GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 6/8 PM supports Thai corruption crusade Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has pledged to back the Government Inspectorate of Viet Nam and Thailand 's National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) in the fight against corruption. Receiving NACC President Panthep Klanarongran in Ha Noi yesterday, August 5, Dung said Viet Nam was ready to work with all countries, including ASEAN members, in this field. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (R) receives NACC President Panthep Klanarongran in Ha Noi. He suggested that to strengthen ties, the two sides implement agreements, especially those on sharing experience and information, technical co-operation and personnel training. Dung said he was pleased at the developing ties between Viet Nam and Thailand in various areas, including preventing corruption, and added that he valued the outcome of a working session between General Inspector Huynh Phong Tranh and President Klanarongran. The NACC president noted that since his commission and the Government Inspectorate signed their co-operation agreement in February 2012, the two sides had shared experiences in directing anti-corruption work and asset enumeration. He said one of the aims of his visit was to learn about Viet Nam's experience in organising inspection agencies in all localities, and that he hoped to apply the system in all 76 Thai provinces. During the working session between the two offices earlier the same day, Tranh said that since the signing of the agreement, the two sides had exchanged experiences in steering corruption prevention and control. Vietnamese, Lao Assembly officials meet in Da Nang A meeting to promote co-operation between the Vietnamese and Lao National Assembly (NA) Offices began in central Da Nang City yesterday, Aug 5. In his opening speech at the event, Vietnamese NA Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu underlined the incessant development of the relations between the two NAs, saying that both legislative bodies made significant contributions to peace, national independence, democracy and progress in both countries. The offices effectively implemented the co-operative agreements reached by the two assemblies, Luu said, adding that they also worked closely together to carry out many other projects. Chairman of the Lao NA Office Unkeo Vuthilath said the workshop offered an opportunity for both offices to share experiences in the field. At the two-day event, participants review the implementation of the co-operative agreement between the offices, including the construction of an office building for the Lao NA Office. They also proposed orientations and plans to foster future co-operation. Defence Minister makes European tour to boost ties Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh and other senior officers from the Vietnam People’s Army have left Hanoi for an European tour that includes official visits to Russia, Poland, Bulgaria and the Netherlands. The tour, from August 6 to 21, looks to reinforce the traditional friendship and mutually beneficiary cooperation between the people and army of Vietnam and the host countries. It aims to promote peace, stability, cooperation and development in each region and the world at large. Foreign Minister arrives in Pretoria for official visit Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh arrived in Pretoria on August 5, starting his official visit to South Africa at the invitation of Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. He later met with the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy and other representative offices based in Pretoria, asking them to be more active in trade and investment activities between the two countries. On August 6, FM Minh is scheduled to hold talks with Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane and pay a courtesy visit to President Jacob Zuma. He will have meetings with Minister of Trade and Industry Rob Davies and Minister of Public Enterprises Malusi Gigaba and a visit to Denel defence industry group. In the visit that aims to mark the 20 th anniversary of Vietnam-South Africa diplomatic ties, FM Minh was accompanied by representatives from several ministries, the national oil and gas group, and businesses wishing to invest in South Africa. Vietnam, Japan boost judicial cooperation A delegation from the People’s Supreme Procuracy of Vietnam led by its head Nguyen Hoa Binh attended a working session with the Supreme Public Prosecutors’ Office of Japan on August 5 within the framework of its visit to the country. At the session, head of the Japanese office Ozu Hiroshi said that the two countries’ judicial agencies have maintained practical and meaningful cooperation for many years. He also stressed his office’s hope to exchange information and experience with the People’s Supreme Procuracy of Vietnam. Binh affirmed that cooperation between the two agencies is an important element in their two States’ relationship, and it is more significant in the context that the two countries are celebrating the 40 th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and their relationship has been lifted to a strategic partnership. The same day, the Vietnamese delegation paid a courtesy visit to Japanese Minister of Justice Tanigaki Sadakazu, who affirmed that in terms of judicial support, Vietnam is one of Japan’s most important and long-standing partners. During its stay in Japan from August 4-8, the delegation is scheduled to visit the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors’ Office, and the Research and Training Institute under the Ministry of Justice, as well as pay a courtesy visit to Justice of the Supreme Court of Japan Onuki Yoshinobu. Leaders meet top French diplomat Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on August 5 received French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, who is in Hanoi for an official visit on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties. During the reception, PM Dung spoke highly of the outcomes of talks between the French FM and his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Binh Minh. On the basis of the fine relationship, the PM suggested the two sides promote cooperation, especially in economics, trade, investment and science-technology. He expressed desire to receive support from the French side in the fields that the country has strength, such as infrastructure, energy, transportation, health, agriculture and food processing. He aired his want for France to back Vietnam in expanding cooperation with the EU, hoping the two countries will upgrade their relations to a strategic partnership level for the legitimate interests of their people. The French FM affirmed that his country upholds the policy of attaching importance to cooperation with Vietnam, in the realms of both sides’ strengths. He expressed his wish that in the time to come, the two sides will work more closely with each other to make economic ties a key pillar in the bilateral relations. He also added that France is willing to cooperate with and support Vietnam in the fields of education-training and technology transfer. The minister suggested Vietnam join France in organising the 21st United Nations Conference on Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNCFCCC) to be held in his country in December 2015. On the same day, the French guest was received by National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, who affirmed that the Vietnamese NA always backs cooperation with France. The top Vietnamese legislator showed Vietnam’s want to pave the way for France to engage in the Southeast Asian region and expand relations with regional countries. The NA Chairman appreciated the ODA France has provided for Vietnam, expressing hope that France will maintain its high rate of aid for Vietnam in the future. He urged the French Foreign Ministry to help link the two legislative bodies in the spirit of agreements signed in 2004 and 2008. The French diplomat said that based on available potential cooperation, the two sides should actively discuss and implement a number of specific measures to further boost their cooperation, especially in economics and trade. Appreciating the Vietnamese Parliament’s hosting of the 132nd General Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU-132) in 2015, Minister Laurent Fabius expressed his hope that the two Parliaments will work closely together in preparing for the 21st UNCFCCC scheduled for 2015 in France. An Giang promotes cooperation with Swedish localities The Mekong Delta province of An Giang and Vaxjo and Pitea cities in Sweden will expand their cooperation to trade promotion in addition to the current joint projects in renewable energy. The agreement was reached during a working visit of Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Camilla Mellander to An Giang on August 5. In 2010, An Giang signed a memorandum of understanding with the Swedish embassy, under which the embassy will work as a bridge to promote cooperation between the Mekong Delta province with Swedish localities in the field of environment and climate change. As a result, An Giang and the two Swedish cities of Vaxjo and Pitea have jointly implemented several projects on renewable energy and energy efficiency. According to Ambassador Camilla Mellander, Sweden will carry out more trade and economic development programmes in Vietnam, focusing on green methods and power saving. She added that she hopes An Giang will continue the effective cooperation with their Swedish partners. VNN/VNS/VNA