Government News 23/3 President sends condolence to Bangladesh over US-Bangla plane crash   President Tran Dai Quang  President Tran Dai Quang on March 22 conveyed his condolences to Bangladeshi President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the recent US-Bangla Airlines plane crash. According to the online newspaper thedailystar.net, the crash of US-Bangla flight BS211 at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu on March 12 killed 51 people, 26 of them were Bangladeshis. At least 20 people survived the crash, 10 of them Bangladeshis. US-Bangla Airlines is a privately owned Bangladeshi airline. PM: Vietnam expects strong growth of trade with Hong Kong   Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) receives Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of Hong Kong Yau Tang-wah   Vietnam expects strong growth of two-way trade with Hong Kong in the coming time based on potential of bilateral relations, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. PM Phuc made the statement while receiving Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of Hong Kong Yau Tang-wah in Hanoi on March 22. Lauding progress in political, economic, trade and investment ties, the PM suggested Hong Kong support Vietnam in developing bilateral trade and send experts to assist Vietnam since Hong Kong is a financial centre in the region and the world. He said Vietnam has been focusing on developing transport, health and education infrastructure, and Hong Kong enterprises may take part in projects in these fields. PM Phuc affirmed that Vietnam is striving to improve its investment environment and to create optimal conditions for foreign investors, including those from Hong Kong, to successfully do business in the country. He said relevant agencies of Vietnam and Hong Kong need to put forth measures and action plans to further boost bilateral cooperative relations, adding that free trade agreements are opening up more cooperation opportunities for both sides. For his part, Yau said he was impressed at Vietnam’s economic growth as well as its achievements in international integration and strong development of Vietnam-China relations. He said his ongoing visit to Vietnam is accompanied by a large number of Hong Kong firms who are seeking investment opportunities in the country, thus lifting bilateral trade ties to a new height. Hong Kong wants to become a reliable partner of Vietnam, Yau said, adding that Hong Kong can provide Vietnam with professional services in the fields of finance, law, insurance and accounting. Vietnam supports constructive efforts to peace in Korean Peninsula    Vietnam supports constructive efforts to deal with disputes through peaceful dialogue, contributing to peace, security and stability of the Korean Peninsula and the world as a whole. Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang made the statement at the ministry’s regular press conference on March 22 answering queries on the possibility of the organization of a high-level meeting between the US and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.  “Vietnam is willing to make positive contributions to promoting dialogue, maintaining peace, security and stability in the Korean Peninsula,” she declared.- Deputy PM: Vietnam, RoK should step up agricultural cooperation   Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung (R) and Chairman of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation of the Republic of Korea Kim Byung-won  Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung has hailed the effective cooperation between the Vietnam Cooperative Alliance (VCA) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation of the Republic of Korea (NACF) over the past year, such as exchanging information and experience in developing cooperatives and human resources. During his reception for NACF Chairman Kim Byung-won in Hanoi on March 22, Dung proposed the NACF continue assisting the VCA in training personnel, improving capacity for Vietnam’s agricultural cooperatives, establishing new-style cooperatives, providing supermarket management skills, and boosting cooperation in agricultural finance. The Deputy PM suggested the NACF prompt Korean competent agencies to help address difficulties related to quarantine of Vietnamese agricultural products and open its market for Vietnamese pork and chicken in 2018, and then dragon fruits, rambutan, longan and lychees. The Government of Vietnam always creates favourable conditions for Korean agricultural products to enter the Vietnamese market, he affirmed. Dung expressed his delight at the rapid and effective development of economic-trade and political relations between the two countries. The RoK is now one of the leading economic partners of Vietnam, ranking first in terms of investment, second in terms of trade and ODA, and third in terms of tourism, he said. By the end of 2017, the RoK had invested in more than 6,400 projects with a combined investment capital of 57.66 billion USD, Dung said, adding that in 2017 the RoK led foreign investors in Vietnam with 8.31 billion USD in newly licensed and added investment. NACF Chairman Kim Byung-won agreed with Deputy PM Dung’s ideas and proposals for more effective cooperation between the NACF and the VCA, saying that staff training, capacity building for the Vietnam’s agricultural cooperatives, and building new-style cooperatives are among their key cooperation contents. The RoK is willing to provide Vietnam with resources and experience in chain-based production, thus raising the value of its agricultural products, Kim said. The NACF Chairman called on the two countries to take effective measures to increase the sale of agricultural products in each other’s market. Italian scholar: Vietnam, Italy witness vibrant all-around relations   The signing of cooperation agreements at the Vietnam-Italy Business Forum 2017  Vietnam and Italy are enjoying the most vibrant period in their relations, across politics, economy, culture exchange, and security cooperation, said an Italian scholar.  