Political News Headlines 3/7 Mozambican defence delegation visits Vietnam Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam’s People Army Lieut. Gen. Vo Van Tuan received visiting Commandant of the Mozambican Higher Institute of Defence Studies (ISEDEF) Maj. Gen. Daniel Chale in Hanoi on July 2. Tuan said that defence cooperation is one of the main pillars in the bilateral relations, helping reinforce security and political stability and develop the two countries’ armies. The two sides greatly valued the partnership between the Vietnam Academy of Defence and the ISEDEF, and suggested boosting  cooperation in personnel training and document collection. Chale stated that his visit aims to tighten the Vietnam-Mozambique friendship, adding that huge potential for cooperation between the two institutes offers a favourable condition for them to foster bilateral ties. Vietnam, Australia cooperate in crime prevention Vietnam and Australia on July 2 signed an agreement on mutual judicial support in crime prevention, which marks a new development in the bilateral cooperation in law. The pact was inked during the Australia visit from July 1-7 by a delegation from the Vietnam Supreme People’s Procuracy led by Director General Nguyen Hoa Binh. The Vietnamese official and Australian Minister of Justice Michael Keenan described the signing as a demonstration of the international commitments between the two countries in a joint effort against crimes, especially transnational one. It also manifests the responsibilities of each side in protecting justice as well as the legitimate rights and interests of the State, organisations and individuals, and the sound friendship in all areas, contributing to the reinforcement of the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, they said. The Vietnamese official said that in the coming time, both sides will continue boosting cooperation in law enforcement activities, especially in crime prevention such as drug crime and money laundering. They will also work together to enhance lawmakers’ capabilities. Vietnam and Australia signed an agreement on the transfer of sentenced prisoners in 2009. Three years later, they inked a pact on criminal extradition.- NA Chairman meets local voters National Assembly (NA) Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung met with voters in Ha Tinh province’s Huong Khe district’s Huong Khe district on July 2 to inform about the results of the recent session of the 13th legislature. “Vietnam’s socio-economic situation was becoming more difficult following China’s illegal stationing of its oil rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ). He asked voters and people nationwide to join together to develop the country.” Vietnam is keen to boost friendship with China but will not back away from any threats to its independence, sovereignty or territorial integrity, the chief legislator said. “President Ho Chi Minh and President Mao Zedong said that the friendship between Vietnam and China was one of comradeship and brotherhood. In this situation, we need to unite in both action and mindset to overcome all difficulties. We should be vigilant and flexible and maintain a stable and peaceful environment for further development.” Hung asked Huong Khe and Ha Tinh province to intensify investment in the application of science and technology in agriculture and rural development. Nicaragua ties may strengthen The Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) wants to enhance its friendship with Nicaragua's Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) and also develop ties between the two countries. A CPV Politburo member said this yesterday at a reception for the FSLN Politburo member and Deputy Secretary of the FSLN International Relations Department, Carlos Fonseca Teran. Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat Le Hong Anh congratulated the Nicaraguan Government on achievements it had made under the leadership of the FSLN, particularly those in poverty reduction and socio-economic development. Teran spoke highly of Viet Nam's progress and experience in boosting socio-economic development and improving its position in the regional and international arena. Belarus hopes for strategic partnership with Vietnam: Ambassador Belarus considers cooperation with Vietnam one of its priority foreign policies in the Asian region and wishes to develop this relation to a strategic partnership, Belarusian Ambassador to Vietnam Valery Sadokho has affirmed. The ambassador granted an interview to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the Independence Day of Belarus (July 27) and the 70th anniversary of the country’s liberation from German fascists (July 3). “We respect our friendship with Vietnam, a country with international prestige and tireless development,” he said, adding that Belarus keeps a close watch on Vietnam ’s achievements in socio-economic development and improvement of living standards. As Vietnam is a key partner of Belarus in Southeast Asia, Valery Sadokho said his country sees Vietnam as a pedal for it to develop interests in the region. Therefore, the development of relations with Vietnam is a special concern of Belarus and one of the European country’s priorities is to facilitate trade with Vietnam , he stressed. Commenced in March 2013, negotiations for a free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Customs Union of Russia-Belarus-Kazakhstan have experienced six rounds in the spirit of friendly and constructiveness with regard to interests of all