits which take into account the specific situation of each side. He added that it is a breakthrough for economic-trade ties between Vietnam and the EAEU’s member states.
For his part, Khristenko expressed his hope that Vietnam will serve as a bridge linking the Union with ASEAN member states.
The two sides expressed their belief that the FTA will create a foundation for the EAEU to bolster trade and investment connections with Vietnam and the Southeast Asian region in particular, and the Asia-Pacific in general.
Vietnam and the EAEU began negotiations on the bilateral FTA on March 28, 2013.
The Eurasia Economic Union comprises Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia and Kyrgyzstan.-VNA
Vietnamese leaders meet Cuban high-ranking Party delegation
General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and State President Truong Tan Sang hosted receptions for a visiting Cuban Party delegation led by Politburo member and Vice President of the Council of State Salvador Valdes Mesa, in Hanoi on May 29.
During the meetings, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong spoke highly of Cuba’s great achievement in the process of updating the social-economic model and recent diplomatic victories which he said would lay foundations for Cuba to achieve more positive results in social-economic development and successfully build a prosperous and sustainable socialist country.
The Party leader updated the delegation on the situation in Vietnam, especially preparations for the 12th National Party Congress.
Meanwhile, State President Sang said the trip taking place on the 55th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries would contribute to further promoting the traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba.
The President also wanted the Governments of the two countries and the subcommittees of their Inter-governmental Commission to study and formulate new measures and mechanisms suitable with conditions of the two countries to make bilateral cooperation more effective and practical.
Salvador Valdes Mesa congratulated Vietnam on the country’s great achievements over the past years and believed that Vietnam will reap even greater success in the reform process.
He expressed his gratitude for Vietnam’s assistance and confirmed Cuba’s determination to strengthen the ties between the two countries.
The Cuban delegation previously held talks with a Vietnamese Party delegation led by Le Hong Anh, Politburo member and Standing Secretary of the Party Central Committee Secretariat.
During their talks, the two sides informed each other of each country’s situation, discussed relevant issues and measures to realise cooperation agreements signed by the two parties and countries.
During their stay, the Cuban delegation paid respect to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum and held working sessions with officials of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Ogranisation, the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Popularisation and Education. They also visited HCM City, Can Tho City and Quang Ninh province.
Asia-Pacific expert group talks non-traditional security threats
The Expert Group on Security in the Asia-Pacific closed its annual workshop in the central city of Da Nang on May 29 after five days of sitting.
Deputy Commander of Military Zone 5 Maj. Gen Nguyen Dinh Tien and Managing Director of Strategic Studies at the Asia-Pacific Centre for Security Studies Carleton Cramer co-chaired the closing ceremony.
The workshop focused its discussions on possible ways to cope with non-traditional security threats and topics regarding humanitarian assistance and disaster search-and-rescue, maritime security and counter-terrorism.
It was also where Vietnam shared its stance and demonstrated the Vietnamese People’s Army’s role and responsibility for regional and global issues of shared concern, thereby fostering friendship and understanding among regional armies and raising Vietnam’s position in international scene.
Participants reached agreement on common principles of joint cooperation, including ensuring legitimate interests of each country based on equality, respect for each other’s territorial sovereignty and integrity, international law and regional commitments.
They voiced support for the settlement of disputes through peaceful dialogues, without using force or threatening to use force while refraining from making actions that can intensify tension.
The event, co-hosted by the Vietnamese Defence Ministry’s Foreign Relations Department and the Special Operations Command Pacific, attracted 80 delegates from 10 ASEAN member countries, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Mongolia.
The 2016 workshop of this kind will take place in Indonesia.
Vietnam, Myanmar reinforce multifaceted partnerships
Vietnam and Myanmar have agreed to reinforce cooperation in mutual areas of strength, such as fisheries, oil and gas, information communication technologies, agricultural cultivation and export processing, and tourism.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Myanmar’s Foreign Minister U Wunna Maung Lwin reached this consensus during the eighth meeting of the Joint Committee on Cooperation between Vietnam and Myanmar in the Myanmar capital Nay Pyi Taw on May 29, which coincided with the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties (May 28, 1975-2015).
They pledged to continue the facilitation of all-level visits via the State, Government and National Assembly channels while effectively utilising the existing cooperation mechanisms, such as the deputy ministerial-level political consultation and the Sub-Committee on Trade.
Myanmar’s Foreign Minister announced the establishment of the Myanmar–Vietnam Friendship Association, led by a Deputy Minister under the Office of the President, to increase mutual understanding and dialogues.
The two sides expressed their resolve to lift bilateral trade to 500 million USD this year. A number of Vietnamese projects operating in Myanmar were hailed as profitable, including a hotel, office and shopping complex run by Hoang Anh Gia Lai in Yangon and an oil and gas joint-venture between PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corporation and Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise.
The Government of Myanmar is considering granting an investment licence to the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) to set up Myanmar branch and is taking note of the proposals to provide further support for Vietnamese firms operating in the country, U Wunna Maung Lwin said.
Host and guest promised to effectively implement the defence cooperation agreement signed in September 2001, to improve the effectiveness of the annual security dialogue, and to promptly set up a defence policy dialogue mechanism.
Bilateral cooperation on defence and crime prevention, information and experience sharing, education and training, culture, and science-technology will be strengthened, including joint research on lotus fiber weaving.
In terms of regional and global issues, they reiterated their continued mutual collaboration at multilateral forums, pledged to coordinate with other ASEAN member states to establish the ASEAN Economic Community later this year, and maintain ASEAN’s central role and common voice in dealing with regional issues.
Myanmar expressed its wish for a settlement of the East Sea issue by peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea, and efforts towards concluding a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
The ninth meeting of this kind will be held in Vietnam in 2017.
VNA