Government News 27/2 Vietnam enhances cooperation with Azerbaijan    First Session of the Vietnam - Azerbaijan Inter-Governmental Commission  Vietnam always attaches importance to strengthening the traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Azerbaijan, said Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son. At a reception in Hanoi on February 26 for Anar Alakbarov, Executive Director of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and Assistant to the First Vice President of Azerbaijan, Son spoke highly of the two nations’ close and effective coordination and mutual support on the international arena, especially within the framework of the UN, contributing to consolidating mutual trust and understanding between the two countries. The Vietnamese official suggested two sides pay attention to fostering collaboration in areas of their strength through such mechanisms as the Vietnam – Azerbaijan Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic-Trade and Scientific-Technological Cooperation while boosting links in education-training and science-technology. He also appreciated the operation of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and affirmed that Vietnam is willing to cooperate with Azerbaijan in exchanging information and experience, implementing joint scientific and technological research projects, and organising exhibitions on science-technology achievements and cultural days in each country. For his part, Anar Alakbarov expressed his wish that Vietnam will create conditions for his foundation to engage in projects on culture and education and pledged maximum efforts to carry out the projects. Conference discusses values of Communist Manifesto    Overview of the conference  An international scientific conference was held in Hanoi on February 26 to discuss theoretical and practical values of the Manifesto of the Communist Party at the present time. The event was co-chaired by Vo Van Thuong, Politburo member, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and head of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education; Nguyen Xuan Thang, member of the CPV Central Committee, Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics and Vice President of the CPV Central Committee’s Theoretical Council; and Phung Huu Phu, Vice President of the CPV Central Committee’s Theoretical Council. It also drew the attendance of Dmitry Georgievich Novikov, First Deputy Chairman of Russia’s State Duma Committee on International Affairs and Vice President of the Russia’s Communist Party, and Thongsalit Mangnomek, member of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP)’s Central Committee and director of the Laos’ National Academy of Politics and Public Administration, as well as Vietnamese and foreign scholars and researchers. Addressing the conference, Thuong said that the Manifesto of the Communist Party compiled by Marx and Engels, which was issued in February 1848, has great theoretical and practical significance to the international communist and workers’ movement as well as the development of the world and the progress of the humankind. The issuance of the document was a decisive turning point of the world communist and workers’ movement, marking the formation of Marxism. He said that over the past 88 years, guided by the manifesto, Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh thought, the CPV has led the country through many difficulties and challenges to make glorious victories towards socialism. The 170th anniversary of the document is a chance to recognise the value and vitality of ideologies stated in the manifesto, which is also an opportunity to further complete the document and make it suitable to the current situation. Meanwhile, Thang said that significant achievements of Vietnam over the past 30 years of reform are obvious evident of flexible and creative application of the document to the new situation. Thongsalit Mangnomek said that the LPRP has been persistent to the spirit of the manifesto, combining the principles of Marxism with the reality of the country. He highlighted the vitality of the manifesto as a scientific basis with important role in society’s ideology system. At the same time, Novikov affirmed that so far, the manifesto has still been a guiding star for progressive forces of Russia and the world. On the occasion, Novikov presented a medal on the 100th anniversary of Russia’s October Revolution to Vo Van Thuong and Nguyen Xuan Thang. Australia among Vietnam’s key partners: Ambassador    Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Ngo Huong Nam Australia is among Vietnam’s key partners in the region and the world, Vietnamese Ambassador Ngo Huong Nam said in an interview with the Canberra Times as the two countries are celebrating the 45th anniversary of their relations this year. In the full two-page interview, Nam said after four decades, the bilateral ties between Vietnam and Australia have grown steadily and visit exchanges between their high-ranking leaders have created impetuses to bring the relations to a new height. Vietnam and Australia are proud of their growing diplomacy in all fields, including economy, trade, education, science- technology and security-defence, he told the Australia-based newspaper. Two-way trade rose by more than 200 times after over three decades, from 32.3 million USD in 1990 to 6.46 billion USD in 2007, he noted. As trade is a key pillar of the bilateral relationship, Ambassador Ngo Huong Nam expects the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will be signed soon, paving the way for more cooperation opportunities between the two sides. Bilateral security-defence collaboration is also thriving as the two nations share their common concern about terrorism, cyber security and issues in the East Sea. Vietnam pledges to strongly support Australia in its relations with ASEAN as well as its active role in Asia-Pacific, he said. The ambassador added that Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will make an official visit to Australia next month, during which Vietnam and Australia will sign a document to upgrade their ties to a strategic partnership, opening up a new era for the two nations’ relations. The visit will also outline goals and directions for the bilateral relationship in the future, the ambassador said. