Political News Headlines 27/3 Viet Nam strengthens ties with New Zealand Viet Nam always attached importance to strengthening its comprehensive partnership with New Zealand, affirmed National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung while receiving New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully yesterday, March 26. Hung said the two sides should continue to promote co-operation between the two countries in areas of mutual strength, including trade, science and technology, agriculture and education and training. He hoped that New Zealand would support Viet Nam during negotiations to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership and other international forums. For his part, McCully said this visit was aimed at implementing New Zealand's commitment to building a sustainable partnership with Viet Nam. New Zealand would continue to provide Official Development Assistance for Viet Nam to support socio-economic development, poverty reduction and human resources development, as well as strengthen measures to increase two-way trade turnover between the two countries to US$1 billion in 2015. Also yesterday, Deputy Prime Minster Nguyen Xuan Phuc received the Newzealand minister, saying that the two sides should promote ties in such fields as trade, education and training, culture and tourism. On the same day, the New Zealand minister held talks with Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. The two sides expressed their delight at the rapid development of relations between the two countries in general and between the two ministries in particular. They particularly expressed pleasure at the increase in two-way trade turnover between the two countries, which reached $724 million in 2013, a year-on-year increase of 27 per cent. The two sides agreed to increase delegation exchanges and organise activities to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties in 2015. The two sides also agreed to continue to work and support each other at regional and international forums. Prime Minister touches down in Cuba on start of official trip Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung arrived in Havana yesterday, March 26, starting a two-day visit to Cuba at the invitation of the Cuban President Raul Castro Ruz.   Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (left) is welcomed at Jose Marti International Airport. During the visit, Dung and Cuban leaders are scheduled to discuss measures to strengthen the special relationship between the two countries, improve trade relations and expand bilateral investments. They will also discuss international and regional issues. The Prime Minister laid a wreath at a monument to Cuban national hero Jose Marti. Since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties in 1960, Viet Nam and Cuba have strengthened mutual solidarity and all-around co-operation, especially through the regular exchange of high-level visits. They have also maintained the working mechanism of the annual Inter-Governmental Committee. During talks with Dutch PM Mark Rutte on Tuesday as part of Dung's visit to the Netherlands to attend the third Nuclear Security Summit, the two sides pledged to speed up negotiations for the early signing of a Viet Nam-Netherlands strategic partnership on sustainable farming and food security. They also discussed measures to boost co-operation in five prioritised areas of climate change and water resource management, agriculture, energy and oil and gas, seaport and logistics. VN, Spain agree to develop relations The foreign ministers of Viet Nam and Spain agreed on measures to boost bilateral ties at talks held here yesterday, March 26. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh and Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs and Co-operation Jose Manual Garcia Margallo said the two sides should increase communications and the exchange of delegations, while optimising existing channels, such as political consultations at deputy foreign-minister level and the joint committee on development co-operation. They also agreed to create favourable conditions for businesses in both countries to meet and establish links. The two politicians said that attention should be paid to expanding collaboration in culture, education-training, transport, tourism and security-defence. They also agreed to maintain close co-ordination at international and regional forums, particularly those in the framework of the United Nations, ASEAN-EU and Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM). Viet Nam pledged to work as a bridge to help Spain expand its relations with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and member countries. Spain affirmed its support for stronger relations between Viet Nam and the EU, including swift recognition of Viet Nam's full market-economy status. Minister Margallo, who is accompanied by 15 leading Spanish business people, is making visiting at the invitation of Foreign Minister Minh, who is also Viet Nam's Deputy Prime Minister. He told his hosts that Viet Nam's impressive growth rate and Spain's recovered economy were major factors strengthening ties. Speaking at a dialogue organised by Viet Nam Chamber of Commercial and Industry (VCCI) and the Spanish Embassy, he said Spain, the fourth economy in the Eurozone, was recovering from crisis, thanks to reforms in institutions and the financial and real estate sector. Margallo said Spain was willing to share its experiences in tackling economic difficulties as well as its strength areas, including infrastructure, tourism, and energy. Vice President of VCCI Hoang Van Dung said Viet Nam was seeking investment in infrastructure, telecommunications, renewable energy, and food processing. Relations between Viet Nam and Spain have developed considerably in recent years, especially since they set up a strategic partnership in 2009. Last year, Spain was the 59th largest investor in Viet Nam with a registered investment of US$35.5 million. In 2013, Viet Nam's exports to Spain reached US$2.11 billion, up 17.81 per cent over 2012. Its key exports to Spain are garments, telephone, and accessories, footwear, coffee, and seafood. Meanwhile, Viet Nam mainly imports chemicals, machines, equipment, tools, spare parts, plastic materials, pharmaceuticals, apparel, and footwear materials from the European nation. The two countries are implementing several joint projects, including the construction of the Noi Bai- Lao Cai Expressway, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems in Ha Noi and Hai Phong, and urban metro routes in Ha Noi and HCM City. PM sends condolences to Spain Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday, March 26, sent a condolence message to Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy over the death of former Spanish PM Adolfo Suarez. He died at a Madrid hospital last Sunday after suffering from a prolonged illness. VN, Japan communists boost ties The Japanese Communist Party (JCP) will work towards intensifying ties with the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) for welfare of the two nations, claimed JCP Vice Chairman Ogata Yasuo.   