Political News 18/9 Indian President wraps up Vietnam visit Indian President Pranab Mukherjee left Ho Chi Minh City on September 17, concluding his four-day state visit to Vietnam at the invitation of President Truong Tan Sang. This was the first Vietnam visit by an Indian leader after India set up its new government, reflecting the country’s appreciation of its traditional friendship and strategic partnership with Vietnam . During his stay, the Indian President held talks with his Vietnamese counterpart Truong Tan Sang and met with Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung. At the meetings, the two sides agreed on major orientations to further boost the strategic partnership between Vietnam and India , both bilaterally and multilaterally. India reaffirmed to continue regarding Vietnam as a pillar in its Look East policy while Vietnam reiterated its support for India ’s policy and its all-round connectivity with Southeast Asia . The two sides also agreed to enhance bilateral economic-trade and investment cooperation with a view to bringing two-way trade to 15 billion USD by 2020.- President receives newly-accredited ambassadors   State President Truong Tan Sang (R) received Guatemala Ambassador Gustavo Adolfo Lopez Calderon in Hanoi President Truong Tan Sang has expressed Vietnam’s desires to strengthen friendship and cooperation with Sierra Leone, Iceland, Tunisia, Tanzania, Guatemala, Georgia, and Mali, at separate receptions for new ambassadors of these countries in Hanoi on September 17. Receiving Ambassador Victo Bockariefoh of Sierra Leone, Sang affirmed Vietnam’s readiness to help the African nation deal with the horrors of famine and worsening Ebola epidemic. He noted untapped potential in bilateral economic ties and said both sides need to boost cooperation, primarily in in agriculture and health care. Acknowledging the two countries’ close coordination at international forums, Sang proposed Sierra Leone support Vietnam’s bids to run for a seat on the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) in the 2020-2021 term, and recognise its market economy status. Victo Bockariefoh hoped to receive Vietnam’s assistance in agricultural production and vowed to do his utmost to strengthen cooperative ties between the two countries. At a meeting with Tunisian Ambassador Tarek Amri, President Sang emphasised Vietnam attaches high importance to enhancing its relationship with African countries, including Tunisia. He thanked Tunisia for assisting Vietnam in completing an operation to evacuate its guest workers from war-torn Libya, and proposed the two countries organise their inter-government committee’s meeting in 2015 with an eye to signing agreements to tighten bilateral economic ties. For his part, Tarek Amri assured his host that Tunisia is eager to serve as a bridge linking Vietnam to Africa. Welcoming Tanzania Ambassador Abdunrahaman Amiri Simbo, the Vietnamese State leader said the upcoming visit by the Tanzania President to Vietnam holds great promises for creating a milestone in bilateral relations. The two countries hold immeasurable potential for cooperation in agriculture and telecommunications, Sang said, adding Vietnam hopes Tanzania will support Vietnam’s candidacy for UNESCO’s Executive Board from 2015–2019. Ambassador Simbo provided some insight to President Sang about the upcoming visit to Vietnam by the Tanzania President next month, believing the visit will contribute to fostering bilateral ties. The same day, President Sang met with ambassadors of Iceland, Georgia, Guatemala, and Mali. Vietnam, Sudan sign maritime transport agreement Vietnam and the Republic of Sudan ratified an agreement on maritime transport on September 17. Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang and Ambassador of Sudan to Vietnam Sayed Altayeb Ahmed signed the agreement on behalf of their respective governments. The agreement comprises 11 articles, focusing on the facilitation of commercial trade via the sea. Once in effect, Vietnam and Sudan will acknowledge the nationalities and documents of each others’ ships, and implement mutually beneficial policies in their ports, free from fees and port charges. It forms a legal basis for both countries to recognise crew member identification and permit crew members to go ashore. Moreover, the agreement allows Vietnamese businesses to invest in Sudan’s maritime industry and vice-versa. Vietnam considers Sudan one of the most effective gateways to the African market, while Sudan sees Vietnam as an entry point into the Southeast Asian market. Deputy PM addresses 69th UNGA session Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh delivered an important speech at a high-ranking discussion during the 69 th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which opened in New York on September 16. The President of the UNGA's 69 th session Sam Kahama Kutesa, the Ugandan Foreign Minister, said the focus would be on the UN’s post-2015 development agenda and a number of global issues, such as climate change, regional and international security, and stability. Meetings and discussions over the next two weeks will be attended by 144 state leaders, and 195 representatives from member and observer countries have registered to give speeches on a number of subjects from September 23–26. On September 23, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon is to preside over a climate change conference calling for international commitments with a view to drafting a legally binding agreement on climate change in Paris next year. The UNGA’s 68 th session wrapped up on September 15 with the adoption of 300 resolutions and 80 decisions on global matters. Vietnamese businesses urged to expand activities in Laos National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung asked Vietnamese businesses in Laos to seek new opportunities to broaden their operations in the country. The Chairman made this request during a Vientiane meeting on September 17 with Vietnamese businesses operating in Laos as part of his trip to attend the 35th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-35). He hailed the efforts of the Vietnamese business community in Laos to generate jobs and improve living standards for local residents, adding that they were contributing to the consolidation and development of the special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos as well as deepening bilateral trade and investment relations. He cited that two-way trade between the two countries exceeded 1 billion USD for the first time in 2013. For the first eight months of 2014 the figure was over 939 million USD, a year-on-year increase of 44.36 percent. Vietnam has so far invested 5 billion USD in 413 projects in Laos, making it the second largest foreign investor. These results affirmed the active role of the Association of Vietnamese Investors in Laos (AVIL), which serves as a bridge for Vietnamese companies to do business in the country, Chairman Hung said. The success of Vietnamese enterprises in Laos will not just enhance bilateral ties, but also benefit their respective economies since both countries are members of the ASEAN Economic Community, which will be established by late 2015, he stressed. The Vietnamese legislator used this opportunity to thank Laos’ relevant agencies and localities, particularly its southern provinces, for facilitating the operation of Vietnamese investors in Laos. On the same day, Chairman Hung and other delegation heads at AIPA-35 paid a courtesy visit to General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and Lao President Choummaly Sayasone. Source: VNA/VOV