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, he said, noting the he will work harder to contribute to the development of the bilateral ties. PM: Each diplomat should be soldier on external front    Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and diplomats  Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc directed external work of the Foreign Ministry in its new headquarters in Hanoi on February 26, wishing that each diplomatic official must be a soldier on external front. In his speech, the PM noted that external work directly contributed to promoting the export of key Vietnamese produce, tourism and labour export, and foreign investment attraction last year. The Foreign Ministry played a major role in ensuring national defence-security, reducing poverty and achieving the United Nations millennial development goals by raising sound and scientific initiatives, he said. On the back of the past achievements, he asked the sector to make further efforts to promote economic and trade activities and better tap commitments to carrying forward domestic economy. It was also required to improve the efficiency of external work, maintain a peaceful environment for socio-economic development, and raise national strength while pursuing the external policy of peace, independence, self-reliance and cooperation. The ministry should actively propose ideas to boost exports as well as develop domestic trade, particularly in fields of strength such as tropical agriculture, information technology and tourism, he said. The Government leader suggested that the ministry consider helping extend export markets, especially the US, China and Europe while giving priority to investors adopting advanced and eco-friendly technologies.  He expressed his wish that the ministry would pay attention to overseas Vietnamese affairs and citizen protection. Apart from popularising domestic images to international friends, the sector was also urged to update Vietnamese business community and people on opportunities in the host countries. Last year, Vietnam successfully assumed the role as host of the APEC Year 2017, especially the APEC Leaders’ Week in the central city of Da Nang. The country further deepened ties with neighbouring, regional and developed countries, as well as traditional friends. Vietnam’s high-ranking leaders visited 19 countries, attended eight multilateral international conferences, held hundreds of bilateral exchanges with foreign leaders, and welcomed 36 heads of state and Prime Ministers to the country. President extends greetings to doctors on Vietnamese Doctors’ Day    President Tran Dai Quang (R) presents Labour Order, first class, to Associate Professor Doctor Nguyen Quoc Anh, Director of Bach Mai Hospital resident Tran Dai Quang extended greetings to doctors, health workers of the health sector while attending a ceremony marking the 63rd anniversary of Vietnamese Doctors’ Day (February 27) held at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi on February 26. The President expressed his gratitude to doctors and health workers of the sector and Bach Mai Hospital in particular, and highlighted their contributions over the past years. He said that amidst the extensive industrialisation, modernisation and international integration process, Vietnam has faced numerous challenges in health care, including the risks of environmental pollution and epidemics. At the same time, the demand for caring, protecting and enhancing people’s health is increasing and diverse, causing the rising pressure to the sector, he said. President Tran Dai Quang asked the sector and Bach Mai Hospital to focus on reforming to show better performance in giving health care services, personnel training, scientific research, epidemic prevention, international cooperation and economic management, with the aim of improving the quality of health care services. At the same time, the sector should pay greater attention to developing in-depth techniques, expanding the satellite hospital network, training and transferring technology to hospitals at local levels, thus easing the overload situation in hospitals, he said. The President stressed the need for close coordination between civil and military medicine for better caring for people’s health in border, island, remote and poor areas, along with the stronger application of science and advanced technologies in check-up, treatment and disease prevention. He said he hopes doctors and health workers will promote their responsibility and ethics in caring for people’s health. The State leader also asked the Ministry of Health and relevant agencies to create optimal conditions for Bach Mai Hospital to become the country’s leading centre for health care services, training and research. Establishing in 1911, Bach Mai is one of the biggest hospitals in Vietnam. At the ceremony, President Tran Dai Quang presented Labour Order, second class, to the hospital, and Labour Order, first class, to Associate Professor Doctor Nguyen Quoc Anh, Director of the hospital. VNN