Political News Headlines 17/4 US Senator begins Vietnam visit President Pro Tempore of the US Senate Patrick Leahy arrived in Hanoi on April 16, beginning his five-day official visit to Vietnam, which aims at further developing the two countries’ bilateral ties. The visit is made at the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung. As scheduled on April 17, the senator will hold talks with top legislator Hung. Two-way trade between the two countries reached US$ 29.10 billion in 2013, a year-on-year rise of 18.8 percent, of which US$23.87 billion was Vietnam’s export earnings. Vietnam, India cooperate in organising int’l events Vietnam and India have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) establishing the framework for enhanced cooperation in organising international seminars, meetings and conferences. At the signing ceremony on April 16 in New Delhi, Head of the Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies (IFPSS) Hoang Anh Tuan praised the signing of MoU as the optimal way to strengthen cooperation among the two countries’ research institutes. For his part, Indian Director of the Vivekananda International Foundation (VIF), Ajit Doval concurred, adding that exchanging information and cooperating in the implementation of joint research projects on national defense, security and international relations is mutually beneficial for both countries. Vietnam, Mongolia promote cooperation   President Truong Tan Sang (R) welcomes Prosecutor General of Mongolia Dorligjav Dambii. (Photo: VGP) President Truong Tan Sang hosted an April 16 reception for Prosecutor General of Mongolia Dorligjav Dambii during his current working visit to Vietnam. President Sang highly valued outcomes of the meeting between the Mongolian Prosecutors’ Office and the Vietnam Supreme People’s Procuracy, which aims to realise a high-level agreement reached by the two sides during Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdori’s visit to Vietnam in 2013. Sang highlighted the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries this year. He added Vietnam is grateful for the valuable support of the Mongolian people in its past struggle for national independence. The president affirmed that Vietnam always attaches importance to strengthening traditional friendship and expanding multi-faceted cooperation with Mongolia, particularly in the judicial sector. The Mongolian guest applauded Vietnam’s achievements in various fields, including the judicial sector and informed his host of contents of talks between Vietnamese and Mongolian senior prosecutors. He expressed his hope that Vietnam will continue creating favourable conditions for both sides to exchange visits, cooperate in personnel training, and implement signed agreements. HCM City, Guangdong discuss cooperation direction Leaders of Ho Chi Minh City and China’s Guangdong province have discussed possible contents for their cooperation in the time ahead at their meeting during a visit by Hu Chunhua, Politburo member and Guangdong’s Party Committee Secretary. Welcoming Hu Chunhua and a delegation of the Communist Party of China to the city on April 16, HCM City Party Committee’s Secretary Le Thanh Hai said the city shares the joy with Guangdong over its recent development. As a twin city with Guangdong, HCM City wants to expand bilateral ties in trade, investment and tourism, he said. Hu Chunhua affirmed that his visit aims, among others, to bolster ties between Guangdong and Vietnamese localities. He noted that while the ties between Guangdong and HCM City have seen remarkable expansion since 2009, the year they set up a twin relationship, they still do not match the potential of both sides. “Guangdong and HCM City boast great potential for collaboration, and at the same time, we can share experience in economic development and reform,” Hu Chunhua told Hai. Vietnam eager to develop links with Lithuania Vietnamese ambassador to the Republic of Poland and the Republic of Lithuania Pham Kien Thiet has pledged his utmost efforts to boost cooperation and enhance ties between the two countries. Ambassador Thiet made the affirmation at a recent ceremony to present a letter of credentials from President Truong Tan Sang to Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite. In a meeting, the Vietnamese diplomat informed President Grybauskaite about an action plan for his working term, focusing on increased cooperation between Vietnam and Lithuania in economics, trade, tourism and training. Thiet also briefed his host on the successful socio- economic development and international integration Vietnam has made in recent years as well as future targets and strategies for national development. President Dalia Grybauskaite congratulated Thiet on being appointed as Vietnamese ambassador to the Republic of Lithuania, praised Vietnam’s significant renewal achievements and expressed his delight at the growing ties and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Lithuania in recent years. The Lithuanian President expressed his hope that ambassador Thiet will successfully fulfill his mission and affirmed the Lithuanian authorities’ willingness to assist Thiet in reaching all the set targets during his term. At present, Vietnam-Lithuania economic relations remain modest with two-way trade turnover in 2013 reaching just US$50 million. Lithuania is yet to carry out any of its direct investment projects in Vietnam. Vietnam and Lithuania are currently negotiating agreements on double taxation avoidance and visa exemption for diplomatic passport holders, to move towards the early signing of these documents. Vietnam attends high-level global development meeting Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung is leading a Vietnamese delegation at the first high-level meeting of the Global Alliance for Effective Development Cooperation that opened in Mexico on April 15. The meeting is being attended by more than 1,500 delegates from 130 countries, as well as leaders of multi-lateral organisations including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Director General of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Jose AngleGurria. During the two-day event, participants focus on five main topics, including a review of the progress made since the lower-level meeting in Busan, the Republic of Korea, in 2011. They also discussed the cooperation among countries with medium incomes and the role that the private sector can play in development. The meeting is of significance to the host country of Mexico, as it forms part of its strategy for national development in the 2013-2018 period. NA calls for faster army promotions National Assembly deputies have called for a faster promotion process and greater clarity on policies regarding titles and salaries for army officers. These opinions were expressed in comments made by the