Government News 9/3 Female ambassadors pay working trip to Hoa Binh      Permanent National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong together with female ambassadors and chiefs of diplomatic representative missions and international organisations in Vietnam took on a working trip to the northern mountainous province of Hoa Binh on March 8.  During a working session with the provincial authorities, Phong congratulated the provincial Party committee and authorities on their achievements in diverse areas, particularly in the preservation and upholding of culture of the Muong ethnic group.  She said the Vietnamese legislature recently held the 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum, opening a series of diplomatic activities in Vietnam this year.  Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Bui Van Tinh congratulated the Permanent NA Vice Chairwoman Phong, female NA deputies and chiefs of diplomatic representative missions and international organisations on the occasion of International Women’s Day (March 8).  He expressed his hope that via female ambassadors and diplomats, the images and potentials of Hoa Binh province will be introduced to foreign investors to attract more investment.  The host said the local economy grew by 9.46 percent in 2017 with an average income per capita of 40.5 million VND (1,800 USD). Hoa Binh has 51 communes meeting criteria for new-style rural areas, and 495 projects, including 35 foreign-invested ones with a total registered capital of upwards 500 million USD.  During the stay, the delegation visited and presented gifts to the provincial Centre for Social Work in Ky Son district – home to nearly 200 orphan children, the elderly, the disabled and mentally-ill, planted trees at the monument dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh in Hoa Binh hydro power plant, and offered gifts to the Museum of Muong Culture Space in Hoa Binh city. Prime Minister hails Lotte’s operation in Vietnam   Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Lotte Group's Vice Chairman  Hwang Kag-gyu.   Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc applauded production and business activities as well as social welfare programmes of the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Lotte Group in Vietnam while receiving its Vice Chairman Hwang Kag-gyu in Hanoi on March 8.    The leader expressed his impressions of Lotte’s operation in Vietnam with 16 subsidiaries, four factories and 280 stores, covering such areas as commercial centre, supermarket, hotel, cinema and confectionery.  Lotte plays an important role in the RoK’s investment in Vietnam, the PM emphasised.  He called on the group to help Vietnam market its agricultural products in the RoK and produce plastics, chocolate and other industrial products in service of exports, while assisting the country in churning out new technological products amidst the fourth industrial revolution.  For his part, Hwang affirmed that Lotte has regarded Vietnam as a key market and wants to become the country’s trustworthy partner, contributing to national economic development. Lotte’s subsidiaries always consider themselves Vietnamese companies, he said, noting his belief that Lotte will make more contributions to improving living standards of local people.  Hwang took the occasion to brief the Vietnamese leader on Lotte’s upcoming projects in Vietnam, including a project on cacao cultivation, an EP factory in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong, the Thu Thiem eco smart city in Ho Chi Minh City and the Lotte Mall Hanoi project.  Lotte also plans to purchase difficulty-ridden Vietnamese financial companies and invest in information-technology and goods transportation in the country, according to the Vice Chairman.   Besides, Lotte has constructively participated in training young Vietnamese footballers, set up a scholarship fund for Vietnamese students, opened Korean language classes for young people in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue and helped build schools in Hanoi and HCM City, he added.  Hwang called for the support of PM Phuc as well as competent Vietnamese agencies for his group’s production and business activities in the time ahead, stressing that Lotte will use cutting-edge, environmentally friendly technologies and continue to assist Vietnamese start-ups.  PM Phuc said Lotte’s successes will significantly contribute to deepening the relationship between Vietnam and the RoK, and pledged to create the best possible conditions for the group to operate in Vietnam in the long term. Prime Minister bids farewell to outgoing Chilean Ambassador   Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc presents a gift to Chilean Ambassador to Vietnam Claudio Andres De Negri Quintana.   Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hailed outgoing Chilean Ambassador to Vietnam Claudio Andres De Negri Quintana for his contributions to the Vietnam-Chile comprehensive partnership at his farewell reception for the diplomat in Hanoi on March 8. He said the ambassador made efforts to the organization of high-level visits between the two countries, especially the State visit to Vietnam by President Michelle Bachelet Jeria in November 2017. The leader hailed the signing of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in Chile on March 8, describing it as an important outcome of drastic negotiations and discussions of the pact members, which included the proactive role played by Vietnam and Chile. The signing of the CPTPP and the sound traditional ties will open up opportunities for broader cooperation in economics, trade and investment and promote partnership in culture, education and other fields between Vietnam and Chile, he said. He wished the diplomat to gain success in his new post and continue contributing to the growing ties between the two countries. Ambassador Claudio Andres De Negri Quintana thanked the PM and Vietnamese agencies for helping him accomplish his tasks and boosting the bilateral relations. He pledged that in any future positions, he will spare no effort for the two countries’ relations and expressed his belief that the bilateral ties and collaboration at multilateral forums will be developed. He expected that