Government News 3/11 Vietnam-RoK relations boosted at provincial level The Friendship Association of Vietnam-Republic of Korea in the northern province of Thai Nguyen held its first congress on November 2 with the participation of 167 delegates. The congress elected an executive board with 27 members for the 2014–2019 tenure. Truong Thi Hue, leader of the provincial National Assembly deputies’ delegation, was elected as the Association’s chairwoman. Thai Nguyen’s Friendship Association of Vietnam-RoK was established to promote the friendship and mutual understanding between Thai Nguyen and the Republic of Korea’s localities and their people. Over the last two decades, Vietnam has developed a broad and comprehensive relationship with the RoK, entering into bilateral, regional and international cooperation agreements in different fields, such as foreign affairs, the economy, trade, culture, science and education. Thai Nguyen province itself joined a number of twin and socio-economic development cooperation programmes with RoK partners to further strengthen ties, including its twin programme with Gyeongsangbuk province, the RoK. The two provinces have been active with regard to cultural and experience exchanges as well as collaboration on education and new style rural development. The province currently is home to around 40 RoK enterprises with a total investment of 3.5 billion USD, creating jobs for thousands of local people. Vietnam vows to back partnership with Lao localities Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc declared that the Government of Vietnam will do all it can to boost cooperation between localities in Vietnam and Laos . This remark was made during talks with his Lao counterpart Somsavat Lengsavad on November 1 in Quy Nhon city, the southern central province of Binh Dinh to review the affiliation between the southern central and Central Highlands provinces in Vietnam , and seven southern localities in Laos . The Deputy PM called for local governments, people, organisations and businesses in both countries to foster their partnership and mutual support for socio-economic development. He also praised the traditional ties between the two countries as well as between different localities during the war and at present. Deputy PM Phuc and Deputy PM Somsavat Lengsavad noted that the two countries’ Politburos agreed to enhance the comprehensive and in-depth cooperation between the two governments and between localities along their border, as well as between interior provinces and cities, for example between Binh Dinh and southern provinces of Laos. Over the past 10 years, the partnership between southern central and Central Highlands provinces in Vietnam and seven southern localities in Laos has expanded in all fields, ranging from socio-economic development to culture and education, they said. Many Vietnamese firms have invested in different fields in southern provinces in Laos , with a number of successful projects, including the Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group and Binh Dinh Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment Joint Stock Company. Since 2000, Binh Dinh enterprises have invested dozens of millions of US dollars in projects in Laos ’ four southern provinces of Champasak, Attapeu, Sekong and Salavan. The province has also set up twin relations with Champasak province and provided support for not only Champasak but also other Lao localities. Currently, Binh Dinh runs a scholarship programme for Laos students while sending experts in all fields to Lao localities to assist them in socio-economic development. Earlier, Lao PM Somsavat Lengsavad had a meeting with Lao students at Quy Nhon University, and visited Nhon Hoi economic zone and Quy Nhon port. President Truong Tan Sang greets Japanese entrepreneurs President Truong Tan Sang hosted a reception for Yoichi Kobayashi, Chairman of the Japan-Mekong Business Cooperation Committee, in Hanoi on October 31. Yoichi Kobayashi, who led a business delegation from the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry on a visit to Vietnam, informed the President about outcomes of their working sessions with Vietnamese ministries and localities and stressed Japanese companies’ keen interest in the country. Japanese businesses are satisfied with investment policies in Vietnam as well as the completion of industrial parks, airports and seaports in Hanoi , Hai Phong city, and Quang Ninh province, he said, adding that during this visit, a number of Japanese firms decided to invest in Vietnam in such fields as rice processing, hospitality, and retail. The delegation also put forth proposals to help Vietnam better its legal framework and develop infrastructure, support industries and human resources. For his part, President Truong Tan Sang said Vietnam’s legal framework on business has been improved and the Law on Investment, once approved by the National Assembly, will further facilitate foreign investment. He emphasised that Vietnamese relevant agencies will work closely with the Japanese side to thoroughly solve existing problems, while voicing his hope for more investments from Japan so as to foster the extensive strategic partnership between the two countries. Vietnam offers condolences over Zambian President’s death President Truong Tan Sang on October 31 sent a message of condolence to the acting President of Zambia, Guy Scott, over the death of President Michael Chilufya Sata. President Michael Chilufya Sata Michael Sata passed away in London where he was receiving medical treatment on October 28.- President hails outstanding ethnic minority students President Truong Tan Sang met with 78 outstanding ethnic minority students in Hanoi on November 1, asking them to continue their academic endeavours as a contribution to the nation-building process. Ethnic minority students are an important human resource for local development, he said, adding that during the country’s renovation process, students should do whatever they can to contribute to national development. The students were part of a group of more than 110 ethnic minority students from all over the country who were honoured at a ceremony in Hanoi for their outstanding achievements in national academic competitions and the university entrance exams in 2014. The President praised the Government’s Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs, the Vietnam News Agency and relevant agencies for the initiative to honour outstanding students, saying that the ceremony was a chance for the students meet and share their academic experience and efforts to contribute to socio-economic development in Vietnam, and the ethnic-inhabited areas in particular. Vietnam learns UK’s experience in judicial reform A Vietnamese delegation led by Le Thi Thu Ba, Deputy Chief of the Party Central Committee Office cum Permanent Deputy Head of the Central Steering Committee for Judicial Reform, is on