Sandra Scagliotti, Director of the Centre for Vietnam Studies in Turin in Italy, made the statement during a recent interview granted to Rome-based Vietnam News Agency correspondents.   The scholar, who is also Vietnam’s honor consul for the area of Turin, said the Vietnam-Italy Strategic Partnership, which was established in 2013, opened a new period in the bilateral relations toward a sustainable one.  According to Scagliotti, Vietnamese authorities have effectively cooperated with Italy’s ministries and sectors in all fields. The exchange of visits between the two countries’ senior officials during the last six years, including those made by Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and President Sergio Mattarella to Vietnam in 2014 and 2015; by Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang to Italy in 2016, helped further promote the dialogue and intensive cooperation between the two sides.  She especially emphasised the increasing defence cooperation between the two countries, saying that this contributes to ensuring navigation safety and maintaining peace and stability in the Southeast Asia region.  Besides diplomatic ties, Vietnam and Italy are also witnessing the fruitful development of culture and science cooperation, she said, stressing the crucial role played by the Centre for Vietnam Studies in Turin in providing and popularising information about Vietnam.  Regarding economic ties, Vietnam’s interest in Italian enterprises has encouraged Italy to share its economic and trade-related experience, she said.  She highlighted efforts of Vietnamese and Italian agencies, especially the Italian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (ICHAM) under the Italian Union of Chambers of Commerce-Unioncamere, set up in 1996, in promoting investment and trade cooperation between the two countries.  While hailing Vietnam’s economic achievements, Scagliotti recommended Vietnam to maintain the sustainability of the environment, saying that the country needs to have a vision towards a balance between humans and nature, and preserving biodiversity.  Through cooperation and experience sharing, Vietnam and Italy may join hands in promoting sustainable development, thus bringing interest to both sides and outlining future orientations for their cooperation, she noted.  Scagliotti also took the occasion to inform her agency’s plan to organise activities in 2018 to mark the 45th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Italy diplomatic ties.  The POLO Italia Vietnam centre in Turin, which is being finalised, is hoped to help strengthen connection between Italian universities and association with Vietnamese partners, she added. Vietnamese, Italian leaders exchange messages marking ties    President Tran Dai Quang and Italian President Sergio Mattarella on March 22 exchanged their messages of greetings on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of Vietnam-Italy diplomatic relations (March 23, 1973-2018). The same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano also exchanged messages to congratulate each other on the special occasion. Over the past 45 years, Vietnam and Italy have enjoyed booming partnership in all fields, especially economy. Vietnam has become Italy’s largest trade partner in ASEAN, surpassing economic powerhouses such as Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. Two-way trade rose nearly 9 percent annually to 4.7 billion USD in 2016.  Both sides are working to lift two-way trade to 6 billion USD for 2017-2018. Vietnam mainly exports footwear, aquatic products, coffee and apparel to Italy, and imports mechanical machinery, transportation vehicles and leather materials.  The European Union – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which takes effect this year, will further facilitate bilateral economic and trade links.  As of February 2018, Italy ranked 31st out of 128 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with 88 projects worth more than 388 million USD. The Italian government has added Vietnam into its list of 10 emerging markets prioritised for trade and investment ties.  