the two countries will work harder to increase their two-way trade value, which stood at over 1 billion USD, and step up their ties in other fields. He agreed with the PM’s view on the importance of the signing of CPTPP, saying the event will help accelerate cooperation between the two countries. He said he wants Vietnam to cooperate and share with Chile its experience in the successful organization of the APEC 2017 as his country will host the APEC Year 2019. Earlier on the day, the ambassador was received by President Tran Dai Quang. Chile wants to learn Vietnam’s experience in hosting APEC Year   President Tran Dai Quang and Chilean Ambassador to Vietnam Claudio Andres De Negri Quintana  As the host of the APEC Year 2019, Chile wants Vietnam to share its experience in organising the APEC Year after the Southeast Asian country had successfully held the similar event in 2017, said outgoing Chilean Ambassador to Vietnam Claudio Andres De Negri Quintana. Negri Quintana expressed the wish during a meeting with President Tran Dai Quang in Hanoi on March 8. President Quang congratulated the ambassador’s successful term of office in Vietnam and spoke highly of his significant contributions to promoting the traditional friendship between the two nations. The diplomat coordinated with Vietnamese relevant agencies to arrange many high-level visits between the two countries, notably Chilean President Michelle Bachelet Jeria’s State-level visit to Vietnam and attendance at the 25th APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in Da Nang city in November 2017. The Vietnamese President also hailed the ambassador’s efforts to develop bilateral economic, trade and investment relations. The signing of the free trade agreement between Vietnam and Chile has helped increase two-way trade rapidly, while the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which is scheduled to be signed in Chile on March 8 (local time), demonstrated the contributions of Vietnam, Chile and member countries in boosting global trade, he said. President Quang hoped that the ambassador, in his new position, will continue making more contributions to the reinforcement and enhancement of friendship and collaboration between Vietnam and Chile. Negri Quintana said within the CPTPP’s new cooperation framework, the future will belong to Asia with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) playing the core role and Vietnam being one of the most important links in the bloc.  This will open up new potential for bilateral cooperation, he said, adding that Chile wants to push cooperative ties with Vietnam in all realms. Leaders highlight strengthened Vietnam-Myanmar parliamentary ties   NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan receives Deputy Speaker of the Assembly of the Union of Myanmar Aye Thar Aung National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan highlighted the reinforced relationship between the legislatures of Vietnam and Myanmar at her reception for Deputy Speaker of the Assembly of the Union of Myanmar Aye Thar Aung in Hanoi on March 8. Chairwoman Ngan congratulated Myanmar on its recent socio-economic achievements, voicing her belief that the country will succeed in promoting national reconciliation and harmony and improving its stature in the region and the world. She expressed her delight at the increasingly strengthened friendship and cooperation between the Vietnamese NA and the Myanmar parliament, as seen in an official visit to Vietnam by Speaker of the Assembly of the Union Mahn Win Khaing Than in May 2017 and another trip to Myanmar by a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese NA in September 2016. Deputy Speaker Aye Thar Aung highly valued Vietnamese people’s heroic struggle in the resistance wars to liberate the country in the past, as well as its achievements in social affairs, economy, political stability and external work at present. He said Vietnam is increasingly affirming its stature, and Myanmar wants to learn from Vietnam’s precious experience to develop the country. Vietnam and Myanmar boast traditional friendship and close cooperation, which were built by late President Ho Chi Minh and leader Aung San, and have been nurtured by generations of the countries’ leaders and people, he added. At the meeting, the two sides noted the wish to enhance cooperation in all aspects, between their Parties, parliaments, Governments, and peoples. In particular, they will increase delegation exchanges at all levels, between their parliamentarians as well as between parliamentary committees. The Vietnamese and Myanmar legislatures will implement the cooperation agreement signed in 2013 soundly and step up sharing legislative and supervisory experience between their specialised agencies and parliamentary friendship groups to boost mutual understanding. They will also augment coordination in monitoring the implementation of the cooperation agreements and programmes inked by their Governments. Stressing the countries’ comprehensive cooperative partnership, set up in 2017, and many similarities, Chairwoman Ngan said Vietnam is ready to share development experience with Myanmar.  She asked both sides to soon establish a defence policy dialogue mechanism at the deputy ministerial level, and continue to negotiate and accelerate the signing of cooperation deals in the agro-forestry-fishery, transport, and justice sectors. She also called on Myanmar to continue providing optimal conditions for Vietnamese firms in the banking, telecommunications and business sectors. For his part, Deputy Speaker Aye Thar Aung said Myanmar wants to attract more foreign investment. Its parliament has exerted efforts to make investment attraction policies and is working to remove obstacles to foreign investors, including Vietnamese businesses. Lauding bilateral cooperation at regional and international forums, especially in ASEAN and the United Nations, the host leader asked both sides to keep intensifying cooperation within the ASEAN framework and other international and regional forums while working together to use the Mekong River water in a sustainable and effective manner. She also expressed her hope that Myanmar will soon become a member of the Mekong River Commission (MRC). VNN