Political News 20/8 CPV delegation visits Czech Republic The Czech Republic’s Government and Communist Party always support the Vietnamese community in integrating into the host country, particularly running for local elections. Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSCM) Chairman Vojtech Filip made the statement at a reception for the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) delegation led by Secretary of the Party Central Committee Ha Thi Khiet in Prague on August 19. Vojtech asserted that the KSCM has actively contributed to promoting friendship and cooperative ties between the two countries. For her part, Khiet highlighted the traditional ties of friendship between the two communist parties and commended results that the KSCM obtained at the Parliament election in 2013, of which Vojtech were elected the Vice-President of the Chamber of Deputies. She spoke highly of the fine bilateral cooperation between the two countries, especially the Czech Republic’s provision of official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam. She thanked the Government and KSCM for facilitating the Vietnamese community’s integration in the resident country and recognising them as an ethnic minority group. She expressed hope that the Vietnamese community will serve as an important bridge for the promotion of the time-honoured friendship between the two nations. Regarding issues in the East Sea, Khiet reiterated Vietnam’s consistent stance on protecting the national sovereignty and territorial integrity by peaceful solutions in accordance with international law. The KSCM Chairman voiced his support for Vietnam’s stance on settling disputes in the East Sea at multilateral and international forums. On the same day, the Vietnamese delegation met with Vietnamese Embassy staff in Prague. Party leader affirms closer Vietnam-Cambodia ties Vietnam gives top priority to consolidating the fine neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive and long-term cooperation with Cambodia, said Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong. The Vietnam-Cambodia relationship is a an invaluable asset of the two nations which should be preserved and developed for younger generations, he told Cambodia National Assembly President Heng Samrin in Hanoi on August 19.. He hailed the results of cooperation between the two legislative bodies and said they need to closely monitor their governments in effectively implementing agreements.   Party leader Trong congratulated Cambodia on its recent parliamentary election success and welcomed an agreement reached recently between the Cambodia People’s Party (CPP) and the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), putting an end to the political deadlock in the country. He expressed his belief that under the reign of King Norodom Sihamoni and leadership of the legislature, Senate and Government, Cambodia will deliberately overcome difficulties and reap greater achievements in national development. For his part, Heng Samrin affirmed that Cambodia will continue working closely with Vietnam to realise cooperation agreements and joint statements to bring bilateral relations to new heights. He said Cambodian people are grateful for the effective and timely assistance given by Vietnamese people during their national construction and development. He especially thanked Vietnam for helping Cambodia escape the Pol Pot genocidal regime, and carrying out the national reconstruction process. Cambodia will do its utmost to cement the ties of traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Vietnam, Heng Samrin assured his host. He conveyed best regards from King Norodom Sihamoni, Cambodia People’s Party (CPP) President and Senate President Chea Sim, and CPP Vice President and Prime Minister Hun Sen to Trong and other senior Party and State leaders of Vietnam. Heng Samrin arrived in Hanoi on August 18, beginning a three-day visit to Vietnam at the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung. 69th anniversary of National Day marked in Malaysia The Vietnam Embassy in Malaysia on August 19 hosted a reception celebrating 69 years of the August Revolution and National Day (1945-2014). Attendees included Minister of the Malaysian Government Prime Minister Office Joseph Entulu Belaun and representatives from Malaysian ministries, Kula Lumpur-based foreign embassies and Vietnamese agencies. In his speech, Vietnam Ambassador Nguyen Hong Thao reviewed the historical path of Vietnam since the success of the August Revolution and the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam ( now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam) 69 years ago and highlighted the great achievements the Vietnamese people have recorded after nearly seven decades of persistent struggle. The Vietnamese diplomat applauded the growing ties of friendship and all-around cooperation between the two countries since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1973. After more than 40 years of maintaining diplomatic ties, Malaysia is currently Vietnam’s third largest trading partner in ASEAN, and No 9 in the world with trade turnover reaching over US$9 billion in 2013. Malaysia also ranks 8th among foreign investors in Vietnam with total investment of more than US$10 billion. Ambassador Thao said he hopes that with the joint efforts of the two governments and people, Vietnam-Malaysia relations will grow steadily particularly after the visit to Vietnam by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in April this year during which Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and his Malaysia counterpart agreed to upgrade bilateral ties to a strategic partnership. Vietnam wants to tighten ties with Mexico Vietnam wants to deepen the friendship and cooperation with Mexico in all fields and soon reach an agreement on establishing a joint committee on trade, investment and economic cooperation with the country. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh said that while receiving Chairman of the Mexican Senate’s Foreign Affairs Committee for Asia-Pacific, Senator Teofilo Torres Corzo in Hanoi on August 19. He suggested the two sides increase all-level delegation exchanges and utilise efficiently political consultation mechanisms between the two foreign ministries. The guest congratulated Vietnam on the achievements gained during 30 years of Doi Moi (Renewal) process, describing the country as an important partner of Mexico in Southeast Asia. He said the Mexican parliament pledges to continue supporting the development of cooperation between the two countries and the two national assemblies in areas of their strength such as economics, agriculture, education, culture and traditional medicine. Both sides agreed to further work together at multilateral forums of international organisations like the United Nations and the World Trade Organisation to protect mutual interests, increase the position of each country, and contribute to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world. Earlier, the guest was welcomed by Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Huynh Ngoc Son who described Mexico as one of the top Latin American partners that Vietnam wants to boost all-around ties. The legislator expressed his belief that the Mexican parliament will support efforts of both countries in increasing high-level delegation exchanges and trade. Senator Teofilo Torres Corzo informed the host of the outcomes of his working session with the Vietnamese National Assembly Committee for Foreign Affairs, during which both sides agreed to further promote their role in propelling the two nations’ friendship and cooperation forward. Vietnam fosters cooperation with the Netherlands Vietnam attaches great importance to boosting friendship and multifaceted cooperation with the Netherlands, considering this relationship an exemplary cooperation model between Vietnam and a European country. Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Uong Chu Luu made the statement at a reception for President of the House Committee on Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Raymond De Roon in Hanoi on August 19. Luu said relations between the two countries have grown and flourished through exchange visits and active cooperation at multilateral forums, especially at the United Nations. He thanked the Netherlands for supporting Vietnam in developing ties with the European Union, including the Dutch parliament’s ratification of the Vietnam-EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA). Luu proposed the two sides maintain reciprocal visits, increase mutual support at multilateral and international forums, and strengthen cooperation in the Netherlands’ strength such as climate change, water management, agriculture and energy. For his part, Raymond spoke highly of Vietnam’s achievements and said fine sentiments between the two peoples lay a firm foundation for promoting cooperation in all fields. Earlier, the Dutch delegation led by Raymond worked with the Vietnam NA’s Economic Committee delegation headed by chairman Nguyen Van Giau. The two sides exchanged experience in administration and customs reform to boost trade cooperation and discussed other socio-economic issues of mutual concern. President asks Bac Giang to lure investment in agriculture Northern Bac Giang province should move to attract foreign direct investment into developing agriculture as the sector has yet grown to its potential, State President Truong Tan Sang has said. He visited the locality on August 19 to examine its socio-economic development and defence-security maintenance as well as the combat readiness of army corps No 2 stationed in the province. Though boasting advantages in land conditions for agriculture, Bac Giang should apply scientific and technological advances and new farming techniques, he advised. The locality’s industry has yet changed to meet structure shifting requirements, the President pointed out, asking the authorities to pay heed to reeling investments in support, hi-tech industries to generate higher added value for industrial products. He suggested local departments and branches give due attention to bettering the investment and business environment and providing vocational training for rural labourers to create a firm foundation for industrial development. According to the provincial People’s Committee, the province made an industrial production growth of 30 percent annually, attracted 247 projects with a total registered capital of over 10 trillion VND, and achieved a GDP per capita of 1,250 USD. Some 9 percent of households are living under the poverty line, a significant drop of 10 percent from 2010. The local authorities proposed the Government help Bac Giang become a key province in terms of tourism development and support enterprises investing in the locality. Earlier, President Sang visited army corps No 2, the first mobile regular unit of the Vietnam People’s Army in the southern battlefield during the American war. The unit participated in many campaigns and made outstanding exploits, deserving the trust of the Party, the State and people. Later, he visited Wintek, the 100 percent Taiwanese-invested company, which has employed 7,000 local people after four years of operation. The company, specializing in producing mobile phone screens, plans to increase its registered capital to 1.1 billion USD. Egyptian Socialist Party delegation welcomed in Hanoi A member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee has affirmed a determination to consolidate and further develop the solidarity and friendship between the CPV and the Egyptian Socialist Party (ESP) as well as between the Vietnamese and Egyptian people. Welcoming an ESP delegation led by its foreign policy spokesperson Mamdouh Habashi in Hanoi on August 18, Hoang Binh Quan, head of the CPV Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations, stressed that the Vietnamese Party, State and people always keep a close watch on the situation in Egypt. He said he believes that with the people’s support and efforts made by political parties, including the ESP, Egypt will overcome all difficulties to gain greater socio-economic development achievements, thus bringing more social welfares to its citizens. For his part, Mamdouh Habashi spoke highly of the role of the CPV in the national construction and defence, saying that the Vietnamese party is an example for the ESP to follow. Informing the host of the current situation of Egypt, the ESP and the left-wing movement in Africa, he affirmed to do his best to promote the solidarity and friendship between the two parities as a political foundation for the development of bilateral economic, trade and investment ties. Earlier, the Egyptian guests held talks with a CPV delegation headed by Tran Dac Loi, deputy head of the Commission for External Relations, during which the two sides discussed measures to foster and expand the friendship and cooperation between the two parties and the two nations. Source: VNA/VNS/VOV