The European nation is now home to nearly 5,000 Vietnamese nationals, mostly in northern Italian provinces with plenty of job opportunities in industry. President hosts outgoing Saudi Arabian Ambassador   President Tran Dai Quang (R) receives Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Vietnam Dakhil Allah Raja Al Johani  President Tran Dai Quang spoke highly of the contributions of Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to Vietnam Dakhil Allah Raja Al Johani to reinforcing the friendship and multi-dimensional cooperation between Vietnam and Saudi Arabia during his three-year working term. He hosted a reception in Hanoi on March 22 for the out-going ambassador who came to bid farewell to the leader. President Quang said he is glad to see positive developments in bilateral ties, and wished the two sides would continue deploying the agreements reached at the third meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee in November 2016, especially visit exchanges and trade promotion. The Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia has over the year supplied an ODA of 174 million USD for 13 projects in Vietnam. It is negotiating loan agreements for projects to be carried out in the central highlands province of Dak Nong and the northern province of Yen Bai. President Quang hailed the Ambassador’s efforts in the fund’s activities and expressed his hopes that Saudi Arabia continues support for Vietnam in the future. He was delighted that the two countries have coordinated closely and supported each other at regional and international forums, asking Saudi Arabia to back Vietnam’s candidacy for the non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council in the 2020-2021 term. He asked the diplomat to send his regards to King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, expecting the King would pay a visit to Vietnam in 2018. Ambassador Dakhil Allah Raja Al Johani shared his good impressions of Vietnamese people and country as well as cooperation and assistance of Vietnamese agencies during his term here. He relayed the greetings from King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud to President Quang and expressed his belief that the King will make a visit to Vietnam in 2018. He noted that built on the consolidated friendship, two-way trade between the two countries has been growing, while affirming Saudi Arabia will work closely with Vietnam at regional and international forums. Vietnam congratulates Laos on 63rd Party founding anniversary   Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung (third from left) congratulates Laos on its Party founding anniversary.   The sound relations between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) have a crucial role in the traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries and their people. Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung made the statement while meeting with deputy head of the External Affairs Commission of the LPRP Somdy Bounkhoun on March 22 to congratulate the Lao Party on its 63rd founding anniversary. At the meeting, the ambassador conveyed a basket of flowers of CPV General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to General Secretary of the LPRP and President of Laos Bounnhang Volachith in congratulation of the Lao Party’s anniversary. Hung expressed his delight at the achievements made by the Lao people in the past 63 years, affirming that under the leadership of the LPRP, the country has gained landslide victories in its national liberation, protection and construction. He hoped that the country will reap more successes in its renovation process to build a peaceful, independent, unified and prosperous nation. Regarding the special ties between Vietnam and Laos, the Vietnamese diplomat said that the successful organisation of the Solidarity and Friendship Year events in 2017 is a vivid illustration for the thriving bilateral relations. The Vietnamese Party, State and people will do their utmost to foster the special relationship between the two nations, he stressed. Somdy Bounkhoun, for his part, thanked the Vietnamese side for their congratulations, saying that the Lao Party, State and people always remember Vietnamese support for the country during its struggle for national liberation and development. He stressed that Laos attaches much importance to treasuring the special solidarity with Vietnam and has been working hard to elevate the relations. Earlier, the CPV Central Committee cabled a congratulatory message to the LPRP’s Central Committee on this occasion. The message wrote Vietnam congratulates Laos on the great victories it has attained in the past struggle for national liberation as well as the current national construction and development. “Vietnam strongly supports Laos’ renewal process and believes that under the leadership of the LPRP, the Lao people will reap greater achievements in their development path,” it said. On the same day, Hoang Binh Quan, head of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations also sent a message of congratulations to his Lao counterpart Sounthone Sayachac. National Assembly delegation visits Tanzania   National Assembly Vice Chairman Phung Quong Hien (standing) at a working session with Viettel Tanzania officials   National Assembly Vice Chairman Phung Quoc Hien has led a Vietnamese delegation to visit Tanzania from March 18-23. At the talks with Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of Tanzania Dr. Tulia Ackson in Dar es Saalam city on March 22, Hien noted that Vietnam and Tanzania have a long-standing friendship and thanked Tanzania for supporting Vietnam during its past struggle for