JCP Vice Chairman and Director of International Department Ogata Yasuo (L) and head of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for Organisation To Huy Rua (R) (Photo: VNA) Meeting with Politburo member and head of the CPV Central Committee's Commission for Organisation To Huy Rua yesterday (March 26), Ogata, who is also the director of International Department, stated that the relationship between the two parties has scaled greater heights since JCP Chairman Kazuo Shii visited Viet Nam last September. Rua lauded the JCP on its past achievements, particularly for successfully hosting its 26th Congress. He noted that the JCP vice chairman's visit will enrich the extensive strategic partnership between Viet Nam and Japan. Earlier, Head of the CPV Central Committee's Commission for External Relations Hoang Binh Quan held talks with the Japanese guest, during which both sides reached a consensus on facilitating the exchange of delegations and information, and working closely at multilateral party forums. The Japanese delegation will leave Viet Nam on Friday. EU increases development funding The European Union (EU) will increase development assistance for Viet Nam to EUR400 million (US$551 million) during 2014-2020 period, noted Chief Operating Officer of the European External Action Service (EEAS) David O'Sullivan. The figure is substantially more than the EUR298 million sum offered during 2007-2013 period. During a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh yesterday, Sullivan reaffirmed the EU's commitment to help in concluding the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with Viet Nam this year. Deputy Prime Minister Minh, for his part, proposed that the EU ratify the comprehensive Partnership and Cooperation Agreement framework, and recognise Viet Nam as a market economy before concluding the EU–Viet Nam FTA talks by this October. HCM City, Cambodia share social welfare experience Chair of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam on March 26 held a working session with a visiting Cambodian Senate delegation to exchange experience in social welfare. The Cambodian group was led by Mean Som An, Chair of the Cambodian Senate’s Committee for Health, Social Affairs, War Veterans, Youth, Labour, Vocational Training and Women. At the session, Tam said the visit offered an opportunity for both sides to share experience in making laws and supervising the implementation of social welfare policies. She presented some policies introduced by the city and discussed the partnership with Cambodian localities, expressing her hope that the Cambodian officials will do their utmost to foster this partnership. In response, Mean Som An said HCM City has many experiences in solving social welfare issues, especially those arising during the socio-economic process. Therefore, she hoped the exchange of healthcare, social affairs and employment experiences with the city will be stepped up in the coming time. Communist Youth League of China treasures friendship with Vietnam Hoang Binh Quan, head of the Commission for External Relations of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s Central Committee, has said he hopes Vietnamese and Chinese youths will do their best to nurture the relationship between the two countries.   Hoang Binh Quan (front, third from right) and the delegation of the Communist Youth League of China (Photo: VNA) He made the remark while receiving Luo Mei, Secretary of the Communist Youth League of China Secretariat, in Hanoi on March 26. Luo is leading a Chinese delegation to attend a friendship exchange programme between Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Chinese organisation. Quan said the programme helps their young citizens learn more about the time-honoured friendship between the two countries. He spoke highly of the two organisations’ efforts in holding exchange activities, thus contributing to the effective implementation of agreements reached by their respective leaders. At the reception, Secretary Luo briefed the host about the Chinese delegation’s activities at the exchange programme. Luo stated that the Communist Youth League of China always treasures the relations between both countries, citing the programme as a manifestation of this close bond. Deputy PM praises national defence efforts Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has hailed achievements by the Defence Ministry and localities nationwide for maintaining the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as creating a peaceful environment to develop its economy. While attending a March 26 conference to review five years of implementing a government decree on defensive zones, Phuc asked the ministry to coordinate with military zones to continue maintaining political security. The minister claimed that in the past half decade, public awareness on defensive zone building was improved, while the quality and capacity of the armed forces were also increased. The conference agreed that main orientations for defensive area activities from now to 2020 are to build a strong people-based defence, repel any aggressive movements from hostile forces and protect national sovereign freedom and territorial integrity. Official highlights Vietnam-Australia parliamentary cooperation President of the Australian Senate John Hogg has expressed his pleasure at the flourishing development of the Vietnam-Australia ties over the past 40 years, particularly cooperation between the two parliaments. At a March 25 reception for Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Luong Thanh Nghi, Hogg explained that he highly valued the effective collaboration between the two sides’ parliaments, especially the sharing of experience in law making. He later voiced his wish that more delegation exchanges and visits be held more frequently in the future. For his part, Nghi conveyed a message from National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung inviting Hogg to attend the 132nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), which will take place in March 2015 in Hanoi. Nghi also took the time to praise positive development in the partnership between the two nations, including the signing of a cooperation agreement between the two parliaments last May. The document is expected to bring the two legislative bodies’ bilateral ties to greater heights for the benefits of the two peoples, said the ambassador, adding that he will do his utmost to help further promote the ties between the two countries.     VNN/VNS/VNA