an official visit to the UK from October 24 to November 2. They held working sessions with leaders of the UK Ministry of Justice, the Supreme Court and the House of Lords and shared experience with representatives of the School of Law and Social Sciences (LSS) under the University of East London (UEL). Ba highlighted the remarkable achievements of Vietnam in its judicial reform process, particularly the issuance of the 2013 Constitution towards the building of a law-governed state in the country. She said Vietnam gives priority to promoting judicial reform with a focus on dealing with limitations in the current litigation model so as to ensure investigation, prosecution and adjudication are transparent, objective, democratic and fair, and to meet requirements for respecting and protecting human rights and legitimate interests of organizations and individuals more effectively. UK lawyers and lecturers helped Vietnam have an overview on human resources training in the law sector and judicial activities of the European country. Vietnamese press delegation visits Chinese city of Chongqing A Vietnamese press delegation is on a visit to Chongqing Municipality, China, from October 28 to November 2. The delegation had a meeting with Zhou Bo, deputy head of the Propaganda Department of the Chongqing Municipal Party Committee, who asked media of Vietnam and Chongqing to introduce readers to more information on Vietnam and Chongqing, helping the two countries’ people better understand each other, increasing exchanges, especially tourism and investment. During the tour, the delegation was also briefed on socio-economic aspects of Chongqing and visited several socio-economic establishments and the Chongqing press group, the Chongqing broadcasting group and the Chongqing Publishing House. At meetings, the two sides emphasised the important role communications in helping the two countries’ people understand more about each other, thus expanding cooperation and promoting investment, tourism, cultural and people-to-people exchanges. It also contributes to strengthening multi-faceted cooperation between Chongqing and Vietnamese localities. The delegation includes representatives from media and news agencies such as Nhan Dan (People) newspaper, Quan doi Nhan Dan (People’s Army) newspaper, Vietnam Television (VTV), The Voice of Vietnam (VOV) and Vietnam News Agency (VNA). Vietnam attends ASEAN Environment Meeting Vietnam attended the 15th Informal ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on the Environment (IAMME) and the 10th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution in Vientiane from October 30-31. The Vietnamese delegation headed by Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Bui Cach Tuyen has positively contributed to the events. Participants focused their discussions on environmental protection activities that were included in a master plan to build the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community and initiatives to increase future cooperation. The central imperial city of Hue was honoured with the ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable City title, while Da Lat resort city in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong received the ASEAN certificate of recognition for clean air. The 13th ASEAN+3 Environment Ministers’ Meeting (with partners from China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea), and the fourth East Asia Summit Environment Ministers’ Meeting in Vientiane discussed cooperation biodiversity, climate change, environment education and technology, and building of environmentally sustainable cities. Vietnam is to host the 13th AMME and the 11th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution in 2015. Vietnam, Singapore cooperate on training government officials The Temasek Foundation of Singapore has pledged to help train 140 Vietnamese officials at the provincial, municipal and district levels between now to the end of 2015 at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU). The commitment was made at a conference held in Hanoi on October 31 to review a cooperation programme between the NTU and Vietnam under Project 165 which aims to train government officials abroad using funds from the State budget. The courses will focus on improving leadership capacities, developing human resources and sharing Singapore’s public management experience. The programme is expected to increase the officials’ capacities for leadership in the international integration process and contribute to boosting cooperation between the two countries. Last year, 148 officials benefitted from this programme. Vietnamese businesses prepare for AEC 2015 A workshop has been held in Hanoi to provide information on the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) which is formed in late 2015 for Vietnamese businesses with a view to raising their competiveness. The event, organised by Nhip Cau Dau Tu (Investment Bridge) magazine, was also to help them seek opportunities for cooperation in the region. Pham Chi Lan, an economic expert, stated that as the AEC is officially shaped next year, ASEAN will become an integrated region with free movement of goods, services, investment and skilled workforce. However, most of Vietnam companies are not fully aware of opportunities and challenges the AEC will bring to, she said, adding there has been an increasing wave of investors from regional countries such as Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia in Vietnam in recent years. During the event, participating businesses expressed their concern about the lack of AEC information, suggesting the government and associations increase the provision of formation relating to the AEC in all sectors. They highlighted the need for all enterprises to gain their own competitive advantages by improving product quality, human resources and management. Also at the workshop, the magazine launched the 2014 Mark of Respect award to honour 50 outstanding business leaders for their achievements and contributions to the economy.- Vietnam elected to ITU’s Radio Regulations Board Vietnam has been elected to the Radio Regulations Board (RRB) of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), according to the Ministry of Information and Telecommunications. Doan Quang Hoan, Director of the Authority of Radio Frequency Management, was chosen to represent Vietnam for the 2015-2018 term. The RRB election was held during the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, which took place in Busan, the Republic of Korea, from October 20-November 10. The RRB is an important agency of the ITU responsible for providing guidance and resolving issues related to the use of spectrum/satellite orbits and enforcement of radio regulations. The selection of RRB members was conducted in the form of a secret ballot by 193 ITU member countries to select 12 candidates from five regions. VNA/VOV