National Assembly Standing Committee on amendments proposed to the current Law on Officers of the Viet Nam People's Army. Addressing a working session held yesterday, General Phung Quang Thanh, Defence Minister, said that after five years of implementing the current law, it can be said that the proposed amendments are suitable for and create a legal foundation for improving the quality of the army officers. They also meet the requirements of national construction and protection "in the new context," he said. However, the committee has seen some limitations and obstacles to enforcement, he added. One of these had to do with unclear regulations on titles conferred on army officers in different positions and with different agencies. The proposed amendment states that the chief army officer in the capital city, HCM City and other provinces and cities will be a Lieutenant General, Major General and Senior Lieutenant Colonel respectively. An exception to this rule would cover six provinces and cities–Hai Phong City, Da Nang City, Can Tho City, Thanh Hoa Province, Nghe An Province and Dong Nai Province, where the highest leader of the army will be a Colonel. Some members of the NA Standing Committee felt that the draft law needs to clarify which positions require officers with rank of General. They suggested that certain agencies and institutions including enterprises and public administrative bodies should not have a general heading the army officers' section. Deputies at the meeting also agreed that the policy on salaries for army officers should be separate from that related to the titles. Remuneration for army officers should be based on their working positions and titles, the deputies said. NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said that the draft law should take into consideration the principle that seniors have higher-ranking titles, and that each position has a matching title. Hung suggested that the draft law shortens the time taken for army officers to be considered for promotion. He also said provisions on officers' salary should be stipulated in a separate document, not in the draft law. Vietnam, Sudan bolster cooperation Vietnam and Sudan agreed to push bilateral cooperation in various fields such as agriculture-seafood, education-training, and culture during the first session of their joint committee held in Khartoum from April 14-16. Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Van Tam and State Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Abdalla Gaafar Ahmed Omer co-chaired the event, during which they were unanimous to work together towards the signing of new cooperation agreements in foreign affairs, marine transport, and investment. The Sudanese official said his country has recognised Vietnam’s market economy status, and hopes to learn experience from Vietnam in politics, economics, and social affairs. Deputy Minister Tam confirmed that Vietnam always treasures the comprehensive cooperation with African countries, including Sudan. He suggested both sides further enhance such relations in the fields of their strength. On the occasion, the pair signed a Memorandum of Understanding on agriculture cooperation.- South Africa’s Freedom Day observed in HCM City The South African Embassy in Vietnam held a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City on April 16 to mark the 20th anniversary of the country’s Freedom Day (April 27, 1994). The event was attended by municipal officials and representatives from diplomatic corps and South African and Vietnamese business circles. At the ceremony, Ambassador K.R.Magau recalled the struggle for national liberation as well as strides made by South African people in the past two decades. As for the South Africa-Vietnam relations, the diplomat said both countries have been working hard to develop their economies and improve their peoples’ well-being. Vietnam is currently an important trade partner of South Africa in Asia, she noted. A representative of the city said bilateral ties have been flourishing since the establishment of their diplomatic relations in 1993 and the partnership for cooperation and development in 2004. He added that the collaboration between the city and South Africa has also seen obvious progress, noting that the city always welcomes investors from the country.- Deputy PM Ninh continues UK visit Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh met Fiona Woolf, Lord Mayor of the City of London, on April 15 as part of his visit to the UK. At the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed Vietnam is actively implementing economic restructuring in order to achieve sustainable growth. He also asked the City of London, as the world’s leading financial centre, to share experience in the healthy development of financial system and strengthening capital mobilisation, especially through the private-public partnership. For her part, Woolf expressed her interest in Vietnam’s policy of banking reform, saying she hopes to cooperate and share experience with the country in the field. According to the Lord Mayor, the Vietnamese market plays an important role to UK investors. The London financial district, which aims to foster investment and trade in all sectors, is ready to help Vietnam in investment attraction and export promotion, she said. The same day, Deputy PM Ninh had a working session with leaders and leading economists of the Standard Charter Bank (SCB). SCB’s leaders thanked the Vietnamese Government for supporting the bank’s effective operations in Vietnam, voicing hope for more support to expand in the future. They stressed the significance of the Deputy PM’s visit in helping British authorities and businesses understand more about Vietnam’s polices in international integration, and economic restructuring, particularly of the banking system. The UK business community highly valued Vietnam’s efforts in curbing inflation, stablising the macroeconomy and maintaining positive growth, they declared. They were also optimistic about the country’s economic development prospects after the encouraging results of banking reform, and discussed the possibility of raising the trust index of international ranking agencies for Vietnamese banks. The conclusion of negotiations for the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement within 2014 will send a persuasive message to foreign investors, they said, adding that it will open up more cooperation opportunities in trade and investment between Vietnamese enterprises and those from the UK in particular, and between Vietnam and the EU at large. In April 16, Deputy PM Ninh is scheduled to hold talks with UK Secretary of State William Hague, meet Minister without Portfolio Grant Shapps, and talk with representatives of the Vietnamese community and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK.- Source: VNA/VOV/VNS/VNN