Government News 18/12 US Pacific Fleet Commander visits Da Nang Commander of the United States Pacific Fleet Admiral Harry B. Harris paid a courtesy call to leaders of the central city of Da Nang on December 17 during his working visit to Vietnam. Chairman of Da Nang city’s People’s Committee Van Huu Chien expressed his hope that Admiral Harris will continue supporting Vietnam in general and Da Nang in particular in the fields of security and defence. He also informed the guest on the city’s economic and social achievements. Admiral Harris thanks the municipal authorities for the warm welcome as well as the city’s active support of Vietnam-US defence cooperation activities in the past years. The two sides took the occasion to discuss proposals aimed at strengthening the bilateral relation between the two countries. The same day, the US Pacific Fleet Commander also paid a visit to the Vietnam Navy’s Region C High Command. Angola’s capital eyes twinning relations with Hanoi The new Governor of Angola’s capital city Luanda, Graciano Francisco Domingos, discussed the possibility of a twinning relationship between Luanda and Hanoi with Vietnamese Ambassador to Angola Do Ba Khoa on December 16. Ambassador Do Ba Khoa congratulated the governor on his new position and affirmed that the people of Vietnam in general and of Hanoi in particular want to further strengthen the traditional ties between the two countries and the two capital cities through new cooperation models. He also asked the Luanda municipal authorities to continue supporting the local Vietnamese community, especially in business. On his part, Graciano Francisco Domingos called for more investment from Vietnam in Luanda in the fields of trade, business, agriculture and service. The governor also said he hopes the two capital cities can exchange experience in poverty reduction, economic development, dealing with social issues and urban management in the time ahead, adding that he is ready to talk with Hanoi leaders on necessary steps to set up the twin relationship between the two cities. Vietnam wishes to promote all-round cooperation with Pakistan Vietnam wishes to further promote cooperation with Pakistan in all fields, Vietnamese Ambassador to Pakistan Nguyen Xuan Luu told Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain while presenting his credentials to the host last week. He said he will exert every effort to foster friendship and cooperation between the two countries. President Mamnoon Hussain congratulated the Vietnamese leaders and people on their socio-economic achievements in the recent years. He said he believes the ambassador will fulfill his mission, contributing to consolidating and developing the two countries’ friendship and multifaceted cooperation. Vietnam and Pakistan set up the diplomat ties in 1972. Over the past 42 years, the two countries have pushed up collaboration in many fields, especially economics and trade. Two-way trade between Vietnam and Pakistan rose to US$390 million in 2013 from US$149 million in 2009. Vietnamese, Lao border guard units set up twinning ties The Quang Chieu frontier post under the Border Guard Command of the central province of Thanh Hoa and Company 215 under the Military Command of the Lao province of Houaphan established a twinning relationship on December 17. The event is part of activities to mark the 70th founding anniversary of the Vietnamese People’s Army (VPA) and the 25th anniversary of the All People National Defence Festival (December 22). From now on, the two sides will work together in fostering the traditional friendship, protecting the common borderline, and preventing cross-border crimes. Joint border patrols will be conducted every three months and whenever an emergency situation calls for, with the two sides to inform each other at least 7 days in advance. They also agreed to hold quarterly meetings to review the border protection and management work with a view to timely dealing with emerging problems. VNA/VNN