independence and current national construction and development. He said that economic ties between the two countries have grown sharply, with trade exceeding 390 million USD. Vietnam supports businesses of both sides to foster their cooperation, contributing to fulfilling the goal of 1 billion USD in two-way trade by 2020, he stated. Hien proposed the two countries soon negotiate agreements on investment protection and double-taxation avoidance to promote bilateral trade and investment. He also suggested that the Tanzanian side continue to back the operation of the Vietnam-Tanzania telecommunication joint venture Halotel – a cooperation model that has brought about practical benefits for Tanzanian people. For his part, Dr. Tulia Ackson said that the visit of the Vietnamese delegation will contribute to bolstering ties between the two countries and their parliaments. Recalling their President Truong Tan Sang’s trip to Tanzania in March 2016, during which many cooperation deals were inked, Ackson asserted that the NAs of Vietnam and Tanzania should work hard to supervise the implementation of the agreements. She said that Vietnam’s experience in building tax policies for foreign investors will be useful for her country. During the visit, the Vietnamese delegation also met officials of the Vietnamese Embassy in Tanzania. In a meeting with Halotel company, Hien lauded the firm’s efforts to become the third biggest telecommunication services supplier in Tanzania with nearly 3.6 million subscribers, accounting for 13.5 percent of the country’s market share. Ambassador meets Argentinean guests on ties celebration   Ambassador to Argentina Dang Xuan Dung (R) addresses the meeting  Vietnam’s Ambassador to Argentina Dang Xuan Dung met with representatives from agencies and organizations of Argentina in Buenos Aires on March 22 on the occasion of the two countries marking the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic ties (October 25, 1973). The diplomat told his guests that the comprehensive partnership between Vietnam and Argentina has reaped new, positive developments across sectors, especially politics, economics, trade and culture, via various channels such as the Party, government, sector ones. A series of important events held in the past time, like the 20th founding anniversary of the Argentina-Vietnam Culture Institute and the re-establishment of the Argentina-Vietnam friendship parliamentarians group, provided vivid examples of the increasingly expanded relations between the two countries, he said.            He noted that the growing economic, trade and investment cooperation served as a foundation for the two countries’ long-term ties. In 2017, bilateral two-way trade hit more than 3 billion USD, doubling the figure recorded five years ago, and making Argentina the second largest trade partner of Vietnam in Latin America and Vietnam the second important market of Argentina in Asia and the fourth export market globally, he told participants. He expressed his hope that in 2018 when the two countries are celebrating the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, many practical activities will be launched, helping bolster the friendship and cooperation to match with the two countries’ comprehensive partnership. Secretary of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Ministry of Agri-industry Guillermo Bernaudo spoke highly of the nation-building cause of Vietnam. He said Vietnam’s role and prestige has been heightened on the regional and international arena. Bernaudo stated that Argentina always treasures its relations with Vietnam and wants both sides to continue taking stronger and more practical steps in their cooperation in the future. Ambassador highlights Vietnam-Argentina ties   Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina Dang Xuan Dung has a meeting with Argentinian students.  Vietnam and Argentina have enjoyed thriving relations since they established diplomatic ties in 1973 and especially after they elevated the ties to a comprehensive partnership in 2010. Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina Dang Xuan Dung made the statement during a talk with students from the Argentina University of Enterprises (UADE) on March 21. Stressing the robust bilateral trade which stood at more than 3 billion USD in 2016, Dung said Vietnam is the second most important economic partner of Argentina in Asia and the South American nation is Vietnam’s second largest trade partner in the continent. Despite numerous challenges, Vietnam is one of the leading economies in Southeast Asia, with GDP growth of 6.8 percent, inflation at 3.16 percent and trade value hitting a record 400 billion USD in 2017, he noted. Regarding the country’s foreign policy, Dung said that Vietnam pursues a policy of multilateralisation, diversification in external relations and intensive international integration. Vietnam has set up diplomatic ties with more than 180 countries worldwide, of which it has strategic relations with 16 countries and comprehensive partnerships with 10 others. Responding to UADE students’ questions on Vietnam’s relations with foreign nations, Dung stressed that Vietnam has been a responsible member of the international community and always wants to be faithful friends of foreign nations. VNN