GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 21/6 Ukraine PM meets Party delegation Ukraine has long considered Viet Nam to be an extremely important partner in the Asia-Pacific region, Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov declared while receiving a delegation from the Communist Party of Viet Nam on Wednesday.   Ukraine Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov receives Politburo and Standing member of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee's Secretariat Le Hong Anh (R). The visiting group was led by Politburo and Standing member of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee's Secretariat Le Hong Anh. Azarov, who is also leader of the ruling Regions Party, expressed his hope that the two sides would expand their co-operation and mutual support in the international arena. He urged for an increase in economics, trade and investment ties between the two partners. Anh signalled his delight at this intention and voiced his full support for the enhanced bilateral friendship. He also emphasised the need for the two nations to work harder for a free trade agreement and improve the operational effectiveness of the inter-Governmental Committee that has been set up to boost their economic, science and trade links. He requested that favourable conditions be given to enterprises operating in each other's country. On the same day, the delegation met with Speaker of Ukrainian Parliament and first Deputy Chairman of the Regions Party Vladimir Rybak. All agreed on the need to step up high-ranking exchange visits, especially among legislators, to promote ties between the two law-making bodies. PM seeks Japan’s increased ODA Vietnam is effectively using Japan’s official development assistance (ODA) and wants to receive additional aid from its partner. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the statement at a June 20 reception for former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, who is in Hanoi for the third Vietnam ICT Summit and the Vietnam-Japan science and technology cooperation workshop. He said Vietnam attaches great importance to fostering the strategic partnership in all areas with Japan, for the prosperous development of each country and for peace and development in the region and the world. He expressed hope that Hatoyama will make a further contribution to strengthening the two countries’ relations in politics, and diplomacy, as well as in economics, trade, investment and people-to-people exchange. Both countries need to create conditions for Vietnamese products to enter Japan and for Japanese businesses to do long-term investment in Vietnam, Dung said. The PM hoped that Japan will support Vietnam in developing science-technology and human resources, facilitate Vietnamese students’ study in Japan, and open vocational colleges in Vietnam. For his part, Hatoyama expressed his belief that the Japan-Vietnam strategic partnership will continue developing in all aspects, bringing practical benefits to both sides. He affirmed that Japan will provide continued support for Vietnam’s human resources training, support industry development, and science-technology. He acknowledged Vietnam’s commitment to the effective use of Japanese ODA and hoped Japan will continue providing ODA for Vietnam's infrastructure development and human resources training. UNESCO to advise country on sustainable development The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) will assist Viet Nam by transferring its knowledge and expertise in sustainable development, declared Director General Irina Bokova in a meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in Ha Noi yesterday, June 20. Bokova is in Viet Nam until Sunday to attend a ceremony marking the 10th anniversary of the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. During her visit, she is also reviewing the implementation of the UNESCO–Viet Nam agreement signed three years ago. In her meeting with Dung, she underscored Viet Nam's significant role in increasing understanding and co-operation among UNESCO member nations. She praised the country's preservation and protection of heritage as well as its progress in educational development and coping with climate change, before adding that she hopes Viet Nam will support UNESCO as it looks to reach a co-operation deal promptly with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Dung highlighted that Viet Nam will continue promoting all-around links with UNESCO and give backing to its partnership with ASEAN. He expressed his hope that UNESCO will agree to grant world heritage status to sites including Trang An scenic landscape complex in the northern province of Ninh Binh and Cat Ba tourism complex in Hai Phong city. The country also hopes to gain intangible heritage recognition for its Then and Nghe Tinh folk singing. Earlier in the day, Bokova held talks with Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Thanh Son, who is also Chairman of the Viet Nam National Commision for UNESCO. At a press briefing, Bokova said the two sides had discussed key areas in which UNESCO would help Viet Nam in the near future, including the improvement of managerial capacity, the response to climate change and the preservation of biosphere reserves. During her stay, Bokova will tour central Quang Nam province - the only locality with two world heritage sites and one world biosphere reserve - and take part in the opening ceremony of the Quang Nam Heritage Festival. She will also attend a ribbon cutting ceremony for Tower G, one of the most important structures inside My Son sanctuary restored with funding from UNESCO and the Italian Government.  Party leader Trong to visit Thailand later this month General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) Nguyen Phu Trong will pay an official visit to Thailand from June 25-27. The visit comes at the invitation of Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, the CPV Central Committee's Commission for External Relations announced yesterday, June 20. Visit by Cuban delegation to broaden co-operation HCM City will do its best to enhance and consolidate the ties between Viet Nam and Cuba, Politburo member and Secretary of the HCM City Party Committee Le Thanh Hai told a visiting Cuban State delegation yesterday. The group was led by Politburo member and First Vice President of the Council of the State of Cuba Maguel Diaz Canel. Hai said he believed Cuba would continue building and developing the country under the leadership of the Communist Party. Canel said the visit to Viet Nam was undertaken with the intention of signing a programme on economic co-operation between the two countries, which would be a foundation to broaden ties in other fields, such as trade, investment, telecoms and oil exploration. National Assembly boosts ties with Thai Senate Deputy Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan received a delegation from the Thai Senate led by its Secretary-General Norarut Pimsen in Ha Noi yesterday, June 20. The Thai delegation's visit aims to enhance co-operation between the Vietnamese NA's Office and the Thai Senate's Secretariat, contributing to the promotion of ties between the two legislative bodies. Ngan said that the NA Office has worked hard to improve the quality and effectiveness of its operations, and would be very willing to share its experiences of this process. VFF leader congratulates Buddhist community on its 74th anniversary The President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, Huynh Dam, has sent his best wishes to the Hoa Hao Buddhist sect’s Executive Committee, dignitaries and followers on the occasion of its 74th founding anniversary. In his message, Dam expressed his pleasure at the improvement of the followers’ material and spiritual life. He highlighted the Hoa Hao Buddhist followers’ active participation in patriotic emulation movements, and practical contribution to the cause of national construction and defence in line with the party and state’s policies and guidelines. The VFF leader also expressed his belief that the sect’s dignitaries and followers will stick to the principle of “For religion, for the nation”, to help strengthen the great bloc of national unity. VNN/VOV/VNS/VNA