parties, according to the ambassador. The Belarusian side affirmed its wish for the early conclusion of negotiations towards the signing of the FTA early next year. The establishment of a free trade zone between the sides will become an important impetus for them to increase bilateral trade. The signing of the agreement will also help consolidate the strategic partnerships among the parties, he added. Regarding two-way trade between Vietnam and Belarus , the diplomat said that it has increased seven times over the past decade, reaching 200 million USD in 2013. However, this figure remained modest compared to the two countries’ potential, he noted. During visits, the two sides have discussed new cooperation orientations and one of them is accelerating joint venture projects in the industrial sector, he said. Belarus pays attention to providing fertilizer, lorries, auto tyres, tractors, engines, metal and hi-tech products and food for Vietnam while standing ready to import seafood, rice, cashew nuts, coffee, tea, pepper, vegetables and rubber from this market. Vietnamese and Belarusian organisations have also signed a number of cooperation agreements in the fields of science-technology and energy, he said. Bilateral cooperation in culture has developed fruitfully, with the Belarus Cultural Days scheduled to be held in Vietnam this November. Regarding labour cooperation, the ambassador stated that an intergovernmental agreement on temporary employment of Vietnamese citizens in Belarus and Belarusian citizens in Vietnam entered into force in 2013. Last year, 350 Vietnamese people received visas to work in Belarus and the figure in the first half of this year was 230, he said, adding that the demand for Vietnamese workers remains large. He expressed his belief that the increasing cooperation in this field and the facilitation of labour migration will help reinforce mutual trust and respect between the two nations. Vietnam calls for Russia’s military engineering support Military Engineering Commander Pham Quang Xuan has called on leaders from the Russia’s Chelyabinsk Tractor Factory (CTZ) and Uralvagonzavod machine building company to increase the supply of machines for road construction in Vietnam. He made the suggestion while meeting with CTZ General Director Victor Voropayev and Uralvagonzavod Deputy Chief Executive Officer Valery Platonoy during his visit to the factory on July 1. Vietnam is currently developing its road network so it needs more support from Russian partners in this field, he said, giving a silk road from Kazakhstan to Singapore which will run through the country as an example. CTZ and the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence boast time-honoured relations. Over the past four year, the Ural-based factory has provided 23 bulldozers for Vietnam’s sapper force. It has also supplied this kind of machine for one of the projects to build coastal routes in Vietnam. Construction federation opposes China’s wrongful acts The Vietnam Federation of Civil Engineering Associations has issued a statement strongly protesting against China’s violations of Vietnam’s sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction, and requesting the country to withdraw its oil rig from Vietnam’s waters. The statement said China’s illegal placement of the Haiyang Shiyou-981 rig and a fleet of escort ships in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf goes against the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and China’s own commitments in its relations with ASEAN as well as the agreement between the two countries’ leaders on principles guiding the settlement of sea-related issues. China’s acts threaten peace and stability in the region, the statement said. The federation called on domestic and foreign civil engineers, especially the civil engineer associations of the Asia-Pacific region and China, and the world community to condemn China’s violations of international law and support Vietnam in protecting its sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as international law and peace, stability and maritime safety and freedom in the East Sea and the region. At the beginning of May 2014, China illegally dispatched the rig as well as a large fleet of armed vessels, military ships and aircraft to Vietnam’s waters and positioned the rig at 15 degrees 29 minutes 58 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 12 minutes 06 seconds east longitude, 80 miles deep into Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone. Despite Vietnam’s protest, China expanded its scale of operation and moved the rig to 15 degrees 33 minutes 36 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 34 minutes 11 seconds east longitude, 60 nautical miles deep inside Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone. Ever since the tensions began, Vietnam has exercised the utmost restraint, shown every gesture of goodwill and exhausted all dialogue channels to communicate with Chinese authorities of different levels in order to express protest and demand China immediately withdraw its rig and armed and military vessels out of Vietnam’s waters. Nevertheless, up to now, China has failed to respond to Vietnam’s legitimate demand. On the contrary, it has been slandering and blaming Vietnam while continuing to escalate the use of force and violations in an increasingly dangerous and serious manner. By encircling, chasing, ramming and firing water cannons at Vietnamese boats, they have injured many sailors and fishermen, threatening their safety. Source: VNA/VNS/VOV